"العراق والخليج الفارسي" [و‎‎٣‎٧‎٧] (٨٦٢/٧٥٦)

RAILWAYS
5^7
Northern District: Mosul.
Many additional facilities have probably been provided in and
around Basra since 1941.
Fuel.
The change-over from coal to oil fuel was made during 1918, for
reasons of economy, and by the end of the year shipping was being
saved at the rate of about 120,000 tons a year. All locomotives of Iraq
State Railways now burn oil fuel which is obtained from the Rafidain
Oil Company’s depots at Khanaqin and at Muftiya (near Basra).
Average consumption is approximately 30 lb. per engine-mile and
40 lb. per train-mile.
Signalling
The telegraphic line-clear message-system is used for working
single-line traffic. Distance boards and home signals are provided at
all stations on the metre-gauge railways, except Nasiriya and Khan
aqin, both branch-line termini, which have distance boards only, and
except the following which have both home signals and outer signals:
Southern District: Maqil, Ur junction, Karbala, Hor Rejub (Haur
Rajah).
Central District : Baghdad West, Baghdad North, Maamel al
Tabouk, and Jaloula junction.
On the standard-gauge line, stations were being provided in 1941
with interlocked points and signals.
Capacity, Speeds, and Working
All lines are single-track, so that the number of trains that can be
run depends on the distance between passing-loops. The longest
distance in 1943 was 23! miles for the Basra-Baghdad line, 22^ miles
for the Baghdad-Kirkuk line, and 27 miles for the standard-gauge line
between Baghdad and Tel Kotchek, but these may have now been
reduced by the provision of intermediate passing-loops.
In 1940 the capacity of the various lines was greatly limited by the
amount of rolling-stock and the lack of trained personnel, and on the
new line to Mosul there were severe restrictions on speed. The
arrangements were probably adequate for normal requirements, but
for war purposes both rolling-stock and personnel have been in
creased. Capacity, working schedules, journey times, and speed
restrictions are given among other details in the description of each
line. They relate to the year 1940, unless otherwise stated. Though