Indian Railways History

Man has always wanted to be on the move. With the invention of the wheel matters were simplified. Around five hundred years ago, miners in Europe used wooden rails on which the wheels of carts were guided. The invention of the steam engine in 1705 by Newcomen and its further development by James Watt led to the steam locomotive which was first built by Richard Trevithick in 1801.

First train in world

The Stockholm and Darlington Railway" (1825) is recognised as  the starting of railway age, because they were the first "Railway" to use a steam locomotive and iron rails to haul a load. It was a load of 38 carriages laden with passengers and goods ran between Stockton and Darlington. The railway line was actually commenced in 1821, but it took 4 years to complete construction. 

Prior to this in 1801 Richard Trevithick made the steam carriage and in 1804 constructed a locomotive to haul a 10-ton load not on the rails but on the roads.

Railways in India The need for a railway system in India had been felt since the first days of the railways. Lord Dalhousie was the first to propose the idea. The vast distances involved, in league with the political, strategic and economic considerations let to the formation of the Indian Railways. Britain needed a fast and efficient transport system (railways) for troop movement (to counter our freedom struggle), and also to exploit India's vast resources effectively.

First train In India

Most popular answer to this question is 3:35pm on April 16th, 1853, when a train with 14 railway carriages and 400 guests left Bombay's Bori Bunder for Thane, with a 21-gun salute. It was hauled by three locomotives: Sindh, Sultan, and Sahib. The journey took an hour and fifteen minutes.however this was  first passenger service

First train to run was material train used in construction of  solani aquaduct of upper Ganga canal near  Roorkee in dec 22,1851

 A steam loco, Thomason, had been used for hauling construction material in Roorkee for the Solani viaduct in 1851 (it began working there on 22nd December 1851, to be exact). The Solani viaduct construction was a part of the Ganges Canal project, started in 1845. The viaduct had 15 arches and spanned the 4km-wide Solani valley (about 145km north-east of New Delhi). Earth for the approach embankments was transported along light rail lines about 5 to 10 km long from Piran Kaliyar to Roorkee. Standard gauge wagons were used, built from parts brought over from England, and hauled by men and later horses. In late 1851, the locomotive Thomason (named for the engineer on the project) was assembled on the spot from parts transported from Calcutta. It hauled two wagons at a time, at a speed of about 6km/h. It did not last very long, and after about 9 months India's first steam locomotive died a spectacular death with a boiler explosion, reportedly to the delight of the construction workers who had viewed it more as a hindrance than help. Hughes' book states that this was a six-wheeled tank engine, probably a 2-2-2WT built by E. B. Wilson, and of standard gauge. Some details of the wagons and the use of the locomotive are in Sir Proby T Cautley's "Report on the Ganges Canal Works" (3 volumes, 1860).

The second locomotive to arrive in India was Falkland (named for a governor of Bombay), used by the contractors of the GIPR for shunting operations on the first line out of Bombay that was being built. It began work on February 23, 1852. Hughes' book suggests that this was also built by E. B. Wilson, and was probably a four-wheeled tank engine (0-4-0T?) with dummy crankshaft. It later became GIPR loco #9. A third locomotive, Vulcan, is said to have been used by the GIPR for material hauling and shunting duties in 1852 as well.

On November 18, 1852, a locomotive hauled some coaches on a trial run from Bori Bunder to Thana. This probably counts as the first "real" train to run in India.

Inital Railways construction

The core of the pressure for building railways in India came from London in 1840s. For a century thereafter the basic policies and ultimate management of the Indian Railways were issued from London. The British built railways in India in order to intermesh the economies of the two countries. The building of railways in India brought about unintended as well as hoped for consequences in economic, political and military front. The new railways tied the the different parts of India together more closely than ever before.

       Some mention should be made of the role of Indian businessmen played in the early years. There were Indian merchants , both in Calcutta and Bombay who took an interest in founding of the railways. The most prominent of these was a remarkable Bengali merchant Prince Dwarkanath Tagore , grandfather of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. Dwarkanath's firm Carr, Tagore &Company, is reported to have offered in 1844, to raise one-third of the capital required for a railway from Calcutta northwest to the coalfields above Burdwan. After Dwarkanath's premature death a few tears later the other Indian businessmen played only a passive role. The conception, promotion and launching of India's railways were all British. ( Daniel Thorner 1955)    

    

  The Railway Age dawned in India on 16th. April 1853, when the first commercial  train ran from Bombay to Thana, a distance of 21 miles(33.81 Km.)

