Railways of Tanzania – Part 11 – The Central Line – from Dodoma to Tabora

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The featured image for this article is EAR 24 Class steam locomotive No. 2443 which was originally purchased by the Uganda Railway by 1930, manufactured by the Vulcan Foundry and Nasmyth, Wilson and Co. The photograph was taken at the Tabora depot in Tanzania in 1968 © Basil Roberts, 1968 and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY-SA 3.0). [2]

We start this next length of the journey along the Central Line in Tanzania at the capital Dodoma’s metre-gauge railway station which until the SGR line was opened was the main transport hub for the city, both for passengers and goods. The station is no longer used for passenger services to Dar-es-Salaam to the East nor for travel further West in Tanzania. The SGR line has (in 2026) reached Tabora and work on the line to Kigoma has now started.

Dodoma Railway Station on the MGR Central Line as it appears on MapCarta. [3]
The same area of Dodoma as covered by the map extract above on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, August 2026]
A closer view of the main station buildings at Dodoma MGR station. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Dodoma Railway Station as it appears on the mapping provided by OpenStreetMap.org. [4]
The Metre Gauge Railway Station in Dodoma, (c) Victor Mikheev 2015, and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY-SA 4.0). [5]
Another view of the MGR Station, (c) Zenj Online Tv, 2021. [Google Maps, August 2026]
A rail-side view of the same building, (c) Ali YÜKSEL 2018. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The Tanganyika Guide of 1953 includes this photograph of Dodoma Railway Station with the New Dodoma Hotel behind. Note too, the station turntable close to the camera – perhaps a bit of overprovision as the station also boasted a turning triangle, © Public Domain [6: p48]
The first length of the Central Line to the West of Dodoma as shown on a 1914 German map of the Mittelland Bahn. [7]
The MGR line to the West of Dodoma Railway Station as shown on OpenStreetMap.org. [8]
The same length of the line as shown on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Google Maps shows the MGR crossing Kikuyu Avenue (Nyerere Road on OpenStreetmap.org and MapCarta) at the West end of the station site. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Both the MGR and Mwegasila Road cross the Pombe River channel. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A level-crossing take the MGR across the Ndovu Road. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The line then bridges the Kikuyu River. [Google Maps, August 2026]

And then crosses the A104 on the level. OpenStreetMap.org and MapCarta call this road the ‘T5’. [Google Maps, August 2026]

As the railway begins to turn from a northwesterly heading towards the Southwest it crosses another (murram) road. [Google Maps, August 2026]

OpenStreetMap.org shows the next length of the railway in the western suburbs of Dodoma. [9]

Apart from a number of small culverts and a series of minor crossing points, the railway wends its way out of Dodoma. The next feature of significance is Zulu Railway Station.

OpenStreetMap.org shows the next length of the railway still in the western suburbs of Dodoma. The new SGR begins to run alongside the MGR again having travelled Northwest from Dodoma’s SGR station. The first halt along the route West from Dodoma Station is Zuzu. [10]
Zuzun Halt is shown by MapCarta without any details of the SGR which runs very close to the MGR at this point. A passing loop is provided at the station. [11]

A closer view of Zuzu Halt/Station on the MGR. The main line is closest to the station build, the MGR loop next to the South and this has the wagon/ locomotive sitting on it. The SGR runs across the bottom of the satellite image. [Google Maps, August 2026]

As can be seen on the OpenStreetMap extract above the SGR provides some sidings and a long passing loop just to the West of Zuzu MGR station.

As the MGR and SGR routes begin to diverge the sidings and passing loop on the SGR can be seen on this map extract. Apart froma murram road crossing the line and various small culverts there is little of significance on the length of the MGR shown here. [12]
This next length of the MGR continues a sinuous alignment as it heads away from Dodoma. Note the l;ine of the Dodoma Outer Ring Road marked in faint orange and white dashes. [13]

The first of two bridges over watercourses on the length of line on the OpenStreetMap.org extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The Dodoma Outer Ring Road crosses the MGR and the stream to the South of the railway on two separate bridges. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A second bridge over a dry watercourse on the length of the MGR covered by the OpenStreetMap.org extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The line continues to follow the stream valley for most of this next length. [14]

The watercourse location noted on the map extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The dry watercourse and small bridge noted in the bottom-left of the map extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The line continues West over open land with little worthy of note apart from the occasional culvert. [15]
The same applies to this next length of the line barring the proximity of the SGR and MGR as they head Northwest. [16]

The MGR and the SGR in close proximity as shown on the map extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Over this next length of the line trains are travelling North-northwest/South-southeast. There is only one significant location where a dry watercourse is bridged by both the SGR and the MGR. [17] [Google Maps, August 2026]

The next length of the line includes a road over rail bridge which has yet to be completed but which spans both the MGR and the SGR and a length of MGR track bed which is supported above the adjacent dry watercourse to cope with high water flows in the wet season.

