Whispers of forgotten tracks - a philosophical journey through the ruins of the Hijazi railway in Jordan

This research examines how the Hijazi Railway, both a historical relic and a site of cultural memory, embodies aesthetic and philosophical dimensions of decay. Grounded in the philosophies of Hegel, Bergson, and Sartre, it explores how photography transforms the railway’s erosion into a metaphor for impermanence, time, and memory. By integrating ruin studies, mobility studies, and cultural geography, the research situates the Hijazi Railway within broader discussions on aesthetics, history, and the evolving narratives of abandoned infrastructure. Using documentary and artistic photography, the study analyzes how light, texture, and composition shape the railway’s evolving meaning. Through visual semiotics and affect theory, it highlights how material decay and photographic framing evoke complex aesthetic and existential interpretations. Interviews with photographers, historians, and cultural experts further illuminate the railway’s shifting identity—as an abandoned site, a historical artifact, and a space of contemplation. Contributing to aesthetic theory, railway heritage, and the philosophy of ruins, the study demonstrates how photography captures decay as both a historical process and an aesthetic experience. By framing ruins as dynamic spaces of cultural and philosophical negotiation, it invites reflection on transience and loss, encouraging deeper inquiry into how such spaces continue shaping cultural memory and artistic expression.