Re: Eritrean Railway (950 mm gauge)

The book "Eritrean Narrow Gauge" is based on the authors single participation in a charter tour to Eritrea and is therefore not a very good account of the railway's recent history.

The local service between Ghinda and Damas was diesel hauled and only operated for a few months, until it was realized that the cost of the diesel fuel far exceeded revenues from fares.

The Sunday trains between Asmara and Nefasit (a Mallet & a coach) only operate when there are sufficient bookings, about twice a month. The fare for foreigners is U$50 and timings are Asmara 08.00-Nefasit 09.15/10.00-Asmara 12.00.

The following locomotives are operational:
0-4-0T 202.002 Breda 2169/1927 20.2t in use 10/2011
0-4-4-0T 440.008 Ansaldo 1162/1915 35.0t in use 10/2011 (1937 ex FS Italy)
0-4-4-0T R.442.54 Ansaldo 1364/1938 46.0t in use 10/2011
0-4-4-0T 442.55 Ansaldo 1365/1938 46.0t in use 03/2011
0-4-4-0T 442.56 Ansaldo 1366/1938 46.0t in use 10/2011 (newly restored)
0-4-4-0T 442.59 Ansaldo 1369/1938 46.0t in use 10/2011
0-6-0 DM N°. 1 Drewry 2079/1937 110hp (1941 ex Tokar, Sudan)
0-6-0 DM N°. 2 Drewry 2075/1936 74hp (1941 ex Tokar, Sudan)
Bo-Bo DH 27D Krupp 3602/1957 48.0t 560hp
4-wheel railcar N°. 2 FFSS/FFEE c.1930 (1942 ex Somalia)
bogie railcar N.2 ("Littorina") FIAT 1936 2x115hp
4-wheel rail truck 1 Ural truck mounted on FIAT "Littorina" bogie (1994)
4-wheel rail truck 2 Ural truck mounted on FIAT "Littorina" bogie (1994)

Two more 0-4-0Ts are under slow repair (R.202.04 & 108) and three more dumped (R.202.109, 110 and 111). Another Krupp diesel (25D) is stored and they tried to repair "Littorina" N°. 7, but it didn't work out.