Roderick Smith (Rail News Victoria editor)
reports on sar-L:
“I went to Madagascar knowing little more than ‘the home of Michelins’ [French-built railcars]. With a small group, we achieved a lot of riding in the two available (one on each system).
“What I wasn’t expecting, but which I enjoyed:
• The grand scenery, vivid green and highly productive on the east coast.
• The great architecture (both simple two-storey mudbrick houses for farmers, to elaborate colonial stations and civic buildings).
• The climate: hot and dry, and often hot and humid.
• The variety of food available.
• The excellent railway rehabilitation achieved by the Belgian managementcompany.
• A morning in a lemur park, finding four breeds, plus other exotic rainforest denizens.
• Good local beer, and quite adequate French, South African and local wines which were not extortionate.
• And above all: the friendly people (our staff, and locals).
“A solo visit would be tricky: it would have to fit around public Michelin runs, and I saw no evidence of long-distance buses to link the railheads. It would be safe, and not overcrowded, and station vendors would ensure that you don’t starve. Booking with a group offers convenience and efficiency, and the LCGB formula worked well.”
David Wood added more on pakistanrailways@yahoogroups.com :
“Two or three years ago there was some correspondence on the group about railways crossing runways. Manakara, Madagascar, should be added to the list. LCGB is currently running a tour here on which we have covered all the lines on the island, with both diesel locos and the French Michelin railcars with six-wheel bogies carrying pneumatic tyres. The east line runs from Fianarantsoa in the highlands down to the coast at Manakara. A few km short of Manakara the line performs a left-right S-bend across the [airport] runway. Steam disappeared many years ago, but it’s still a delightful country and railway to visit.”
Original article [Railways Africa]
