Dabbling in Mapping Railways

Looks like someone else has been busy with suburbanlines http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/559184

Found Dayles Coombes' excellent maps on her SA-Transport web site and decided to overlay the narrow gauge map. Just click pe-avontuur_map_b_martin_remote.kml and open it in Google Earth.

Change Log 10/24/2007 12:12 incorporated the points from the suburban lines link above. fixed some anomolies like Maitland and Ndabeni. The allpoints file is big and will take about 30 seconds to load into GE (after saving to your harddrive). If you display this file you will see that the pushpins are smaller than normal, and different colours to indicate the suburban points I've added (green) as opposed to the normal points in (red). The points in the railway file are bigger and bright yellow 10/26/2007 10:23 Fixed Cedara, Hilton, Pretoria Wes Added 'uplifted' folder - but this needs a lot more work allpoints.kml is now sorted by placename, and duplicates have been removed Sorted electric.dat by type of line fixed Beaufort West - Muldersvlei 11/01/2007 09:48 Found a few extra places. All 25kv lines are now illustrated, and some uplifted lines are complete. Still looking for 'Monument' in Cape Town that was a suburban stop The Beaufortwest-Muldervlei line is indicated, but there are uplifted sections in the middle of it. What gives? Draai to Touws River and Matroosberg to Kleinstraat added some detail to suburban lines in Cape Town saved new overview image- see bottom of this page 11/03/2007 20:15 Found some more stations... Broodsnyersplaas Cachet,2627CA Kaydale,2628AD Kwesine,2628AC Mlamlankunzi EC,3028CD Natalspruit,2628AC Rooikop/Mapleton,siding between Rooikop and Mapleton Sentrarand,2628AB Kamfersdam,2824DB Palingpan,2823AA Manganore,2823AA 11/08/2007 12:04 The map is complete in that all points have been found. I have also added in details for some routes. Added detail for the Hex river tunnel area. Set lines described as 'catenary down' or 'uplifted' to be displayed in grey added alternate map sample image. Primary image does not show placenames, alternate map (link at bottom of page) does show place names.

I am attempting to make a Google Earth Overlay (KML file) that shows the electrified railway lines in South Africa.

So far I have a database of 21522 places. This is combined using an AWK script with the list of electrified lines below to produce the RAILWAY.KML file which is currently 260128 bytes in size.

If you have corrections you're welcome to send them to me through the SAR-L list or the email link at bottom right of this page.
I need a plain text file containing something like
lon,lat,0,placename,province
one line for each point. The ,0, is the elevation, if you know it, give it in meters.

+,Springfontein,Stormberg
+,Stormberg,East London

+,Springfontein,East London

Note that you will want to turn on the railway lines in Google Earth which is an option under Transportation in the Layers window at bottom left.

#,DC 1500v [3,000v from 1929]   (pale blue)
*,DC 3000v                      (dark blue) 
+,AC 25000v 			(green)
!,AC 50000v			(pale green)	
^,proposed 25kv AC 		(red)
=,3kv uplifted                  (light grey)

