Rarawai–Kavanagasau Light Railway

The Rarawai–Kavanagasau Light Railway was a 142 miles (229 km) long narrow gauge railway on Fiji.

Rarawai–Kavanagasau Light Railway
Passenger train near Rarawai Mill, 1947


Route of the main line highlighted on a modern map
Technical
Line length142 miles (229 km)
Track gauge2 feet (610 mm)
Route map
mi
60
 Nabuna
51
 Tavua
45
 Tagi Tagi
40
 Lousa
31
 Ba
30
 Rarawai
 Yalalevu
 Nailaga
 Tawararau
 Vatamai
0
 Lautoka
 Natabua
 Tovilavila
4
 Saweni
 Esivo
 Sabeto
14
 Natova
24
 Navakai
 Meigunyah
 Nadi
 Navo
 Momi Military Camp
41
 Savu Savu
 Lomawai
51
 Natadola Beach, Coral Coast Railway
64
 Fijian Resort, Cuvu, Coral Coast Railway
72
 Sigatoka
82
 Kavanagasau[1]
 Further stations:
 Malolo (Navakai-Kavanagasau)
 Vatamai
 Lomaloma
 Nabuyagiyagi
 Namaka Military Camp
 Martins Crossing (near Nadi)
 Natuatuathoko (near Sigatoka)[1]

Operation

The railway with a gauge of 2 feet (610 mm) was built and operated by the Colonial Sugar Refinery Co.

The operation started in December 1914 with free, twice-weekly, return passenger train services and weekly public goods trains, which transported pipes for the manganese mines as well as agricultural produce such as potatoes, onions, rice, maize, and other food. Transport of cattle started in the early 1950s.[2]

The section of the Kavanagasau–Rarawai tramline from Kavanagasau to Baitiri behind Navisabasaba village, at the boundary of Cuvu and Lomawai sectors, about 4.5 kilometres from the Intercontinental Hotel towards Nadi was closed on 7 August 2009 due to the significant decline in the production of cane in the Cuvu and Olosara sectors and cane from these areas being transportable by lorry to the Lautoka Mill.[3]

Rolling stock

Locomotives

The Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 locomotive with works number 972 of 1912 named Fiji (Colonial Sugar Refining Co. No. 11) and a Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST with works number 1056 of 1914 (Colonial Sugar Refining Co. No. 19) are preserved at Statfold Barn Railway.[4][5]

MillNoManufacturerTypeFuelWorks NoYear builtCondition
1-7John Fowler0-6-0TTSteam1903-1906[6]
Rarawai MillFirst 8, later 10John Fowler0-6-2TTSteam114581908Plinthed outside the mill in 2011 and 2016[7]
9John Fowler0-6-2TTSteam1910[6]
10-17Hudswell Clarke0-6-0Steam1912-1914[6]
18Hudswell Clarke0-6-0Steam1915[6]
19Hudswell Clarke0-4-0STSteam1914[6]
20 & 21Hudswell Clarke0-6-0Steam1936[6]
22Hudswell Clarke0-6-0Steam1938[6]
23 & 24Hudswell Clarke0-6-0Steam1950[6]
25Hudswell Clarke0-6-0Steam1914[6]
1 & 2Clyde Engineering0-6-0Diesel1957[6]
Rarawai Mill22Hunslet6wDH     Diesel92741987Operable in 2016 and 2017[7]
Rarawai Mill24Baguley-Drewry0-6-0DHDiesel37731983Operable for shun­ting in 2017[7]
Rarawai Mill, seen in 2007 at Penang MillHudswell Clarke0-6-0DMDieselD7531950Derelict at Penang Mill in 2007. Remains scrapped in 2011.[7]
Rarawai Sugar MillAustralian Clyde, rebuilt by Ontrak Engineering of Sydney0-6-0DHDieselOperable in 2012[7]
Lautoka MillClydeDHI-71DieselDerelict 2008[7]
Lautoka MillClydeDHI-71DieselDerelict 2008[7]

Carriages
2nd class passenger carriage and brake van No 4 fitted with temporary frames for lifting by crane

Two second class passenger carriages and a brake van were built in 1914 by Clyde Engineering in Granville, Australia for Rarawai–Kavanagasau Light Railway. One of the carriages is now at the Ferrymead 2ft Railway in a partially disassembled state.

References
  1. Fergusson, Jim (20 January 2016). "Fiji & Pacific Islands Railways, Passenger Stations & Stops" (PDF). railwaystationlists.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  2. Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. "Photograph of a brake van, No. 4, built for Rarawai-Kavanagasau Light Railway in Fiji". Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  3. Fijian Government: Portion of Kavanagasau/Rarawai tramline closed. 7 August 2009.
  4. Andrew Naylor: Colonial Sugar Refining Co No 19, Statfold Barn Railway, Sat 8 August 2015. Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST 1056 / 1914, 2ft gauge. Repatriated from Fiji.
  5. Chris Allen: Statfold Barn Railway - green, red and yellow. The Geograph, No 5382236.
  6. Hodge, Peter (October 1960). "Narrow Gauge In Fiji". Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin. 103 (103): 21–40. JSTOR 43517963.
  7. Photos on Facebook Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Group

18.140839°S 177.430410°E / -18.140839; 177.430410

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