Excavated 1870; 14-15th century
The British Museum
London, United Kingdom
19th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
19th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
19th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
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.
The Central Asian railway. Proposal for a direct line from Europe to India
1875
National Library of France
Paris, France
1882 (fusion 1895)
National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM)
Rome, Italy
1893
The British Library
London, United Kingdom
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.
Beirut–Damascus Railway Company headquaters
1895
Railway and Public Transportation Authority, Ministry of Transportation
Beirut, Lebanon
This building was the headquarters of the railway company in Lebanon where the profits were made and currencies exchanged.
Late 19th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
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.
Late 19th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
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.
Late 19th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
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.
Late 19th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
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.
The Railway Bridge from Anatolia
Late 19th century – begining of the 20th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
Late 19th century – beginning of the 20th century
Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library)
Istanbul, Turkey
The plan of Haydarpaşa Train Station
Late 19th – early 20th century
Istanbul Railway Museum
Istanbul, Turkey
1898
Ömer M. Koç Collection
Istanbul, Turkey
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.
1904
Qatranah, Jordan
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
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).
1904–1906
Ma'an , Jordan
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.