For some years before that the idea of building railways in India had taken concrete shape with the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London. The East India Company had obtained a foothold in India as a trading company, but gradually lost most of its privileges it had enjoyed as an instrument of commerce. It had , however been made responsible for the governance of India under the supervision of a Court of Directors in London. The final authority lay , of course , with the British Cabinet, who acted on the advice of its special Board of \control for Indian Affairs. There was a Governor General at Fort William in Calcutta, having superintending authority over the administration of India.
      

 The first proposals for construction of railways in India were presented in 1844 to East India Company in London by, (a) East Indian Railway Company headed by R.McDonald Stephenson, and (b) Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company

       George Stephenson the great British Locomotive inventor was one the first Directors of GIPR and his son Robert Stephenson was appointed as the consulting engineer based at London.        Both were incorporated in England for the purpose of constructing railway lines in Calcutta and Bombay presidencies respectively. Though GIPR company was formed in 1844. George Stephenson could not see his Locomotives run on Indian soil as he died in 1848. 1848Governor-General Lord Dalhousie while advocating railway construction in India also says, "No one can safely say whether railways in this country will earn or not (1848)

       Lord Hardinge was the Governor General of India at this point of time. He considered the proposals from political, military and commercial point of view and thought that Court Of Directors of East India Company should liberally give assistance to private capitalists, willing to make railways in India , without waiting for proof that the construction of railways in India should yield reasonable profit. The Court of Directors in their suggestion that the first attempt should be made on a limited scale due to some difficulties, deliberated as under,
1. Periodical rains and inundations;
2. The continued action of violent winds, and influence of a vertical  sun;
3. The ravages of insects and vermin upon timber and earth work;

4. The destructive effect of spontaneous vegetation of Underwood  upon earth and brick  work;
5. The unenclosed and unprotected tracts of the country though which   railroads would pass; 

6. The difficulty and expenses of securing the services of competent     and trustworthy engineers.  

1845 

ï‚·  Survey work carried out for Bombay-Kalyan line and an extension up the Malay Ghat for proposed connections to Khandwa and Pune.

ï‚·  Madras Railway company is mooted.

ï‚·  East India Railway company is formed

ï‚·  August 1 1849: Great Indian Peninsular Railway incorporated by an Act of Parliament.

ï‚·  "Old Guarantee System" providing free land and guaranteed rates of return (5%) to the private English companies willing to work on building railways. Agreed upon in March, finalized on August 17.

ï‚·  1852.Construction of a line out of Bombay begins, and a locomotive, Falkland, begins shunting operations on February 23. The line is ready by November, and on the 18th of November, a trial run of the Bombay-Thane trip (35 km) is held. (Some accounts suggest another locomotive, Vulcan might have also been used for shunting operations here.)

ï‚·  First trains run in india ( west,East .south & North )

ï‚·  On April 16th, 1853at 3:35pm, the first train in India leaves Bombay for Thane . Initial scheduled services consist of two trains each way between Bombay and Thane and later Bombayand Mahim via Dadar. On August 15th,1854 the first passenger train in the eastern section is operated, from Howrah to Hoogly (24 miles). The section is soon extended to Pundooah. On July 1st,1856 the first train in the south was operated, from Royapuram / Veyasarapady (Madras) to Wallajah Road (Arcot) (approx. 100km) by the Madras Railway Company.On March 3rd,1859  the first train in the north was operated, from Allahabad to Kanpur (180km)

GIP Railways .August 1 1849: Great Indian Peninsular Railway incorporated by an Act of Parliament.

• ï‚·  On April 16th, at 3:35pm, the first train in India leaves Bombay for Thane . Initial scheduled services consist of two trains each way between Bombay and Thane and later Bombay and Mahim viaDadar
• ï‚·  By May 1854 , GIPR Bombay-Thane line is extended to Kalyan and is a double tracked line; inaugurated by Lord Elphinstone. Dapoorie viaduct is completed. Thane-Kalyan line extended to Vasindon the north-east.in 1855.
• ï‚·  GIPR line extended to Khopoli via Palasdhari on the south-east. Regular services are now run from Mumbai to Vasind and from Mumbai to Khopoli. Stations opened at Dadar, Kurla, Titwala,Badlapur, and Neral in 1856.
• ï‚·  June 14,1858: Khandala-Pune section of GIPR open to traffic. The 21km gap over the Bhore ghat (Karjat - Khandala) is crossed by palanquin, horses, or on foot. In some cases the passenger cars were also carried over each way.
• ï‚·  Vasind-Asangaon line opened & Bhusawal station set up by GIPR in 1860.
• ï‚·  January 1 ,1861: GIPR's Kasara line opens (extended from Asangaon).
• ï‚·  1862..Bhore ghat incline constructed, connecting Palasdhari to Khandala.
• ï‚·  1863,May 14: GIPR line from Bombay across the Bhore Ghat to Pune constructed. 1865..Kasara line extended to Igatpuri over the Thull (Thall) ghat.
• ï‚·   Bhusawal-Khandwa section opened in 1866. 1867-GIPR branch line extended to Nagpur; Bhusawal-Badnera section opened. GIPR locals extended from Mahim to Bandra in 1869
• ï‚·  1870 . March 7: GIPR connection over the Thull Ghat reaches Jubbulpore (Jabalpur) from Itarsi, linking up with EIR track there from Allahabad, and establishing connectivity between Bombayand Calcutta.

