Extensive work has been carried out to provide us with a clearer picture of the tangible and intangible historical assets of the Malagasy railway system. This involved collecting and conserving documentary evidence (articles, photographs, films, etc.), oral evidence (interviews with former and recent employees) and physical evidence (infrastructure, objects, etc.).
In order to implement the project, every station and bridge across the country has been visited, either by walking, dyplorie or train and submitted what is called an "Inventaire du patrimoine architectural du Reseau National de Chemin de Fer Malagasy (2003)". It also evaluated potentials for tourism development.
Some of the results are displayed online http://www.hirschmann-net.de/memoiredurail and a travelling exhibition has been organised (Antananarivo, Toamasina, Fianarantsoa, Manakara), inaugurated by the Prime Minister, attracting in total more than 14 000 visitors. Subsequently the collection became incorporated into the Museum d'Andafiavaratra in Tana.
In the course of the project we also organised a public contest and the jury selected three laureates (2 stories, 1 miniature model). The project has been carried out in close cooperation with the local museum as well as with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the World Bank, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Madarail, respective local communities and train enthusiasts. As a follow up the Ministry hopes to create a National Railway Museum.
For further information please http://www.hirschmann-net.de/memoiredurail
or contact Anna-Luise Ruttmann: alr(at)cultureanddevelopment.org
.