'Mesopotamian Transport Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by the Government of India with the Approval of the Right Hon'ble The Secretary of State for India, to Enquire into Questions Connected with the Organisation and Administration of the Railway and River Transport in Mesopotamia' [‎19r] (37/114)

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155. We visited all up-country stores and in no case were the stocks unreason
able. Where it has been possible to provide suitable stores the buildings were well
arranged and well conducted. The store accommodation at Amara and Nasiriyeh
was insufficient and poor but in both cases the matter was already having attention.
156. We have made enquiry as to when the fleet is likely to be fully commis- Completion of
sioned and Appendix A (4) shews the vessels still on order in the United Kingdom buildin g
and gives an estimate of probable date of commissioning. These estimates are the P 10 s ramnle -
best that can be given, but cannot be relied on. With carrying tonnage short,
carrying steamers liable to be sunk and voyages under own steam so uncertain, it
is futile to put any faith in any estimate however carefully considered, and the
date of completion of the fleet programme must be written down as uncertain.
(b) Railways,
157. A general description of the Railways has been given m Chapter I of this
report and it is now proposed to consider them in greater detail.
158. The southern group consists of a line from Basra to Nasiriyeh on the
Euphrates, the general direction being North-West, and a line from Basra, to
Amara, the general direction being North,
159. The Railway Station for Basra is situated at Makina, about two miles from
the river front, the general alignment being parallel to the river. The lines to
Nasiriyeh and Amara take out at opposite ends of the station, so that there is a
straight run through from Nasiriyeh to Amara. The Locomotive Shops are at
Shaiba two stations out (16 miles) on the Nasiriyeh line. Terminal facilities at
Makina are still practically non-existent. An engine shed is in course of erection
but there are no watering arrangements. Engines have, therefore, still to stable
at Magil, where there are service tanks supplied with water pumped direct from
the river, but there is no shedding accommodation. The Station Master's office at
Makina is a tent, but a building has been sanctioned. There are four loops and five
dead-ends for marshalling, together with troop and other special service sidings.
160. The line to Nasiriyeh is laid on the desert on a location which is believed
to be above the flood level of the Euphrates. The gradients therefore are the
natural gradients of the desert surface, and in places are steeper than would have
been allowed, had the line been surveyed in the first instance and properly graded.
Most of these steep gradients can, however, be treated as momentum grades, and,
moreover, arrangements are in hand to improve them. There is only one watering
station between Basra (Magil) and y Nasiriyeh, namely, Ghubashiyeh, where water
is brought by an open cut from the Euphrates; engines therefore have a special
tank wagon behind the tender. The station arrangements at Nasiriyeh, though far
from elaborate, appear to be sufficient for existing traffic.
161. The line is worked on the telegraphic line clear system and the following
wires are supplied for railway use : One train wire and one through wire with
offices at Makina, Shaiba, Retawi, Luqait, Telallaam and Nasiriyeh. There is only
a very light traffic on this Une at present.
162. The line from Makina to Amara is much busier and is in fact being worked
up to its present capacity, taking into consideration its physical condition and the
number of locomotives available. There are no gradients to speak of, but train
loads are limited by the lengths of sidings and the want of proper watering arrange
ments resulting in frequent engine failures.
163. The source of water-supply is the river Tigris, which carries an enormous
amount of silt, and it is therefore essential that the water should pass through
settling tanks before being used in locomotives, but hitherto these have not been
provided, though their construction is in hand. The result of using this water is
very apparent in the condition of the locomotives. The provision of adequate
water-supply and the lengthening of sidings is being taken in hand.
164. At Amara there is no engine shed and practically no equipment for under
taking running repairs. Supplies and material are here transferred -to the river
for conveyance to Kut and for this purpose sidings have been laid down to the
river. The lay-out leaves, however, much to be desired and a remodelling scheme
is under consideration.