"العراق والخليج الفارسي" [و‎‎٣‎٨‎٣] (٨٦٢/٧٦٨)

RAILWAYS
Branch-lines
Baghdad East-Hinaidi, 5-5 miles (8-9 km.).
Jassimiya (Baquba)-Kut al Imara, 125-3 miles (201-6 km.).
Jaloula-Khanaqin, 17-2 miles (27-7 km.).
Permanent Way and Stations
Metre gauge. Single track. Flat-bottom rails, varying from 41 to 75 lb.
per yd., spiked to wooden sleepers; the lighter rails are being replaced by
standard 75-lb. rails. In parts the track is gravel-ballasted; elsewhere
sleepers are laid on natural surface with low-grade ballasting.
Maximum axle-load, 9 tons; minimum radius of curves, 716 feet;
maximum gradient, 1 in 200.
Maximum distance between passing-loops, 22-5 miles; average length of
loops at stations, 1,800 feet.
Speed and Capacity
Normal overall times (including stops): mixed trains only:
Baghdad North-Jaloula, 5 hours.
Jaloula-Kirkuk, 5|- hours (night), 7! hours (day).
Normal working (1940) allows for 2 trains each way daily between
Baghdad and Kirkuk (1 by day and 1 by night), and 2 trains each way daily
between Baghdad and Khanaqin. There are thus 4 trains each way
between Baghdad and Jaloula junction.
Maximum speed restriction, 35 miles per hour, because of low-grade
ballasting. Maximum capacity of line (Nov. 1940, limited by amount of
rolling-stock), 4 trains each way daily, either to Kirkuk or to Khanaqin.
Normal maximum gross load of trains, 550 tons.
Water-supplies (1940)
There are water storage or settling tanks at the following points:
Baquba, 1 tank (capacity unknown).
Muqdadiya, 2 tanks, total capacity 800,000 gallons.
Jaloula, 2 tanks, total capacity 53,100 gallons.
Tuz Khurmatli, 2 tanks, total capacity 43,000 gallons.
Ali Sarai, 2 tanks, total capacity 185,000 gallons.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This railway follows the general course of the Diyala through the
Jabal Hamrin to Jaloula, formerly known as Qaraghan, about 92 miles
from Baghdad North. Near Baquba it is now (1944) joined by the
new metre-gauge railway from Kut al Imara (Railway No. 3). At
Jaloula the main line connects the chief towns of the Assyrian plains,
1
For a note on this line, see Railway No. 3, p. 602.