‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎95r] (188/949)

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From that point till the coast range is approached, the chief features, of
the country are the width and depth of the nulla beds that scar the interven-
ing plain, and the enormous extent of ravines fringing their banks. The caravan
road follows the Samundari (Pidark) nulla which winds through a wide
shingle basin, bounded on both sides by ravines, and covered with tamarisk
and Jhand, a sign that the channel is fairly permanent.
An alignment along the outer edge of this basin, locally termed a “ Bet ”,
would be quite feasible for a railway, and very cheap, but for a few crossings
of the stream. I think, however, that a safer line should be sought for on the
right, where there is a nice, easy plain fairly free from ravines. The sketch
may explain the features of the alignment along the “ Bet ”,
At the 35th mile from Turbat the road ascends the left bank of the river
and traverses a plain sloping at 1 in 125 for 5 miles. This is followed by a short
jy.s .—Garuk is a common name for Kotaisand stretch among easy ravines ending up
nullas in this country. It means stony or with a Crossing of the Gamk nulla and
bouidery. a ^ escen ^ on Gholamani Bet, a
rudely tilled alluvial plain in the basin of the Shadi Kaur.
The thirty-two miles of country between the foot of the Gok Parosh
Kotal and Gholamani Bet offer excellent opportunities to the survey officers
for selecting a better alignment than that now described. At the same time a
railway along the caravan road would not be an expensive line to construct,
the chief item would be major and minor bridging in short spans. Gholamani
Bet, B. L. 150, and 20 miles from Pasni is an obligatory point on the route, as
the mountains begin to close in on either hand. Thence the line descends the
valley of the Shadi Kaur, which, after receiving the drainage of the surround
ing country in a number of good-sized streams, breaks through the range
between Gholamani Bet and the coast.
The alignment (which at the Bet itself should take the alternative dotted on
the plan) follows the caravan road for, the first seven miles. There will be two
crossings of the river requiring 500" of waterway each, and a mile of heavy
work through some outlying ravines of the main range; but the greater part of
the line is over an easy, open plain between the right bank of the river and the
base of the hills.
Eight miles from Gholamani Bet the river enters an alluvial plain about
f mile wide, down which it meanders to the sea. Numerous spill channels
show that it frequently changes its bed. The caravan road crosses it six times.
The railway should bridge the Shadi Kaur on to the left bank at the head
of this valley, and thenceforward leave the caravan road and adhere to that
bank till it crosses the estuary of the river, three miles above Pasni.
This will involve a slight detour and some heavy earthwork among the
foot hills at the 10th mile from Gholamni Bet, where the river hugs some
clay cliffs jutting from the main range ; but the resulting line "will be secure
from all vagaries of the river.
From the foot of the Gok Parosh Kotal to Pasni a ruling grade of 1—100
to 1—125 should be obtainable. The critical point will most likely be met with
in traversing the foot hills just mentioned.
Curvature and gradients .—Six hundred or seven hundred feet radii will be
necessary at Kotals like the Kathag and Gok Parosh and in difficult portions of
the line generally. Otherwise, curvature will be easy. The probable ruling
gradient at each Kotal is marked on the section, and has already been stated.