The Mayumbe line was a long gauge

narrow gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...

in the north west of the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

between the port of Boma and

Tshela Tshela (or Tsela) is the main town of Bas-fleuve district in Kongo Central Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The town was linked to the port of Boma by an isolated narrow gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroa ...

History

The Société des Chemins de fer vicinaux du Mayumbe (CVM) was created on July 30, 1898, to build and operate a network of railways built at a

narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...

in the province of Lower Congo, in the

Congo Free State The Congo Free State, also known as the Independent State of the Congo (), was a large Sovereign state, state and absolute monarchy in Central Africa from 1885 to 1908. It was privately owned by Leopold II of Belgium, King Leopold II, the const ...

which became

Belgian Congo The Belgian Congo (, ; ) was a Belgian colonial empire, Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960 and became the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville). The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Repu ...

then

Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo), is a country located on the western coast of Central ...

, with a planned extension to the

Republic of Congo The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo), is a country located on the western coast of Central ...

. On 1 January 1936, the CVM was integrated with the Office des Transports Coloniaux (OTRACO). In 1974, it was merged with the Office National des Transports ( ONATRA). The line was dismantled in 1984 under

Mobutu Sese Seko Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga ( ; born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997), often shortened to Mobutu Sese Seko or Mobutu and also known by his initials MSS, was a Congolese politician and military officer ...

, along with the local industry.

Line

Boma -

Lukula Lukula is a town in, and a territory of Kongo Central province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies on the road and disused Mayumbe railway line between Boma, to the south, and Tshela, to the north, on the southern bank of the Lakula rive ...

(140 km) * Boma (Plateau) - Bangu (8 km), opening May 7, 1899 * Bangu - Kisundi (35 km), opening on January 1, 1900 * Kisundi - Lukula (35 km), opening December 31, 1901 * Lukula -

(60 km), opening 31 December 1912, extension opened by the State In 1932, the Boma Lukula section was converted to narrow gauge, the section from Lukula to Tshela in 1938.

Locomotives

* No. 1-8, type 020T, delivered in 1898-9 by Saint Léonard Liège * No. 1A-4A, type

Garratt A Garratt locomotive is a type of articulated steam locomotive invented by the engineer Herbert William Garratt that is articulated into three parts. Its boiler, firebox, and cab are mounted on a centre frame or "bridge". The two other ...

020-020, delivered in 1911 by Saint Léonard Liège * No. 1B-2B, type Garratt 020-020, delivered in 1919 by Saint Leonard in Liege * No. 3B-6B, type Garratt 020-020, delivered in 1921 by Saint Leonard in Liege * No. 7B-11B, type Garratt 020-020, delivered in 1924 by Saint Leonard in Liege * No. 1C-4C, type Garratt 020-020, delivered in 1926 by Saint Leonard in Liege * No. 1E, type Garratt 020-020, delivered in 1927 by Saint Leonard in Liege

Gallery

Image:Boma La Gare.jpg, Historical view of Boma station Image:Boma Le tram de Boma plateau.jpg, The local tram at Boma Image:201 Le tramway de Boma-plateau.jpg, Another view of Boma Image:CdF Vicinaux du Mayumbe 1898.jpg, Share of the Société des Chemins de fer Vicinaux du Mayumbe, issued 21. September 1898

References

{{DRC Railways 600 mm gauge railways in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 ft gauge railways in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Railway lines opened in 1898 Railway lines closed in 1984 1898 establishments in the Congo Free State Railway lines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo