File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎389v] (793/799)

goige, with mountains rising 500 to 1,000 feet on either side, varying between 50 and 80 broad. Most
remarkable place, as following shows; 2 kilom. beyond first bridge there come:—
Bridge, single-span, 20 yards long, 20 feet above water.
v >i 60 to 90 feet long, 20 feet above water.
„ „ 60 to 90 „ 20
„ „ 60 to 90 „ 20 „
„ „ 60 to 90 „ 20
Tunnel, 100 yards long.
Bridge, single-span, 60 to 90 feet long, 20 feet above water.
„ „ 60 to 90 „ 20
v „ 60 to 90 „ 20 „
„ „ 60 to 90 „ 20 „
Engineering, cutting, embanking, &c., very heavy.
(IL) Biledjik. Engine-house for four, turntable, also two blank sidings. Out of Biledjik the line makes a
remarkable ascent, speed places being reduced to 6 to 8 miles an hour. From Biledjik to Karakeuy is
16-8 kilom., distance^ which takes seventy minutes to compass, ascent being 323 metres, giving an average
gradient of 1 in 50. Soon after Biledjik is iron bridge, on s x stone piers, 180 yards long, about 60' feet above
(notes omit to say whether above river or ravine—latter I think). Then follow immediately two tunnels,
totalhr^ aboiit 150 yards in length. Then, about 3 kilom. from station, wonderful view of town and river in
valley beneath. Here comts big iron girder bridge over ravine, 100 yards long, 90 feet above bottom ravine.
Could not see nature of supports, but seemed to be girders striking sideways out of slopes. Ravine falls right
down on one side, and on other rocky ground ascends high up. Deviation would be extremely difficult
business.
(12.) Yaila. Four hundred yards past station is another bridge, similar to previous one, 120 yards long,
80 feet deep, over ravine. Followed by tunnels of 350 yards, 110 yards, 360 yards, 90 yards, 200 yards,
200 yards, 160 yards, 100 yards, 200 yards, or nine tunnels, aggregating very nearly 1 mile. Between Bilediik
and Karakeuy there is a road following the bottom ot the gorge ; looks good, about 12 feet broad, and \vell
graded, rough in places, but rocky floor, and could stand heavy traffic, so far as could be judged from the
railway, which runs high up on the side of the gorge.
(13 ) Afion-Kara Hissar .—Considerable shed accommodation, engine-house for six, two turntables.
Heie is junction with Smyrna—Cassaba Railway. Ihe stations are half-a-mile apart, and are joined by a track ,
which, however, has been torn up for some distance. Junction could be effected in a few hours.
December 14, 1907.