Asmara-Massawa Cableway

It also moved food, supplies and war materials for the Imperial Italian Army, which had also conquered Ethiopia in 1936.

It was rendered non-operational by the British removing the engines shortly after their victory at Keren [1941] in World War II.

Ralph ReinholdWith the capacity to transport 30 tons of material every hour in each direction from the seaport of Massawa to 2326 meters above sea level in Asmara, the cableway was the longest of its kind in the world when inaugurated in 1937.

The bearing cables were in almost 30 sections, were powered by diesel engines, and carried freight in 1540 small transport gondolas.

For a brief overview of the gigantic work, it is enough to outline the following facts: 1) The mechanical components reach a weight of a little less than a thousand tons; the cables weigh the same; and the aggregate weight of the structural steel work amounts to almost two thousand tons; 2) The walls and foundations amount to 15,000 cubic meters of concrete; 3) The earthworks and the pits for the foundations required the excavation of 45,000 cubic meters, of which about 35,000 were solid rock.