The Cyprus railway was built by the British in 1904 and operated until 1951. It joined the port of Famagusta with the foothills of the Troodos mountains reaching the village of Evrichou, crossing the Messaoria plain. This watercolour presents the location, flat, dry and with an alley of trees demarcating the route.
It was initially used to transport goods and ore from the mines of Cyprus, and later was used as a passenger train.
The building of the railway brought many advantages to the Cypriot population. Oddly though, during the first years of its operation, many regarded the railway as a sight to be admired rather than a mode of transport.
The various stations were marked with large trilingual (Greek/Turkish/English) white signs. The Railway possessed a total of 12 locomotives, 17 coaches and around 100 multi-purpose wagons, 50 of which were purchased from Egypt and Palestine.
PNT-00699 > H.S. Bourne, The old railway track, print, 45x34 cm, 1950.
