The Chemins de Fer de la Basse-Egypte were founded on 26 January 1896 by the Belgian baron
Édouard Empain (born 1852; died 1929) as a
PLC. The construction of the railway line was managed by the Belgian engineer
Jean Jadot (1862–1932). The main line connected
Mansourah (on the
Nile river) to
Matarieh (on the far side of
Lake Manzala from
Port Said). The turnover increased from
£E 26,199 in 1904, over £E 29,872 in £1905, E 32,122 in 1906 to £E 36,740 in 1907. Subsequently, it decreased to £E 35,760 in 1908 and £E 35,184 in 1909. In 1936, the company owned 22
locomotives, 94 coaches and 367 goods wagons. == References ==