Last Trainer of Land Train

The last mechanic of the Land Train: The steam locomotives, which have been serving for years on railways, have been replaced by the new generation tow trucks with the developing technology, and the locomotives, which have started to welcome their visitors in the museums, meet with the rails for documentary, series, film and advertisement shootings from time to time.

During the Ottoman empire, the steam locomotive, which met the Anatolian lands, played a role in the development of the young republic, was written with folk songs for its sake, leaving its place to the new generation locomotives, and now meets nostalgia under the direction of its last mechanic, Naci Akdağ.

The last of the steam locomotives, which began to decrease after 1978 and after 1990, all moved away from the rails, some of which were scrapped, and some of which were taken to museums, are located in Uşak. This locomotive, which mostly welcomes visitors who want to get to know “steam locomotives”, is lowered from the place where it is from time to time for documentaries, series, movies and commercials.

The last employee in Turkey "land train" last projectionist for 32 years while continuing his father's business 58-year-old Naji Akdag.

For documentary shooting from Usak from Izmir "land train" projectionist Akdag, AA correspondent, can use steam locomotives in Turkey two drivers that more is found, the black train of series, documentaries, downloaded to the rails for advertising shots often it reported that undertake this task .

• Father and son

Stating that his father was a steam locomotive mechanic, he watched the passage of the locomotives in the stations where his father was in charge as a child, and he participated in the trips with his father at short distances. It was the only job in my ideal. My father pushed it very hard, 'My son, is there no other job?' But all I do was work mechanic and I reached the ideal father profession ”.

Steam locomotives are a joy to use Naci Akdag, the preparation of the service is not difficult from other trains, before the movement of the locomotive to become hot from the cold at least 6 hours needed to be expressed.

Akdag reminded that the need for manpower to move the steam locomotive, said:

“At the moment, the staff that will work in the steam locomotive is almost nonexistent. We have selected 12 volunteer friends to close this gap and provide training. We also heard that six more types of steam locomotives will be built, which made us happy. I want these machines, which we call world heritage, to work so that our children and grandchildren do not just watch them in black and white films, let them see where the technology is coming. ”

• “There is technology, but old has no taste”

Naci Akdağ stated that he could not break from steam locomotives and that if he was on duty, he got off the state-of-the-art locomotives and ran to work on the steam locomotive. The pleasure of all this was separate. Now there are ready heating kits, tea brew sets, micro wave, refrigerator, air conditioner in the locomotives. But the old has no taste, "he said.