Hejaz Railway History
The Hejaz Railway was built between 1900-1908, on the orders of the last Caliph of Turkey and Ruler of Western Arabia as it was part of the Ottoman Empire. The line’s route from Damascus to Madinah was ostensibly to transport pilgrims, but its main purpose was to facilitate troop movements about the region and maintain Turkey’s hold in Western Arabia. During World War I and the Arab Revolt against Turkish rule of 1916 the railway was destroyed at strategic locations and although repairs were made the improvement in the road systems and advent of air travel resulted in it falling into complete disuse by the 1950s. The track is long gone but the majority of the embankment remains and the sandstone stations, garrisons and water towers that were built every 20km along the line are fascinating to explore. At some stations there are derailed locomotives and wagons to be seen and at the station at Medain Saleh the workshop has been restored as a museum and houses a steam locomotive in magnificent condition
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