[18][Google Maps, August 2026]

Given the relatively low number of significant locations on the Central line as it crossed open country, a longer length of line has been included in this next map extract. [19]

The first location marked on the map extract above is a significant dry watercourse, shown here which is bridged by the MGR, the SGR and the SGR service road. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Another dry watercourse, not highlighted on the map extract above which is similarly bridge by the access road, the SGR and the MGR. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Kigwe Railway Station on the MGR as shown on MapCarta’s mapping. [20]
KIgwe Railway Station buildings. The three tracks sown on the MapCarta extract can just be made out. The SGR runs very close to the MGR and can be seen in he bottom-left quadrant of this satellite image. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Abandoned MGR passenger stock close to Kigwe Railway Station, (c) Allan Kaitila, January 2021. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Just to the Northwest of Kigwe MGR station the SGR bridges a murram road which crosses the MGR on the level and then both lines bridge another dry watercourse. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Located in the top-left corner of the OpenStreetMap extract above, this bridge has been constructed over both the SGR and the MGR. In this image, earthworks on the South side of the railways are nearing completion. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The next length of the MGR – apart from a number of relatively small culverts/bridges over dry watercourses there is only one location worth noting – some more significant structures spanning the watercourse shown below which sits near to the top-left of this map extract. [21]

The watercourse mentioned above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The MGR continues to be accompanied by the SGR heading Northwest. [22]

Apart from a series of small culverts, close to the centre of the map extract above, the MGR bridges another dry watercourse to the Northeast of the bridge shown carrying the SGR over the same watercourse. [Google Maps August 2026]

The next length of the line passes through the MGR station at Bahi. A series of sidings on the SGR can be seen in the bottom-right quadrant of this map extract. [23]

Shown as sidings to the Southeast of Bahi. These dotted lines may well be the proposed site for Bahi SGR station which accommodates both passenger and freight services.. This i9s the first stop on the SGR to the West of Dodoma. [25]

Google Maps shows the passenger and freight facilities at Bahi in a complete condition. Freight workings on the SGR between Dar-es-Salaam & Dodoma commenced in July 2025. We still do not have a firm date for the opening of the Bali Freight terminal. [Google Maps, August 2025]

Bahi MGR station as shown on MapCarta. [24]
Bahi MGR Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]
A short distance Northwest of Bali MGR Station, the two lines MGR and SGR cross a first arm of the Buhu River. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Three further arms of the Buhu River pass under both the MGR and the SGR lines. The central pair of rail bridges are only available for heavy wet season flows. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Two further sets of bridges carrying the lines over other arms of the Buhu River. Rice fields can be seen either side of the rail corridor for some distance to the Northwest of the Buhu (Bubu on OpenStreetMap) River bridges. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The Buhu (Bubu) River can be seen in the top-right corner of this next section of the MGR and SGR. Both run immediately adjacent to each other and together converge on the Singida Road, B129. [26]

Again, apart from various culverts for watercourses, it is worth noting that approximately at the centre of the map extract above, a road can be seen crossing the MGR and SGR. A bridge has been constructed at this location although Google’s satellite imagery suggests that the road embankments have as of August 2026 still to be completed. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The bridge which is to carry the B129 Singida Road over the MGR and SGR. At the time that this satellite image was taken, work on the bridge and approach roads was almost complete. [Google Maps, August 2026]

This next length of the MGR passes through Kintinku. [27]

