File 3142/1903 'Hedjaz Railway' [‎58v] (123/488)

The rails vary from 38 to 42 and 52 lb. per yard ; the latter being found on the
Haifa branch. * M
There are in addition :—
9 large Krauss engines with tender each of 40 tons.
12 small Krauss of 30 tons. i n- u u
4 “ B” Hohenzollern engines of small capacity, for use on the Haifa branch.
This represents a total of thirty-three engines, many of which are under temporal
There are twelve others, but they are useless, being out of repair or used for
shunting only, and cannot be counted on for the general traffic.
Fifteen more of the goods type have been ordered, which will increase the total
to sixty.
Other rolling-stock comprises :—
5 sleeping saloons used by high officials travelling, or by tourists.
2 1st class carriages, chiefly used in the tourist season on the Haifa branch, or
when specially required.
19 3rd class carriages.
100 covered waggons.
145 open platform waggons.
6 special waggons for sheep.
The Krauss engines are made by two German firms—Saechs Maschinen Fabrik,
of Richard Hartmann, Chemnitz, 1906 ; or Am. Jung, Jungenthal bei Kirchen,
Rheinland, 1906.
Carriages and waggons are by Belgian firms, which also obtain several important
machinery contracts. The two principal firms are the Societe Anonyme Beige,
Lion Hiard, Directeur; and the Usines et Fonderies de Baume et Marpent, Usine de
Morlanweiss, Haine St. Pierre, Belgique, the latter now obtaining most of the contracts.
Rails have been supplied by several different firms, the last contract being given to a
French-Belgian firm in Russia, its rails being marked “ Providence-Russe, 1906. The
iron is said to be of a very soft quality and to bend easily. Cockerill, a large Belgian
firm, has executed another contract, the American Steel Trust another (the rails
being marked “ Maryland, VI1-IIIIIII ”), and a German firm at Donawitz another
contract.
The covered waggon is the most useful vehicle for the conveyance of troops, as it
gives some shelter from the summer sun and cold winds in winter, while the peasants
are accustomed to lying on the floor.
The interior floor space is 27 ft. by 6 ft. 10 in., entered by double sliding doors
at each side, 4 feet wide each leaf, or an 8 -feet opening.
The sides of the open platform waggon are made to let down, and these are also
much used for transport of troops, pilgrims, and workmen, but they afford no shelter.
The interior floor space measures 31 ft. by 7 ft. 10 in.; forty to forty-five men are
usually crowded on to these waggons in troop trains.
Six to eight of the small Syrian ponies can be carried in one covered waggon.
All these waggons are of a capacity of 15,000 kilog., or 15 tons.
The tare weight of a covered waggon is 8,500 kilog., or 8 ^ tons.
The length of military trains would be entirely regulated by the Aveight the engine
could haul up the steep gradients of the Yarmuk Valley and of Amman. With the
usual type of engine six trucks, each loaded with 10 tons of goods, can be hauled up.
With 40 men in each truck this would be 240 for each track, or 60 tons of goods.
This specially applies to the long Yarmuk Valley incline ; that at Amman is worked by
taking the train up in two sections of five carriages each. The new duplex engines
can take double these weights, but then the engines have been found too heavy for
the rails.
Brakes.
Hand brakes are in use on all these carriages, but Hardy’s system of automatic
brakes is gradually being introduced, and some engines and carriages on the Haifa
branch are already fitted.
Couplings.
A more secure method of coupling is now being introduced to replace the single
buffer and hook, AAffiich was found very liable to break. IVo screw couplings and two
chains are now used and found to answer well.