Cyprus Government Railway 1

Cyprus Government RailwayThis article is part of the history of rail transport by country series

Cyprus Government Railway

System Map

Reporting mark CGR

Locale Cyprus

Dates of operation 19051951

Track gauge 2ft6in (762mm)

Length 76 miles (122km)

Headquarters Nicosia

The Cyprus Government Railway was a 2ft6in (762mm) narrow gauge railway network that operated in Cyprusfrom October 1905 to December 1951. With a total length of 76 miles (122km), there were 39 stations, stops andhalts, the most prominent of which served Famagusta, Prastio Mesaoria, Angastina, Trachoni, Nicosia,Kokkinotrimithia, Morphou, Kalo Chorio and Evrychou. The CGR was closed down due to financial reasons. Anextension of the railway which was built to serve the Cyprus Mines Corporation operated until 1974.

History

BackgroundWhen the first British High Commissioner, Sir Garnet Wolseley, arrived in Cyprus in 1878, he was keen to constructa railway on the island but the project did not come to fruition for a long time, due to the uncertainty of the length ofthe British mandate in Cyprus. In July 1903, Frederick Shelford - on behalf of the Crown Agents - submitted afeasibility study for the construction of a railway line that would originate at Famagusta and terminate at Karavostasivia Nicosia and Morphou, at a total cost of 141,526.

ConstructionThe proposal was approved in November 1903 and the earthworks began in May 1904; the existing line atFamagusta harbour was extended South to Varosha by 1 mile (1.6km) and Section 1 [Famagusta-Nicosia, 36 miles(58km)] was inaugurated on 21 October 1905 by High Commissioner, Sir Charles Anthony King-Harman. Theconstruction of Section 2 [Nicosia-Morphou, 24 miles (39km)] began in July 1905 and was inaugurated was on 31March 1907. However, three years later, the Railway was already operating at a loss and so an operation study forthe CGR was conducted by Bedford Glasier. The study was published in January 1913 and suggested theconstruction of the terminus at Evrychou. So, the construction of Section 3 [Morphou-Evrychou, 15 miles (24km)]began in November 1913 and it was inaugurated on 14 June 1915.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_rail_transport_by_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Railway_Cy_map.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reporting_markhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyprushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Track_gaugehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2_ft_6_in_gauge_railwayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicosiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2_ft_6_in_gauge_railwayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Narrow_gauge_railwayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Railwayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyprushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Famagustahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prastio%2C_Nicosiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angastinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trachoni%2C_Nicosiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicosiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kokkinotrimithiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morphouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalo_Chorio_%28%C3%87aml%C4%B1k%C3%B6y%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evrychouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyprus_Mines_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Garnet_Wolseley%2C_1st_Viscount_Wolseleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mandate_%28international_law%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crown_Agentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karavostasihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicosiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morphouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Famagustahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Varosha%2C_Famagustahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicosiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morphouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evrychou

Cyprus Government Railway 2

Motive Power

Locomotive No1 outside Famagusta Station.

Locomotives

Summary of the 12 locomotives:[1]

No. 1 0-6-0T built by Hunslet Engine Company (846 of1904)

Nos. 1112 4-4-0 built by Nasmyth Wilson and Company Nos. 2123 2-6-0 built by Nasmyth Wilson and Company Nos. 3132 2-6-2T built by Nasmyth Wilson and Company Nos. 4144 4-8-4T built by Kitson and Company

RailcarsSummary of the 9 railcar units:[2]

6 by D Wickham & Co 3 by Drewry Car Co.

Operation and usesBy the time the total 76 miles (122km) of the CGR had been completed, running costs had spiralled to 199,367,which remained constant throughout the operation period of the line.

A CGR ticket.

The Cyprus Government Railway was used in a number of ways and servedboth the colonial authorities and the local population. Principle operationswere as follows: It served the port of Famagusta, as a freight transfer system. It transferred timber from the Troodos Mountains to towns and cities

across Cyprus. It carried freight, ore and minerals on behalf of the Cyprus Mines

Corporation. The local railway stations functioned as a place of exchange of goods and

services, while some also operated as telephone centres, telegram officesand/or postal offices.

