Fires of Prometheus

ADEN RAILWAYS


A 46km narrow-gauge (1000mm) railway operated in Aden, the Yemen, between the port at Ma'alla and the inland town of Al Kudad, from 1916 to 1929. The track was lifted in 1930. The records in the Hudson archive unfortunately do not include material earlier than 1916 so it is not possible to ascertain if Hudson supplied this railway.

A considerable amount of Hudson railway equipment was sent to Aden in 1943 and 1944, presumably to be used in the war effort. No clues as to where the material was used are present in the archive other than "Mun.Engr., O.A.G. and M.E. P.W.D." "Mun." may stand for munitions, and "P.W.D." presumably for permanent way department. A subsequent, almost certainly military, order followed after the war in 1947, which included 12 tipping wagons. Again no clue as to location.

Just as mysteriously, there was a final small order in 1963 for the "Abyan Board Light Railway." I have not been able to find any further information about this project, other than references to cotton growing at about that time. More research is required on this topic.

Postcard showing the Aden Railway
Undated postcard showing track of the Aden Railway at Ma'alla, Aden.

ENLARGE