Franklin (J 14)

Name: Franklin

OTHER RAILWAY STATIONS
The places listed below serve individual companies that have private sidings but are not associated with developed industrial townships.

It is important to appreciate the fact that in official railway terminology, a station is a manned facility serving both passenger and freight services. Many former stations have been downgraded to mere passing loops or halts which have no passing loops. The places listed below are identified in terms of their current status. A passing loop is generally regarded as a halt, although a halt may not have a passing loop.

Afriston:(27 km from Donnybrook on the Donnybrook – Underberg branch,)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini.

Ahrens:(32 km from Greytown on the branch to Kranskop)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini

Amatikulu:(123 km from Durban on the Durban – Empangeni – Golela line,)
Nearly 200 000 tons of bulk sugar was loaded on rail to the Durban (Maydon Wharf) sugar terminal to the packaging plant at Rossburgh.


Shunting Bulk Sugar
Ballengeich:(436 km from Durban and 18 km south of Newcastle on the Durban – Volksrust mainline.)
A coal mine was situated here and while the shaft has closed, anthracite quality coal is brought in by road from a mine near Hattingspruit and loaded to rail. A large plant which processes Silica railed from the Delmas area and which is loaded in containers for export at Durban.

Baynesfield: (21 km from Pentrich on the (Richmond branch)
Some 4 500 tons of roundwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Maydon Wharf for chipping, as well as Umkomaas and Richards Bay.

Bergville:(68 km from Ennersdale and terminus of the branch)
Over 10 000 tons of grain maize was dispatched to Durban for export.

Bulwer:(16 km from Donnybrook on the Underberg branch)
Over 80 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this former station site, most of which was directed to Mandini on the North Coast.

Cato Ridge:(71 km from Durban on the Volksrust mainline)
Location of a large ferro manganese processing plant which receives manganese from the Northern Cape and smelts it for export. During 2005 – 2006 over 580 000 tons of manganese was received and nearly 200 000 tons of ferro manganese was exported via Durban.

Cedara:(143 km from Durban on the Volksrust main line)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini

Cedarville:(54 km from Franklin on the Matatiele branch)
There has been no freight service on the Matatiele branch since 2005. There is a liquid fuel depot at the former station but it has not been used since 2003. Prior to that time nearly 15 000 tons of fuel, some 30% of the market, was received by rail at the facility.

Comrie: (119 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg) on Donnybrook - Franklin line)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini

Cramond:(32 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown line)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini

Creighton: (149 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg) on the Donnybrook - Franklin line)
No timber was loaded here during the 2005 – 2006 year but there are plantations in the area and depending on felling cycles, timber could be loaded once again in the future. There is a liquid fuel depot here which has not been used since 2003, when over 12 000 tons of traffic was received.

Dalton:(58 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown line)
Some 900 tons of roundwood for chipping was loaded at this former station and destined to Richards Bay on the North Coast

Dannhauser:(417 km from Durban and 24 km north of Glencoe on the Volksrust mainline)
There is a short access line from the station area to a grain silo and bulk malt storage facility. Over 4000 tons of grain sorghum was received here from various points of origin during 2005 – 2006.

Dargle:(166 km from Durban on the Volksrust mainline)
Over 9 600 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Mandini and Richards Bay on the North Coast

Donnybrook:(125 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg) on the Donnybrook - Franklin line)
Nearly 7 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this former station and destined to the North and South Coast.

Draycott: (11 km from Ennersdale on the Bergville branch,)
Over 36 000 tons of pulpwood and round wood was loaded at this former station and directed to Durban and various North and South Coast points.


FCY type bulk sugar
Empangeni: (178 km from Durban on the Durban – Empangeni – Golela line)
There was no traffic to Empangeni itself, junction of the Nkwalini branch. The station is no longer used but the infrastructure is still intact.

Estcourt: (256 km from Durban on the Volksrust mainline)
There is a large grain mill at the station and a line to the industrial area north of the town itself. There is another grain mill and a pressed-board manufacturer in the area. The board factory is currently receiving round wood by road but has begun to receive by rail once again.

Hammarsdale: (58 km from Durban on Pietermaritzburg – Volksrust mainline)
There is a coal depot at Hammarsdale. Which has in the past brought in coal by rail for distribution by road. This traffic was entirely on road during 2005 – 2006.


Heatonville: (28 km from Empangeni on Nkwalini branch)
Over 50 000 tons of sugar cane for the felixton mill was loaded at this station during 2005 – 2006. A total of 435,744 tins of sugar cane was loaded form 16 points on this branch.

Hermansburg: (38 km from Greytown on the Kranskop branch)
Over 5 000 tons of roundwood for chipping at Richards Bay was loaded here. In addition, over 11 000 tons of containerised tannin (wattle extract) was loaded for export at Durban.