!,Doringbaai,Knersvlakte,route
!,Dwarskerbos,Elandsbaai,route
!,Elandsbaai,Lambert's Bay,route
!,Halfweg,Sandkoppie Hut,route
!,Kameelpoort NC,Lupanie,route
!,Kenhardt,Rugseer,route
!,Klawervlei,Halfweg,route
!,Knersvlakte,Klawervlei,route
!,Kolke,Kenhardt,route
!,Lambert's Bay,Doringbaai,route
!,Lupanie,Erts,route Erts near Sishen= Iron ore line]
!,Rugseer,Kameelpoort NC,route
!,Saldanha,Dwarskerbos,route [Iron ore line]
!,Sandkoppie Hut,Kolke,route
#,Bellville,Cape Town STA,DAF replaces CT-Muldersvlei
#,Bellville,Muldersvlei
#,Monument WC,Sea Point,[1927 - 1929,closed, bypassed CT station]
#,Muldersvlei,Eersterivier
#,Observatory WC,Simonstown,[Suburban]
#,Soutrivier,Observatory WC,[surburban]
*,Alliance,Daveyton,[Catenary down,closed,vandals Suburban]
*,Alliance,Welgedag,[Large Tri-angle Suburban] 
*,Amanzimtoti,Illovo Beach,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Angelo,Dunswart,[Suburban]
*,Apex,Springs,[Tri-angle Suburban]
*,Apex,Welgedag,[Tri-angle Suburban]
*,Bank,Midway
*,Barkly-west,Rivermead,route
*,Bay Junction,Windermere WC,(goods only):
*,Bay junction,Table Bay docks,(goods only)
*,Bazley,Elysium,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Beeshoek,Postdene,route
*,Belhar,Unibell,route [Suburban]
*,Belle Ombre,Hercules,[Tri-angle Suburban]
*,Berea Road,Dalbridge,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Bonteheuwel,Netreg,DAF Suburban
*,Booysens STA,Faraday,[Underground ex Village Main,crossings in tunnel Suburban]
*,Booysens STA,Kaserne West,[Kaserne goods yard,RML/SRCL Suburban]
*,Botesland,Kruidfontein,route
*,Breede River,Worcester,route
*,Broodsnyersplaas,Ermelo,[Onwards Natal Coal]
*,Broodsnyersplaas,Ogies,[Coal]
*,Broodsnyersplaas,Wonderfontein,[Coal]
*,Cachet,Houtheuwel,[Houtkop]
*,Cachet,Welverdiend GAU,[Suburban]
*,Cape Town STA,Esplanade WC
*,Clairwood,Reunion,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Clairwood,Wests,[Suburban]
*,Content,Warrenton,route [Onwards Tvl]
*,Crown,Booysens STA,[RML/SRCL Suburban]
*,Crown,Nasrec,[New Show Grounds,Old Milnerpark Suburban Show Times]
*,Crown,Westgate,[Under M2 pillars Suburban]
*,Dalbridge,Point
*,Dalbridge,Rossburgh,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,De Doorns,HexTunnel1,new route through tunnel
*,Delmas,Hawerklip,[Coal]
*,Delmas,Ogies,[Coal]
*,Delmas,SentraRand
*,Derwent,Roosenekal,[Iron ore]
*,Derwent,Wonderfontein,[Coal]
*,Dieprivier,Maitland Metro,[Suburban]
*,Draai,Matjiesfontein,route
*,Driehoek,President,route [Kaserne West-President Tri-angle RML/SRCL Suburban]
*,Dronfield,Macfarlane,route [Onwards Tvl]
*,Duffs Road,Kwa Mashu,[Suburban]
*,Dunswart,Alliance,[Large Tri-angle Suburban] 
*,Dunswart,Apex,[Large Tri-angle Suburban]
*,Durban New,Berea Road
*,Durban New,Ladysmith,[Lines Cato Ridge,Umlaas Road,Thornhill,Pentrich,catenary down,partly closed -see duplicate]
*,Durban STA,Empangeni
*,Durban sta,Berea Road,route Dbn-Port Shepstone [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Eerste fabrieke,Witbank
*,Eersterivier,Strand,[Suburban]
*,Elysium,Hibberdene,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Esplanade WC,Bay Junction
