Week 30 and the ruined British railway track to Al-Lubban

Hi,
It is week 30 and we are on our way to check some childbirth rooms in hospitals around us.
We also starting to stock equipment and knowledge

I decided checking out an old and ruined railway that I found during the time I spending wondering around in the maps of Amud Anan.
The railway was built by the British forces of Allenby in 1917 during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in WWI. The railway stretched between the Eastern railway to the village Al-Lubban.

After taking over the South part of Israel and Jerusalem, The British forces were stopped by the OttomanGerman forces along a line crossing the country from East to West. The line was between two convoluted rivers – the Yarkon and Auja. Auja means in Arabic “meandering”, because both the rivers are such, and the Yarkon is known as Nahr al-Auja in Arabic, the line is referred to as “the line of the two Aujas”.

This line stood between the 23rd of December 1917 (west frontier) and 21st of February 1918 (east frontier) until September 1918 when the Meggido offensive started (leading to the battle of MegiddoBattle of Sharon, Battle of Nablus, and the Third Transjordan attack). During the war the P.M.R. (Palestine Military Railway s) built railway along the country, as the British army marched into Palestine.

This railway was a narrow railway, only 76.2cm (narrower than standard 143.5 cm railway width) and stretched for 20km and was built in only 6 months. Because the British kept the offensive, the railway was used for the original destination for only a short time. The railway had several branches, mainly for quarries and it was abandoned after the Independence war.

2016-10-29-10-29-06Atzva belly

screenshotA screenshot from Amud Anan site. The red line marks the route of the railway.

2016-10-22-07-23-22The Eastern railway crossing the road

2016-10-22-07-23-26The Eastern railway looking South. To the right are the Ben Gurion Airport oil tanks.

2016-10-22-07-29-22Kfar Jinis station

2016-10-22-07-29-24Kfar Jinis station building2016-10-22-07-30-15The building roof

2016-10-22-07-30-29The station building entrance

2016-10-22-07-31-09Station building on the other side

2016-10-22-07-31-53 2016-10-22-07-31-54Another building in the station – probably the office building

2016-10-22-07-33-20Logistic building and the airport buildings behind it. During the 1950’s the station was used to transport oil for the airport.

2016-10-22-07-49-37The arched road is where the railway was used to be.

2016-10-22-07-51-12Why other such an arched road will be in those fields?

2016-10-22-07-57-02 2016-10-22-07-57-46 2016-10-22-07-57-53The levee and the new road along it, leads to the Airport city

2016-10-22-08-09-29The levee in the distance and Shoam in the horizon.

2016-10-22-08-10-05

A nice industrial building in Airport city area

2016-10-22-08-24-22 2016-10-22-08-25-46

Looking on the levee running in the fields…

2016-10-22-08-26-28

Finally! a water pipe under the levee. A proof I am on the railway route.

2016-10-22-08-26-40 2016-10-22-08-27-02 2016-10-22-08-27-17 2016-10-22-08-28-51 2016-10-22-08-29-11

More water pipes along the levee.

Some beehives on the levee - Al-Lubban  Some beehives on the levee – Al-Lubban      A big water pipe under the levee - Al-Lubban    A big water pipe under the levee

Running in Wadi Beit-Arif looking for the railway bridge. I only found it on the way back. - Al-LubbanRunning in Wadi Beit-Arif looking for the railway bridge. I only found it on the way back.

The quarry that was used for the ballast of the railway - Al-LubbanThe quarry that was used for the ballast of the railway

A sign near Shoam about the railway track - Al-LubbanA sign near Shoam about the railway track - Al-LubbanA sign near Shoam about the railway track

Crossing a new bridge under road 444 - Al-LubbanCrossing a new bridge under road 444

The ditch for the railway - Al-LubbanThe ditch for the railway

The columns were used to load the train with stones from a nearby quarry - Al-LubbanThe columns were used to load the train with stones from a nearby quarry

In that point I lost the route - Al-LubbanIn that point I lost the route

The tunnel under highway 6 - Al-LubbanThe tunnel under highway 6

I was running East of the highway, although the railway was probably running West of it. - Al-LubbanI was running East of the highway, although the railway was probably running West of it.

The highway bridges. Underneath it there are the remains of a bridge, but I couldn't find it - Al-LubbanThe highway bridges. Underneath it there are the remains of a bridge, but I couldn’t find it

Looks like some party just ended or will start this evening - Al-LubbanLooks like some party just ended or will start this evening

The railway route is now a road running along the slopes of the hills. - Al-LubbanThe railway route is now a road running along the slopes of the hills.

 The big Arch of the railway - Al-LubbanThe big Arch of the railway

In this point I realized I should start going back, it was late and the If you look closely you can see couple of Gazzelle - Al-LubbanIn this point I realized I should start going back, it was late and the If you look closely you can see couple of Gazzelle

 This area is the edge of an IDF training firing zone - The slopes of the hills are black and grey. - Al-LubbanThis area is the edge of an IDF training firing zone – The slopes of the hills are black and grey.

Found the bridge! It was really hard to find and get to. - Al-LubbanFound the bridge! It was really hard to find and get to.

Couple more pics of the bridge - Al-Lubban Couple more pics of the bridge - Al-LubbanCouple more pics of the bridge

On the way back the levee is more easy to recognize - Al-Lubban On the way back the levee is more easy to recognize - Al-Lubban On the way back the levee is more easy to recognize - Al-LubbanOn the way back the levee is more easy to recognize

What is this? - Al-LubbanWhat is this?

Look closer Al-LubbanLook closer

Yes! a piece of a railway track! I feel my quest is complete! If only I had power to take it... Al-LubbanYes! a piece of a railway track! I feel my quest is complete! If only I had power to take it…

Another construction site in Airport city area, on the way back to the car. Al-Lubban

Another construction site in Airport city area, on the way back to the car.

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The railway to Al-Lubban, Israel

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The railway to Al-Lubban, Israel 32.034444, 35.039444

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