THE development of the railway on the South Coast opened the area as a prime tourist attraction and resulted in the growth of the sugar industry. Rail service from Durban to Isipingo Rail commenced in January, 1880.
In 1896, work began on the rail extension to Park Rynie. The section to Umkomaas was operational by 1897. The first train for the South Coast left Durban station at the end of 1897, bound for Umkomaas.
It consisted of two goods trucks, a break-van, two passenger coaches and 50 passengers. Ten bridges had to be built for the train to make the journey. Improvements to the line in the 1950s and 1960s saw concrete bridges replacing the iron screw-pile structures and heavier track.
ISIPINGO
ISIPINGO railway siding came into being as a result of the settlement of Isipingo Rail. The siding served the settlement of Isipingo Beach as well, where an ox-cart, and later a bus service, would transport locals and holiday-makers to the village.
The Umbogintwini hill was a source of any problems for the early days of the line as the 3km ascent caused the steam trains to stall. Thus the passenger trains were limited to seven coaches and goods trains loaded to 117 tons. Even then, however, most steam trains were still required to split their loads on this hill.
UMBOGINTWINI
IN the early days, the South Coast line served the African Explosives and Chemical lndustries (AECI) factory, which, at that time, was the largest industry in the area.
The lıne from Umbogintwini to Amanzimtoti, the next stop, is still at a gradient but caused fewer problems for the early trains than the line two from Isipingo.
AMANZIMTOTI
THE first hotel in Amanzimtoti was built in 1898, soon after the regular train service to the area commenced. The South Coast became more accessible as a holiday destination now that there was a reliable way to get to the area.
Special trains from Johannesburg were organised for holiday-makers and these travelled through the South Coast Junction (now Rossburgh) with the only stops on the journey being the South Coast railway sidings for holiday-makers to alight.
DOONSIDE
THE railway siding of Doonside was originally called “Middleton”, after the constructor of the line. The name, however, had to be changed in 1910 to avoid confusion with the Middleton siding in the Cape.
There was a house named “Lorna Doone” on a hill overlooking the station and the owner, Mr WA Dicker, suggested the name of “Doonside”.
WARNER BEACH
THERE were originally two sidings serving the area of Warner Beach one at Warner Beach and only another a little further down the line known as St Winifred’s Beach.
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Both were closed and demolished and the present siding of Warner Beach erected in between the two sites.
WINKLESPRUIT
THE railway siding of Winklespuit served the holiday-makers as they alighted there for their hotels and beach cottages in the early days of the seaside resort.
ILLOVO BEACH
SOUTH of the Winklespruit station is the 3km line that served the Illovo Sugar Mill. This is the only stretch of original line left, built in the late1800s.
As this line approached the river, it would make a detour inland to cross the river at a narrower and more stable place than the river mouth.
The then technology could not build piles deep enough for the bridges to be safe so close to the Sea. The original Illovo Beach station was near this bridge.
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