These photographs were taken during a brief visit to Sudan in June 2002. Sudan is not an easy place in which to travel; for instance you need permits to travel outside Khartoum and for photography. However, I found everyone very helpful and enthusiastic in my quest for the last vestiges of steam in Sudan!
In the yard near Khartoum Station was an 1885 Leeds built Hunslet 4-4-OT. This is reported to have been withdrawn from service by 1950 and is now to be preserved. The buffer beam bore running number SGR (Sudan Government Railways) No. 4, which suggests it may be works no. 333, originally named SPHINX and one of six such locomotives delivered to the Sudan Military Railway.
Around the yard there were several other fireboxes and boilers which l understood were awaiting sale to factories for hot water generation. These included the remains of a 1951 Hunslet, probably an 0-6-OT works number 3746 and a mystery North British engine built in 1955. Two other boilers had been in recent use in the yard. Plates on the smokeboxes bore the North British works numbers 23588 and 24848 which identifies them as light Pacific Class 220 built in 1927 and 1942, respectively. About 50 of these 4-6-2's were originally in service in Sudan.
I managed to arrange a half day visit to Atbara, several hours drive north of Khartoum, and the centre of railway operations. Until very recently there were reports of a "steam engine graveyard" here. This is no longer the case, all of the remaining steam locomotives having been dumped about 10km to the East in the desert. Here I found a solitary 1925 Robert Stephenson Prairie Class 200 (running no. 201, works no. 3887) and seventeen of the original forty-two North British Class 500 4-8-2 locos dating from 1954 and 1955. Comparison of the original running numbers and works numbers shows that a considerable amount of boiler switching must have taken place over the years.
I am indebted to the Stephenson Locomotive Society for allowing me access to their library so that l could check my observations against previous records.
Inventory of locomotives recorded during my visit in 2002.
Google Earth image probably of locomotive "graveyard" at Zalad. This image wasn't available in 2002 of course!! Locomotives recorded West of the station may in fact have been East of the station - well it was 45C and no shade!!
References:
Athersuch, J. 2003. Update on Sudan. The Journal of the Stephenson Locomotive Society, No. 819, volume 79.
Athersuch, J. 2002. The end of the line for steam in Sudan.Locomotives International, No.64.
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Robert Stephenson Prairie class 200 2-6-2 no. 201(works no. 3887) built 1925 at Zalad near Atbara June 2002
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Boiler possibly from a Hunslett 0-6-0T built 25.4.1951 (works no. ?3746) awaiting resale Khartoum June 2002
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Boiler possibly from a North British loco built 30.0.1955 awaiting resale Khartoum June 2002
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North British Class 500 4-8-2 no. 506 built in 1955 at Zalad, near Atbara June 2002
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End of the line! North British Class 500 4-8-2 no.528 built in 1955 at Zalad near Atbara June 2002
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Light Pacific Class 220 (works no. 24848) used for steam production Khartoum yard
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Hunslett 4-4-0T built Leeds 1885 (probably works no. 333) and supplied to the Sudan Military Railway. Withdrawn 1948-50. Seen here on a wagon built 1905 at Khartoum yard in June 2002
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........and a tender behind! Possibly from a Prairie Class 200 loco.
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