Rarawai–Kavanagasau Light Railway

Passenger train near Rarawai Mill, 1947

Route of the main line highlighted on a modern map

Technical

Line length

142 miles (229 km)

Track gauge

2 feet (610 mm)

Route map

Legend

				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
					Further stations:
					Malolo (Navakai-Kavanagasau)
					Vatamai
					Lomaloma
					Nabuyagiyagi
					Namaka Military Camp
					Martins Crossing (near Nadi)
					Natuatuathoko (near Sigatoka)

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

Operation

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

Train operations 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. The line branched at Sigatoka to Kulukulu village.

The section from Batiri to Sigatoka 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.

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.

Mill	No	Manufacturer	Type	Fuel	Works No	Year built	Condition
	1-7	John Fowler	0-6-0TT	Steam		1903-1906
Rarawai Mill	First 8, later 10	John Fowler	0-6-2TT	Steam	11458	1908	Plinthed outside the mill in 2011 and 2016
	9	John Fowler	0-6-2TT	Steam		1910
	10-17	Hudswell Clarke	0-6-0	Steam		1912-1914
	18	Hudswell Clarke	0-6-0	Steam		1915
	19	Hudswell Clarke	0-4-0ST	Steam		1914
	20 & 21	Hudswell Clarke	0-6-0	Steam		1936
	22	Hudswell Clarke	0-6-0	Steam		1938
	23 & 24	Hudswell Clarke	0-6-0	Steam		1950
	25	Hudswell Clarke	0-6-0	Steam		1914
	1 & 2	Clyde Engineering	0-6-0	Diesel		1957
Rarawai Mill	22	Hunslet	6wDH	Diesel	9274	1987	Operable in 2016 and 2017
Rarawai Mill	24	Baguley-Drewry	0-6-0DH	Diesel	3773	1983	Operable for shunting in 2017
Rarawai Mill, seen in 2007 at Penang Mill		Hudswell Clarke	0-6-0DM	Diesel	D753	1950	Derelict at Penang Mill in 2007. Remains scrapped in 2011.
Rarawai Sugar Mill		Australian Clyde, rebuilt by Ontrak Engineering of Sydney	0-6-0DH	Diesel			Operable in 2012
Lautoka Mill		Clyde	DHI-71	Diesel			Derelict 2008
Lautoka Mill		Clyde	DHI-71	Diesel			Derelict 2008

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.

External links

The Railways of Fiji. The Development of Railways in the South Pacific. In: Railway Wonders of the World.
Railways of Fiji, Rarawai-Kavanagasau Light Railway, as seen in October 2007

References

^ Fergusson, Jim (20 January 2016). "Fiji & Pacific Islands Railways, Passenger Stations & Stops" (PDF). railwaystationlists.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
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.
Fijian Government: Portion of Kavanagasau/Rarawai tramline closed. 7 August 2009.
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.
Chris Allen: Statfold Barn Railway - green, red and yellow. The Geograph, No 5382236.
^ Hodge, Peter (October 1960). "Narrow Gauge In Fiji". Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin. 103 (103): 21–40. JSTOR 43517963.
^ Photos on Facebook Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Group

18°08′27″S 177°25′49″E / 18.140839°S 177.430410°E / -18.140839; 177.430410

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