{"id":5233,"date":"2012-09-16T20:25:48","date_gmt":"2012-09-16T19:25:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/?page_id=5233"},"modified":"2018-03-25T20:43:01","modified_gmt":"2018-03-25T19:43:01","slug":"steam-locomotives-at-the-national-museum-of-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/steam-locomotives-at-the-national-museum-of-afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Steam locomotives at the National Museum of Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Steam<\/p>\n

Three steam locomotives are preserved in the collection of the National Museum of Afghanistan<\/a>, situated at Darulaman on the outskirts of Kabul. <\/p>\n

History<\/h3>\n

The three locomotives were built by Henschel & Sohn GmbH of Cassel (now written Kassel) in Germany.1<\/a><\/sup> The manufacturer recorded them as being supplied<\/a> to “Ferrostaal for Kabul-Darulaman, Afghanistan<\/a>, British India”; Afghanistan was not, of course part of British India, although the locos would almost certainly have been delivered via India. <\/p>\n

All three locomotives have an 0-4-0 wheel arrangement, and are thought to be 2 ft 6 in gauge. They had chimneys with spark arrestors, suggesting wood burning, and a photo show one of the locomotives in service carrying wood on board.<\/p>\n


\n\"Kabul<\/a><\/p>\n

Two of the locomotives were kept in the former engine shed at least into the 1970s. However it would appear that this shed no longer survives (unless anyone knows better). <\/p>\n

In Spring 1978, Continental Railway Journal issue 33 described the Darulaman locomotives as “two derelict 0-4-0Ts (Henschel 19680-1\/1923), about metre gauge, and the frame and bogies of one tramcar.”<\/p>\n


\n\"Steam<\/a><\/p>\n

The locomotives subsequently stood outside in the museum grounds, and at some point the third locomotive starts to be mentioned. In 2001 Der Spiegel<\/cite> published a 1989 photo showing the front two locos, and mentioned “Three rusted steam locos and the bogies of a coach “Made in Germany”.2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Steam<\/a><\/p>\n

Fortunately a roof has been built over the three locomotives and other exhibits. They are now undercover, and one is displayed on a short section of track. <\/p>\n

These are historical artefacts and we want to keep them,<\/q> museum caretaker Omara Khan Masoudi told Reuters in 2002.3<\/a><\/sup> Of course, it would be good to have a real railway now, that would be progress.<\/q><\/p>\n

Henschel 19681\/1923 – the plinthed locomotive<\/h3>\n

\"Steam<\/p>\n

This locomotive is displayed on short section of specially-built track. It looks to be in better condition than the other locomotives, with an intact cab. <\/p>\n

\"Henschel<\/a><\/p>\n

Recognition features for this particular locomotive are the tubular extension to the chimney, which is visible in a 1971 photo of it in the engine shed, and the second ‘dome’ (for sand?) on top of the boiler. The tanks have railings on top, and a step at the bottom edge towards the rear. There is a vertical pipe behind the buffer beam.<\/p>\n

This would appear to be the locomotive shown in two photos of the railway which were published in 1930. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n1 September 2012 (Nigel Emms)\n<\/td>\n\n
\n\"Steam<\/a>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Steam<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n2006\n<\/td>\n\n\"\"\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nApril 2006<\/p>\n

German ISAF personnel reposition the loco<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n\"Crane<\/a>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Afghan<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n14 October 2004
(Wim Brummelman)\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Photo
\n<\/a>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Photo
\n<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n1971
(Burkhard Puetz). <\/p>\n

The furthest locomotive has the chimney extension.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n\"Two<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nSciences et Voyages (France),
3 April 1930 issue. <\/p>\n

Note the headlight, and a name or numberplate in front of the works plate. The bolt holes are visible on the preserved locomotives.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n\"Photo<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nUHU magazine (Germany),
February 1930 issue, photo from 1926?4<\/a><\/sup>\n<\/td>\n		\n\"Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Henschel 19680\/1923<\/h3>\n

\"Steam<\/p>\n

This locomotive is similar to 19681\/1923, but can be distinguished by the boiler tubes now sticking out from the smokebox, the lack of a chimney extension and the absence of a the second protuberance on top of the boiler. The front left hand side of the cab is bent. There are railings around the tanks, which have a straight bottom edge. As with 19681 there is a vertical pipe behind the front buffer beam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n1 September 2012
(Nigel Emms)\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Steam\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Steam\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n14 October 2004
(Wim Brummelman)\n<\/td>\n		\n\"Photo
\n<\/a>\n<\/td>\n		\n\"Photo
\n<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n1975
(Frank Selman)\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"[Photo<\/a>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"[Photo<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n1971
(Burkhard Puetz).\n<\/td>\n		\n\"Two<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Henschel 19691\/1923<\/h3>\n


\n\"Steam<\/a><\/p>\n

This locomotive looks a bit smaller than the other two. It is missing more of its valve gear and other components than the others. The cab is bent backwards. There is a pipe from the dome down to the cylinders. The tanks have a stepped lower edge towards the front. <\/p>\n

When stood outside, this loco was the rearmost of the three, and was leaning over towards its left-hand side. A correspondent called Ramon e-mailed to confirm it was no.19691. <\/p>\n

One visitor to the museum suggested this loco may be a different gauge to the others, raising the possibility that another railway existed. If anyone is visiting the museum and has a tape measure, it would be interesting to know for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n14 October 2004
(Wim Brummelman)\n<\/td>\n		\n
\nPhoto<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The coaches<\/h3>\n

The metal underframes remain from two coaches, at least one of which still had much of its woodwork in 1971.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n2012
(Nigel Emms)\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Remains<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1971
(Burkhard Puetz)<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Remains<\/a>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Remains<\/a>\n<\/td>\n		\n<\/tr>\n
\n1938
Life\n<\/td>\n		\n\"Abandoned<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n192x
(Wilhelm Rieck)\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Links<\/h3>\n