In 1968 I was stationed on the USS Luce, DLG-7 and we made a port call in Massawa., Ethopia at the time. We even hosted a visit from emperor Haille Selassie. I was able to take a trip to Asmara in a Navy vehicle and the mountains were breath taking. The Army had a base in Asmara at the time. Being a railroad fan, I was overwhelmed at how the tracks of this railroad winded through the mountains. We were advised NOT to be on the road at night due to bandits. Unfortunately I never got to see any railroad activity in either direction. I have some beautiful photos from that trip.
Lived there for 16 months before the fall of Hallie Selassie from Aug 72 through Dec 73. I actually was part of the Emperors Security team when he would visit the US Army post of Kagnew Station. I never rode this train but drove the mountain road countless times to Massawa and back
I've been following this railroad story for a number of years on RU-vid. I also saw a TV special on its reconstruction & renaissance which was fascinating. If this Rail Road isn't successful it's because they're applying its use incorrectly. First measure would be to make it attractive (painting it bright colors making employees wear uniforms etc.) and a greater tourist attraction. The line's objective should be to connect every seaport town in the country. A society of volunteers for the unemployed & young should be created, wherein they have hands on training in maintenance & operation of this railroad in order to instill a greater pride of it.
I like the volunteer idea. And maybe restoring appropriate and inappropriate rolling stock could be a sideline. Just run correct stuff on the line but use facilities to recycle global relics for resale all over. Also extend the line along the coast and wherever for development in a tasteful and relaxed manner? Go backwards in time to aesthetics but take along medicine and tech sufficient to extend and enrich life. Make this an outpost of Atlantis.
Another thing. 95cm is 37.4 inches ( roughly 1.4 inches wider than a 3 foot guage rail car & engine). In the U.S.A there are 3 foot narrow guage rail cars, track & locomotives slowly rotting and degrading on forgotten or abandoned train tracks. Adapting these slightly wider trains to fit these rails doesn't seem to me to be a large problem. I'm sure if the Etritrean government approached the U.S. government about donations of these machines & equippment to the rail project they would get a positive response.
Why foist american stuff on to this unspoiled railway? You just don't get it. What next? Mcdonalds poisoned garbage etc.? Maybe the Eritreans have got more sense than to have anything to do with the corporate nazis of North America.
a great video and description. It is always the ultra rich who seem to need more and money. Our current prez, the donald should have his tweeter machine taken away from him :)
Western countries betrayed Eritrea since the Italian era. Even now they have their own agenda by making it look like isolated country this is because of Eritrea's strategic position that the always trying to control.
About what they talk. and about what you talk is some thing different. Eritrea is the country of chiristian and muslim it belongs to both of them. Thank u
