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Malatya

Malatya station was built in 1931 as part of the contract for the line Fevzipaşa to Diyarbakır. Malatya was the largest city along this line after Diyarbakır. Malatya had already a large fruit industry and was a strategic location with a big military garrison. Malatya was also an historic crossroad to the east, and in 1931, the line to Çetinkaya was already planned. This line would turn Malatya into an important railway junction.

The Danish firm Nyquist and Holm AB (Nohab) was the general contractor for the building of the line Fevzipaşa to Diyarbakır. Nohab which is really a rolling stock manufacturer was in partnership with two fellow building firms: Kampsax and J. Saabye and O. Lerche. These firms made a special "Art Nouveau" design for Malatya station building, which is very different from all the other stations of the line.

The actual construction was done by Abdurrahman Nacı, a Turkish civil engineering firm. It is obvious from the design and from the quality of the work that great care was taken to do this building, which was to be the flagship of line. TCDD respected and maintained the original design and the building still stands as it was.

Malatya station

Malatya station from the street. June 2001. Photo G. Tunçbilek

Malatya station

Malatya station from the street. June 2001. Photo G. Tunçbilek

Malatya station

Malatya station from the street. June 2001. Photo G. Tunçbilek

Malatya station

A view of the clock on platform 1. June 2001. Photo G. Tunçbilek

Malatya station

A view from platform 1. Notice the overall quality of the building finish.

Malatya station

A similar picture but on the track side: the inaugural ceremony of Malatya. Col. G. Tunçbilek

Malatya station

View of Malatya station, street side, at the end of construction in 1931. It is easy to compare 1931 and 2001 to confirm that the building was not changed. Photo Nohab, Col JP Charrey

Malatya station

Original Malatya station floor plan. Notice that the drawing is in French! Col. JP Charrey