Osman Gazi University Student Railway

The campus of Osman Gazi Universitesi (OGÜ) is currently being developed on the edge of Eskişehir. 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.

As of January 2002, the line is 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.

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

It seems the line will be expanded as new buildings are added to the campus. We were told that the ultimate plan is to make the line circle around the campus.

Timetable: The train basically runs hourly service. This becomes every 15minutes at the morning and evening peak hour. The train is not operated during the student holiday breaks. The trip is free.

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