Abstract
In this paper, I am going to write an in depth review of the history and importance of the Railroads in Africa, In which I will cover the following topics ranging from the History of the African Railways, to the importance of the growth of the Railways, how they are beneficial to the growth of Africa, I will also discuss in a comparison format how Africa could follow in the footsteps of Europe, the United States and in Canada as well. I also intend which to highlight the very reasons why the Railroads have such a crucial impact for the continent, the economy, the development, the prosperity of the continent of Africa.
Introduction / Thesis
The importance of railways around the world have had a vast impact on the ability of a nation’s growth, well being, economic prosperity, moving goods and people and helping build a nation for the future. As many Railroad historians around the world often say that the railroads built the nations, not that the nations built the railroads. It is important to note that while the people did work to build the railroads around the world, the importance of the saying that the railroads built the nation is because how many new towns and cities popped up along the railroad lines that were being built and only grew bigger, wider and larger as time went on. For example in the United States and Canada, many cities west of the Mississippi river are known as railroad towns because the history of these towns and places, the roots of the towns go all the way back to the beginning of the railroad construction. while also discussing in depth of how the history and importance of the Railroads in the United States and Canada have influenced modern Europe and Africa to further develop and how they can continue to develop in ways which can very well help to make Africa grow as a continent and help Africa’s countries thrive and look towards the future. I will cover several more topics that range from the History of the African Railways, to the importance of the growth of the Railways, also continuing to cover other important topics such as how the railways are crucial to the enhanced development of Africa, how they are beneficial to the growth of Africa, it’s economy, which will help with economic development among many things. will help with to greatly benefit the people of Africa for the present and moving forward for the future. So with all of that in mind, All Aboard as we depart from Cape Town Central Station for our adventure through Africa’s railroad history by Express Rail, please have all tickets out and ready for collection and inspection as your conductor makes his way through the train!
History of Africa’s Railways
In a big effort of understanding world history it is extremely critical to know the history of the railroads, as the railroads have been something of a very integral, significant part of history for as long as time can tell. According to Historian, Don Strack, who wrote in his report., Railroads of Central and Southern Africa, published on the website, Utah Rails, writes, “as a bigger part of a historical research paper entitled, “The Historical Geography of the Railroads of Central Africa, author Don Strack says that, “All of the major, global colonial powers each soon found out about the significance of just how important the development of a viable railroad system was, something that would greatly benefit the development of a respective nation or colony.” In regards to the railways of Africa, according to an article published on BBC, “Africa’s network of railways was started in 1852 in Alexandria, Egypt and continued until the 1960’s, when the entirety of the continent was connected with railroad lines from Northern Africa to as far south as Cape town and then from the west to east coasts of Africa. Most of the major main lines were completed by the 1920's. They were hugely expensive to build, both in terms of lives lost and financial cost. Most of them were government owned and run. The railroads would also help to benefit the territories in ways ranging from various different subject matters of political history, economic history, and social history from any one particular country or region, which also contributed to having some kind of understanding of just how much success of the roles that railroads played.” (Strack, Online) Railroads around the world, represented and reminded people of a country, nation or territory that authority of the government wasn’t too far away. The railroads symbolized the ability to unify a country’s ability to become even more unified then ever before. Remember this name as we go along as he was an important person responsible for the development of railroads in Africa, Cecil Rhodes, who was the envisionary behind linking the entire continent of Africa together. Don Strack also discusses the importance of the railroads, he goes on to discuss how, “All of the major, global and colonial powers each soon found out just how valuable railroads really were, he says, “railroads in their own way just how important the development of a viable railroad system is to the development of their nation or colony.” (Strack)
Side note about railroads in general…
One of the major features of railroad systems around the globe is the importance to note the very principle of an organized railroad system, which railroad historians alike will agree and present the ideas which would be shared all around the globe, as time went on, regardless of whether the railroad lines were being built by the governments of countries and continents around the world. Another big way to promote the railroads of the world was via using techniques such as a private interest at the expense and urging of a government’s of the various countries. Strack writes in his reports, “The railroad became the "permanent way"; it was possibly the fastest and best way to show your presence either to a region's citizenry or to other nations.” I agree with Strack because over time this was proven to be true for the European colonial powers such as but not limited to, Great Britain, France, Germany, and The Netherlands among many other European countries as well as the United States and Canada whom all decided to build the railroad lines not only to consolidate their interests of their colonies and states around the world but to help the countries, states, colonies, provinces to help expand themselves for people, social, economical reasons among many.
Back to African Railway History….
