Page 242 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

124 WESTERN ROUTES
{
Diafc. km. Alt.
Intor- Station.
Total. ft.
mcd.
clients. Several culverts. Coun­
try grows hillier. Very little
vegetation. Shallow wadis.
55-25 16-99 3,740 * Aqabat el- Two stone buildings on \V.
Hejaziyah side of line. Loop-siding of 250
metres.

Line ascends to broad col,
about 3,S3S ft. above sea-level,
skirting a wadi ; then descends
more steepl}', following a ravine.
Soft sandstone of many colours
now takes the place of lime­
stone.
61-25 6-00 3,700 Bain el-Ghul Two stone houses on E. side of
(Ghaul) line ; one loop-siding ; no water

(six sunken barrels in 1907).
Fine view down the escarpment,
which for 30 miles to E. and
some distance to W. is impos­

sible for loaded camels. The
line and pilgrim-road follow the
only practicable way down.
Cliffs in places 300 ft. high.
After the station the line runs
up an incline for 400 metres, and
then curves, and descends paral­
lel to the hillside, making a vide
loop to W. Average gradient,
lS%o- Another curve at the
end of the loop. Minimum
curves, 400 ft. No bridges, but
three or four stone culverts.
Some cuttings in sandstone, and
high banks.
After the main descent the
line runs on down Wadi Rutm,
which, at first narrow, soon
widens into 2 miles of sandy
I
plain. On NE. is a row of peaks,
ending in the great escarpment.

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