For those of you interested in the more exotic, not to say alien, countries or the 'number snatchers' for preserved engines, here a fresh report from a Swiss colleague (reprinted with his OK) who is just back from Pakistan.
Not your Sunday picnic ride, but the line up the Khyber pass to Landi Kohtal (abt 10 miles from the Afghan border) is certainly one of the most dramatic rides around. Each train is sandwitched between two engines riding tender to the train, in order to master the two zigzags. Also about 30 Khyber Riffle armymen ride with the train to protect the 'foreign guests'.
An interesting remark made by the tour leader in another mail is that the Pak. Railway do not want too many enthusiast specials because they feel the constant run-pasts and restarts on the steep way up do damage their old engines. 'Normal' groups which go up non-stop are more welcome!
Regards - JFA - Dubai
QUOTE
: Report on Jan./Feb. 2006 Tour

Last month I took part in a 1 week group tour to Pakistan. By
arriving 2 days earlier and leaving 2 days later I was able to visit
some sites which were not included in the program.

On January 26th I visited Moghalpura Workshops in Lahore and found
following steam locomotives:
BROAD GAUGE:
0-4-2 Scinde Punjab & Delhi Ry. No. 1872 EAGLE (R. Stephenson & Co.
1872/1871)- preserved at the entrance;
4-6-0 NWR L class No. 448 (Dübs & Co. 3979/1897)- preserved at
entrance;
0-6-0 SGC 1225 ? stored outside, without tender;
0-6-0 SGS 2473 ? under restoration inside works, with tender freshly
painted;
4-4-0 SP/S 3078 ? stored outside, first pair of driving wheels
missing, with tender from SGS 2510;
2-8-2 CWD 5098 ? stored outside with tender;

METRE GAUGE:
2-8-2 YE 732 (Nippon Sharyo 1601/1952)? only frame & boiler on flat
wagon;
numerous tenders, including from 4-6-0 SP 127/M 65, SP 138;

NARROW GAUGE:
2-8-2 G/S 62 (NBL 22766/1921)? under restoration inside works, with
tender;
2-8-2 G/S 63 (NBL 22767/1921)? frame and tender inside works;
2-6-2 ZB 201 (Bagnall 2339/1928)? stored outside on flat wagon;
2-8-2 ZE 234 (Hanomag 10739/1930)? stored outside on flat wagon;
1 frame & boiler ? inside works.

A steam road traction engine is also preserved at entrance, and
various steam cranes where undergoing maintenance.

According to Mr. Farooq Aziz, Divisional Superintendent/Workshops,
one of the locomotives inside the workshops was to be made
operational (probably the B.G. SGS 2473) whilst another one was to
be restored for display (most probably the N.G. G/S 62).

I did not have the time to look for the following locomotives, which
had earlier been reported stored for preservation at the Electric
Locomotive Stores Depot, Moghalpura, and was unable to find out
anything about their situation from workshops staff:
4-6-2 XB 450 LORD WELLESLEY (Armstrong Withworth 1065/1930);
2-8-0 HG/S 2270 (Vulcan Foundry 3646/1923);
4-6-2 XA 2657 (Vulcan Foundry 4364/1929).

The following day I traveled first to Alipur Chatha, a station
between Wazirabad Jn and Hafizabad, only to find out that Punjab
Irrigation Department HG/S 2178 (Kitson 5066/1914) as well as the
tracks linking that station with Quadirabad Barrage on the Chenab
River had been removed for scrapping three years ago according to
the station master. He even sent one of his aides to show me the
place where the locomotive used to stand, and all that remains is
the track-bed from a three-track siding.