*,Fieldsview,Kamfersdam,route tri-angle
*,Fieldsview,Macfarlane,[Tri-angle]
*,George Goch,President,[Tri-angle Suburban]
*,Germiston STA,Kutalo,[suburban]
*,Glencoe,Volksrust,[Onwards Tvl]
*,Glencoe,Vryheid
*,Gouda,Wolseley,route
*,Heideveld,Nyanga,detail for Netreg-Kapteinsklip
*,Hercules,Koedoespoort,[Suburban]
*,Hermon,Gouda,route
*,HexTunnel1,HexTunnel2,new route through tunnel
*,HexTunnel2,Kleinstraat,new route through tunnel
*,Hexriver,De Doorns,route
*,Hibberdene,Umzumbe,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Hilton STA,Cedara STA,(catenary?)
*,Houtheuwel,Vereeniging,[Inclusive avoiding line Suburban line]
*,Ilfracombe,Renshaw,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Illovo Beach,Ilfracombe,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,India,Union,[Tri-angle] 
*,Isipingo,Umbogintwini,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Jenn-Haven,Lime Acres,route
*,Joe Gcwabi,Mandalay,detail for Philippi - Khayelitsha WC
*,Jupiter,Recreation,route [Kaserne West-President Tri-angle RML/SRCL Suburban]
*,Kaalfontein,Leralla,[Suburban] 
*,Kaalfontein,Pretoria,[Suburban]
*,Kaapmuiden,Komatipoort
*,Kaapmuiden,Phalaborwa,[Copper]
*,Kamfersdam,Dronfield,route [Onwards Tvl]
*,Kaserne West,George Goch,[City Deep here Suburban]
*,Kaserne West,Jupiter,route [Kaserne West-President Tri-angle RML/SRCL Suburban]
*,Kasselsvlei,Kuilsrivier STA,[triangle leg]
*,Kaydale,Springs,[Suburban]
*,Kaydale,Volksrust,[Onwards Natal]
*,Kelso,Pennington,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Kimberley STA,Kamfersdam,route [Onwards Tvl]
*,Kleinstraat,Touws River,route
*,Knights,Kaalfontein,[Inc.Modderfontein Pvt Sdg Suburban]
*,Koopmansfontein,Ulco,route
*,Kroonstad,Sasolburg,[Onwards Tvl]
*,Kruidfontein,Leeu-Gamka,route
*,Kutalo,Elsburg,[Suburban]
*,Ladysmith,Glencoe,[Part of original section 1925]
*,Ladysmith,Van Reenen,[Onwards OFS]
*,Laingsburg,Botesland,route
*,Langa,Bonteheuwel,[line Suburban, 4 tracks]
*,Langa,Kasselsvlei,[Tri- angle Suburban]
*,Langlaagte,Crown,[Triple rail over rail bridges LL] 
*,Langlaagte,George Goch,[Triple rail over rail bridges]
*,Langlaagte,New Canada,[Triple rail over rail bridges Suburban]
*,Lavistown,Belhar,route [Suburban]
*,Leeu-Gamka,Beaufort West,route
*,Lentegeur,Mitchells Plain,detail for Netreg-Kapteinsklip
*,Lime Acres,Koopmansfontein,route
*,Macfarlane,Windsorton Road,route [Onwards Tvl]
*,Mandalay,Nolungile,detail for Philippi - Khayelitsha WC
*,Mariannhill,Cato Ridge
*,Matjiesfontein,Laingsburg,route
*,Melville KZN,Southport,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Mitchells Plain,Kapteinsklip,detail end for Netreg-Kapteinsklip
*,Mlamlankunzi,Nancefield,[Suburban]
*,Monte Vista,Oosterzee
*,Muldersvlei,Paarl,route
*,Mutual,Langa,[Suburban]
*,Nancefield,Houtheuwel,[Triangle Suburban]
*,Ndabeni CT,Mutual,(triangle leg - goods)
*,NetReg,Heideveld,detail start for Netreg-Kapteinsklip
*,New Canada,Crown,[RML/SRCL Suburban]
*,New Canada,Mlamlankunzi,[Suburban]
*,New Canada,Naledi SUB,[Suburban]
