The railway ran from the capital Valletta via Floriana, Hamrun, Birkirkara and Attard to Mdina and the final passenger station "Museum". From there, the tracks continued to the military barracks in Mtarfa. The line was built in 1000mm gauge, and you can find further details about it HERE and HERE.
My first target was the old station of Birkirkara (spelled "Birchirchara" back in the day). On the former site of the tracks you can find all that is left of Malta Railway's rolling stock: a torso of a 3rd class carriage, with fences around to prevend vandalism, and inhabited by cats:
The station building is in good condition and private property, also behind fences:
In the adjoining park, the position of the tracks is marked in the pavement (view towards Valletta):
View towards Mdina with the station building and the carriage torso:
Next stop was Floriana, situated in front of Valletta's city gates. The station was built underground to leave the city's fortification intact, crossing the moat on a small stone bridge leading straight into the tunnel:
Valletta's station was built underground as well, and the railway line entered the city quite the same way: over a bridge straight into a tunnel. The city gate that lay next to the bridge has recently been torn down to make way for a new parlament building, so that these photos were only possible through a fence:
Tunnel portal:
The other end of the line was the station "Museum". The building was used as a restaurant until a few years ago. Here is a panorama taken from the city walls of Mdina, the old capital of Malta. You can easily see the station building and where the track crossed the bridge towards the Mtarfa barracks:
The tunnel exit (the line went straight under the fortified town!), a bit in the dark:
The station building:
I hope you like the photos!
