Rail transport in Nauru
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File:Nauru-phosphatetrain.jpg
A phosphate train in Nauru.
File:Railway phosphate mine Nauru.jpg
The phosphate railway in 1908
File:Nauru railway(1917).jpeg
Nauru railway in 1917
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Rail transport in Nauru is used for moving phosphate of lime from the island's interior to the cantilever jetties on the island's western coast. For this purpose, a 3.9 km long, 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway was built by the Pacific Phosphate Company in 1907. The line passes through the districts of Aiwo, Buada, Denigomodu, Nibok, Uaboe and Anibare.
Contents
History
The railway at Aiwo jetty was electrified in 1912, but replaced by a conveyor belt between the storage bins and the jetty head.[1]
The gauge was upgraded to 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge by the British Phosphate Commission in 1920. In the past, steam engines were used to power the trains,[2] but the railway is nowadays worked by diesel engines, though occasionally, a tractor is used.
With Nauru's phosphate deposits almost depleted, the future of the railway is uncertain. The trains were still running as of 2008.[3][4]
Nauru's phosphate train features on several Nauru stamps, including a series from 1980 (Yvert no. 211-213) and another one from 1985 (Yvert no. 306, Scott no. 308).
The trains of Nauru have been depicted on commemorative Nauruan postage stamps.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Iamge on pbase.com
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Images on Flickr
- ↑ Infos on janeresture.com
External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
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History of rail transport in Oceania
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