From there I went to the Punjab Irrigation Dept. Sikhanwala Quarry
workshops at Nishtar Abad station, the next station after Lalian
towards Shahinabad Jn./Sargodha Jn. There I found in storage the
following items:
0-6-0 FS 556 (with plate Vulcan Foundry 3185/1916)- marked
IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT SHAHPUR DIVISION;
0-6-0 SG 1179 (Vulcan Foundry)- marked IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT SHAHPUR
DIVISION;
0-6-0 SGS 3991 (Vulcan Foundry 2031/1905)- marked IRRIGATION
DEPARTMENT SHAHPUR DIVISION;
0-6-4T 56324 (with plate Baldwin 56324/June 1923);
0-6-0DH (Plymouth 6244/1961)- exported by Pressed Steel Car Co.
Inc., marked SIKHANWALA QUARRY;
a Ruston & Horsby steam road traction engine;
a 4-wheel tender;
6 4-wheel wooden brake vans;
6 4-wheel covered steel wagons;
16 4-wheel flat steel wagons.

The workshops are linked to the short branch between the station and
the quarry, where more flat wagons were reportedly stored, but the
tracks outside of the workshops are heavily overgrown. According to
a former locomotive driver the railway has been out of use since
1993 and the rocks transported by road. One of the engines was last
steamed in January of 1994 for a group of British enthusiasts. I was
able to look at the site and take pictures while one of the two
security guards on duty called the engineer in charge from his
office at the quarry. When he came he told me I would need to get an
authorization from the Irrigation Dept. at Sargodha, but I had
already finished what I came for.

During the following week I took part in the GlobeSteam Pakistan
tour 2006, where we used the PR active steam fleet based at Peshawar
and Rawalpindi. These are:

at Peshawar:
2-8-0 HG/S 2216 (Kitson 1916)/ 2277 (Vulcan 1923)/ 2306 (Vulcan
1923)-
all three serviceable, used on the Khyber Safari Trains, which at
the moment operate on a charter basis and can be booked through
Sehrai Travel & Tours in Peshawar, tel. 091-5272084/5;

at Rawalpindi:
2-8-0 HG/S 2264 (Vulcan 1916)/ 2303 (Vulcan 1923)- both serviceable,
used on the Sunday Gandhara Safari Trains to Golra Sharif;
2-8-2 CWD 5734 (Canadian Loco. Co. 2259/1945)? not serviceable, on
display at Rawalpindi Cantt. Station;
2-8-2 CWD 5735 (Canadian Loco. Co. 2260/1945)? serviceable, but out
of use at the Loco Shed due to a broken motion (a replacement part
is expected from Moghalpura Workshops).

On Sunday 29th January, we had a special train from Jamrud up to
Shahgai (Khyber) and back, with engines 2277 and 2306, 2 water
tanks, 6 covered wagons, and one coach.

On Monday 30th January, we had a special train from Taxila Cantt. to
Havelian, with engine 2303, one tank wagon, 4 covered wagons and a
brake van. On the way back we followed the train by road up to
Haripur Hazara.

On Tuesday 31st January, we were back on the Khyber, traveling from
Peshawar Cantt. all the way to Landi Kotal and back, again with 2277
and 2306, 2 tank wagons, 4 covered wagons and one coach. 2216 and
its water tank were coupled to the rear of the train and left at
Jamrud as a rescue engine in case one of the engines on the train
failed.

On Wednesday 1st February we were again on the Khyber from Peshawar
to Shahgai and back with 2277/2306, 2 tank wagons, 4 covered wagons
and a coach.

On Thursday 2nd February we had traveled from Nowshera to Attock
City with 2306, a tank wagon, 4 covered wagons and a coach, crossing
the Attock River Bridge on the way where we had several runpasts.

On Sunday 5th February, after the departure of the group, I traveled
on the Gandhara Steam Safari from Rawalpindi Cantt. (dep. 14:30) to
Golra Sharif Jn. (15:00/16:15), were there is enough time to view
the exhibits of the PR Heritage Point, before returning to
Rawalpindi (arr. 17:00). The train consisted of HG/S 2303 and two
coaches, full of families and school classes. This train runs every
Sunday, but seats need to be booked in advance due to high demand.
The one-way fare is Rs. 40 (U$ 0.67), a return ticket costs Rs. 50
(U$ 0.84).

