The 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge Decauville railway was built in 1900 from Antsirane (now Antsiranana) to the Tunisian Fountain (Fontaine Tunisienne) at today's STAR factory.

It turned into the Boulevard de Sakaramy at the height of Camp Lubert, from where it led past the present town hall to l'Octroi and the Tunisian Fountain.

[1] Construction of the initially 13 km (8.1 mi) long track was carried out by civilian entrepreneurs from Antsirane under the direction of engineer-captain Fénéon.

The originally planned 10 km (6.2 mi) long extension to the military barracks at Camp d'Ambre in Joffreville at an altitude of about 634 m (2,080 ft) above sea level was never built.

[3][4] The goods and passenger trains were initially pulled by oxen or large mules, respectively, and later in the lower part between the port and the Tunisian Fountain by steam locomotives.