Research help please

[JohnHannah]

Hello Everybody, I'm working on a book set during the Ninth Frontier War (1878). It looks to me as if there was no rail connection at that time between the Midland and Eastern lines (starting from Port Elizabeth and East London). Is that right? Does anyone know when a coastal route connecting the two ports was established? Sorry if this sounds horribly ignorant. I just started the project.

Thanks in advance, JH

[John Ashworth]

Welcome to the forum, John. I hope someone will be able to assist you - we have some fairly knowledgeable people on board.

[JohnHannah]

Thanks for the warm welcome, John. I'm sure I'll learn a lot here. It's great to discover that there are so many steam rail fans around. I'm old enough to have many warm memories of journeys by steam train throughout my native Scotland. I miss the sound and smell of steam engines. Somehow, diesel doesn't do it for me!