During my stay I also saw the following PR narrow gauge (2'6")
locomotives displayed at various stations:
2-8-2 G/S 64 (NBL 22768/1921)- preserved at the PR Heritage Point,
Golra Sharif Jn.;
2-6-2 ZB 202 (Bagnall 2340/1928)- plinthed in front of Peshawar
Cantt. station, together with a coach and a brake van;
2-6-2 ZB 203 (Hanomag 10759/1932)- plinthed in front of Rawalpindi
Cantt. station, as well as a trolley, three coaches and a brake van
across the station in front of the Divisional Superintendent's
Office;
2-6-2 ZB 205 (Hanomag 10761/1932)- plinthed in front of Lahore Jn.
station;
2-8-2 ZB 207 (Hanomag 10763/1932)- preserved at the PR Heritage
Point, Golra Sharif Jn..

2-8-2 G 54 (Nasmyth Wilson 1021/1913), previously preserved at the
PR Golf Course, Lahore, was not found. The golf course was
privatized 2 years ago and is now the Royal Palm Golf & Country
Club, and present whereabouts of the locomotive and accompanying
coach is unknown to its employees.

I also visited two non-PR narrow gauge (2'0") industrial railways.
One was the Changa Manga forestry railway, which is located 70 km
south of Lahore. The railway belongs to the Punjab Forestry
Department and contrary to earlier reports, it is still used mainly
to transport wood cut in the adjoining forest. From the yard a 2 km.
line heads east and a 4 km. line heads north. Both lines are joined
at their middle by a connecting line. Across the road from the yard
is a triangle with a passenger station, and there is another
triangle with a station on the line heading north where there is an
amusement park. At the time of our visit wood was being cut close to
the yard, with temporary track laid from the east line. Two trains
are used for transporting logs, one steam and the other diesel, both
with 5 to 7 flat bogie wagons. These head out at 8 a.m. and
operations end around 3 p.m.. Passenger operations take place on
Saturday afternoons on a charter basis and Sundays for the general
public, using the diesel locomotive. The adult fare is Rs. 20, the
child fare Rs. 10 and price for a charter train is Rs. 400 (U$
6.69). Charters can be arranged through the Assistant Manager, Mr.
Muhammad Rafi at 049-4381023.

Motive power consists of 3 steam and 3 diesel locomotives:
0-4-0WT 1763 (Andrew Barclay 1763/1923, boiler PB 1219, supplied via
Parry Engineering, Calcutta)- serviceable;
0-6-0WT 17208 (John Fowler 17208/1927, boiler PB 1868)- under repair;
0-6-0WT 21496 (John Fowler 21496/1936, boiler PB 2378)- in use;
0-4-0DM (Brookville 3538/1950, ex. Dalmia Cement, Karachi)- stored
in shed o.o.u.;
0-4-0DH NO 894 (Ageve DHL-60 M12 894/1981)- stored in shed o.o.u.;
0-4-0DH NO 895 (Ageve DHL-60 M12 895/1981)- in use;
a 4-wheel 5-seat railcar, converted from a auto rickshaw at Changa
Manga.

All three steam locomotives run together with bogie tenders, built
on the frames of log wagons. There is also a 0-4-0T plinthed at the
amusement park (boiler PB 1125) together with a 4-wheel wagon truck,
which is believed to be Hunslet 1077/1911, supplied via T.A. Martin,
Calcutta. Lying around the yard are the frames of two 4-wheel diesel
locomotives.

Rolling stock for the passenger trains comprises:
7 open coaches (8 wooden seats);
2 covered coaches (8 upholstered seats);
2 semi-closed coaches (7 upholstered seats);
3 closed coaches (longitudinal benches);
2 covered coaches (8 wooden seats);
2 closed aluminium coaches (8 upholstered seats);
1 closed wooden coach (6 upholstered seats).