*,New Canada,Nancefield,[suburban DAF]
*,New Era,Rooikop/Mapleton,[Point between Avoiding line]
*,Nolungile,Noqubela,detail for Philippi - Khayelitsha WC
*,Noqubela,Khayelitsha WC,detail for Philippi - Khayelitsha WC*,De Aar,Deelfontein,route
*,Nyanga,Philippi,detail for Netreg-Kapteinsklip
*,Oakmoor,SentraRand
*,Observatory WC,Koebergweg,[Triangle]
*,Ogies,Broodsnyersplaas,[Coal]
*,Ogies,Witbank,[Coal]
*,Oosterzee,Bellville
*,Paarl,Wellington,route
*,Pahla,Amanzimtoti,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Palingpan,Beeshoek,route
*,Palingpan,Hotazel,[Iron]
*,Palingpan,Manganore,[Manganese]
*,Park Rynie,Kelso,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Pendoring,Atlanta,[Mineral]
*,Pendoring,Brits,[Mineral]
*,Pennington,Bazley,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Pentech,Sarepta STA,route  [Suburban]
*,Philippi,Joe Gcwabi,detail for Netreg-Kapteinsklip
*,Philippi,Joe Gcwabi,detail for Philippi - Khayelitsha WC
*,Philippi,Lentegeur,detail for Netreg-Kapteinsklip
*,Pietermaritzburg,Glencoe,[Original section 1925] 
*,Pietermaritzburg,Ladysmith
*,Pinelands WC,Langa,[Suburban]
*,Postdene,Jenn-Haven,route
*,President,Germiston STA,[Suburban]
*,President,India,[Tri-angle Suburban] 
*,Pretoria North,De Wildt,[Part of SentraRand line]
*,Pretoria North,Pendoring,[Mineral]
*,Pretoria wes,Hercules,[Suburban]
*,Pretoria wes,Pretoria,[Suburban]
*,Pretoria wes,Saulsville,[Suburban]
*,Pretoria,Eerste fabrieke,[Suburban]
*,Pretoria,Eerste fabrieke,[Suburban]
*,Pretoria,Pretoria wes,[Suburban]
*,Pyramid,SentraRand
*,Randfontein,Bank,[Suburban]
*,Recreation,Driehoek,route [Kaserne West-President Tri-angle RML/SRCL Suburban]
*,Renshaw,Scottburgh,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Reunion,Isipingo,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Reunion,Umlazi,[Suburban]
*,Rissik,Queenswood,[Large Tri-angle]
*,Rivermead,Fieldsview,route
*,Romansrivier,Breede River,route
*,Rooikop,Kaydale
*,Rossburgh,Clairwood,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Rossburgh,Dalbridge,[Avoiding line]
*,Rossburgh,Mariannhill
*,Rossburgh,Pinetown
*,Sarepta STA,Kasselsvlei
*,Scottburgh,Park Rynie,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Skansdam,SentraRand
*,Southport,Port Shepstone,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Springs,Welgedag
*,Touws River,Draai,route
*,Ulco,Barkly-west,route
*,Umbogintwini,Pahla,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Umzumbe,Melville KZN,route [Incl.Pvt.Sdg.Suimia Suburban]
*,Unibell,Pentech,route  [Suburban]
*,Union,Natalspruit,[Tri-angle] 
*,Union,Rooikop,[Tri-angle]
*,Van Reenen,Kroonstad
*,Veertien strome,Cachet
*,Vereeniging,Natalspruit,[from Redan Suburban line]
*,Vereeniging,Sasolburg,[Onwards OFS]
*,Vryheid,Hlobane KZN,[Coal]
*,Warrenton,Veertien Strome,route [Onwards Tvl]
*,Welgedag,Delmas
*,Wellington,Hermon,route
*,Welverdiend GAU,Bank
*,Welverdiend GAU,Lichtenburg,[Minerals]
*,Wesrand,Langlaagte,[Suburban]
*,Wesrand,Randfontein,[Suburban]
*,Whites West,Bloemfontein
*,Whites,Kroonstad
*,Whites,Whites West,[Triangle Catenary down South leg closed] 
