Antarctica

Several countries have territorial claims over parts of Antarctica, but under a treaty of 1959 all such claims are suspended. Therefore there is no single official flag for Antarctica, although various proposals have surfaced from time to time.

Dumont d’Urville

Decauville railway at Dumont d’Urville.

In the 1950s, this French survey base made use of a narrow gauge railway of Decauville type to bring equipment ashore from a jetty. This makes it the only recorded railway on the Antarctic continent, and by far the most southerly railway in the world.

South Orkney Islands

The British Antarctic Survey installed a short, narrow gauge railway at its base on Signy Island in the 1960s, to facilitate the movement of heavy equipment on shore.

South Shetland Islands

The abandoned whaling station on Deception Island in South Shetland.

The Hector whaling station on Deception Island had a small, hand operated railway network. The station was operational from 1912 to 1931. Some railway tracks are reported to be still visible among the remains.