CGR trains carried mail, which arrived in Famagusta via the Egyptian Khedivial Mail Line[3] (19121939).The existence of a railway in Cyprus brought many benefits to the population of Cyprus. However, during the firstyears of its operation, many reportedly viewed the railway as a spectacle to be viewed rather than a means oftransportation. Overall, the CGR carried 3,199,934 tons of commercial goods and freight and 7,348,643 passengersduring its history.The various stations were designated by large trilingual (Greek, Turkish and English) white signs. The CGR owned atotal of 12 locomotives, 17 coaches and about 100 multi-purpose wagons, 50 of which were purchased from Egyptand Palestine. The CGR employed around 200 people in total.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ACGR_No1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=0-6-0Thttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hunslet_Engine_Companyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=4-4-0http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nasmyth_Wilson_and_Companyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2-6-0http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nasmyth_Wilson_and_Companyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2-6-2Thttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nasmyth_Wilson_and_Companyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=4-8-4Thttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kitson_and_Companyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=D_Wickham_%26_Cohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drewry_Car_Co.http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ACGR_ticket.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Troodos_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyprus_Mines_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyprus_Mines_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Khedivial_Mail_Linehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkish_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=English_language

Cyprus Government Railway 3

Railway Stations Halts and Sidings

Harbour Section Varosha, Famagusta Famagusta Harbour

Section 1 Varosha, Famagusta English Halt Enkomi Halt Styllos Siding Prastio Station Gaidhouras Halt Pyrga Siding Yenagra Siding Vitsadha Halt Marathovouno Siding Angastina Station Monastir Siding Exometochi Halt Epikho Siding Trakhoni Station Mia Milea Halt Kaimakli Siding Nicosia Station

Section 2 Nicosia Station Ayios Dhometios Halt Nicosia Aerodrome Halt Yerolakkos Halt Kokkino Trimithia Station Dhenia Siding Peristerona Siding Kato-Kopia Siding Argaki Siding Morphou Station

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Varosha%2C_Famagustahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Famagusta_Harbourhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=English_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enkomi_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Styllos_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prastio_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gaidhouras_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pyrga_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yenagra_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vitsadha_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marathovouno_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angastina_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monastir_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Exometochi_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epikho_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trakhoni_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mia_Milea_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaimakli_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicosia_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ayios_Dhometios_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicosia_Aerodrome_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yerolakkos_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kokkino_Trimithia_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dhenia_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peristerona_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kato-Kopia_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Argaki_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morphou_Station

Cyprus Government Railway 4

Section 3 Morphou Station Nikitas Halt Baraji Halt Gaziveran Halt Pendayia Siding Karyotis Junction Kalokhorio Station Skouriotissa Halt Vlasio Halt Evrychou Station

EventsDuring the 46 years of its operation, the CGR was involved in various events concerned with the modern history ofCyprus: During the Enosis riots in October 1931, 120 yards (110m) of line were torn up, as the railway was regarded as a

symbol of British colonial rule. The transportation of Allied troops to and from Famagusta, Nicosia Airport and Xeros during both World Wars. The track was targeted by the Axis powers during World War II. The railway was used for the transportation of a large number of the 50,000 Jewish refugees to Karaolos

internment camps, between 1946-1949.

ClosureThe line never made a profit and by 1932 the Western terminus station was at Kalokhorio Lefka, while from 1948onwards it only reached Nicosia aerodrome. After World War II the ramshackle equipment and competition from theimproved road network led the Government to the decision to definitely terminate the CGR. The last train departedfrom Nicosia Station at 14:57 on 31 December 1951 and arrived at Famagusta at 16:38. The process ofdismantlement lasted up to March 1953. After an auction was announced in Cyprus Gazette, 10 of the 12locomotives, the tracks and part of the rolling stock were sold to the company Meyer Newman & Co, for the priceof 65,626. Locomotive 1 was preserved as a monument outside Famagusta Station. Most of the former CGRemployees were re-employed in state services and semi-governmental organisations. Some wagons were bought bylocals, acquiring novel uses, while the equipment was distributed amongst seven governmental departments. Thestations were either demolished or turned into police stations (Angastina, Kokkini Trimithia) or Public WorksDepartment warehouses (Famagusta, Nicosia); Morphou Station became a grain storehouse, while at Evrychou itoperated as a sanitary centre and a forest worker dormitory.

