Building a railroad in WW2 Libya?

[Max Sinister]

As often mentioned, Rommel's campaign couldn't ever have lead him into Alexandria short of ASBs, since it was simply too costly to transport fuel by trucks as far as El Alamein.

So I wondered: What if the Axis had built a railroad from at least Bengasi east to Marsa Matruh, where an older railroad to Alexandria existed? Is this feasible?

[575]

May 11, 2024 21:35:43 GMT Max Sinister said:

As often mentioned, Rommel's campaign couldn't ever have lead him into Alexandria short of ASBs, since it was simply too costly to transport fuel by trucks as far as El Alamein.

So I wondered: What if the Axis had built a railroad from at least Bengasi east to Marsa Matruh, where an older railroad to Alexandria existed? Is this feasible?

Borders on logic doing so but did the Axis have the resources to do it - i.e. manpower/machinery in place. Engineers to survey and draw up the most economic line. Probably some rolling stock but enough to keep it running? Might all end up prioritizing too much cargo - sleepers, track, coal, water etc. to be feasiable.

Why didn't the Italians build it prior to outbreak of war - lack of funds and deemed too costly?

In the end a railtrack is vulnerable to interdiction by it by Naval bombardment, aircraft bombing or SAS raiding.

If the Italians pre-WWII began building a railway towards the Egypthian border wouldn't this alarm the British?

[stevep]

May 12, 2024 7:59:56 GMT 575 said:

May 11, 2024 21:35:43 GMT Max Sinister said:

As often mentioned, Rommel's campaign couldn't ever have lead him into Alexandria short of ASBs, since it was simply too costly to transport fuel by trucks as far as El Alamein.

So I wondered: What if the Axis had built a railroad from at least Bengasi east to Marsa Matruh, where an older railroad to Alexandria existed? Is this feasible?

Borders on logic doing so but did the Axis have the resources to do it - i.e. manpower/machinery in place. Engineers to survey and draw up the most economic line. Probably some rolling stock but enough to keep it running? Might all end up prioritizing too much cargo - sleepers, track, coal, water etc. to be feasiable.

Why didn't the Italians build it prior to outbreak of war - lack of funds and deemed too costly?

In the end a railtrack is vulnerable to interdiction by it by Naval bombardment, aircraft bombing or SAS raiding.

If the Italians pre-WWII began building a railway towards the Egypthian border wouldn't this alarm the British?

  On that last point it would definitely raise eyebrows, especially after the Abyssinian crisis which basically moved Mussolini and Hitler closer together.  The big issue is really that huge gape between Tripoli and Benghazi. That could be done in peace-time without raising too many questions but as you say would be massively expensive.  Also as such a stretch, in largely unpopulated desert country near the coast would be vulnerable to attack by various options in wartime, as well as possibly Arab sabotage and a pig to guard and repair.

  In terms of building something in wartime it would take too long and probably mean the front line forces would be starved of resources because so much shipping was tied up with bringing over the equipment and materials, let alone possibly also the people to build the thing, and then feeding and watering the latter. 

[Max Sinister]

Yeah, if they noticed during WW2 this would be a good idea, it'd be too late to make a difference. Later maybe. They had plans to make settlements there after all.