Page 70 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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37
WESTERN ROUTES (Nos. 17-39)

(i) The Hejaz Railway and North-Western Routes

The Hejaz Railway, which is described from Ma‘an to Medina as
[toute No. 17, is a single-line track with a gauge throughout of
L-05 metres (3 ft. 5-34 in.), and is not provided with sufficient
sidings. The southern portion of the line is laid with steel sleepers
in place of wood, and the ballast employed is a firm mixture of
broken stone, lava, and basalt; but in several sections it has been
[aid in insufficient quantities and derailments are not infrequent.
The head offices are at Qadam station, Damascus; there, too, are
the principal construction and repairing shops, the works being
provided with modern lathes, drilling, planing, and shaping
machines driven by electric dynamos. No Christian, even though
employed on the running staff of the trains, is allowed farther
south than Meda’in Salih.
Rolling Stock. The line is indifferently provided with rolling
stock. A total of nearly 100 engines, of which about 30 were
tank engines, and 70 were capable of long runs, have been delivered
to the order of the Hejaz Railway directorate at various times in
the last twelve years. At one time or another the directors dis­
missed all their European engineers and mechanics. In conse­
quence, at the beginning of 1914, there were said to be only about
15 engines fit for service, and even the soundest of these were
rapidly approaching the scrap heap. After the outbreak of war,
however, German engineers were introduced, and these seem to i
have repaired some of the old engines ; but, generally speaking,
the Hejaz stock, though of good quality, has suffered so much by;
misuse, that its running efficiency is low : and unless replacement
of tubes damaged by the mineral character of the desert water can
be arranged from Germany, the best of management will not
prevent breakdowns. The more powerful engines included eight
big Krauss and four Henschel engines, but the water and fuel
consumption of these make them not economic on the line S. of
Ma'an. Details of these, and of others from whose classes there
are probably still survivors on the line, are given in the tables on
P- 38 f., which also give the numbers, &c., of passenger coaches,
box-wagons, trucks, and tank-wagons.

It is reasonable to suppose that, during the war, the rolling stock
available from the Hejaz line has been pooled with the cheap, but
efficiently maintained, stock of the narrow gauge of the DHP
Umpany (Societe Ottomane du Chemifl de Fer de Damas-Hama
t rrolongements). This will increase the stock by about 15 engines
- i passenger coaches, 7 passenger brake-vans, 240 box
U° tons), and 100 15-ton wagons. wagons