Arabia's Hejaz Railway
In the Fall of 1989, fellow geologist Walt Venum and I retraced the route of the Hejaz Railway in Saudi Arabia from Madinah to Madein Saleh. In two Toyota Landcruisers, Walt and I drove from Jeddah on the Red Sea coast to the holy city of Al Madinah, then folowed the old roadbed of the railway built by the Turkish Army around 1904-1905. It was ostensibly built to serve both the military and transport pilgrims undertaking the Haj to Al Madina and Mekkah (Mecca). This is the same rail line that was extensively sabotaged by arab militia units led by Col. T.E. Lawrence (of "Lawrence of Arabia" fame).
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