File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎108r] (220/258)

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Part II. Bunder Abbas—Shiraz Alignment.
0 (See Degree Sheets 1 8 M and 18 I and S.W. Asia, 4 miles = 1 inch, sheet 88 S.E.)
Section 1.— Bunder Abbas to the Ab-i-Shur (20 feet), 31 miles.
23. Leaving the town, the alignment runs over barren open ground past the date
groves of Saru at 3 miles and Tuj at 4^- mdes to that of Gulistan at 7-|-miles; several
water-courses are crossed. At 9 miles it passes ruined serai and cistern of Band-i-’Ali,
half a mile north of sea coast. The ground now becomes more difficult over rocky
ridges which continue for 2 miles; at 12 miles date groves of Khaneh Surkh; then over
a level plain for half a mile. At 12^- miles to 14f miles the line traverses a number of
small rocky defiles between parallel ridges ; at 15 miles serai of Chistaneh ; at 16 miles
Tang-i-Chakabak commences, a low rough pass 2 miles long over long slopes of rock;
some difficulty would be encountered here, and a detour would have to be made in order
to give the alifrnment a gradient 1 in 100. At 19 miles emerge from pass and enter a
maze of low hillocks ; at 23 miles this gives place to a sandy plain ; Gachin is passed at
26 miles, the ground continues fairly level to the Ab-i-Shur, reached at 29 miles, the
village of Latidan being passed at 30 miles.
Water. —Scarce, except from tanks ; good wells at Latidan and Gachin.
Metalling. —Not available on this stretch, but can be obtained from section 2.
I classify this section as follows :—
f
£
Surface
18 miles, costing 3,000
54,000
Easy valley
5 „ „ 4,000
20,000
Heavy valley ..
4 „ ‘ „ 6,000
24,000
Difficult
4 „ „ 8,000
32,000
Total ..
31 ,, „
130,000
Section 2.— Ab-i-Shur (20 feet) to Jihun (? 700 feet), 36 miles.
24. The Ab-i-Shur is about 80 yards broad in bed about 15 feet deep. Water
about 6 inches deep in summer—2|- feet in spring and 8 or 10 feet in flood, if not more.
The bed is sandy and treacherous and the river has recently changed its couise.
2 miles date groves and cisterns of Barimi. At 3 miles serai and cisterns o angm.
At 5 miles cistern of Birkeh Daraz. At 5|- miles the ground, hitherto leve >f ls ® s )
about 15 feet. At 9 miles alignment crosses water-course 80 yards broad, 10 leet deep,
no water flows except in flood time; but could always be obtained by iggmo.
At 1U miles serai of Kuristan (35 feet), two cisterns and good wells, bo far the
ground has" been almost level, offering no difficulty to railway construction, but ha ole to
inundation in places by hill torrents from south.
At 16 miles Birkeh Sultan (100 feet) serai and cisterns From ^ ml les on a
the line traverses many stony ravines. At 22 miles serai an ar »?J? ls f rn - i • a
(425 feet). The valley rises gently and there ^ should be no difficulty
gradient of 1 in 200 or" 1 in 250. From Kishidan to Birkeh i n ( - Jf The
is steeper, and the ground more difficult, being niuch cu y.y a secure a
alignment must keep well to the south or north side of t e e y m ^ beino-
steldy rise to Birkeh Nub, which stands on a plateau at 28 ^
reached half a mile after. The next 8 miles are over s t? n y, ^^^^bic^lieTon a
water-courses and with a downward slope towards the se^ai 0 ' ’
flat fcould be noted that an easier alignment for this section ^possibly lie along
the Bud-i-Shur from its junction with the mam stream near Latidan to
Plain ; no saving of length but an easier gradient.
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