TOPIC:

Another view of the pontoon bridge, this time by Caney. Reproduced in "Natal. Illustrated Official Railway Guide" (London 1903; p. 93).




..

Thank you, Neville,
The Pontoon Bridge was moved from position 1 to position 2 on 27 Feb 1900 and stayed there for some time to allow wagons to reach Ladysmith, and I think your photo shows it in position 2. On these images of this pontoon, I'd be interested to know which position do you think each of these is in? (I don't think any of these show the pontoon on the upper Tugela, nor on the Modder)

Rob,

A couple of the photographs contain enough topographical landmarks to make it possible to locate the two pontoons. Due to erosion and deposition, parts of the course of the Tugela will have changed slightly and mid-stream islands will have formed or been washed away, but I think the yellow lines shown below are pretty close to the 1900 pontoon locations. The red lines show the photographer's approximate field of view.

I would say the first image in your last post is Pontoon 2, the second Pontoon 1 and the third almost certainly Pontoon 1. With regard to the last photo, the water near the west bank in the sheltered area just above the small waterfall would have been shallow, and perfect for watering horses. This area appears to have in part silted up since 1900. Also, the rocks immediately to the north of this appear to be those behind the watering horses in your image.












..

Thanks Neville,
you've confirmed what I thought.
Rob

I must have been standing directly above the southern end of Pontoon 2 when I took this photograph of Hart's Hill Falls from Naval Hill in 1981.



..