Cyprus Government Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cyprus Government Railway was a narrow gauge
railway network that operated in Cyprus
from October 1905 to December 1951. With a total length of 76 miles (122.3 km), there were 39 stations, stops and halts, 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. An extension of the railway which was built to serve the Cyprus Mines Corporation
operated until 1974.
, Sir Garnet Wolseley
, arrived in Cyprus in 1878, he was keen to construct a railway on the island but the project did not come to fruition for a long time, due to the uncertainty of the length of the British mandate
in Cyprus. In July 1903, Frederick Shelford - on behalf of the Crown Agents - submitted a feasibility study for the construction of a railway line that would originate at Famagusta and terminate at Karavostasi
via Nicosia
and Morphou, at a total cost of £141,526.
harbour was extended South to Varosha
by 1 miles (1.6 km) and Section 1 [Famagusta-Nicosia
, 36 miles (57.9 km)] was inaugurated on 21 October 1905 by High Commissioner
, Sir Charles Anthony King-Harman. The construction of Section 2 [Nicosia-Morphou, 24 miles (38.6 km)] began in July 1905 and was inaugurated was on 31 March 1907. However, three years later, the Railway was already operating at a loss and so an operation study for the CGR was conducted by Bedford Glasier. The study was published in January 1913 and suggested the construction of the terminus at Evrykhou. So, the construction of Section 3 [Morphou-Evrykhou, 15 miles (24.1 km)] began in November 1913 and it was inaugurated on 14 June 1915.
1x 0-6-0T Class Hunslet Engine Company
2x 4-4-0 Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company
3x 2-6-0 Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company
2x 2-6-2T Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company
4x 4-8-4T Class Kitson and Company
, among which were:
The Cyprus Government Railway was used in a number of ways and served both the colonial authorities and the local population. Principle operations were as follows:
The existence of a railway in Cyprus brought many benefits to the population of Cyprus. However, during the first years of its operation, many viewed the Railway more like a spectacle, instead of a means of transportation, which is why they crowded under the bridges to admire it. Overall, the CGR carried 3,199,934 tons of commercial goods and freight and 7,348,643 passengers.
The various stations were designated by large trilingual (Greek
, Turkish
and English
) white signs, while the CGR owned a total of 12 locomotives, 17 coaches and about 100 multi-purpose wagons, 50 of which were purchased from Egypt and Palestine. The CGR employed around 200 people in total.
Station.
Some wagons were bought by locals, acquiring new and interesting uses, while the equipment was distributed among seven governmental departments. The Stations were either demolished or turned into Police Stations (Angastina, Kokkini Trimithia) or Public Works Department warehouses (Famagusta, Nicosia); Morphou Station became a grain storehouse, while at Evrykhou it operated as a sanitary centre and a forest dormitory.
During the Turkish invasion
of 1974, most of the remaining installations were knocked down, thus wiping many marks of the Railway. A large part of the Nicosia-Famagusta motorway was built upon the railway track, while wagon 152 was placed in the linear park in Kaimakli
, in 1995. In Agios Dometios
, part of the railway line recently became a linear park
and a multi-purpose centre. Most of the employees were employed in state services and semi-governmental organisations.
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
railway network that operated in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
from October 1905 to December 1951. With a total length of 76 miles (122.3 km), there were 39 stations, stops and halts, the most prominent of which served Famagusta
Famagusta
Famagusta is a city on the east coast of Cyprus and is capital of the Famagusta District. It is located east of Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour of the island.-Name:...
, Prastio Mesaoria
Prastio, Nicosia
Prastio is a village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, 6 km southwest of Morphou....
, Angastina
Angastina
Angastina is a village in the Famagusta District of Cyprus, located around 20 km east of Nicosia, on the main road to Famagusta.Since the Turkish invasion in 1974, the village has been solely inhabited by Turkish mainland settlers. Turkish settlements are illegal under the municipal law of Cyprus....
, Trachoni
Trachoni, Nicosia
Trachoni is a village in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, located just south of Kythrea on the main Nicosia-Famagusta road....
, Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, Kokkinotrimithia
Kokkinotrimithia
Kokkinotrimithia is a town located west of Nicosia, Cyprus, close to the Green Line. It has an exit along the A9 motorway. In 2001 it had 3096 inhabitants and a prediction of 3101 for 2009....
