The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 1 (May 1, 1932.)
Bermuda's First Railway
Bermuda's First Railway.
More than a century has passed since England welcomed its first railway, while few are alive to-day to remember the opening of New Zealand's pioneer railway linking Lyttelton with Christchurch. In spite of these facts, there is one country in the world—Bermuda—which only recently has received its first introduction to the “Iron Way.” Bermuda is a great playground for the wealthy British and American tourist, and the new Bermuda Railway, when completed, will be 21 1/2 miles in length, running almost for the full length of the island. The section just opened is that between Hamilton and Somerset, a distance of 11 miles. The railway is of 4ft. 8 1/2in. gauge, and single-tracked throughout. Rails are flat-bottomed, spiked to timber sleepers, and weighing 67.5lbs. per yard. Passing loops are provided at intervals along the route, and the most important engineering work is the 1,004ft. bridge of steel, having an electrically-operated swing-span of 135ft., crossing a sea-inlet at Ferry Point.
Six Drewry petrol railcars and six trailer cars have been acquired for passenger movement over the Bermuda Railway. Goods traffic is handled by means of two power-operated 10-ton covered steel trucks, two 10-ton covered trailer trucks, and one spare power bogie. The motor railcars are 42ft. long, 9ft. wide and 11ft.6in. high. They weigh about 20 tons and accommodate 42 passengers. A feature is the patent five-speed gearbox, giving all five speeds in both forward and reverse directions.