• Source: Kingston to Montego Bay railway

The Kingston to Montego Bay railway was the main railway in Jamaica, which from 1845 to 1992 linked the capital Kingston with the second city Montego Bay, passing en route most of the major towns.




Construction, operation and closure


The first 14.5 miles (23.3 km) of 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) track were laid from Kingston to Angels (just north of Spanish Town) in 1845 at a cost of £222,250, or £15,377 per mile against a budgeted cost £150,000.
An 11-mile (18 km) extension from Spanish Town to Old Harbour was added in 1869 at a cost of £60,000.
A further 24.5 miles (39.4 km) extension from Old Harbour to Porus was added in 1885 at a cost of around £187,000.
The final 62 miles (100 km) from Porus to Montego Bay was completed in 1895.
Much of the line closed in October 1992 when all passenger traffic on Jamaica's railways abruptly ceased. Some sections remain in use for bauxite and aluminium freight while the section from Montego Bay to the Appleton Estate remained open for a while as a tourist attraction.




Gradients and curvature


From Kingston the line ran west along the coastal plain, within 50 feet (15.2 m) of sea level, for about 40 miles (64 km) before starting a gentle climb over 5.25 miles (8.45 km) from Bodles to 250 feet (76.2 m) near Lancaster Halt. From here there was a plateau for about 24.25 miles (39.03 km) to the Milk River and the start of the 20 miles (32 km) climb through Scotts Pass and Porus to 1,500 feet (457.2 m) just north of Kendal.
Between Kendal and Mile Gully the line reaches its summit at around 1,700 feet (518.2 m); in this section the ruling curvature was 300 feet (91.4 m) and the ruling gradient was 1 in 30 (3.33%).
From Mile Gully there was a gentle descent over 17 miles (27 km) to 500 feet (152.4 m) near Raheen. From here the line ran on the level across the Appleton Plain to Maggotty and the start of a climb to 1,000 feet (304.8 m) near Stonehenge. From here to Catadupa the line ran on the level then descended to 500 feet (152.4 m) at Seven River. Another level section brought it to Long Hill Tunnel and the final descent into Montego Bay.




Stations and Halts


There were 22 stations and 17 halts:




Tunnels


There are 13 tunnels on the line:




Bridges


There were 51 significant bridges and one viaduct on the line




Junctions


There were three branch line junctions, three railway works junctions and four estate railway junctions on the line:
Branch lines

Spanish Town Junction to Bog Walk, Ewarton, New Works and Port Antonio
May Pen Junction to Frankfield
Logans Junction to Fort Simmonds
Railway works

Kingston railway workshops
Kingston permanent way department
Kingston engine sheds
Estate railways

Caymanas estate
Bridge Pen
Raheen
Appleton
Bauxite lines

Bodles
Piers

Kingston railway piers numbers 1, 2 & 3




Notes and references






External links


Montego Bay to Williamsfield, Jamaica, 7 minute black and white silent film shot from the rear of a moving train, SINTZENICH, Hal & WEDDUP, Charlie, Kineto, 1913, Colonial Film: Moving Images of the British Empire.
Advertisement for shares in the railway published in the Railway Register in Britain in 1845

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Kingston to Montego Bay railway
• Montego Bay
• Montego Bay railway station
• Transport in Jamaica
• Anchovy, Jamaica
• Kingston railway station, Jamaica
• Rail transport in Jamaica
• List of National Heritage Sites in Jamaica
• Kingston, Jamaica
• Spanish Town railway station