Steam Engine Enthusiasts Are Flocking to Eritrean Railways

[John Ashworth]

Steam Engine Enthusiasts Are Flocking to Eritrean Railways

Mansour Nouredin, Mar 5, 2010
Shaebia

In continuation of its ever growing attraction to domestic and foreign tourists, the Eritrean Railway administration, in collaboration with Travel House International, Asmara-based tour agent co-hosted steam engine enthusiasts for a consecutive 11- day excursion last month. These engine enthusiasts, citizens of Australia, Canada, Sudan and nine European Union countries are mostly comprised of first time comers who visited the Eritrean railways being impressed with the coverage of various media about the unique steam engine experience in the country.

Eritrea, home for a variety of tourists, has been and remains a favorite destination, especially for its century-old antique railways.

Though the visit to the Eritrean Railways began in 2000, the influx of steam engine enthusiasts increased greatly right after the completion of the Asmara- Massawa rail way network in February 2003. This was due to the prominence of Eritrean Railways on the part of the steam engine community, says Mr. Amanuel Gebresilasie, Project Coordinator at the Eritrean Railways Administration. “Eritrea often stood as one of the best destinations for steam engine experience and it is no wonder to find Eritrea ranking among the top ten in the global steam engine community.” Mr. Toni Shweizer, a Swiss, on his part voiced deep appreciation for the magnificent sceneries of the mountain ranges, valleys and gorges, scenic landscapes, steep slopes and vegetation all the way to Massawa as being fascinating indeed. As a result during his last visit to Eritrea, he produced a DVD on it.

“As a rail ways employee in my home city, Perugia, I witnessed the stark similarity between the locomotives of now obsolete Breda’s and Eritrea’s still functioning locomotives,” stated an Italian citizen, Mr. Stefano Gazzalo. At present, the obsolete locomotives are sidelined and have been substituted with electronic rail tracks in various countries, he elaborated. “For the steam engine enthusiasts, Eritrea is the right destination,” Mr. Stefano added.

Similarly, Mr. Tedros Kebbede, tour manager at Travel House International said: “such an excursion has attracted a number of celebrities including a member of the British Royal family and a renowned French film producer.” This in its own right will help in branding Eritrea as a destination for a spectacular steam engine experience, he explained. The favorite main line steam locomotives for the steam engine enthusiasts are Mallet 442. Built by Ansaldo in Genova in 1938, three out of such locomotives are still in running order. Besides, the antique true Mallet 440 locomotive built by the same company in 1915, has been a natural choice for tourists and they are still running in the tracks that descend from 2,394 meters above sea level in Asmara to zero in the port city of Massawa.

Eritrean Railways is one of the most spectacular rail lines in the world and climbs almost 2,400 meters in only just over 100 kilometers amidst a breathtaking mountain scenery, wrote worldsteam.com, a website dedicated to steam engine enthusiasts. Besides, Eritrean Railways possesses six small standard shunter locomotive trains named Breda, as well as two diesel locomotives and Fiat rail cars.

As these still functioning locomotives are now obsolete, the need for spare parts is met from the workshops of the railway administration that is staffed with local experts their age ranges from octogenarians to early twenties. “As most of their spare parts is obsolete, the railway technicians modify the same for use and hence their creativity and innovation keep the locomotives in running order,” Mr. Amaniel Gebresilasie further explained.

“I was recruited at Eritrean Railways in the capacity of a technician in the boiling department in 1945,” says Mr. Siyum Kidane, 78. “During that time and in subsequent years, the skilled jobs were monopolized by the Italians. The Eritrean nationals acquired skills after constant effort and later they began to replace them. Now, it is the responsibility of the veterans to bequeath their skills to the younger generation,” Mr. Siyum elucidated.

Still another Eritrean national Mr. Habtom Mihreteab, said that after his assignment to the Eritrean Railway after completing his regular studies in Sawa and Mai Nefhi respectively he finds the career interesting. “It is a privilege to work together with the railway veterans to advance the career I have embarked upon,” Mr. Habtom added.

According to Travel House International, more than one hundred tourists will be hosted in the first weeks of this month.