In Mauritania, the disused permanent way material such as steel ties and rails is deposited next to the tracks and remains there. Some of the ties are reused for simple shade, as markings or even ... (more)

This is the last turnout of Boulenouar (PK 96) on the east side. The 652-kilometre-long railroad line through the Mauritanian desert is single-track throughout, with crossing points for the trains... (more)

Some kilometers north of Choum on the 704 kilometer long ore railway in Mauretania, the ties are beeing changed, from wooden to new concrete ties, fabricated in the SNIM work in Nouadhibou. A road... (more)

This is F'dérîk station, also called "Iron Ore Train Hop-on Point". A row of loaded ore cars fron the TO14 and Rouessa mines is standing in the station, some people sit already on top ... (more)

Nor nitrate, nor steel coils are loaded here, but brand new conveyer belts!

If you consistently drive at no more than walking pace, you can still manage.

At Choum, at kilometer 460 of the 652 km long railroad line, the railroad makes a 90 degree turn, even before the mountain massif visible in the background, and then heads north to Zouérate inste... (more)

The sun sets at around 6.30 pm. There is a large supply of groundwater in Boulenouar, and 16 taps are set up at the station to fill the water tankers that supply the entire route with water. Later... (more)

These passengers preferred to travel on this open wagon instead of on top of a loaded iron ore wagon. Now it is only a few kilometers to the destination. But the night, with around 12 hours of dar... (more)

Mauritania's iron ore trains also transport live animals, be it goats on top of the loaded ore wagons or dromedaries loaded onto flat wagons. The animals may be taken to the large animal market an... (more)

Two types of transport wagon are used on the ore transport railroad in Mauritania. The older one on the left, which is predominant, has a load weight of 84 tons and a total weight of 104 tons, wit... (more)

This is the saloon on the lower deck of the italian built doubledeck former diesel railcar A2n, now used as pulled passenger car in the "Train du Désert". Overnigth the train will cover... (more)

The ore trains in Mauritania also transport other goods, in addition to water, diesel oil, containers in open high-sided wagons, dromedaries on flat wagons, and cars on flat wagons. Here, for exam... (more)

The SNIM railroad line is currently being expanded from a maximum axle load of 26 tons to 30 tons. But the track is not in good condition everywhere. Here in a side track near the workshop in Noua... (more)

Some kilometers north of Choum on the 704 kilometer long ore railway in Mauretania, the ties are beeing changed, from wooden to new concrete ties, fabricated in the SNIM work in Nouadhibou. A road... (more)