, Morphou, Kalo Chorio
Kalo Chorio (Çamlıköy)
Kalo Chorio is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, east of the town of Lefka....
and Evrychou
Evrychou
Evrychou is a village in Cyprus. It is located in the Nicosia District and the agricultural centre of the "Solea" region located about 50 km south-west of Nicosia and 30 km from mount Troodos.-Geography and climate:...
. The CGR was closed down due to financial reasons. An extension of the railway which was built to serve the Cyprus Mines Corporation
Cyprus Mines Corporation
The Cyprus Mines Corporation was an early twentieth century American mining company based in Cyprus. In 1914, Charles G. Gunther began prospecting in the Skouriotissa area after reading in ancient books that the island was rich in copper and noticing promising ancient Roman slag heaps in the area....
operated until 1974.
Background
When the first British High CommissionerHigh Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
, Sir Garnet Wolseley
Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley
Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley, KP, GCB, OM, GCMG, VD, PC was an Anglo-Irish officer in the British Army. He served in Burma, the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, China, Canada, and widely throughout Africa—including his Ashanti campaign and the Nile Expedition...
, arrived in Cyprus in 1878, he was keen to construct a railway on the island but the project did not come to fruition for a long time, due to the uncertainty of the length of the British mandate
Mandate
Mandate can refer to:*Mandate , an obligation handed down by an inter-governmental body*Mandate , an official or authoritative command; an order or injunction*Mandate , the power granted by an electorate...
in Cyprus. In July 1903, Frederick Shelford - on behalf of the Crown Agents - submitted a feasibility study for the construction of a railway line that would originate at Famagusta and terminate at Karavostasi
Karavostasi
Karavostasi is a town located in Nicosia District, 6 km north of Lefka....
via Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
and Morphou, at a total cost of £141,526.
Construction
The proposal was approved in November 1903 and the earthworks began in May 1904; the existing line at FamagustaFamagusta
Famagusta is a city on the east coast of Cyprus and is capital of the Famagusta District. It is located east of Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour of the island.-Name:...
harbour was extended South to Varosha
Varosha
Varosha may refer to:* The Varosha quarter in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus* The Varosha quarter in Lovech, Bulgaria* The Varosha quarter in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria* The Varosha architectural complex in Razgrad, Bulgaria...
by 1 miles (1.6 km) and Section 1 [Famagusta-Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, 36 miles (57.9 km)] was inaugurated on 21 October 1905 by High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
, Sir Charles Anthony King-Harman. The construction of Section 2 [Nicosia-Morphou, 24 miles (38.6 km)] began in July 1905 and was inaugurated was on 31 March 1907. However, three years later, the Railway was already operating at a loss and so an operation study for the CGR was conducted by Bedford Glasier. The study was published in January 1913 and suggested the construction of the terminus at Evrykhou. So, the construction of Section 3 [Morphou-Evrykhou, 15 miles (24.1 km)] began in November 1913 and it was inaugurated on 14 June 1915.
Locomotives
Summary of the 12 locomotives:1x 0-6-0T Class Hunslet Engine Company
Hunslet Engine Company
The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
2x 4-4-0 Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company
3x 2-6-0 Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company
2x 2-6-2T Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company
4x 4-8-4T Class Kitson and Company
Operation and uses
By the time the total 76 miles (122.3 km) of the CGR had been completed, running costs had spiralled to £199,367, which remained constant throughout the operation period of the line. During the 46 years of its operation, the CGR witnessed various interesting events that marked the modern history of CyprusModern history of Cyprus
This article covers the modern history of Cyprus, from 1878 to the present.-Cyprus as a Protectorate:In 1878 as a result of the Cyprus Convention, the United Kingdom received as a protectorate, the island of Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire in exchange for United Kingdoms military support to the...
, among which were:
- During the EnosisEnosisEnosis refers to the movement of the Greek-Cypriot population to incorporate the island of Cyprus into Greece.Similar movements had previously developed in other regions with ethnic Greek majorities such as the Ionian Islands, Crete and the Dodecanese. These regions were eventually incorporated...
riots in October 1931, 120 yards (109.7 m) of line were torn up, as the railway was regarded as a symbol of British colonial rule. - the transportation of AlliedAllies of World War IIThe Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
troops to and from Famagusta, Nicosia Airport and Xeros during both World Wars. - It was targeted by the Axis powers during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. - The railway was used for the transportation of a large number of the 50,000 Jewish refugees to Karaolos internment campsCyprus internment campsCyprus internment camps were camps run by the British government for internment of Jews who had immigrated or attempted to immigrate to Mandatory Palestine in violation of British policy...
