Collections | Great Inventions of the 19th Century | Transportation | Railways [28 Objects, 8 Monuments]

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Introduction to the Chapter

Islamic pottery from Ephesus

Excavated 1870; 14-15th century

The British Museum

London, United Kingdom

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Islamic pottery from Ephesus

Excavated 1870; 14-15th century

The British Museum

London, United Kingdom

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Convoy of pilgrims

19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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Convoy of pilgrims

19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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Convoy of pilgrims

19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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Convoy of pilgrims

19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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Anatolian Railways

19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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 Justification for this item

The Ottoman railways were first begun in 1856. The first railway in Anatolia was built between Izmir and Aydın, to connect the port of Izmir with the interior.

Anatolian Railways

19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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The Victims of Labour

1882 (fusion 1895)

National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM)

Rome, Italy

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The Victims of Labour

1882 (fusion 1895)

National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM)

Rome, Italy

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The Railway Station at Jaffa

1893

The British Library

London, United Kingdom

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 Justification for this item

The railway opened on September 1892, connecting Jaffa to Ludd, ‘Ayn Sejed, Deir ‘Aban, Bither and Jerusalem. An renowned ancient port for the export of cotton, cereals and oranges, Jaffa port was a natural outlet for Jerusalem and the destination for a growing number of pilgrims. Hence the importance of the railway, which reached the port.

The Railway Station at Jaffa

1893

The British Library

London, United Kingdom

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Beirut–Damascus Railway Company headquaters

1895

Railway and Public Transportation Authority, Ministry of Transportation

Beirut, Lebanon

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 Justification for this item

This building was the headquarters of the railway company in Lebanon where the profits were made and currencies exchanged.

Beirut–Damascus Railway Company headquaters

1895

Railway and Public Transportation Authority, Ministry of Transportation

Beirut, Lebanon

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Bakırköy Railway Station

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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 Justification for this item

From the second half of the 19th century, during the reign of Sultan ‘Abd al-Hamid, important railway works were promoted by the Sultan. Built by British or German companies, the aim was to connect important ports with the interior and facilitate the trade of raw materials to important ports.

Bakırköy Railway Station

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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Haydarpaşa Train Station

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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 Justification for this item

Haydarpaşa Station was the northern terminus of the Baghdad Railway and the Hijaz Railway in 1904. German architects were employed to build it. It is one of the buildings that reshaped the architectural tradition of Istanbul and, together with Sirkeci Station (the terminus for the Orient Express), it reaffirmed Istanbul’s cosmopolitan tradition.

Haydarpaşa Train Station

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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Railway Bridge from Anatolia

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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 Justification for this item

The İzmir–Aydın line was laid by a British company in 1860. It was followed by the İzmir–Kasaba line in 1865, Rumeli railway line in 1869–77, Anatolia–Baghdad in 1872 and Mudanya–Bursa in 1892.

Railway Bridge from Anatolia

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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Rumelia Railway

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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 Justification for this item

The Ottoman railways were mainly built during the period of Sultan ‘Abd al-Hamid. Rumeli railway line was built in 1869–77. This picture is included in one of the albums of the Sultan, compiled to document in pictures all the buildings and facilities he built.

Rumelia Railway

Late 19th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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The Railway Bridge from Anatolia

Late 19th century – begining of the 20th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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The Railway Bridge from Anatolia

Late 19th century – begining of the 20th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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The Hijaz Railway delegations

Late 19th century – beginning of the 20th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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The Hijaz Railway delegations

Late 19th century – beginning of the 20th century

Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)

Istanbul, Turkey

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The plan of Haydarpaşa Train Station

Late 19th – early 20th century

Istanbul Railway Museum

Istanbul, Turkey

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The plan of Haydarpaşa Train Station

Late 19th – early 20th century

Istanbul Railway Museum

Istanbul, Turkey

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Orient Express Poster

1898

Ömer M. Koç Collection

Istanbul, Turkey

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 Justification for this item

The Orient Express, which was owned by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, connected Paris and Istanbul between 1883 and 1977. In its first journey from Paris, French, German, Austrian and Ottoman diplomats and civil servants were on board. The Orient Express was a fashionable train catering for the leisure travels of the upper class.

Orient Express Poster

1898

Ömer M. Koç Collection

Istanbul, Turkey

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Qatranah Railway Station

1904

Qatranah, Jordan

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 Justification for this item

The Hijaz Railway eased pilgrimage to the holy places of Islam. It also had other purposes: control of the Arab tribes and lands in Arabia and providing alternative commercial routes not controlled by the British Empire and its allies. Qatranah was an ancient pilgrimage station along the route of the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Medal to commemorate the inauguration of Ma'an station

1904

Numismatic Museum (Ahli Bank)

Amman, Jordan

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 Justification for this item

A medal issued to commemorate the inauguration of Ma’an station on the Hijaz Railway line, with the tughra (imperial monogram) of Sultan ‘Abd al-Hamid. The sultan promoted this work in a strategic context both at the local level (control on the Arabian Peninsula) and at the international level (collaboration with Germany).

Ma'an Railway Station

1904–1906

Ma'an , Jordan

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 Justification for this item

Ma’an was traditionally a station along the route of the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Hijaz (today Saudi Arabia). As a station for pilgrimage, it had some special requirements (such as water supplies). The Hijaz Railway included the ancient pilgrimage caravan stations in its route.

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