Hlobane: (22 km from Vryheid and terminus of the branch from Tendenka)
This was at one time a major coal loading point, with coking and steam coal being loaded here and at Boomlaer, two kilometres to the west. Some 300 000 tons of coal was loaded to rail during 2005 – 2006, having been brought from a number of sources by road.

Inglenook: (117 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg) on the Donnybrook – Franklin line,)
783 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas on the South Coast line.

Felixton: ( Durban – Empangeni – Golela line, 169 km from Durban)
Some 45 000 tons of coal was received by rail for use at the local sugar mill.

Franklin: (221 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg) on the Donnybrook - Franklin line)
No traffic was loaded here during 2005 – 2006 but pulpwood has been loaded here in the past.

Gledhow:
Over 39 000 tons of coal was received by rail for use at the local sugar mill.

Glenside: (19 km from Dalton and terminus of the Glenside branch)
About 6 500 tons of pulp and roundwood was loaded at this siding and destined for North Coast mills and chipping plants.

Greytown:(103 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown and Kranskop line)
Some 17 000 tons of pulpwood and roundwood was loaded at this former station and destined to Durban, Richards Bay and Mandini.

Jaagbaan: (6,5 km from Dalton on the Glenside branch) Some 10 000 tons of molasses and almost 80 000 tons of bulk sugar were loaded to rail at the local sugar mill. The molasses was sent to Durban for export, as well as Eastern and Western Cape destinations. The bulk sugar was directed to an important distribution point in Germiston.

Kleinveld: (35 km from Chailey on Mount Alida branch)
Over 6 000 tons of pulp and roundwood was loaded at this siding and dispatched to Richards Bay.

Kokstad: (41 km from Franklin on the Kokstad branch)
There is currently no freight traffic at Kokstad. This station was formerly a major transhipping point from rail to road and there was a RMT (Road Motor Transport) depot at the station. Most of the infrastructure is still intact and could be used if a resumption of freight rail services is made in the future.

Kranskop:(51 km from Greytown and terminus of branch)
Nearly 5 000 tons of roundwood for chipping and export was loaded at this fomer station and destined to Richards Bay.

Kwa-Mbonambi:(Durban – Empangeni – Golela line, 207 km from Durban)
305,985 tons of hardwood (gum) was railed to Umkomaas during the review period on the Green Arrow pulpwood train.

Loskop:(21 km from Ennersdale on the Bergville branch)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini

Mandini:(106 km from Durban on the Durban – Empangeni – Golela line)
The large paper mill here received over 300 000 tons of hardwood and softwood from various originating points countrywide during 2005 – 2006. Over 200 000 tons of coal was received during the same period. Some 18 000 tons of paper products (mainly paper rolls) was dispatched to the Western Cape during this period as well.

Matatiele:(77 km from Franklin and terminus of the branch)
There are no rail freight services to Matatiele at the present time but the freight sheds are still intact and could be used if services resume. There is a great potential for general freight to Matatiele itself and for distribution to the Eastern Cape and Lesotho.

Mkabela:(18 km from Schroeders on the Bruyns Hill branch)
Some 3 000 tons of treatectimber was loaded at this siding, most of which was destined for stations in Namibia. This treating plant is virtually the only rail user on this branch which used to send pulpwood from Bruyns Hill and Wartberg.

Menne:(8 km from Greytown on the Kranskop branch)
Over 8 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding for Richards Bay.

Mizpah:(93 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown line)
Some 200 tons of matchwood was loaded at this siding and sent to Rosslyn in Gauteng during the review period.

Mollissma: (13 km from Chailey on the Kranskop branch
Over 20 000 tons of round and pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Richards Bay for chipping and pulping.

Mount Alida:(40 km from Chailey and terminus of branch)
Just 352 tons of roundwood was loaded at this point, being destined to Richards Bay for chipping and export.

Mpolwenni:(36,5 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown line)
Over 48 000 tons of pulpwood was forwarded from this siding to Mandini on the North Coast. In addition, over 1 400 tons of poles were dispatched from the local treating plant, mainly to points in Namibia.

Mvozana:(15 km from Greytown on the Kranskop branch)
Nearly 7 000 tons of round wood was loaded at this siding and destined to Richards Bay for chipping and export.

New Hanover:(48 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown)
Over 20 000 tons of round and pulpwood was loaded at this former station and dispatched to Mandini and Richards Bay during 2005 – 2006.

Nkwalini:(64 km from Empangeni and terminus of branch)
Over 17 500 tons of sugar cane was loaded at this point, destined to the Felixton sugar mill, south of Empangeni. Sugar cane was loaded at another 15 sidings on this branch, which generated over 435 000 tons of traffic during 2005 – 2006.