Kintinku: A modern structure spans the SGR and MGR (OP27) waiting for approach embankments to be constructed either side of the two lines (bottom-right). Immediately to the Northwest of the modern overbridge is Kintinku MGR Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The track layout at Kintinku Railway Station (the SGR is omitted) as shown on MapCarta. [28]
A closer look at Kintinku Railway Station buildings. It is difficult to make out the trackwork shown on the MapCarta map extract above. The second (loop) line can just be seen to the left of the two trees in front of the station building. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The two railway lines continue to travel Northwest immediately adjacent to each other (OpenStreetMap). [29]
The first of a series of culverts under the line which carry irrigation water into the rice fields which surround the line. These culverts appear regularly as the lines head Northwest. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The structures which span the natural river course which appears at the centre of the OpenStreetMap extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The upper-left quadrant of the OpenStreetMap extract above shows a series of sidings on the SGR. These are shown here. The MGR runs on the Northeast side of those sidings and the MGR and SGR are spanned by a structure which appears at the northwest corner of this satellite image and at the Northwest corner of the OpenStreetmap extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

This next OpenStreetMap extract shows a significant change in direction for both the SGR and MGR. Bottom-right of the map extract are the two Makutapora Railway Stations. [30]

At the bottom-right of the map extract this structure is shown . The span across the two railways is complete and the approach embankments are under construction. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The first Makutupora Railway Station encountered is that of the SGR, second is that of the MGR.

Makutupora SGR Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Makutupora was the terminus of the SGR for a number of years. The next phase of construction took the SGR from Makutupora to Tabora. Work to extend the SGR to Tabora commenced on 8th March 2022,

The extension to Tabora has the same design speed as the already constructed phases of the SGR – 160 km/hr and is 294 km in length. All design works, infrastructure construction, track laying, construction of seven stations, signalling, telecommunication, and electrification works are being carried out by Yapı Merkezi as a turnkey project. The total railway construction, including station tracks, was due for completion in early to mid-2026. At the time of writing, Yapi Merkezi says that approximately 12 million m³ of earthworks, 77,000 m³ of concrete construction have been undertaken using a total of 3.1 million man-hours. Earthworks and the construction of civil engineering structures along the route are ongoing. [30]

The Makutupora MGR Station sits to the Northwest of the SGR station. It station buildings can be seen just to the Northwest of the centre of this satellite image. The track arrangement covers most of the length of the line that appears in this image. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Makutupora MGR Station as shown on MapCarta. [31]

A closer view of the MGR station buildings at Makutupora, and a view of wagons left at the Northwest end of the station site. [Google Maps, August 2026]

We continue to follow the MGR as it heads West and North from Makutupora. The first length heads North and is shown on the OpenStreetMap extract above. A number of culverts are again provided to allow water run-off and there are a number of murram road crossings which also have not been shown below.

The line then heads West

The MGR and SGR turn to the West. [32]
The same area as it appears on Google Maps. The wide sandy strip is the construction work being undertaken on the SGR when the satellite image was taken. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The next length of the MGR as it appears on OpenStreetMap. Note that the marked route of the SGR does not continue any significant distance to the West. [33]

This perhaps gives an indication of the date of OpenStreetMap.org’s mapping. The same applies to Google’s satellite imagery in this area. Both probably date from 2022/2023.

Quite a significant length of the line heading West shows no evidence of watercourses crossing the railway. This is the first watercourse and is bridged by a Warren Truss girder bridge. The location can just be made out on the OpenStreetMap extract above – just to the left of centre. [Google Maps, August 2026]

This next location shows a culvert under the line perhaps not much more than a couple of hundred metres beyond the bridge above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

It is quite some distance (8 or 9 kilometres) before the next structure supporting the line which is another Warren Truss girder bridge. The crossing point is visible on the OpenStreetMap extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The MGR continues West through Saranda. [34]
Saranda Railway Station as it appears on Google’s satellite imagery. Note the murram road crossing the line at the right of this image.

