Narrow-gauge railways in former French Morocco

French Morocco had from 1912 to 1935 one of the largest 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge network in Africa with a total length of more than 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi).

Later also a branch line was built running from Dar Caïd Tounsi, which became a railway junction, to Mazagan (Harbour).

The French started also to build 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge railway north of Casablanca.

The railway line had to be built with steep gradients and sharp curves to reach – from both sides – the Touahar Pass.

When the 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge line was completed, it was then possible to travel by train from Morocco to Algeria and Tunisia over the standard-gauge Chemins de fer l´Ouest Algerien.

It was intended to continue the line from Oued Zem 44 km to Kasbah Tadla but this never materialised.

This branch line, opened in early 1928 gave the shortest possible outlet to the Atlantic Ocean from Marrakech.

This, and the unrest in Rif area made the French to build a 600 mm gauge railways.

In addition, after World War I the French extended the 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge narrow-gauge railway into the heart of Rif region, from Mechra Bel Ksiri to Ain Dfali (junction).

At Ain Dfali the branch line was built via Dar Echchaouia to the city of Ouezzane.

Perhaps the most famous and "mysterious" of the 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge narrow-gauge railways in Morocco was the Chemin de Fer Guercif an Outat el Hadj et Midelt.

Many of the soldiers had taken their wives with them to Morocco and they settled to station settlements along this railway line such as Midelt, Missour and Outat Oulad el Hadj.

To provide better travelling facilities for local population in Casablanca area the French Gouvernement Cherifien helped to build a new 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge line from Casablanca (Port) along the Atlantic coast to Dar Bouazza and turn toward at Bou Haj el Mehdi to Foucauld.

Finally, there was in Morocco a little-known, totally isolated short 12 km 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow-gauge line from Agadir to Auone.

Baldwin Borsig Crochat Decauville Jung Orenstein & Koppel Schwartzkopff Societe Alsacienne Weidknecht