It was completed in 1908, but was severely damaged during the first world war 19141918 by lawrence of arabia and the arab revolt. The hijaz railway, conceived as a convenient route to the holy cities of medina and makkah for muslim pilgrims from the turkish ottoman empire, had a short but eventful existence in the early years of this century. Times are tough for the travel community right now. The hejaz railway was a narrowgauge railway that ran from damascus to medina, through the hejaz region of modern day saudi arabia, with a branch line to haifa on the mediterranean sea.
Almadina museum al hejaz railway museum tripadvisor. The hejaz railroad station building is just outside the city walls of the old city of damascus. Syria, turkey and in the end with europe with a modern rail system with. The hejaz railway was an obvious target and in june 1916 the tribes began attacking the line. Whilst this is fairly certain to be the case it is of course difficult of confirmation, as though german engineers were the guiding influence in connection with the railway, and also many cases other foreigners, such as. The study seeks to highlight the urban and architectural impacts of hejaz railway stations that were constructed during the ottoman rule in mafraq governorate, especially the impact of the mafraq. History of the hejaz railway rare pictures of hejaz railway. The main objective of its construction was to serve the two holy mosques and provide a modern means to transport pilgrims who came from asia, europe and the levant to the holy shrines in makkah and madinah, in addition to strengthen ties between the then. This article examines the political and social tensions of late ottoman haifa through the history of the hejaz railway and a particular monument, the exalted. Currently, the part of heritage railways that lies in jordan operates as jordan hejaz railway. Stretches of the line are still used today by passenger and goods trains with engines and carriages from another era.
The hejaz railway lawrence of arabia was elevated to global stardom, firstly by lowell thomas in his depiction of col t. Jordan s prince hassan bin talal, supports the rebuilding of the railway. Bahrain king fahd causeway in bahrain king fahd causeway over the gulf of bahrain landscape with iranian town and ruins around ancient mosque wide angle view of the famous mongolian tomb in iran mausoleum dome of soltaniyeh. The price of ticket for aljeezah station is 4 dinars and 2 dinars for children below ten. Chevron is pleased to be the sponsor of the hejaz railway. The hejaz railway was once a joint project of the entire islamic world, explains archaeologist ulrich bellwald. The hijaz railway is a late addition to these routes, an early 20th century railway built to connect the holy lands with damascus syria. The hejaz railway once ferried pilgrims from damascus in syria to amman and then on to medina in saudi arabia, but only the breeze rolls through this historic old station at present. Nearly a hundred years ago, these trains were used on the hejaz line. The arab revolt began in june, 1916, with an arab i offensive, a surprise attack by the halfarmed and. I managed to ride the train to syria a few years ago before the war in that country. This book addresses a wide variety of topics, but the two main themes are. Your support will go a long way in helping tour operators worldwide get back on their feet down the road.
Railway expansion was symbolic of modernization in the late 19th century, and britain, germany and france built railways at enormous speed and reaped great commercial benefits. Its main line was constructed in 190008, ostensibly to facilitate pilgrimages to the muslims holy places in arabia but in fact also to strengthen. There is a tendency in cultural heritage management to. To understand why the rail line was never permanently. In the middle east, railways were no less important and the ottoman empires hejaz railway was the first great industrial project of the 20th century. Very interesting ride, especially the spiral down the hillside to damascus you could see the city more than one hour before arrival. Despite ranking only as captain and holding a desk job in cairo, he persuaded his superiors to send him across the suez. The journal of the orders and medals society of america lay derelict. The following 44 files are in this category, out of 44 total. Whilst this is fairly certain to be the case it is of course difficult of confirmation, as though german engineers were the guiding influence in connection with the railway, and also many cases other foreigners, such as greeks. Brooklyn bridge apamea, syria king fahd causeway at sunset. Elsewhere there are still derailed locomotives and cars to be seen.
Hejaz railway hejaz railway per our mos, article name is not a company or proper noun, plus most sources use lowercase. A railway had been suggested in 1864 to relieve the suffering of the hajis on their 40day journey through the wilderness of midian, the nafud, and the hejaz mountains. The pilgrim route follows the descent close alongside the line, and is comparatively easy. Proposal for a thesis the master of liberal arts degree.
