Eskişehir Sazova park railway

The campus of Osman Gazi Universitesi (OGÜ) was developed on the edge of Eskisehir. The Air Force donated to the University some of its former 600mm gauge equipment. This allowed the building of a 1200m line used by the students to cross the campus.

In 2002, the line was straight, without passing loops. The stations have high level platform to allow easy access to the train. The unique locomotive is one of the Bt Henschel engines delivered to Turkey for the building of the Baghdad Railway in 1918. It has been modified to be activated by compressed air rather than steam. The compressed air is supplied to the boiler by a diesel compressor hidden in the van next to the locomotive. The train is professionally driven and maintained by retired TCDD engineers.

In ÖGÜ, the train basically ran an hourly service. This became every 15 minutes at the morning and evening peak hour. The train was not operated during the student holiday breaks. The trip was free.

The line and rolling stock was then transfered to Savova park, an amusement park for families. There, a full round circuit was built, serving various area on the park.

The rolling stock includes:

• 1 Bt Henschel n°15943, 1918 This number is the same as the sister engine at the Istanbul Koç Museum.
• 1 van with diesel compressor MAN n°105575, 1918.
• 4 passenger cars some of them with benches.
• 7 spare cars.

All the cars are bogie mounted and bear MAN plates, years from 1916 to 1918

In ÖGÜ, the train basically ran an hourly service. This became every 15 minutes at the morning and evening peak hour. The train was not operated during the student holiday breaks. The trip was free.

Pictures in ÖGÜ

Bt Henschel n°1 of the OGÜ railway. The hose connecting to van, below the cab, is the compressed air feed. January 2002. Photo JP Charrey	The train ready to depart from the terminal station. Since there is no passing loop, the train will go backward. January 2002. Photo JP Charrey
How about going to class every morning in one of these? MAN n°99 437, 1916. Notice the high level platform perfectly level with the car footplate. January 2002. Photo JP Charrey	The OGÜ railway spare cars.January 2002. Photo JP Charrey
The winter 2001 - 2002 timetable. January 2002. Photo JP Charrey

Pictures in Sazova park

Children railway in Sazova park, september 2011. Photo M. Tekin	Children railway in Sazova park, september 2011. Photo M. Tekin
Children railway in Sazova park, september 2011. Photo M. Tekin	Children railway in Sazova park, september 2011. Photo M. Tekin