Content:

• Malatya Fevzipasa
• Kurtalan line

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Copyright: rights to all pictures on this page reserved to Robin Lush. 

Malatya Fevzipasa

56000 near Fevzipaşa 23 March 1976. The only picture I have on the lines around Fevzipaşa. We had intended staying on the line but the weather was so poor we continued east.

34000 near Karaman Maraş 23 March 1976. An unidentified 2-6-0 in a very wet Karaman Maraş. We stopped about 60 seconds!

Rooftops near Malatya 23 March 1976. En route to Malatya we came across this scene with a local rolling (?) his roof.

3316 Malatya 23 March 1976. Station pilot at Malatya was this Nohab 0-6-0T of 1929 vintage. Whether the white on the smoke box was from priming or working under a loading point I do not know but it certainly changes the locos appearance.

Kurtalan

56020 at Ergani 12 April 1975. The next day we headed south down the Kurtalan line to meet the overnight train (23-45 from Kurtalan) at first light at Ergani. Waiting to pass the passenger was this east bound train hauled by a BMAG 1940 built 2-10-0

Gangers trolley at Ergani 12 April 1975. Also waiting was this gangers trolley.

Gangers at Ergani 12 April 1975. A line up of gangers also waiting for the passenger train to pass.

56028 at Ergani 12 April 1975. Eventually the train arrives at Ergani.

56020 leaving Ergani 12 April 1975. After the passenger has arrived the southbound freight leaves with a wave from the crew.

56028 leaving Ergani 12 April 1975. By the time the passenger train got on its way the sun had risen into cloud.

56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. Chasing the passenger northwards into the hills we came across this spectacular location which meant we had to stand on a very steep loose soil and any movement sent a shower of rocks down the hillside. Very disappointed to not get any exhaust.

56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. Having climbed back up to the road after the last picture we find that the road looks down and across at the railway.

56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. The same view as the last picture using a wider angle lens

56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. The lack of exhaust gives the picture an almost model like appearance

56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. And still no exhaust!

56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. Another exit from a tunnel and still no exhaust. Perhaps the line is not as steep as it looks.

13731 56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. At long last a touch of smoke.

13733 56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. The start of three river bridges before reaching Maden

56028 south of Maden 12 April 1975. Another river bridge and a bit of exhaust to go with it.

56028 enters Maden 12 April 1975. Passing through the town of Maden we found the station to be at the north end of town

General view of Maden station 12 April 1975. A very crowded Maden station

46231 at Maden station 12 April 1975. Another view of the station with the banker taking up position.

56028 north of Maden 12 April 1975. After a long wait the train eventually left Maden and continued its journey northwards.

56028 north of Maden 12 April 1975. With the road in close proximity it was easy to catch the train on the steep climb

56028 north of Maden 12 April 1975. A close examination of the smokebox door shows it to be carrying a red disc which according to earlier discussions signifies a train out of its normal path. Please correct me if I have got that wrong.

56028 north of Maden 12 April 1975. The rear three quarters shot shows the line climbing out of the narrow gorge near the start of a large lake

56028 north of Maden 12 April 1975. I have put this one in because it shows some of the passengers in the bottom left of the picture watching our antics in chasing their train.

56002 near Sivrice 12 April 1975. Since the rail and road took different sides of the lake we headed north towards the junction at Yolcati. En route we found this southbound freight heading for Maden and beyond.

56002 near Sivrice 12 April 1975. A closer view of this very hard working loco

56002 near Sivrice 12 April 1975. An over bridge close to a tunnel mouth gives us this slightly different viewpoint

56002 near Sivrice 12 April 1975. This train just blacked out the countryside

56002 near Sivrice 12 April 1975. More of the same near Sivrice

56002 near Sivrice 12 April 1975. The last of this train before it went round the far side of the lake and down the hill to Maden

Nohab 2-8-0 near Elazıg 12 April 1975. Believed to be a Nohab 2-8-0 between Elazıg and Yolcati

56028 nearing Yolcati 12 April 1975. With the Tatvan line coming in on the left, our old friend 56028 finally reaches Yolcati

56028 leaving Yolcati 12 April 1975. And continues on its way to Malatya. On my reckoning the loco had worked from a least Diyarbakır and looked likely to work through to Malatya. A journey of over 9 hours duration!

56010 near Yolcati 12 April 1975. Following the passenger up from the Maden direction was this freight being banked just where the two lines converge

46238 near Yolcati 12 April 1975. Broadside view of the banker a product of the Lima Locomotive Company USA in 1942

46238 at Yolcati 12 April 1975. Standard view of the loco at Yolcati

46238 at Yolcati 12 April 1975. Detailed front end view of the fairly basic "winged crescent"

46238 at Yolcati 12 April 1975. The cab side picture shows the WD plate still affixed in front of the cab window

45188 at Yolcati 12 April 1975. Also at Yolcati an American S160 built by Lima in 1945

56047 south of Maden 25 March 1976. The following day we looked at the line from Kurtalan and Diyarbakır. In particular the mountainous area around Maden where we found the northbound passenger (23-45 ex Kurtalan) just south of Maden

56047 Maden 25 March 1976. Not a very good photograph but I've included it because you can just make out the loco shed behind the train as it leaves Maden

56047 north of Maden 25 March 1976. With the road and railway very close, chasing on this section was very easy

56047 north of Maden 25 March 1976. It was at this point on some occasions that the banker from Maden would drop of the train

56047 north of Maden 25 March 1976. Heading now towards the top of the gorge

56047 north of Maden 25 March 1976. Soon after this point the line takes a southerly direction around a large lake whereas the road takes a northerly route so no further chasing was possible and we decided to return to Maden

Railway men at Maden 25 March 1976. Railway men having a snack in the station at Maden

DE21500 north of Maden 25 March 1976. Next train up the bank from Maden was a diesel with a steam banker in the distance.

56056 north of Maden 25 March 1976. And eventually a steam hauled freight appeared

56056 north of Maden 25 March 1976. And the chase began again

56056 north of Maden 25 March 1976. A little gap between two tunnels just big enough for a 2-10-0

56056 north of Maden 25 March 1976. And another gap between two tunnels

56056 north of Maden 25 March 1976. Passing through an unknown wayside station

56056 north of Maden 25th March 1976. And a vertical picture at the same spot

56056 north of Maden 25 March 1976. The worst of the climb is over and the loco gathers speed on its journey to Yolcati and beyond

56056 north of Maden 25 March 1976. Last shot of the day as the train heads for the south side of the lake (Hazar Gölü)

Between Tunceli and Tanyeri 26 March 1976. The first of two pictures taken on the amazing journey from Elazıg north to the Erzincan to Erzurum line.

Between Tunceli and Tanyeri 26 March 1976. A meeting in an avalanche shelter, note the thickness of ice under foot.

56037 between Maden and Sivrice 12 March 1977. The following day finds us in a snowstorm attempting to photograph a northbound train from Kurtalan climbing through the mountains north of Maden

56037 between Maden and Sivrice 12 March 1977. Having travelled that far one has to record the scene

56037 between Maden and Sivrice 12 March 1977.

56000 between Maden and Gezin 13 March 1977. Having done the line to Palu on an earlier trip, we decide to head towards Maden on the Diyarbakır line and we come across this northbound train

56000 between Maden and Gezin 13 March 1977. A further shot on the climb from Maden showing the banker hard at work

46200 banking north of Maden 13 March 1977. And a picture of the banker which unfortunately we failed to make a note of its number

56056 north of Maden (Kurtalan line). 25 March 1976