All of the coaches are built on the basis of bogie logging wagons,
of which there are 15 to 20 in use. There are also some 4-wheel
trucks to transport the temporary tracks, as well as a 4-wheel flat
wagon and a 4-wheel hand-trolley used by the track-laying crew.

The other industrial railway that I visited was at the Khewra Salt
Mine Tourist Resort, in the Salt Range near Malakwal. The mine was
opened in 1916/17 and belongs to the Pakistan Mineral Development
Corporation (PMDC). The electric mining railway was in use until
1998, nowadays it is used to ferry visitors 3 km. inside the mine
which was opened as a tourist resort in 2002. The trackbed of the
former lines to the Khewra railway station can still be identified,
but the only track left outside the mine goes across a large bridge
to the shed.

The train consisted of a 4-wheel electric locomotive, 9 covered 4-
wheel coaches and 2 closed 4-wheel coaches. Another electric
locomotive was stored inside the shed, together with a closed green
4-wheel coach with upholstered seats. Outside of the shed there were
14 more covered coaches, one open coach, one closed coach and a 4-
wheel water tank wagon.

The mine can easily be reached from the Lilla interchange on the
Rawalpindi ? Lahore Motorway, it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., entry costs U$ 6.00 for tourists, Rs. 30 for Pakistani
visitors and there is a tourist guesthouse within the complex.

To conclude I would like to thank the following persons for their
helpful and kind assistance during my visit:
Iqbal Samad Khan, former G.M. of Pakistan Railways, Lahore;
Saleem-ur-Rahman Akhoond, General Manager/Operations of PR, Lahore;
Mohammad Farooq Aziz, Divisional Superintendent/Workshops,
Moghalpura, Lahore;
Pervaiz Iqbal Qureshi, Asst. Mech. Engr./Workshops, Moghalpura,
Lahore;
Sadeq Saleem, Asst. Works Mgr. Gen., Moghalpura, Lahore;
Peter Patt & Zafar Iqbal, GlobeSteam, Berlin, Germany;
Bilal Ahmad, Khalid Waseem, Amjad Karim & Muhammad Ali, Vista
Tourism, Islamabad;
Muhammad Ishfaq Khattak, Managing Director, PRACS, Rawalpindi;
Aftab Akbar, Joint Director, PRACS, Rawalpindi;
M. Eijoz Malik, Platform Inspector, PR, Rawalpindi;
Sahibzada Imtiaz, Div. Mech. Engr.-I, Peshawar Cantt.;
Dietmar Kramer, for organizing a second visit to Changa Manga;
as well as to all other persons, including locomotive and train
crews, which made our visit possible and enjoyable.

Thomas Kautzor,
Geneva, Switzerland.
UNQUOTE

Thank you very much for a very interesting report; from a "number snatcher". :)

It had an update on several locomotives and locations that have not been reported on in some time; along with some new observations. Some that were listed as gone and presumed scrapped now appear at one of the two works.

There is some conflict in regards to builder's data with some previous reports; it is probably a case of swapped builder's plates. The observation of traction engines at the two works is interesting and appreciated; portable steam engines have also been reported in a recent report from the steam locomotive graveyards in Bolivia which I recently recieved.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

I think this is a polite deflection for security reasons. Imagine the terrorist opportunities of a bunch of westerners all standing around the track for long periods of train movement.

- When I was there with a British group for 2 days in the late 90's, the engine crew became rather fed-up after the xyth runpast and used the same argument!
- The groups who book the train will be either Westerners or the 'City Elite' crowd; not realy priced for the locals I am afraid. But there is also a fair contingent of freeloaders (family or friends of the Pakistan Railway local bosses and/or army tops); no one complains since they will make sure the whole show goes through without major drama!
JFA

a BBC team travelled on the line a few years back (Michael Palin).

IIRC, they (the TV commentary) said that the main argument winning over the then warring locals to allow the line to be originally built, was that the train would only be able to travel slowly.

thus allowing it to be easily robbed.

not making it up, I promise.