Jordan 29.9.2008: A sharp curve and steep climb through a rock cutting start just off the end of Amman station, with 2-8-2 No.71 (HSP 2144/1956) struggling to “keep her feet”, as she drags her train past a long out of use and very British-looking semaphore signal. There are stories told of how a certain Amman driver would always stop his train before that signal, walk to it and manually drop the arm, giving a clear road ahead. He would then drive his train past the signal, stop, walk back and reset the signal to danger! Believe it – or not…
Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com