, between 1946-1949.
- It served the port of Famagusta, as a freight transfer system.
- It transferred timber from the Troodos MountainsTroodos MountainsTroodos is the biggest mountain range of Cyprus, located in the center of the island. Troodos' highest peak is Mount Olympus at 1,952 metres.The Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus...
to towns and cities across Cyprus. - It carried freight, ore and minerals on behalf of the Cyprus Mines CorporationCyprus Mines CorporationThe Cyprus Mines Corporation was an early twentieth century American mining company based in Cyprus. In 1914, Charles G. Gunther began prospecting in the Skouriotissa area after reading in ancient books that the island was rich in copper and noticing promising ancient Roman slag heaps in the area....
. - The local railway stations functioned as a place of exchange of goods and services, while some also operated as telephone centres, telegram offices and/or postal offices.
- CGR trains carried mail, which arrived in Famagusta via the Khedivial Mail Line (1912–1939).
The existence of a railway in Cyprus brought many benefits to the population of Cyprus. However, during the first years of its operation, many viewed the Railway more like a spectacle, instead of a means of transportation, which is why they crowded under the bridges to admire it. Overall, the CGR carried 3,199,934 tons of commercial goods and freight and 7,348,643 passengers.
The various stations were designated by large trilingual (Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) white signs, while the CGR owned a total of 12 locomotives, 17 coaches and about 100 multi-purpose wagons, 50 of which were purchased from Egypt and Palestine. The CGR employed around 200 people in total.
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
Section 3
- Morphou Station
- Nikitas Halt
- Baraji Halt
- Gaziveran Halt
- Pendayia Siding
- Karyotis Junction
- Kalokhorio Station
- Skouriotissa Halt
- Vlasio Halt
- Evrykhou Station
Closure
The line never made a profit and by 1932 the Western terminus station was at Kalokhorio Lefka, while from 1948 onwards it only reached up to Nicosia aerodrome. The ramshackle equipment and the unequal competition with the improved road network led the Government to the decision to definitely terminate the CGR. The last train departed from Nicosia Station at 14:57 on 31 December 1951 and arrived at Famagusta at 16:38. The dismantlement lasted up to March 1953. After an auction was announced in Cyprus Gazette, the 10 of the 12 locomotives, the tracks and part of the rolling stock were sold to the company Meyer Newman & Co, for the price of £65,626. Locomotive 1 was preserved as a monument outside FamagustaFamagusta
Famagusta is a city on the east coast of Cyprus and is capital of the Famagusta District. It is located east of Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour of the island.-Name:...
Station.
Some wagons were bought by locals, acquiring new and interesting uses, while the equipment was distributed among seven governmental departments. The Stations were either demolished or turned into Police Stations (Angastina, Kokkini Trimithia) or Public Works Department warehouses (Famagusta, Nicosia); Morphou Station became a grain storehouse, while at Evrykhou it operated as a sanitary centre and a forest dormitory.
During the Turkish invasion
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
of 1974, most of the remaining installations were knocked down, thus wiping many marks of the Railway. A large part of the Nicosia-Famagusta motorway was built upon the railway track, while wagon 152 was placed in the linear park in Kaimakli
Kaimakli
Kaimakli is a large North Eastern suburb located within the Municipality of Nicosia since 1968. The population of the area was 10864 inhabitants in 2001.-History:...
, in 1995. In Agios Dometios
Agios Dometios
Ayios Dhometios , is a suburb located west of the Cypriot capital Nicosia. It has a population of around 12,100 making it one of Cyprus' biggest municipalities....
, part of the railway line recently became a linear park
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
and a multi-purpose centre. Most of the employees were employed in state services and semi-governmental organisations.
External links
- Roxey Mouldings: Cyprus Government Railway - OO9OO9OO9 is a model railway scale and gauge combination of 4 mm scale and gauge tracks, which models a prototype track gauge of . It is a common choice in the United Kingdom for the modelling of narrow gauge railways whose prototype gauges lie approximately between and...
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