As I previously mentioned before, Cecil J Rhodes was the monumental railroader who took charge of Africa’s railroad lines and would later become the Empire Builder of Africa’s railroad lines, and really leading them to become a priority for Africa during what was known as, “The Scramble for Africa, which in essence was the time when many of the Major European countries scrambled to have the power of control over Africa, which really only began after the Berlin Conference of 1885, in which time was held to solely discuss the importance of who would claim ownership of Africa. Ultimately because of the Berlin Conference, Britain was able to retain the most control over Africa in regards to the matter of building railways because Britain was the first nation to build their own railway system well ahead of other nations. Britain was the very first nation in the world to have a railway system of any kind. Never the less, railways ranked as high up as possible in Rhodes mind of tasks that had to be accomplished in order to successfully unite Africa in ways that only he had envisioned like no one else before and the ability to link Africa with the rest of modern Europe via a railway that would surpass all the rest. In Rhodes mind, the railways were the true testament to linking the two continents.
Strack also wrote in his article on rai
lroads in southern and central Africa, “After Rhodes success at Kimberly with the diamond mines, he turned his attention to the ability of expansion into the north, Rhodes' dream of a Cape-to-Cairo railway was always on his mind, and in addition to that, Rhodes also intended on connecting the ports along the west and east coasts with the interior.” Also according to Strack, “Rhodes also knew that a railway was the only way to develop the trade routes to the interior.”
with the help of the British Government, Rhodes was able to successfully receive what was called a Royal Charter, which allowed Rhodes the ability of incorporating what would become his British South Africa Company otherwise known as the Chartered Company. This occurred on October the 29th,1889. The railroad would become Rhode’s single greatest success, little did he know that, when he founded the Chartered Company to Central Africa, which allowed him to begin his work to build the railway he had envisioned all throughout Africa. Don Strack also writes in his report on how the, “British South Africa Company (BSAC), was able to began the construction of the rail line north from Kimberly, within four days of receiving the charter and with the eventual destination being Vryburg, 126 miles away from the heart of the inside of the British Bechuanaland.” The construction of that Railway line was successfully completed just under one years time. Which was a remarkable feat for Rhodes and his team. At this point in time, what would be called The Cape Government Railway at the control of Rhodes had successfully reached what was known as Kimberly, South Africa. In 1885, which was considered an extension of what was then known as the Cape Town-to-De Aar line, which had been done with the leadership of Rhodes' and the British South Africa Company to successfully develop several other major railway lines that would eventually connect the rest of South Africa to many other points north throughout the continent, of Africa. Those railways were known as the Bechuanaland (later known as the Rhodesia Railway), the Matabeleland railway, and then the Mashonaland railway lines, also Zambia Railway, The National Railway of Zimbabwe,which connected to South Africa the still unconnected northern territories of Africa.
When the line was extended in the year of 1889, into what was then known as the British Bechuanaland territory, with the construction ultimately reaching a place by the name of Vryburg. A decision was made that, the headquarters would be located within the territory of Bechuanaland, which was enacted in December 1890. The work of BSAC was in fact far from over because Rhodes and the BSAC not only built the line but they wound up selling it to the Cape Government Railway, which the transaction was finalized upon The completion. Rhodes then successfully continued to push his railway out of South Africa, heading from Kimberly further north into what would become the territories known Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, Congo, and Zambia just to name a few among the many other Northern African territories, in what was considered a major effort to successfully seal the presence of the British/white which also played a big part in what would help the economic development in the region, thrive to new lengths where never thought possible before.
Then from there line was completed to Bulawayo in 1897. In 1903 the rail line was pushed further north, crossing the Zambesi River at Victoria Falls, and on to Broken Hill in what was to become Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. Still later, in 1909, with agreements between the Belgians and the British, the line was completed into the Copper Belt, which doing so successfully helped to provide the copper industry with the most amount of resources for area where all the various copper mines and copper were successfully being developed, something that began in the late 1920s' and soon thereafter would become one of the most important traffic generating point for what would later be known as the Rhodesia Railways' route to the south; with all the copper and other minerals going out on southbound trains and then general supplies and fuel would be arriving from points South, on various northbound trains. This would also later on have a successful impact on the economic development of the railroad and would even later be what is widely known today as the impact of supply and demand.
How African Railways can learn from Europe, United States, Canada and other nations around the world…
Railroads in Africa can certainly look up to many other places around the world such as the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Europe and so on, is to follow by example of these nations and to really understand just how important railways are for the economic development, the social development, the expansion development and so on so forth. Railroads around the world have always been essential to the ability of a country, continents ability to expand economically, financially, and also to the prosperity and well being of all. Railroads have been a crucial part of History for Africa and in several other places around the world. Railroads have been an integral part of history around the world and will continue to remain an integral part of life for everyone around the world for many years to come.
In Conclusion…
May I have your attention please ladies and gentleman, this is your conductor speaking, I hope you enjoyed your express trip through the history of railways in Africa and around the world. I hope it was a very informative trip and that you learnt all kinds of new information about railways and their importance to our world in all the ways that you have! Please watch your step while detraining, thank you for choosing the History Express and I hope you have a pleasant rest of your day!
WORKS CITED
"The Story of Africa." BBC News. BBC News, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
Strack, Donn. "Railroads of Central and Southern Africa." UtahRails.net. Utah Rails, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.