Lostwin - Holiday Special! - Wadi Rum

[lostwin(m)]

Well, I wasn’t anticipating posting anything on my 80’s B&W thread until back from travelling. But look what we bumped into in the Jordanian desert town of Wadi Rum. Time for a holiday special!

The steam train still works a couple of times a week, recreating scenes from Laurence of Arabia - which was filmed here.

The engine dates from 1959, made by Nippon Sharyo, Japan.

I assume it is fairly well known on the Forum, but hope you enjoy. The resident diesel to follow, after I have ridden my camel (no, I am not joking)!

 

[lostwin(m)]

Said camels…

Apologies if this is fallen into holiday snaps mode, back on topic shortly!

 

[lostwin(m)]

Not sure of the diesel vintage, but it is American and the works plate says Pyle-National Company. Similarly weather beaten exterior.

 

[lostwin(m)]

The railway dates back to 1916 and some of the carriages seem to be of similar vintage.

 

[lostwin(m)]

Leaving Wadi Rum today and we caught the train in action.

In the second picture you can see the machine gun to repel the horse mounted attack. We were following as best we could in the car, but only managed to see this in the distance.

 

[northwichcat]

I think Chris Tarrant rode that train on one of his Extreme Railways programmes.

 

[ac6000cw]

Not sure of the diesel vintage, but it is American and the works plate says Pyle-National Company. Similarly weather beaten exterior

I think it's a GE U10B, dating from 1976 - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_DH_class_locomotive#Other_users

The 'works plate' you mention looks like a connector cover to me (probably the MU connector).

 

[gazthomas]

I made it there in March 2022

 

[lostwin(m)]

I made it there in March 2022

Nice pictures. Wadi Rum is absolutely stunning and Bedouin family businesses have set up multiple ‘glamping’ sites that allow you to stay in the desert. Also, the location for many films, from Laurence of Arabia through Star Wars, The Martian and Dune etc.

 

[gazthomas]

Nice pictures. Wadi Rum is absolutely stunning and Bedouin family businesses have set up multiple ‘glamping’ sites that allow you to stay in the desert. Also, the location for many films, from Laurence of Arabia through Star Wars, The Martian and Dune etc.

Thanks. We did a day trip to Petra from Aqaba, stopping off at Wadi Rum on the way back. Qe enjoyed the Bedouin hospitality but passed on the Camel ride!