ONCF DH 416 + 404 / Melg el Ouidane – Taourirt

I’m kicking off this series of photos, taken in Morocco in February 2026, with this one. The focus was primarily on the diesel railway line east of Fez (فاس) to Oujda (وجدة) and Nador (الناظور). However, I also took a few photos on the electrified ‘Phosphate Railway’ to Khouribga (خريبكة). In the weeks leading up to the trip, northern Morocco experienced record levels of rainfall. Entire swathes of land were green, areas that otherwise tend to resemble a desert. But not only was the weather on our side during this time; we also had to make several (unplanned) detours into the desert around Taourirt (تاوريرت). This photograph was also taken there. Thanks to information from the stationmaster at Oued Metlili (وادي متليلي), we knew that a coal train was due to run that afternoon from Beni Ansar Port (بني انصار) to Jerada (جرادة). As on the previous day, the two DH 416 and 404 locomotives were pulling the goods train. Near Douar Lagouartia (دوار الغوارطية), I’d already managed to catch the train twice. At Melg es Ouidane (ملقى الويدان), the coal train was then shunted onto a passing loop. After crossing paths with the Al Atlas 101, the coal train picked up speed again, as the line to Jerada (جرادة) was now clear. At Ouled Zaid (أولاد زيد), just before the junction near Taourirt (تاوريرت), I managed to take the third photo of the chase. Greetings to my colleagues from Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, whom I have met several times in Morocco. And a heartfelt thank you for the lively exchange of information, without which this photo would never have been taken.

Automatically translated from German. Show the original

Vehicle

DH 416, DH 404

Operator

ONCF

Photospot

Gteter, Region Oriental

Taken

16. Feb. 2026, 4:13 p.m.

Licence

All Rights Reserved

Camera position

From the ground

Photo type

Railway

Camera

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Focal length

37 mm

Aperture

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/2000s

ISO

400