A sketch based on flights over the wadi baroda, intended as a study for a larger canvas which was not executed. Today the remnants of the railway line, desert stations and the ancient forts to which it was linked provide the opportunities for tourism. Hicaz demiryolu was a narrow gauge railway 1,050 mm3 ft 5 1. The hejaz or hedjaz railway was a narrowgauge railway that ran from damascus to medina, through the hejaz region of saudi arabia. The hejaz railway also spelled hedjaz was a 1050mm gauge railway originally built to transport pilgrims from the city of damascus in syria to the city of madina in saudi arabia. Although the railway link to haifa israel has been lost, the hijaz railway depot is used as a railway museum, including an. The hejaz railway from damascus to medina once served as a vital route across the desert and was a principal target for the arabs and lawrence of. However, for anyone interested in lawrence and the arab revolt, james nicholsons hejaz railway stands head and shoulders above the rest. Lawrence and then by david leans 1962 hollywood epic movie. I really like the recent refurbishing as they have kept many of the original fixtures in place. To run and invest the properties of the hejaz railway. The hejaz railway was built 100 years ago to carry pilgrims from istanbul to medina but was blown up by lawrence of arabia during world war i. File 31421903 hedjaz railway qatar digital library.
Defined primarily bi its wastren mairch on the reid sea, it extends frae haql on the gulf o aqaba tae jizan. Pdf urban and architectural impacts of hejaz railway in mafraq. Winding its way from damascus through the vast desert wastes of jordan and into the spectacular barren mountains of northwest saudi arabia, the hejaz railway was a testament to the fading, but still potent power of the ottomans in arabia. It was completed in 1908, but was severely damaged during the first world war 19141918 by.
In 1952 the jordan hejaz railway corporation was established and is running and investing the properties of the railway up to this day within jordanian territories. Here is a work that combines authoritatlve research with outstanding presentation. A report on the hejaz railway by major francis richard maunsell, dated july 1907 ff 5669 a memorandum respecting german influence on the hejaz railway by george ambrose lloyd, 1906 ff 9596 a list of the principal stations on the hejaz railway with approximate distances between damascus and each station f 100. Thankfully, nicholson doesnt allow the lawrence of arabia story to sidetrack him from pursuing the wider picture of the war for the hejaz railway. It was a part of the ottoman railway network and the original goal was to extend the line from the haydarpasa. The railway thus also enabled the ottomans to ease the transportation of troops and strengthen their grip on arabia. Now an ambitious plan is underway to resurrect the railway to reclaim it from the ravages of the desert. Railways general directorate building would be constructed, was not mentioned in the source documents at the. Hejaz railway, railroad between damascus, syria, and medina now in saudi arabia, one of the principal railroads of the ottoman turkish empire. See an aw eedit eedit soorce wikimedia commons haes media relatit tae hijaz. The total length of the railway from damascus to medina was 1,320. A 452 kilometer stretch of the railway lies in jordan, and both passenger and freight trains pass along it through the cities of almefrak, zerka, amman, jize, alqatrana and maan. At the qadem station on the outskirts of damascus, tourists inspect rusty old steam trains.
Jan 12, 2006 the hejaz railway was the last great religious foundation of the ottomans, which set to revolutionise travel for muslim pilgrims. It was a part of the ottoman railway network and the original goal was to extend the line from the haydarpasa terminal in kadikoy beyond damascus to the holy city of mecca. Nice to hear that the hedjaz railway is still alive. Overlooking the old city of al ula, saudi arabia unesco world heritage site, so called iranian taj mahal. For some 15 miles to the west, also, the escarpment is fairly well defined, until it merges in the high ranges overlooking the gulf of akaba. Theres a small onsite museum, and you can sit in the elaborately decked royal carriage. Hejaz railway stations along the way we stopped and looked at many hejaz railway stations. Jordan hejaz railway station amman is a large cosmopolitan city and offers an extensive range of restaurants. In jordan it is now primarily used for phosphate transit. However, the arabs needed explosives and better equipment, and that is where t.
The railway, had it been completed, would have provided transport for the annual the islamic pilgrims all the way to mecca. Lawrences field of endeavour was the hejaz railway that is now the focal line for the garp conflict archaeology study. The hejaz railway was built by the ottomans in only 8 years to carry pilgrims over 0km from damascus in syria to medina in saudi arabia. The railway was started in 1900 at the behest of the ottoman sultan abdul hamid ii and was built largely by the ottomans, with german advice and support. Today, nearly eighty years after the war, locomotives remain in the long deserted railway sheds at the medain saleh station, a testament to the preserving properties of the desert climate. It runs passenger services that connect not only various parts of jordan but also connects to. The railway line, which was supposed to transport pilgrims from all over the ottoman empire to mecca via damascus, never reached its final destination but stopped at medina 400km short of mecca. Where the options are various and international, visitors are encouraged to try some of the diverse and delicious local and traditional food. Hejazrailwayandtheottomanempire,themodernity,industrialisationandottomanyq234412. Simply enter and you leave the hustle, bustle and noise of the city behind you. The album includes views of jerusalem, mecca, medina, hejaz and jiddah in saudi arabia, petra in jordan, and mount sinai in egypt. Pdf the study seeks to highlight the urban and architectural impacts of hejaz railway stations that were constructed during the ottoman rule. Hejazrailwayandtheottomanempire,themodernity,industrialisationandottomanyq234412 020 adobe acrobat reader dcdownload adobe acrobat reader dc ebook pdf.