The murram road crossing at the East end of Saranda Railway Station site. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Saranda MGR Station as shown on MapCarta. [35]
Saranda Railway Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A kilometre or so West of Saranda, this is the first culvert provided for west season water flows. Culverts appear at intervals along the line ahead. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The next bridge across a watercourse sits towards the left side of the OpenStreetMap extract above. It is a Warren Truss girder bridge. [Google Maps, August 2026]

This next length of the MGR Central Line passes through Manyoni and sees a branch line heading away North which will be covered in another article in this series. Four culverts, one murram road and a tarmac road are crossed on the way to Manyoni. A sits on the North sideof the MGR Central Line to the East of Manyoni Railway Station. [36]

The murram road crossing. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The East arm of the turning triangle and the metalled road to the East of Manyoni MGR station. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Manyoni Railway Station and the turning triangle to the East. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Two freight trains were passing at Manyoni MGR Station when this satellite image was taken! Goods wagons are also stored in the loop closest to the Goods Shed. [Google Maps, August 2026]
A closer view of the MGR Goods Shed at Manyoni. [Google Maps, August 2026]
At the same magnification , this staellite image shows the passenger facilities at Manyoni. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Manyoni MGR Station as shown on MapCarta. The turning triangle can be seen clearly at the East end of the station site. The branch line to Singida to Kinyangiri can be seen turning away to the North of the MGR Central Line to the West of the Station. [37]
This next extract from Google’s satellite imagery in Manyoni shows a murram road crossing immediately to the West of the MGR Station and the branch line to Singida to Kinyangiri heading North away from the Central Line. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The line crosses a further culvert before crossing ta murram and a metalled road to the Southwest of Manyoni town centre. [Google Maps, August 2026]

To the West of Manyoni, after crossing another three culverts, the MGR crosses the T18 (B129) road close to its junction with the T3.

The line crosses the B129 (T18) metalled road adjacent to a roundabout junction where the B129 meets the B141. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The MGR runs parallel to the modern B141/T18 road through Aghondi and its Railway Station. Six culverts and two murram roads are crossed before Aghondi is reached. [38]
Aghondi MGR Station as shown on MapCarta. [39]
Aghondi Railway Station has a passing loop. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The station buildings at the MGR Station at Aghondi. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The length of the MGR to the immediate West of Aghondi. Construction work on the SGR had commenced at the point when this image was created. The dotted line indicates the SGR route on the South side of the MGR. [40]
The line continues on a heading just t the North of West. 25 culverts and 8 murram road crossings litter the line in the length covered by this and the map extract immediately above.[41]

The next OpenStreetMap extract shows the line passing through Itigi.

To the North of Itigi the T18 and T22 roads meet at a crossroads. The MGR passes through the southern half of Itigi. The SGR will run further South but its line is packed up again as a dotted line converging on the MGR from the South to the West of Itigi. A few local murram roads cross the MGR in the western are of Itigi and once culvert allows for the passage of west season water flows before the Station is reached. [42]

The culvert at the Southeast end of the MGR station site can be seen in the bottom-right of this image. The points which provide access to the passing loop are visible to the Northwest of the culvert. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Itigi MGR Station. The road marked in yellow on this map extract is labelled ‘T22’ on OpenstreetMap’s mapping and ‘B141’ on Google Maps satellite imagery. [43]
The full length of Itigi MGR Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]
A freight train can be seen in the loop at Itigi MGR Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Itigi Railway Station: the image shows both the passenger facilities (on the right of this satellite image) and the goods shed (just to the left of the centre of the image. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Goods wagons sit adjacent to the goods shed and separate loading area to the Northwest. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Itigi Railway Station building, (c) Experience Tanzania, September 2025. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The same building from further South, (c) kilimotorbike, May 2021 [Google Maps, August 2026]

Looking Northwest through the station site. The main goods shed is on the extreme left of the image the secondary goods shed is middle-left, (c) Experience Tanzania, September 2025. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The station approach from the Northeast, (c) Experience Tanzania, September 2025. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The MGR and the B141/T22 span a dry watercourse to the West of Itigi. It seems as though there may have been a fire which has burnt off areas of grassland at this location or the area has some particularly dark soil. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A short distance further West the work to construct the SGR becomes visible again (in the bottom half of this satellite image). The MGR and the B141/T22 can be seen at the top of the image. [Google Maps, August 2026]
A short distance to the West the B141/T22 crosses the line of the SGR construction work. The MGR is again at the top of this image. [Google Maps, August 2026]

To the West the T18, the MGR and the SGR construction work follow the same corridor. …

The T18 is towards the to[p of this extract from Google’s satellite imagery, the MGR runs across the centre of the image and the SGR is the large ‘yellow’ strip in the bottom half of the image. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Now heading Northwest again the T18, the MGR and the SGR pass one of the contractor’s compounds for the SGR construction work which appears in the top-left of this image. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The line continues heading Northwest. …

This next extract from OpenStreetMap.org’s mapping takes us just beyond the MGR station at Kitaraka. [44]
Kitaraka MGR Station and passing loop as shown by MapCarta. [45]
Beyond Kitaraka the line continues Northwest and then heads West. All along this length the SGR construction work was in progress when the Mapping was drawn up. [46]

Other than the occasional culvert under the line allowing for wet season water flows and a few murram road crossings there is little to note on this length of the line.