*,Windermere WC,Monte Vista
*,Windsorton Road,Content,route [Onwards Tvl]
*,Winternest,Mabopane,[Suburban]
*,Witbank,Derwent,[Coal]
*,Wolseley,Romansrivier,route
*,Wonderfontein,Kaapmuiden
*,Worcester,Hexriver,route
*,Ysterplaat,Mutual,(suburban)
+,Addo,SwartKops,[Inclusive coastal line Swartkops to PE]
+,Alicedale,Addo
+,Barnard,Hutchinson,route
+,Brakpoort,Fortrug,route
+,Brits,Rustenburg,[Mineral]
+,Cookhouse,Alicedale
+,Cradock,Cookhouse
+,De Aar,Deelfontein,route
+,De Aar,Kimberley STA
+,Deelfontein,Merriman,route
+,Empangeni,Richards Bay,[Harbour area]
+,Fortrug,Barnard,route
+,Hutchinson,Three Sisters NC,route
+,Merriman,Wildebeeste,route
+,Nelspoort,Beaufort West,route
+,New Brighton PE,Port Elizabeth,(coastal line)
+,Northam,Ellisras,[Mineral]
+,Northam,Skoongesicht,[Mineral]
+,Noupoort,De Aar
+,Noupoort,Rosmead
+,Pretoria North,Pietersburg
+,Restvale,Nelspoort,route
+,Richards Bay,Vryheid East,[Coal Line]
+,Rosmead,Cradock
+,Rustenburg,Northam,[Mineral]
+,Springfontein,Stormberg
+,Stormberg,East London
+,Swartkops,New Brighton PE,(goods)
+,Three Sisters NC,Restvale,route
+,Vryheid,Ermelo,[Coal line]
+,Vryheid,Vryheid East,[line to Ermelo Tvl.]
+,Wildebeeste,Brakpoort,route
=,Boughton,Hilton STA,(uplifted)
=,De Doorns,Matroosberg,route (catenary down)
=,Elsburg,Kutalo,[Catenary down closed due to vandles Suburban] 
=,Elsburg,Simpan,[ Only joining point at Elsburg Closed vandals Suburban]
=,Elsburg,Wadeville,route [Catenary down closed due to vandals Suburban]
=,Germiston STA,Angelo,[Tri-angle Closed Squatters] 
=,Germiston STA,Knights,[Tri-angle Closed Squatters]
=,Hazendal,Langa,[Tri-angle Suburban - never built]
=,Hillview,Alberton,[Catenary down,closed Suburban]
=,Katlehong,Lindela,route [Catenary down closed due to vandals Suburban]
=,Kelso KZN,Umzinto,[catenary down,closed]
=,Knights,Angelo,[Tri-agle Closed Squatters]
=,Lavistown,Bonteheuwel,[Small tri-angle Suburban - NEVER BUILT]
=,Lindela,Pilot,route [Catenary down closed due to vandals Suburban]
=,Matroosberg,Kleinstraat,(both lines uplifted)
=,Matroosberg,Kleinstraat,route (catenary down)
=,Merrivale,Howick,[catenary down,closed Suburban]
=,Nancefield,Pimville,[caterary down,closed 1974 Suburban]
=,Pilot,Kwesine,route [Catenary down closed due to vandals Suburban]
=,Pinetown,Cato Ridge,(catenary down)
=,Thornville STA,Pentrich,(catenary down)
=,Touws River,Draai,(goods uplifted)
=,Umlaas Road,Thornville STA,(uplifted)
=,Wadeville,Katlehong,route [Catenary down closed due to vandals Suburban]
=,Whites West,Welkom,[Catenary down]
=,Woodstock STA,Monument WC,(uplifted)
^,Bloemfontein,Kimberley STA
^,Bloemfontein,Springfontein,[Giving Electric Traction to PLZ/ELN]
^,Brakbos,Putsonderwater,route
^,Britstown,Omdraaivlei,route
^,De Aar,Britstown,route
^,Koegrabie,Upington,route
^,Mafeking,Veertien strome
^,Marydale,Brakbos,route
^,Omdraaivlei,Prieska,route
^,Pietersburg,Messina
^,Prieska,Marydale,route
^,Putsonderwater,Sonderpan,route
^,Rosmead,Stormberg
^,Sonderpan,Koegrabie,route
^,Springfontein,Noupoort,[Giving Electric Traction to PLZ/ELN]
^,Wesrand,Mafeking