Sultan abdul hamid ii 129326 ah18761908 ad, in order to strengthen his religious position and better control the outskirts of his empire, adopted a. Oct 28, 2016 the hejaz railway is still in use in syria and jordan and the saudi government is working to make the railway active again. Jan 14, 2006 the hejaz railway was built 100 years ago to carry pilgrims from istanbul to medina but was blown up by lawrence of arabia during world war i. In amman in jordan, the old hijaz railway station is open to the public as a small railway museum. The exalted column, the hejaz railway and imperial legitimation in. The hejaz railway was built on the order of ottoman ruler sultan abdulhameed ii on september 1st 1909 ce. Photo about abandoned railway station of hejaz railway from damascus to saudi arabia.
Interestingly, the administration of the hejaz railway was virtually corruptionfree quite an accomplishment in late ottoman times, chiefly because the line had a serious religious purpose. And runs trains connecting the length of the country through its 450 kms of tracks or so. Hejaz railroad, saudi arabia travel photos by galen r. Hejaz railway station near alula stock photo image of. It runs passenger services that connect not only various parts of jordan but also connects to syria and saudi arabia. The book answers just about any question that might come to mind about this remarkable old transportation system. Al madina museum is located near to masjid annabi area inside old hejaz railway station. Pdf the hejaz railway download full pdf book download. Hejaz railway was formerly inaugurated, and carried its first pilgrims. Its main ceety is jeddah, but it is probably better kent for the islamic holy ceety o medina. The jordan hejaz railway corporation organizes regular weekly trips and in holidays to aljeezah station near queen alia international airport, and to al qaser station umm al hiran near the radio and television corporation, and to alzarqa and almafraq. To guarantee that the trains are in motion on the railway.
Hijaz muntains hejazi arabic hejazi turban mizmar dance kinrick o hejaz hejaz railway hijaz scale hijazi script nejd notes eedit eedit soorce kesting, piney mayjune 2001. However, construction was interrupted due to the outbreak of world war i, and it reached no further than medina, 400 kilometres short of. Download to do whatever you like with pdf files on the web and regain control web to pdf. Please note that ebooks are subject to tax and the final price may vary depending. Hejaz railway amman, jordan attractions lonely planet. Road trip to madain saleh, tabuk and al wajh living in. The railway line, which was supposed to transport pilgrims from all over the ottoman empire to mecca via damascus, never reached its final destination but. Much of the original rail embankment still survives today, as do the station buildings.
Pdf urban and architectural impacts of hejaz railway in. The book answers just about any question that might come to. The ottoman empire enters the war sherif hussein and the british the stotzingen mission the arab revolt. Hicaz demiryolu was a narrowgauge railway 1,050 mm 3 ft 5 11. It was a part of the ottoman railway network and was built to extend the line from the haydarpasa terminal in istanbul beyond damascus to. It gives the reader an insight into a largely neglected part of the kingdom of saudi arabias remarkable history. Bedouins, who had previously taken travellers all the way across the desert, objected to losing so much business, so the rail track was built to stretch from damascus to medina, just falling short of mecca itself. The first world war saw significant stretches of the hejaz railway destroyed by the legendary lawrence of arabia and his bedouin fighters. History of the hejaz railway rare pictures of hejaz. May 19, 2015 the hejaz railway from damascus to medina once served as a vital route across the desert and was a principal target for the arabs and lawrence of arabia in the revolt against turkish domination. Lawrence, the life, the legend stimulated a crop of goodquality publications in 20056, including reprints and revised editions. Oct 26, 2015 currently, the part of heritage railways that lies in jordan operates as jordan hejaz railway. It is a stateowned company affiliated to the iraqi ministry of transport, a network of railways composed of 2000 km, and 115 stations its location is in baghdad and 9 provinces, connected to the syrian railway network and from.