Ottos Bluff: (21 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown line)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini.

Park Rynie:(57 km from Clairwood on the Poret Shepstone line)
Over 12 000 tons of river sand was loaded here during 2005 – 2005 and railed to a block yard in Underberg.

Pevensey: (42 km from Donnybrook on the Underberg branch)
Some 700 tons of roundwood was loaded at this siding and dispatched to Richards Bay for chipping and export.

Port Shepstone:(108 km from Clairwood and terminus of the line)
Over 75 000 tons of limestone was loaded at the South Wharf facility. Most of this was sent to the Umkomaas pulp mill, but over 20 000 tons was sent to a paper mill at Geduld in Gauteng.

Richmond:(41 km from Pentrich and terminus of branch)
Some 17 000 of pulpwood and roundwood for chipping was loaded at this former station and destined to various points in Durban, and the North and South Coast lines.

Seven Oaks:(82 km from Pietermaritzburg on the Greytown line)
Over 10 000 tons of round and pulpwood was loaded at this siding, being destined to Richards Bay and Mandini

Sezela:(57 km from Clairwood on the Port Shepstone line)
Slightly less than 48 000 tons of coal from Mpumalanga was railed to the sugar mill at Sezela. A molasses loading facility to rail at the mill has not been used for several years but could utilised in the future.

Simuma:(120 km from Clairwood on the Umtentweni – and Port Shepstone line.)
Over 500 000 tons of cement clinker was railed to the Mount Vernon sement plant in Durban during 2005 – 2006. Coal was formerly railed to Simuma but this traffic is currently on road.

Singisi: (205 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg) on the Donnybrook - Franklin line)
Over 46 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding, being destined to Montclair and Mandini. An additional 25 000 tons of wood chips were loaded fpr the paper mill at Mandini.

Stanger:(75 km from Durban on the Durban – Empangeni – Golela line)
There was no significant rail freight traffic to Stanger during 2005 – 2006 but it was formerly an important point for general freight traffic.

Stilwater:(9 km from Vryheid on the line to Glencoe)
No rail freight traffic was generated from this point in 2005 – 2006 although wattle bark has been loaded in the past.

Talana:(11 km from Glencoe on the line to Vryheid)
Over 150 000 tons of coal was loaded to rail at Talana and sent to Richards Bay and Wests (Durban) for export. An additional 150 000 tons was railed to various domestic destinations.

Taylors: (38 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg on the Franklin line)
15 000 tons of round and pulpwood was loaded at this siding and shipped to Maydon wharf and Richards Bay for chipping and export.

Umbogintwini:(16 km from Clairwood on the Port Shepstone line)
Over 27 000 tons of caustic soda was received here from Sasolburg while over 6 000 tons of chemicals were sent inland to three destinations. Over 15 000 tons of sulphur and over 29 000 tons of titanium were received from Richards Bay for processing at the plants within the industrial area.

Umhlongonek: (67 km from Depot (Pietermaritzburg on the Donnybrook - Franklin line)
Some 400 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Richards Bay for chipping.

Umkomaas:(36 km from Clairwood on the Port Shepstone line)
The site of a large pulp mill which operates its own railway connecting to the exchange yard on a spur from Umkomaas. The mill received about 450 000 tons of pulpwood by rail during 2005 – 2006, of which over 300 000 tons was sourced from Kwambonambi in Zululand. Some 190 000 tons of coal from Mpumalanga, 55 000 tons of limestone from Port Shepstone and nearly 10 000 tons of sulphur were received from Richards Bay.

Underberg:(62 km from Donnybrook and terminus of the Underberg branch)
Some 17 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this former station and directed to Umkomaas on the South Coast line.

Utrecht:(45 km from Rooipunt and terminus of the branch)
The mine has closed at Utrecht and it is not known whether it will be reopened in the future. There is a possibility that another mine may open in the area.

Voorkeur:(25,5 km from Chailey on the Mount Alida branch)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini

Welgegund:(24 km from Greytown on the Kranskop branch)
Over 40 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas and Mandini.

Winterton:(39 km from Ennersdale on the Bergville branch)
There is a grain silo and fertiliser depot at this former station and some 6 300 tons of grain was railed to Durban for export. In addition, over 8 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded dispatched to Umkomaas on the South Coast line.

Woodford: (55 km from Donnybrook on the Underberg branch)
Some 3 000 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding and destined to Umkomaas on the South Coast line.

Woolstone:(17 km from Chailey on the Mount Alida branch)
Only 64 tons of pulpwood was loaded at this siding being destined to Richards Bay for chipping.




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