HeritageDuring the Turkish invasion in 1974, many of the remaining installations were destroyed, thus eliminating many traces of the railway. A large part of the Nicosia-Famagusta motorway was built along the former railway track. Engine 1 can now be seen in front of the station building in Famagusta. Wagon 152 was restored and placed in the linear park in Kaimakli in 1995, then after a restoration it was moved to an exhibition featuring CGR relics in the Cultural Center of Laiki Bank in Nicosia. After a recent restoration work in 2012, this van together with a hand-powered trolley are now under a new shelter at Evrychou station with informative posters about its past and present. Evrychou station and its surroundings are rebuilt to become the Cyprus Railway Museum, with a total of about 100 meters of new tracks laid in 2010-2012, in a Y-shape, almost with the original 2ft6in (762mm) gauge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikitas_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baraji_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gaziveran_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pendayia_Sidinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karyotis_Junctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalokhorio_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skouriotissa_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vlasio_Halthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evrychou_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Modern_history_of_Cyprushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Modern_history_of_Cyprushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enosishttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Allies_of_World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Axis_powers_of_World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World_War_IIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jewishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyprus_internment_campshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Famagustahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaimakli

Cyprus Government Railway 5

Tracks (more precisely: non-continuous portions of tracks) have also been laid in the Kaimakli area, but withdifferent gauges: about 280 m with a 1380mm and about 17 m with a 595mm gauge from the Agiou Ilaririonosstreet to the West and to the East directions, respectively. There are also posters with old pictures and time-tablesexhibited along this linear park in Kaimakli. In Agios Dometios, where another short portion of the former railwayline near Nicosia lies to the South from the Green Line after 1974, part of the railway line has recently become alinear park and a multi-purpose centre.

References[1][1] Cyprus Narrow Gauge Hugh Ballantine ISBN 978-1-906008-13-0[2][2] The Story of the Cyprus Government Railway B S Turner ISBN 0-85298-408-1[3] Basic info and timetable images from Khedivial Mail Line http:/ / www. timetableimages. com/ maritime/ images/ kml. htm

(1905-1951)/The Cyprus Government Railway (19051951) byAlexander-Michael Hadjilyra; Nicosia, 2006.

External links Roxey Mouldings: Cyprus Government Railway (http:/ / www. roxeymouldings. co. uk/ 009locokits. htm) - OO9

loco kits (http:/ / www. scribd. com/ doc/ 15475230/ -19051951) CHRONICLE for the Cyprus Government Railway by

Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra (in Greek) (http:/ / www. scribd. com/ doc/ 19541050/ The-Cyprus-Government-Railway-booklet-in-English) Informative

brochure for the Cyprus Government Railway by Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra Narrow Gauge image gallery of Cyprus Government Railway (http:/ / www. narrow-gauge. co. uk/ gallery/ 52)

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rail_trailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Agios_Dometioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Green_Line_%28Cyprus%29http://www.timetableimages.com/maritime/images/kml.htmhttp://www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/009locokits.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=OO9http://www.scribd.com/doc/15475230/-19051951http://www.scribd.com/doc/19541050/The-Cyprus-Government-Railway-booklet-in-Englishhttp://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/gallery/52

Article Sources and Contributors 6

Article Sources and ContributorsCyprus Government Railway Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=602328478 Contributors: 16@r, ASV47, Aaron-Tripel, AndrewHowse, Arthena, Avala, Bahnfrend,Biscuittin, Buistr, Calliopejen1, Central Data Bank, Colonies Chris, Cplakidas, DerBorg, Edward, El Greco, Elliskev, EoGuy, Fightingfifth, Ghj-AA4, Gongshow, Hugo999, Iain Bell,Jackdude101, KRBN, Ken g6, Koavf, Kurt Shaped Box, Lightmouse, Marosi Gyula, Michael Johnson, Neo ^, Passportguy, Peter Horn, Pioneer5555, Rich Farmbrough, Rolf Mayo,SchreiberBike, Shell Kinney, Sv1xv, Timothy Titus, Tkynerd, Tony May, Ufo karadagli, Valentinian, Varneycon, Wavelength, Zabdiel, 12 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Railway_Cy_map.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Railway_Cy_map.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Contributors: -Image:CGR No1.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:CGR_No1.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader was Neo ^ at en.wikipediaImage:CGR ticket.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:CGR_ticket.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Neo_^

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Cyprus Government RailwayHistoryBackground Construction Motive Power LocomotivesRailcarsOperation and usesRailway Stations Halts and SidingsHarbour SectionSection 1Section 2Section 3EventsClosureHeritageReferencesExternal linksLicense