The line turns to the Northwest again before once more heading West and passing through Kazi-Kazi Railway Station. The T18 continues in close order alongside the MGR to the North, with the SGR to the South and following a similar course. [47]
The full length of the station site at Kazi-Kazi. [48]
Kazi-Kazi Railway Station buildings. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Beyond Kazi-Kazi, the three transport routes continue in a generally westerly direction with little worthy of note other than the sporadic murram road crossings and culverts for wet-season water flows. [49]
The next station on the MGR Central Line is at Karangazi. [50]
Karangazi Railway Station. [51]
Karangazi MGR Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Karangazi Railway Station building. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Looking Northwest through Karangazi Railway Station on the MGR. The yeallow vehicle appears to be a Wickham trolley, a motorized light rail inspection and maintenance car (often referred to in the USA as a railroad speeder) manufactured by D. Wickham & Co. of Ware, Hertfordshire, UK, (c) Ali YÜKSEL, March 2018. [Google Maps, August 2026]

There is little of note on the remainder of the line covered by the extract from OpenStreetMap above – the usual culverts and murram road crossings aside.

This next length shows the MGR following the contours as it heads West. [52]

Another SGR contractor’s compound sits to the South of the MGR and has an access road leading North to the T18. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The sidings shown on the extract from OpenStreetMaps above are shown here – the compound served is a CCECC Tura (Total Fuel Facility). [Google Maps, August 2026]

This much closer view from Google’s satellite imagery shows sidings to the North of the MGR. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The next length of the line passes close to Tura Airport and then runs through the MGR station at Tura and then on to the West. [53]
Tura Airport is no more than a strip of murram road cut from the bush. The T18 passes its Southwest end and the R436 joins the main road at the West end of the airport. The MGR is visible at the bottom-left of this image. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Tura MGR Station. [54]
The full length of the passing loop at Tura Station appears on this satellite image. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A number of wagons sit at the east end of the sidings at Tura two clearly no longer in use as they sit abandoned beside the others. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Tura Railway Station building seen from above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Tura Railway Station building, (c) Ali YÜKSEL, April 2018. [Google Maps, August 2026]

There is nothing further worthy of note on the length of line covered by the OpenStreetMap extract above.

The alignment of the railway over the next length shown here is again dependent on the contours. [55]

Again, there is little of note along this length of the line. It frequently crosses culverts provided for west season water flows, but little else.

This length of the line boast both a station and a river crossing. [56]
Malongwe Railway Station on the MGR. [57]
The Southeast end of Malongwe Railway Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Malongwe MGR Station buildings. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The Northwest end of Malongwe MGR Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Two bridges cross the Chomwe River. Steel girders span the main river course with a Warren Truss spanning the secondary channel. At the time of the satellite photograph, little water was flowing down the river. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Two further lengths of the line with little worthy of note apart from a slightly larger bridge/culvert. [58][59]
Three further lengths of the line with little worthy of note apart from a slightly larger bridge/culvert on the econd, another bridge/culvert on the third and Nyuhua MGR Station towards the left of the third image. [58][59][60]

The larger culvert/bridge as shown on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A series of culverts at the approximate location of the seasonal river shown on the third of the three OpenStreetMap extracts above. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Nyuhua Railway Station which appears at the left side of the third OpenStreetMap above. The SGR when completed obliterates the three sidings shown on the right side of this map. [61]

Nyuhua Railway Station. [Google Maps, August 2026.

