While the diesel locomotive coverage on this website is fairly comprehensive, the historic steam locomotives below are just a random selection which I have found photos of.

The book Middle East Railways by Hugh Hughes has detailed listings of steam engines (though I can’t see any Sentinels). And no, there aren’t any steam locos still in use in Iraq!

There is a selection of interesting photos showing lots of standard gauge and metre-gauge steam locos (and some diesels) on the Iraq section of the Restoration & Archiving Trust website.

Tables of “standard” steam locomotive classes in Iraq:

• Standard gauge
• Metre gauge

Standard gauge locomotives

No 405, Borsig 8480/1912 (built as an 0-6-0T) outside Baghdad Central station.

Class PC

Photo: Railway Gazette International
In 1951 Mosul to Baghdad standard gauge air-conditioned sleeping car train approaching Baghdad West hauled by a streamlined PC class 4-6-2 built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorne. The Restoration & Archiving Trust has some colour photos of these magnificent locos

Class TD (British 8F)

An British-built 8F, similar to those used in the UK and around the world, has survived in Baghdad. It is being protected pending a decision on what will be done with it. The December 2003 issue of Steam Railway magazine mentions this 8F in a compound near Baghdad. Preserved Locomotives of British Railways (Fox & Hall, eighth edition 1993) suggests it is former War Department 8F no.547, built by North British Locomotive Co as works no.24740 of 1941 which became IRR no.1429.

Class TE

Photo: Railway Gazette International
Krupp TE-class 2-8-0 on a Baghdad – Mosul train.

Metre gauge locomotives

Photo: Railway Gazette International
Baghdad – Basra metre-gauge mail train leaving Baghdad West hauled by 2-8-2 American-built Mcarthur loco. The last vehicle is the through coach to Nairiyah.

Class Y 2-8-2

Manufacturer’s publicity brochure, from the Vulcan Foundry website.

Class Z 2-8-2

Photo: Railway Gazette International
Metre-gauge 2-8-2 Z-class oil fired loco, one of 20 supplied by Ferrostaal AG of Essen.

0-6-6-0

47 Baldwin 3ft 6in gauge Malletts were built in 1917-18 for Russia’s Archangel Railway, but owing to the Russian Revolution these were diverted to British War Department, and most were used in Iraq.

Sentinel

A plinthed Sentinel shunter survives at a railway workshop (Photo: G Mott, 2003).