The discovery of various rich mineral resources in Southern Africa saw the construction of various railway lines. Of note was the construction of the Delagoa Bay railway line, which followed the discovery of gold in the then Transvaal area.
On 2 June 1887, President of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger authorised the construction of the Delgoa bay railway. The Portuguese originally started the construction, but it was later taken over by the Dutch when the Portuguese faced financial difficulties.
References:
Jim Hunter. World railways of the nineteenth century: a pictorial history in Victorian. [Online]. Available at: http://books.google.co.za. [Accessed 25 May, 2010]
Important dates in South African History. [Online]. Available at: www.angelfire.com. [Accessed 25 May, 2010]
