There have been narrow-gauge railways which used 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in), 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) and 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauges.
The older rail network was in Melilla–Nador area, only later to join with another, the Ceuta–Tetuan railway line and short harbour construction lines at the Larache Harbour on the Atlantic seaboard.
At Melilla the Junta de Obras del Puerto de Melilla started at ones extensive building of harbour to carry mineral traffic overseas, mainly to Spain. With new harbour installations the company built also 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) gauge local 4.1 km harbour line from Melilla Harbour to Sidi-Musa, later extended to the total length of 7 km as demanded by Spanish military.
The Junta de Obras and the Compañía Transatlántica were merged to form a new company, the Junta de Fomento de Melilla in December 1911.[citation needed]
In spring 1914 the Compañía Española de Minas del Rif operated three daily passenger trains to Nador of which two continued to San Juan de las Minas with corresponding return workings to Melilla.
There was continuous unrest in the area and the Rif Cabyle rebellionists attacked against the railways. The Spanish Army concentrated nearly 100.000 soldiers to pacify the Rif area and built extensions westward from:
The lines were operated by locotractors which could haul 200 tons with three locotractors.
Later, it had been decided to be built to standard 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge field railways and the Spanish Army bought a number of surplus former German built World War I locomotives and rolling stock from Germany. The following lines were constructed:
When the area was finally pacified in 1926 the lines were lifted and the rolling stock transferred elsewhere.
Compañía del Norte Africano and the Compañía Minera Setolazar
There were also two other companies which operated their own mining railways. The Compañía del Norte Africano and the Compañía Minera Setolazar, both of 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge. Both companies had a common locomotive shed at Beni Ensar. Their 600 mm gauge line run parallel with Compañía Española de Minas del Rif1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge line between Nador and Melilla Harbour.
Compañía del Norte Africano
Compañía del Norte Africano600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge industrial railway served the lead mines at Monte Afra with company's Melilla–Nador–Monte Afra line on the north coast. This company was founded in August 1907. The length of this lead carrier was 19 km.
Ceuta area
Ferrocarril Ceuta–Benzu (Junta de Obras del Puerto de Ceuta)
Farther west the Junta de Obras del Puerto de Ceuta was founded in October 1904. It built Ceuta Harbour and later a short branch line from Ceuta to nearby Benzú. The company used 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge line.
Ferrocarril Ceuta–Tetuan
The Ferrocarril Ceuta–Tetuan was founded in September 1912 to connect Ceuta to Tetuan with 41 km 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge railway. The line was opened March 1918. Ferrocarril Ceuta–Tetuan built stations at Ceuta (0.5 km), Miramar (2.9 km), Castillejos 8.0 km), Dar Riffen (11.1 km), Negro (13.8 km), Rincon del Medik (24.9 km), Malalien (38.1 km), and terminal station Tetuan (41.0 km).
Ferrocarril Tetuan–Rio Martin y prolongaciones
When Spanish General Alfau occupied Tetuan in 1913 it was decided to build an 18 km 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge railway to Rio Martin using the trackbed of the former lifted standard-gauge railway. The 10 km Ferrocarril Tetuan–Rio Martin y prolongaciones was opened in May 1915 for public service. The extensions south to Benkarrir and Zina 18 km was opened in March 1921 and west to Laucien 8 km, when the railway bridge at Mogote was finally completed, on the same day.
Larache area
Larache harbour installations
The Austrian company Sager & Wörner had obtained from the Spanish Government the contract to build the harbour installations at Larache on the Atlantic coast in 1911. The harbour was built in 1911–1914 with a 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) railway but World War I delayed the 34 km standard-gauge railway line to Larache to 1922.
Narrow-gauge locomotives delivered to former Spanish Morocco
ALCo
6 ALCo1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) 2C-h2 17x20, built 1917, 48 Delivered to the Spanish Colonies
Avonside
Avonside1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Ct-n2, built 1906, ex FC de Sierra Nevada, sold to Minas del Rif " MELILLA "
Borsig
1 Borsig600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) Bt-n2, built 1906 Arthur Koppel AG, Berlin f. Tanger, Marokko
Unpublished locomotive builder lists (mostly originally compiled by Dr. Ing. Bernhard Schmeiser and added with later obtained supplementary information)
American Locomotive Company (ALCo) Works List (Harward Business School copy 1948)
Anjubault / Corpet Louvet Works List
Baldwin Works List (copy 1833–1956 compiled from original Baldwin order list)
Batignolles Châtillon, Nantes, St. Joseph Works List
Borsig Works List
A.Cail Works List
Carels Works List
Chrzanów Works List
Couillet Works List
Decauville Works List
Elsässische Maschinenbau Gesellschaft / Societe Alsacienne de Construction Mecaniques Belfort, Graffenstaden, Mulhouse Works List
Esslingen Works List
Falcon Works List
Fives Lille Works List
Gouin / Batignolles Works List
Henschel Works List
Jung Works List
Kerr Stuart & Co, LD Works List by Frank Jux 1991
J.A.Maffei Works List
La Meuse Works List
Etablissement A. Pinguely Works List
Schneider & Cie, Le Creusot Works List
Schwartzkopff (BMAG) Works List
Tubize Works List
Weidknecht et Compagnie Works List
References
^Rowe, D. Trevor (1990). Two feet between the tracks. Plateway Press. ISBN1-871980-03-8.