How far from reality was Cecil Rhodes idea of a railway linking Cape Town to Cairo?
If the Russians were able to build the Trans-Siberian Railway, there was no practical reason why the Cape to Cairo line could not have been built, The reasons it was not completed was that prior to the First World War a large chunk of German territory lay in the way. (German East Africa). After the war money was a problem with the world wide depression of the 1920s. After WW2 there was the movement for freedom throughout colonial Africa. The proposal is not dead, however, as there are plans for an Egypt – Sudan line and a Sudan – Uganda line. There would, however, be three different gauges along the route. More information can be found at:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape-Cairo_… which details those parts of the line that were built.
