The International Steam Pages


The Eritrean Railway 2008

Neil Edwards reports on the LCGB/Enthusiast Holidays visit, 14th to 22nd October 2008:

This tour, was the fifth group visit, and in line with previous tours, covered the whole 117 Km from the port of Massawa, to the capital, Asmara. From sea level, the 950mm gauge line rises to an altitude of 2394 metres at Km 115, then descends to KM 2342 at Asmara station. All 5 of the available steam locomotives were used, in varying combinations, along with the Fiat Littorina No.2. The steam power is now centered on Asmara, the fairly new facility built at Ghinda, is currently empty, and the turntable out of use.

Currently the only commercial traffic on Eritrean Railways, is a tourist train run which runs on Sundays, or as required, from Asmara to either Arbaroba or Nefasit, and return, together with occasional group charters of the whole line, which is quite buoyant at present with at least 5 groups (3 British and 2 German) visiting over the next few months. An occasional passenger service has operated n the Massawa area using one of the Drewry diesels, with the 3 open passenger vehicles, this was stationed at Otumlo Station.. It is still the aim of ER, to source 950mm gauge diesel power, to transport freight to and from the port of Massawa. Currently there is no infrastructure for the trans shipment of freight on the system, so these will need to be designed and built, together with a repair, maintenance and re-fuelling facilities. New rolling stock would need to be sourced, presumably with through train braking, and 30 tunnel clearances, need gauging if universal size containers are transported.. In 2003, Mai-Atal station was highlighted as a dry port extension of Massawa, but work has yet to start on this project. Compared with my first visit in 2002, heavy road traffic between Asmara and Massawa, was surprisingly light. This may of course be due to the shipping timetables, none the less, I would have expected to see more freight traffic on the roads.

It was pleasing to note that younger crews were being taught the ropes, especially as firemen, this should ensure the continuation of steam in the future, as it is an important source of hard currency. At present the senior personnel of Eritrean Railways still reign supreme.


Chris Jeffrey was in the country at the same time and says he travelled to Nefasit with 440.008 on the 'fairly regular Sunday jaunt'.


440-008 at Ghinda

440-008 at the Devil's Gate

On a non railway note, the British built Guy Arab bus has been returned to working order and completely re-painted, re-registered (ER 16414) and is available for sightseeing tours in Asmara.

Eritrean Railways current stock situation (October 2008)

Diesel Fleet

Engine number

Wheel Arrangement

Builder

Status

25D

Bo-Bo

Krupp 3601/1957

Diesel workshop

27D

Bo-Bo

Krupp 3602/1957

Diesel workshop

2

Littorina

Fiat

In use

7

Littorina

Fiat

Stored, no interior, parts used to keep No.2 going

12

Littorina

Fiat

Diesel workshop

0-6-0D

Drewry 2075/1936

Massawa spare

0-6-0D

Drewry 2079/1937

Otumlo coupled to 3 open passenger vehicles

Orion

Russian built truck was seen at Nefasit on PW duties

Bo

Brown Boveri 4067/1935

Shell only at Mai-Atal

Steam Fleet

440-008

0-4-4-0T

Ansaldo 1162/1915

In use

442-54

0-4-4-0T

Ansaldo 1364/1938

In use

442-55

0-4-4-0T

Ansaldo 1365/1938

In use

442-56

0-4-4-0T

Ansaldo 1366/1938

Overhaul, frames and wheels in Asmara shed, boiler in steam workshops.

442-59

0-4-4-0T

Ansaldo 1369/1938

In use

202-002

0-4-0T

Breda 2169/1927

In use

202-004

0-4-0T

Breda 2272/1929

Stored steam workshop, good condition

202-008

0-4-0T

Breda 2454/1937

Stored steam workshop

202-009

0-4-0T

Breda 2455/1937

Stored Asmara shed

202-010

0-4-0T

Breda 2456/1937

Stored Asmara shed, no wheels

202-011

0-4-0T

Breda 2457/1937

Stored Asmara shed


Rob Dickinson

Email: webmaster@internationalsteam.co.uk