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'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III' [95r] (190/549)
The record is made up of 1 file (272 folios). It was created in 22 Jun 1918-5 Oct 1919. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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SECRET.
From G.O,C. Mesopotamia•
To : - Far Office, repeated'.
India and Egypt*.
? I
b
Despatched 17.15 25,4.19.
Received 17 .30 24,4,19.
X .5927 April 23rd.
Your 77159 April 17th.
Owing to gradients and absence of water a light line
to Mosul presents some difficulty and in such country such
light material and locomotives as are available would be of
no use. We shall therefore require 121 miles of track for
2.6” gauge with rails not lighter than 30 pounds per yard,
15 heavy locomotives capable of hauling 200 tons gross load^
up one per- cent gradients, 25 Bogie wagons of 16 tons capacity
preferably covered wagons, 10 brake vans of 10 tons each, and
]0 travelling water tanks each 2000 gallons capacity. We have
no data for estimating accurately value of above but anticipate
total cost not under £400,000. We estimate 2^ monthc to reach
mile 40 and 18 months in all to Mosul. Country is easy as far
as mile 40 but difficult beyCnd . In view however of delay
fthich must ensue in waiting for material and as it is essential
to improve out communications with Mosul as early as possible
I strongly recommend following alternative:- to pull up existing
standard gauge Baghdad-Dhibdam line and substitute 2’ 6 ”, for which
the available material and rolling stock are suitable. Standard
gauge material so released to be laid down as far as mile 40
which is 6 miles distant from the Tigris, with short branch line
to cur battalion on the Tigris at Kilashergat. Sufficient
standard gauge stock and engines are available for this proposal.
From mile 40 propose to carry on 2 ! 6” with new material when
supplied. Under this scheme we shall only need 81 miles of 2 1 6'’
track 10 heavy locomotives as specified above 25 Wagons, 10 brake
vans and 10 travelling water tanks. Cost oh scheme for
pulling up Dhibdam line and re-laying to Shergal is £47,506 and
i£322,500 for 2’ 6 ” line from mile 40 to Mosul.
We should be able
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and road transportation in Mesopotamia [Iraq] near the end of, and immediately following, the First World War. The papers cover several matters, including:
- The construction, conversion, maintenance, and expansion of the railways in the region, including regular progress reports from the Director of Railways, Baghdad
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel
- A proposed survey of Persia [Iran] for the purposes of railway building
- Demobilisation planning
- Transition from military to civil administration
- Expenditure
- A proposal for a direct Baghdad-Haifa line.
Correspondents include: the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egypt; the Chief of Imperial General Staff; the Director of Railways, Baghdad; the War Office; the Commander-in-Chief, Army Headquarters, India; the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia; the Chief of the General Staff, India; the Director General of Movements and Railways, War Office; and the High Commissioner at Constantinople [Istanbul].
- Extent and format
- 1 file (272 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in chronological order, from the rear to the front.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 274; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel; these numbers are written in coloured crayon.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III' [95r] (190/549), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/789, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100094917079.0x0000bf> [accessed 29 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/789
- Title
- 'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy, Mesopotamia. Vol III'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:30r, 30av, 30v:273v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence