8179_1986_040.jpg (115905 bytes)|
The Railfaneurope.net Picture Gallery
Directory: /pix/ne/Syria/steam
Last update: Sun Nov 16 05:40:59 CET 2014
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syrien
aleppo bagdadbahn 040-420 gesamt schräg von vorne datum:08.09.1986 Foto: helfried werner hdwr@utanet.at |
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syrien
aleppo bagdadbahn 040-420 vorderer teil datum:08.09.1986 Foto: helfried werner hdwr@utanet.at |
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syrien
aleppo bagdadbahn 040-420 schräg von hinten datum:08.09.1986 Foto: helfried werner hdwr@utanet.at |
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aleppo bagdadbahn 040-420 blick aus dem führerhaus rechts datum:08.09.1986 Foto: helfried werner hdwr@utanet.at |
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aleppo bagdadbahn 040-420 blick aus dem führerhaus links datum:08.09.1986 Foto: helfried werner hdwr@utanet.at |
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aleppo bagdadbahn 040-420 führerhaus innen datum:08.09.1986 Foto: helfried werner hdwr@utanet.at |
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CFS 130-751 (origin DHP 53, SLM n° 851/1894). 1055 mm gauge. Damascus (Syria), 02/1967. Collection Jean-Pierre Vergez-Larrouy (JPVL64@gmail.com) |
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CFS 91 and 751. Kanawat. Photo Richard A. Bowen (Richard.Bowen@t-online.de) |
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Hijaz Railway. Probabely a 030 T from 10 to 37 serie. Syria.
Actually, this is steam locomotive 755 built by SLM from Switzerland (MvU).
Collection Jean-Pierre Vergez-Larrouy (JPVL64@gmail.com) |
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Hijaz Railway 130 T n° 62 (Jung n° 966/1906). Damascus (Syria), 02/1967. Collection Jean-Pierre Vergez-Larrouy (JPVL64@gmail.com) |
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Hijaz Railway n° 91 (Hartmann n° 3040/1906). 1055 mm gauge. Damascus (Syria), 02/1967. Collection Jean-Pierre Vergez-Larrouy (JPVL64@gmail.com) |
| Syria 24.9.2008: Oil-fired, 1.05m gauge, 2-8-0 No. 91 (Hartmann 3040/1907) simmers outside the engine shed at Dera’a. Inside the depot were 2-8-2 No.262 (Hartmann 4031/1918), in steam, 2-8-0 No. 162 (Borsig 9011/1914), in good external condition, but non-operable, and 2-6-0 No.66, also in good external condition, but a non-runner. The 2-6-0 has a chequered history: built by Jung (987/1907) the loco was later converted to a 2-6-0 tank engine then later again, converted back to a 2-6-0 tender engine, using a 4-wheel tender from a scrapped Borsig engine! Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 24.9.2008: 2-8-0 No. 91 (Hartmann 3040/1907) has moved off shed and stands at Dera’a station, waiting to depart for the Bosra branch line. Despite its relatively good external condition, the engine was unfortunately deemed not to be in good enough mechanical order (problems with leaking piston glands, side-rods, and an axle bearing!), to take the train the 38kms to Bosra and back, so she was uncoupled and went back to the shed. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 24.9.2008: Any activity nowadays at Dera’a station is of great interest to the population, but THREE steam locomotives in action at the same time – well, the curiosity factor went sky-high! Many people watch as 2-8-2 No. 262 waits to take over the Bosra-bound tour group’s train from 2-8-0 No. 91 just beyond. However, No. 262 cannot do that until the station throat has been cleared by Jordan Railways’ 4-6-2 No. 85, with empty coaching stock for Amman. No. 85 and train are seen in the distance, waiting for numerous market stalls to be cleared from the tracks beyond the station! Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 24.9.2008: Oil-fired 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) was eventually able to get onto the tour group's train for Bosra. The old gentleman seen at left, dressed in grey and wearing a white cap, was the 90-years old, former senior driver at Dera'a shed, and over the next few days he accompanied the tour group in an "advisory" position to the steam locomotive crews. He spoke fairly good English and from the few anecdotes overheard, we could have spent many days with him, as he relived the glories of the railway lines of the area, when steam was almost the only source of motive power. We all wished him many more years of remembrance and advice! Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 24.9.2008: The plates on the cabside of 2-8-2 No. 262. This locomotive very soon became Syrian Railways' only main line steam locomotive in working order; she was indeed the saviour of the tour group's steam-hauled trains. This was thanks entirely to the dedication and hard work of the engine and train crews, who literally had to work through the night, with what they could beg, steal or borrow, to keep their "grand old lady" in good running order! Sadly, the working futures of men and machine do not appear bright... Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 24.9.2008: The locomotive is 90 years old, the coaches 103 years old and the track's rails and steel sleepers carry dates between 1900 and 1908! 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918), crosses a culvert in the semi-desert between Dera'a and the ancient city of Bosra. This 38km branch line nowadays carries no traffic. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 24.9.2008: The rays of the setting sun are enhanced by the rich, red sand and soil of the Bosra plain as 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) races towards her destination. