December 14th, 2008
The October 20 2008 thread “Railfanning in Iraq” on Trainboard has some photos taken by ConrailDan in Al Diwaniyah, about sixty miles south of Baghdad
, in 2003.
The photos (you might need to register to see them) include a DES3100 loco. These were built in Czechoslovakia by CKD Praha as a tropicalised variant of their T669.
There are also pictures of yellow machines, and a T-55 tank on a flat wagon.
From what I remember the Iraqis had pretty good track with concrete ties. I even got to see one train travel over the rails. It was one engine and about twenty covered hoppers
Source: Railfanning in Iraq on Trainboard
Tags: Al Diwaniyah, DES3100, IRR, photos
Posted in Iraq's railways | No Comments »
December 12th, 2008
All aboard… Baghdad’s train is a December 10 2008 NBC news video about the re-launch of commuter rail services in Baghdad.
With traffic in downtown Baghdad typically a snarled mess, the old commuter train has been re-introduced to combat commuter nightmares. Ride the train with NBC News’ Kianne Sadeq as it dodges goats, cars and weaves through Baghdad.
There are shots of Chinese and Turkish locos in action on the service, which was introduced at the end of October.
I found the video via Commuter trains return to Baghdad at the National Association of Railroad Passengers, who say
Hopefully the system will be successful in the long term and symbolize normalcy and stability for weary residents, as well as deliver benefits to commuters tired of facing the hazards and inconveniences of road travel in the region.
Tags: Baghdad, commuter trains, IRR, video
Posted in Iraq's railways | No Comments »
December 11th, 2008
A photo on Flickr showing US Marine Corps security forces checking an Iraqi railway wagon on November 23 2008.
Tags: IRR, wagons
Posted in Iraq's railways | No Comments »
December 5th, 2008
Philthydirtyanimal has an impressive Flickr collection of Photos of stuff from The Great War. Photos of stuff from revolutions. Photos of stuff I find interesting
.
This beast certainly falls into two categories. The photo was apparently taken in Mesopotamia during World War I.
According to a discussion on the Landships forum, it is an Indian Pattern Fiat called HMAC Malaya. There was certainly an Indian Pattern Fiat, adapted to run on rails, in the area! Along with at least two Austin 3rd Series, also adapted for rail work, it formed part of the Railway Armoured Motor Battery. Operated on the line between Basra and Baghdad.
The Landships forum also has a picture of some motorised rail ambulances.
Tags: armoured train, Mesopotamia, WWI
Posted in Iraq's railways | No Comments »
December 4th, 2008
The website for the Hull & Barnsley Railway Stock Fund railway preservation group has moved to a new home.
If anyone has any websites with links to the clara.co.uk address, please could they update to the easier to use and more permanent
http://www.hullandbarnsleyrailway.org.uk
The H&BRSF owns and restores the surviving rolling stock of the former Hull, Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway & Dock Company, which was the last completely new major railway built in Britain.
Posted in Miscellaneous stuff | No Comments »