The line continues in a Westerly direction beyond Nyuhua. [62]
The SGR contractor’s compound just a few kilometres West of Nyuhua. Other than this compound there is little of major significance on the length of the MGR on the OpenStreetMap extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026]
This next length of the line takes us through Goweko (top-left). Again, there is little of significance on the line to the East of Gweko – just murram road crossings and culverts. [63]
Goweko Railway Station. [64]
Goweko MGR Station as shown on Google’s satellite imagery. It appears that the station layout shown on MapCarta is no longer in use with tracks either lifted or buried. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The MGR Station buildings at Goweko. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The line to the Northwest of Goweko (bottom-right). A part from more culverts design to manage run-off in the wet season, there is little of note on this length of the line. [65]
Igalula is the next station on the line. [66]

Irrigated fields surround the next river crossing shown here. This is (I think) the Ugalla River. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Igalula MGR Station. [67]
Igalula Railway Station. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Igalula Railway Station buildings. [Google Maps, August 2026]

This train has just passed through Igalula MGR Station and is heading for Tabora. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A closer view of the locomotive shown above. [Google Maps, August 2026]

The MGR to the Northwest of Igalula. [68]
The next length of the line. The Wala River is shown South of the line being bridged at the bottom-right of this map extract, top-left of the last map extract. [69]

Towards the top-left of the OpenStreetMap extract immediately above, the line crosses the Wala River. [Google Maps, August 2026]

As this second image shows, Warren Truss girder bridges span the two river channels. [Google Maps, August 2026]

A further bridge, just a few hundred meters Northwest of those shown above provides for possible high flows in the wet season. This is the first of three similar structures. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Early construction work for the SGR shows a concrete culvert on the line of the SGR which enters this image bottom-right. The SGR crosses the MGR on a flyover which will be at the bottom-right of this image and which is shown on the OpenStreetMap extract above. [Google Maps, August 2026].

Culverts appear at relatively frequent intervals on the line as it heads Northwest.

After passing through Itulu, the next length of the line turns northward. [70] We will look at the station at Itulu below but note first the state of the construction work on the SGR station to the North of Itulu. …

The construction site to the North of Itulu where an SGR Station is being built. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Itulu MGR Station. [71]
Itulu MGR Station building is at the centre of this satellite image. To the Northeast is the SGR under construction. [Google Maps, August 2026]

Itulu MGR Station buildings. [Google Maps, August 2026]

We have noted above the construction site for the SGR station North of Itulu. North of that station site the SGR turns away from the line of the MGR.

The MGR is now on its final approach to Tabora. It passes Tabora Airport and wends its way through the suburbs. [72]

Incidentally, Tabora Airport has two metalled runways and is design for more significant traffic than the airport at Tura.

Sikongwe Street crosses the line close to the airport. This is a relatively significant road which remains of murram construction. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The first metalled road encountered for some distance is Kilimatinde Road. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The town of Tabora with the MGR Station at its heart. Beyond Tabora the Central Line turns away to the West with a branch line serving Mwanza heading away North. [73]
Industrial sidings appear once the line has crossed the Kilimatinde Road. [73]
Tabora Railway Workshop and Depot as shown on MapCarta. [74]
The Workshop and Depot as they appear on satellite imagery. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Tabora Raiway Station as shown on MapCarta. The turning triangle is easy spot as is the roundhouse and turntable at the locomotive shed. [74]
The same area as it appears on Google’s satellite imagery. [Google Maps, August 2026]
Tabora MGR Station buildings. [Google Maps, August 2026]
The goods yard and the location of the old roundhouse and turntable (top-left). [Google Maps, August 2026]
Tabora Locomotive Shed (Roundhouse) and turntable. The shed was built during the period of German colonial rule. The locomotive on the turntable was No. 2002 4-6-0 20 Class from Bombay Baroda Railway. Left to right in the roundhouse are: No. 2606; No. 2511, No. 2601, No. 8101 (diesel shunter); No. 2503; No. 2506; No. 2508; No. 2608; No. 2611; No. 2607; No. 2610. The steam locomotives were all still wood-burning in the early 1950s, © EAR&H Negative 411/1 (the image comes from A. J. Craddock’s collection of images, given to him by the EAR&H in 1954 (Public Domain). It was shared by Mfumu Nhwaya Yunge Ngw’anaSali on the East African Community & Other Retirees Association – EACORA Facebook Group on 21st October 2021. [75]
Tabora Railway Station in 1910, under German control, seen from the North. [76]
Tabora Railway Station building, seen from the Southwest. [77]
Tabora Railway Station building, seen from the Northwest. [78]

We terminate this leg of the journey along the Central Line here at Tabora.

References

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