Syria 24.9.2008: Oil-fired, 1.05m gauge, 2-8-0 No. 91 (Hartmann 3040/1907) simmers outside the engine shed at Dera’a. Inside the depot were 2-8-2 No.262 (Hartmann 4031/1918), in steam, 2-8-0 No. 162 (Borsig 9011/1914), in good external condition, but non-operable, and 2-6-0 No.66, also in good external condition, but a non-runner. The 2-6-0 has a chequered history: built by Jung (987/1907) the loco was later converted to a 2-6-0 tank engine then later again, converted back to a 2-6-0 tender engine, using a 4-wheel tender from a scrapped Borsig engine!
Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com