Narrow gauge railway from Nauru

A phosphate train in Nauru.

The phosphate railway in 1908

The Nauru narrow-gauge railway transports phosphate from the interior of the island of Nauru to the piers on the west coast of the island in the Aiwo district. For this purpose, a 3.9 km long narrow-gauge railway with 2 feet (unit) (610 mm) gauge was built by the Pacific Phosphate Company in 1907 .

history

The gauge was widened to 3 feet (914 mm) by the British Phosphate Commission in 1920 . Steam locomotives were previously used, but diesel locomotives or occasionally tractors are used today.

Since Nauru's phosphate deposits are almost exhausted, the future of the narrow-gauge railway is uncertain. It was still in use in 2008.

The Nauru narrow-gauge railway is depicted on several Nauru postage stamps, for example on series from 1980 and 1985 and on some special postage stamps.