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Haile
Selassie's Palace reflects Addis Ababa's Royal
Legacy
by
Jerry W. Bird..
 The
Royal Palace of Emperor Haile Selassie, a highlight
of the ATA 25th Jubilee Congress, was an exciting
venue on our journalists' group tour in February
2000. Ethiopia, realm of the romantic Queen of
Sheba, King Lalibela, and a host of other royals,
has always been a magnet for hordes of invaders and
generations of explorers. Today it attracts
travelers like ourselves, representing all walks of
life from around the world. Each visitor is eager
to discover the country's legendary fascination and
perhaps unlock its mysteries.
Royal
Rails and the Lion of
Judah
Having originated a magazine series called,
"Railways of the World," I am always keen on new
experiences in rail travel. Seeing future
opportunities here in Addis, I joined my associate
Yohannes Kifle and an attractive BBC female
reporter to tour the classic train depot in the
heart of Addis Ababa. Here we boarded two sets of
antique railcars, which were once the pride of the
Emperor and family, and a had a close up look at a
vintage 1950s 'Lion of Judah' engine.
Given Aladdin's 3 wishes, I would restore Emperor
Haile Sellasie's 'Lion of Judah' railway engine,
hook it up to the prized set of French and British
coaches, and operate luxury excursion
tours on the
Franco-Ethiopian Railway.
Built in the 1930s, the 482 mile line stretches
from Addis Ababa, via Nazaret, the Rift Valley and
Dire Dawa, to Djibouti, a French protectorate on
the Gulf of Aden. In a 5-minute BBC interview,
hoping my message would cause a spark, I said,
"Think of the much needed income such a tour would
generate for the Ethiopian economy." I've followed
the last decade's amazing railway renaissance.
After a visit to Emperor Selassie's palace and Holy
Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa's ornate railway
station (gare) is the ideal venue for such an
historic journey. Yes, the lordly Lion of Judah's
engine lacks wheels, and the dust covered coaches
shows neglect from being shunted aside during the
Marxist regime.
However, with some
good old fashioned TLC (tender loving care) each
museum piece would soon be in shining order. The
Emperor's train is still not widely available for
public view; fortunately we and our BBC friend
received special permission.
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