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 25.9.2008: Having spent the night at Bosra station and before returning to Dera’a, it was decided to try and run 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) and train, down the extension line to Bosra, Citadel. “Try” was the operative word as the half-kilometre line had not been used for many, many months, being largely overgrown and obstructed by parked cars etc; there was even a blockage where someone had built a concrete driveway to their garage over the railway’s right-of-way! “No problem” said No. 262’s driver, so with cars cleared after much whistling and a concrete driveway “reshaped” by having two grooves cut into it(!), the train reached Bosra Citadel station. Here we see No. 262 arriving at the simple platform and run-round loop in the middle of a main road. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 25.9.2008: 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) poses beside Bosra Citadel, while some small boys are fascinated by the loco's plume of black smoke rising into the blue sky. The breathtaking Citadel itself dates from the Ummayad period - ca.650AD - and comprises massive stone walls, behind a moat, enclosing a Roman theatre, that had itself, been erected after 106AD. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 25.9.2008: The tour group returned to Dera'a from where their train was to descend into the incedible Yarmuk Gorge, on the former line to Haifa. However, Syrian Railways would permit the train to pentrate the Gorge only for a few kilometres, because of danger of rockfalls. 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) and a (supposedly!) repaired 2-8-0 No. 91 (Hartmann 3040/1907), were to be used together and they first hauled the train double-headed, but tender-first, to Muzereib, from where the line drops very steeply into the Gorge. We see the locos here at Muzereib, where 2-8-2 No. 262 went to the other end of the train so that she could lead on the return journey, with its heavy climb out of the Gorge. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 25.9.2008: 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) and 2-8-0 No. 91 (Hartmann 3040/1907) are seen over grapevines as they transit the curving masonry Bridge No.13 in the Yarmuk Gorge. This highly dramatic stretch of railway sees no traffic at all except for very rare enthusiasts’ specials. Therefore, much care had to be exercised as the 100-years old track was not in good condition. Indeed, the next day, No.262’s tender was derailed higher up the gorge, only being rescued after a 4-hour battle with jacks, rocks and tree trunks! Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 25.9.2008: 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) and 2-8-0 No. 91 (Hartmann 3040/1907) gingerly top and tail their 3 coach train over the dubiously "safe" steel Bridge No.14 in the Yarmuk Gorge. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 25.9.2008: A second run over Bridges 13 and 14 was planned, but at this point, 2-8-0 No. 91 failed again, leaving 2-8-2 No. 262 to provide the spectacle alone. Declaring the track thereabouts and Bridge 13 to be “no problem”, the dare-devil driver of 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918), put on a stirring display of oil-fired power, before shutting off again for the less safe Bridge 14! Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 26.9.2008: A second day's visit to the Yarmuk Gorge was made impossible due to the derailment of 2-8-2 N0. 262, the accident occurring in a most inaccessible part of the Gorge! Rescue took 4 hours, but at least the loco and train were able to take the tour group on to Damascus, albeit late in the day. Here the setting sun catches No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) as she leaves a small town and continues north into the semi-desert, en route to Damascus. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: The Hedjaz Railway Locomotive Works at Cadem, Damascus, basically unaltered since building in the 1900s, with the exception of the provision of electricity for powering the many machine tools and workshops. Sadly, all is now idle, with this museum collection of 14 locomotives parked outside, fairly well restored externally, but with many being incomplete in some details. 2-8-2 No.263 (Hartmann 4032/1918) is closest to the camera and interesting, in that the loco was delivered to Cadem Works as a "kit of parts", just as World War 1 was ending. No.263 and sisters 264/5, were then erected at Cadem Works by the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers. If anyone wishes to have a list of locomotives seen at Cadem that day, by all means contact me by e-mail. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: 115 years young! 2-6-0T No. 130-755 literally hurtles along the main street of the town of Jedeide, with much shrieking of the whistle and stirred-up dust from the almost buried track! Such hard driving was a feature of the tour group's journey over the twisting and turning line - it was as if the engine crew was having a last fling, knowing that the future for them and their little railway is very much in doubt. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: Running along a ledge at the side of the beautiful Barada Valley, 2-6-0T No. 130-755 blasts its way towards the line's northern terminus at Ain Fije. According to "Google Earth" rails continue for many kilometres beyond Ain Fije, but we were told the condition of the track was "very bad", with numerous rockfalls and wash-outs. