1905 in South Africa

Railway lines opened

• 1 February – Free State – Springfontein to Jagersfontein, 48 miles 13 chains (77.5 kilometres).^[1]
• 1 March – Free State – Aberfeldy to Bethlehem, 44 miles 10 chains (71.0 kilometres).^[1]
• 27 March – Transvaal – Rayton to Cullinan, 6 miles (9.7 kilometres).^[1]
• 1 May – Cape Western – Hutchinson to Pampoenpoort, 48 miles 28 chains (77.8 kilometres).^[2]
• 18 May – Cape Eastern – Xalanga to Elliot, 19 miles 27 chains (31.1 kilometres).^[2]
• 1 August – Transvaal – Klerksdorp to Vierfontein (Free State), 17 miles 15 chains (27.7 kilometres).^[1]
• 19 September – Cape Western – De Aar to Prieska, 112 miles 8 chains (180.4 kilometres).^[2]
• 1 November – Cape Eastern – Komga to Eagle, 27 miles 4 chains (43.5 kilometres).^[2]
• 1 November – Cape Midland – Humewood Road to Humansdorp (Narrow gauge), 68 miles 57 chains (110.6 kilometres).^[2]
• 1 November – Natal – Elandskop to Donnybrook, 42 miles 38 chains (68.4 kilometres).^[1]
• 2 November – Cape Eastern – Aliwal North to Lady Grey, 39 miles 65 chains (64.1 kilometres).^[2]
• 1 December – Cape Western – Cape Town to Sea Point, 3 miles 51 chains (5.9 kilometres).^[1][2]
• 16 December – Cape Western – Van der Stel to Strand, 2 miles 6 chains (3.3 kilometres).^[2]
• 16 December – Free State – Modderpoort to Ladybrand, 7 miles (11.3 kilometres).^[1]

• 18 December – Free State – Marseilles to Maseru in Basutoland, 16 miles 32 chains (26.4 kilometres).^[1]
• 20 December – Transvaal – Springs to Breyten, 121 miles 78 chains (196.3 kilometres).^[1]
• 22 December – Free State – Dover to Parys, 20 miles 18 chains (32.5 kilometres).^[1]

Locomotives

Cape

• A single 0-4-2 tank locomotive named Britannia is placed in service by the Cape Copper Company as a shunting engine at Port Nolloth in the Cape Colony.^[3]

Natal

• The Natal Government Railways places two Class A 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives in service, designed by Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie for passenger traffic on the mainline between Ladysmith and Charlestown. In 1912 they will be designated Class 2 on the South African Railways (SAR).^[4]

Transvaal

• The Central South African Railways places two four-cylinder rack tank steam locomotives in service on the section between Waterval Onder and Waterval Boven, but they are underpowered and prove to be failures in rack service.^[5]