Sandstone Steam Railroad – Rail News
RN 26 – Beira Railways archive pictures surface in Portugal
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Beira Railways archive pictures surface in Portugal
Carlos Vieria from Portugal has kindly supplied a lot of information on the Beira Railway from his private collection. This has a bearing on Sandstone Heritage Trust as this is the original owner of our Lawley locomotive. |
| Brief History of the Beira Railway: | |
| April 1890 | Arrival of Engineer Poubin in Beira, to start work on the route of the new Beira line |
| 15 January 1891 | A military expedition sent to Beira in charge of Captain Renato Baptista |
| 11 June 1891 | Portugal signs a treaty with Great Britain. Its purpose was for a project for a railway line between the coast and Machona. A six month period was given |
| 4 August 1891 | Captain Renato Baptista, a military engineer was given order by Antonio ???? to begin study on project |
| 1 September 1891 | Henry Theodore van Laun presents the base of his contract for construction of the Beira line |
| 10 October 1891 | Companhia de Mocambique – this was how the colony of Mozambique was known – grants the rights of construction to the Dutchman van Laun to build the line |
| 7 December 1891 | Henry T van Laun signs agreement with British South Africa Company |
| 3 March 1892 | Alterations to the contract in the name of van Laun approved |
| September 1892 | Work begins on the line |
| 1 November 1894 | First trains reach Chimoio |
| September 1892 | Work begins on the Beira to Fontesvilla section |
| July 1896 | The rights of the line Beira to Fontesvilla opens on 22 January of the following year |
| 3 April 1897 | Mashonaland Railway Company formed |
| December 1897 | Line reaches Nova Macequece. |
| 10 July 1900 | New service begins on the wide gauge (3ft 6in). |
| 1 April 1926 | Beira works buys from Beira Junction the harbour and other assets |
| 18 July 194? | All rights of Companhia de Mocambique cease. |
| 1 January 1949 | Beira harbour returns to the government. |
| 1 October 1949 | Caminhos de Ferro de Beira – Beira Railways returns to the Portugese Government. |