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: Mallet 0-4-4-2T 02021–962 inside Cadem erecting shop. This loco was built by Hartmann (3001/1906), but there has been either an exchange of number plates, or works plates, with sister 02021-961 (3000/1906), outside, in the museum display. No. 02021-962 was supposed to have been in working order for the tour group’s train, but despite looking in good condition, closer inspection revealed that it needed considerable attention. Sadly, the staff’s statement that “it is being worked upon” was patently wishful thinking... Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: The poignant remains of 2-8-0 No.95 (Hartmann 3044/1907), hidden in the weeds behind Cadem Works. The assumption is that such a carefully cut edifice is/was intended to serve as a monument somewhere. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: The CF Damas-Hama et prolongements (DHP) was the once strategic international railway between Beirut and Damascus. It is today, sadly reduced to a 13km stretch north of the Syrian capital, over which a Fridays-only "tourist" train is advertised in most tourist literature, but in reality there is reported to be little patronage. However, the train was turned out for the tour group, headed by the sole working locomotive, a venerable, oil-fired 2-6-0T, No. 130-755 formerly of DHP Class D. She is seen here with three ancient 4-wheel coaches at the southern terminus of Damascus, Dumar. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: This is the builder's plate carried by 2-6-0T 130-755. Unfortunately it is not the correct plate and it provides us with a mystery! As so often happened during the lives of engines, parts were interchanged so 130-755, formerly DHP Class D No.51, should carry builder's plate SLM 849/1893. Fair enough, but according to several excellent written histories of the railways of Syria and Lebanon, no locomotive SLM 855/1894 was ever provided for the Hedjaz, or any associated company! So, does anyone know which engine, on which railway, should have carried the plate SLM 855/1894? Replies to my e-mail please. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 27.9.2008: 2-6-0T 130-755 makes a spirited departure along rubbish-strewn tracks, from Hame station. Hame is the "headquarters" of this charming line, where 130-755 and her coaches are stored, and maintained in, the open air. In addition to several items of rolling stock side-lined here, can be found ex-DHP sister 2-6-0T Nos. 130-751 and 130-754 (SLM 851 and 854/1894 respectively), plus Hedjaz Railway 2-8-0 No.90 (Hartmann 3039/1907); none are in working order and given the prevailing economic climate, are unlikely ever to work again. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 28.9.2008: 2-8-2 No.262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) stands beside Cadem engine shed with the tour party’s train, waiting to depart for Dera’a. Note that the loco's two large headlamps have been superseded by a modern quartz-iodine spotlamp, wired in somewhat cavalier fashion to a petrol-driven generator precariously mounted on the right-hand running plate!.Inside the shed was 0-6-2T No.031-805, formerly Class B 0-6-2T Rack locomotive No.5 (SLM 845/1894), used on the Beirut-Rayak, Abt Rack section of the one-time DHP’s Beirut to Damascus line. The locomotive was shorn of its rack equipment in 1944 and afterwards used in conventional service. Although in reasonable external condition, it would require a major overhaul to restore it to working order. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 28.9.2008: In the distance, modern Syria encroaches upon the desert, as 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918) nears Dera'a and the end of the tour group's visit to Syria. This locomotive's crew literally saved the trip simply through hard work and determination to provide the promised steam haulage. The loco itself, 90 years old and careworn, could not be praised enough for delivering a consistently excellent performance. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 28.9.2008: Another locomotive that was listed to participate in the tour group's haulage in Syria was oil-fired 2-8-0 No.160 (Borsig 9009/1914). However, she was found cold and side-lined outside Cadem engine shed; note that the loco's normal 4-wheel tender has been replaced by a bogie version from a scrapped Hartmann 2-8-2. No.160 looked to have been recently used though we were assured that she was not in working order, but if some money had been made available she could have easily been repaired - a disappointment for the railway staff and for us! Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 28.9.2008: Running south from Damascus the trusty 2-8-2 No. 262 (Hartmann 4031/1918), gave us some stirring running with, over a very unexpected length of welded rail, her official maximum speed limit of 50kph, being exceeded by no less than 50%! With the crew clearly enjoying themsleves, No. 262 is seen here racing through through the picturesque station of Kiswe. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Syria 28.9.2008: Conversation piece at Mesmie station. No. 262's water stop continues while her driver (at right), discusses the next section of line towards Dera'a with the train guard. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
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