Sudan Railways Museam A Story to Be Told
Within The Citizen’s newspaper documentation endeavors, a visit was paid to Sudan Railways Museam which is located in Atbara city (th headquarters of Sudan Railways Corporation).
We were warmly welcomed by the director of the nudeam Mustafa Ahmed Fadl Hamid and his aide Yusri.
After touring all sections of the museam which was accompanied by brief explanation by the two professional officials, we sat to Mustafa Fadl and conducted a brief interview.
Excerpts:
Q; When was the museam launched?
A: the establishment of the museam was in 2003 by a specialuzed committee under my chairmanship and the membership of: Ibrahim Ali Gasim, Ali Mohammed Abdu Al-Barbari, Abdul Gawad Elhaj, and Mohammed Khlifa Abbadi.
Q: How did you manage to collect those rare pieces?
A: We started in 2003 and 10% of our collection was from the main workshops of Sudan Railways in Atbara, besides the railway stations all round the country. As for the historic photos and printed materials we got it from the Central Documents House in Khartoum, Ministry of Information and Sudan Railways archives.
The museam was opened before it’s completion in 2005 and the central government decided to transfer it to Khartoum, but after several consultations the government agreed to retain it in Atbara.
Q: Tell us about the story of this archaeological building which is now a museam?
A: This archaeological building was the church of the British Anglican Sect and its foundation stone was laid on 16 March 1933. Its construction was via donations of the Christians in Atbara, Khartoum and the United Kingdom under the supervision of Mr. williams who was then the Deputy Director of Sudan Railways and member of the board of directors of the Church.
The design of the Church was by the drawing department of Sudan Railways. The construction was completed in 1934. It served the Anglican sect up to 1967 when the building has been offered for sale to other Christian sects but non had the desire. Sudan Railways took the lead and bought the building against 3000 Sudanese pounds (which was a great amount at that time which could not be afforded).
The building was attached to social services administration to be used as a library up to 1980 when the library was transfered to training administration in Sudan Railways headquarters After that the building was used as cultural Center.
The building was abandoned in late 1990’s and represented a security threat to the residential area.
Sudan Railways Corporation decided to utilize the building as a museam.
In 2011 the museam was officially opened for public.
According to the log book of the museam, the visitors number is 42.394 persons, including individuals, public institutions, tourists, foreign missions, diplomats, researchers, scouts, and media outlets.
Q: What are the The most important exhibits and collectibles ?
A: * There are the antiquities of more than 100 years old.
* There is also Queen Victoria Gate of Sudan Railways Station in Khartoum which is one among only five similar gates in the world.
* Locomotive No. 4 which was with Lord Kitchener in his military campaign to retain Dongola and Sudan in 1873.
* A wagon made by Sudanese labors in Atbara (1912)
* Maneuvering locomotive which was working between Port Sudan railway station and the harbor.
*Maneuvering steam locomotive No. 40 which was operative during the period 1951 up tovthe eightieth.
* Wooden wagon used as brakes manufactured in Wadi Halfa in 1904 when the railways headquarters was there then brought to Atbara in 1906.
* Surface wagon manufactured in the UK in 1901.
* Historic photos of the rail construction since the Turkish era during the period 1873 – 1896.
* Rare photos of railways constructions during pre-independence era up to recent years.
* Photos of the 3 administrations which were separated from Sudan railways during the period 1973 – 1979!I. e. Sea Ports, River Transportation, and hotels (the later in attached to Ministry of Tourism).
* Potos of the successive general managers of Sudan Railways Corporation.
* Photos of the old machinery and equipment used during the various eras of Sudan Railways Corporation.
* Rare maps of Sudan provinces in 1967.
* Sudan’s map in 1922 when the railways reached El-Obied.
* All the documents regarding the ownership of the building.
* 12 banners showing the history of Sudan Railways Corporation.
From the editor:
The above brief interview indicates the important is this historical edifice a matter that requires special attention from the concerned Institutions – in particular the Ministry of Culture and Information – considering that on its top is Dr. Graham Abdul Gadir who is a reference in such issues.
We repeat our call to Sudan Railways Corporation authorities to work out a plan to make this historical edifice more attractive through making the required facilities and to provide it with graduates of the Archeology facalties.