·         ï‚·  1871..South-east of Kalyan, the GIPR line extended over the Bhore Ghat to reach Raichur, connecting with the Madras Railway, whose branch line out of Arakkonam reaches Raichur by now.

·         ï‚·  1875..Masjid, Parel, Ghatkopar, Diva, and Chinchpokli stations opened for Mumbai local services. in 1880..GIPR runs about 14 local services in each direction in Mumbai, including five terminating at Kurla. It is believed that at this time Currey Road station is used for loading and unloading horses for the races at Mahalaxmi.

• ï‚·  1878  Construction of Victoria Terminus begins in Bombay. &, is opened to the public. in 1988 . Victoria Terminus named after Queen Victoria on Jubilee Day. 1888.Construction ofBombay's Victoria Terminus building is completed. The cost was estimated at Rs 1,640,000 .1889Six platforms constructed at Bombay Victoria Terminus.
• ï‚·  Delhi-Mathura line opened .Bhopal-Itarsi line opened by the Begum of Bhopal.Budni-Burkhera ghat section opened in 1884
• ï‚·  1899..Bina-Baran line opened.
• ï‚·  GIP was taken over & becomes state property on July 1, 1900 but the company is allowed to continue operating the services. .It was finally came in full control of govt in 1925

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East india Railway  

East India Railway company is formed was formed in 1845.1851.Construction begins of an "experimental" section of track (Howrah-Rajmahal) for the proposed Calcutta-Delhi link via Mirzapur (EIR). OnAugust 15th,1854 the first passenger train in the eastern section is operated, from Howrah to Hoogly (24 miles). The section is soon extended to Pundooah.February 3.1855: EIR's "experimental" track for a Calcutta-Delhi route now consists of a Howrah to Raneegunje (Raniganj, collieries near Asansol) section of 121 miles.On March 3rd,1859  the first train in the north was operated, from Allahabad toKanpur (180km) Kanpur-Etawah section opened. in 1860.).1862..EIR's Delhi-Calcutta route progresses as far as the west bank of the Yamuna, via Mughalsarai.This year sealdah station wa also commissioned

ï‚·  EIR on August 1,1864: ran its First train into Delhi. Through trains run between Delhi and Calcutta; coaches are ferried on boats across the river at Allahabad.

ï‚·   Delhi and Calcutta are linked directly by rail as the completion of the Yamuna bridge (road and rail) in Delhi allows the trains to reach what later became Delhi Junction. The 1 Dn / 2 Up Mail begins running -- this is the predecessor of the Howrah - Kalka Mail in 1866.

ï‚·  ..EIR branch line extends from Allahabad to Jubbulpore (Jabalpur).1872.The "main line" on the Delhi-Calcutta route (via Patna) is in place with the completion of the section from Raniganj to Kiul.

ï‚·  1879..EIR taken over by the state , but the construction and operation of the railway are handed back to the company.

ï‚·  1888..Dufferin Bridge constructed over the Ganga at Varanasi, allowing EIR trains to go from Mughalsarai to Varanasi.

ï‚·  1901EIR's "Grand Chord" section finished connecting Sitarampur - Gaya - Mughalsarai

ï‚·  BB&CI Railway incorporated, in 1855 and begins work on a Surat-Baroda line. BBCI Railway obtains permission to extend its lines southwards from Surat, and opens its Grant Road terminus for its proposed line from Surat in 1859.1861,Churchgate station opened by BBCI Railway as its new terminus for Bombay.

ï‚·  BB&CI Railway completes Surat-Baroda-Ahmedabad line in 1863

ï‚·  Bombay-Surat line completed by BB&CI Railway in 1864 .

ï‚·  BB&CI completes Bombay-Ahmedabad rail link in 1865

ï‚·  1867.Virar - Bombay Backbay suburban service commences (BB&CI); one train in each direction each day. 1872..Bombay suburban services extended to Arthur Bunder in Colaba.

ï‚·  1871.BB&CI line to Viramgam. 1872. BB&CI line to Wadhwan (Surendranagar) 1873.Colaba Terminus commissioned, envisioned as a temporary station pending completion of a permanent line between Marine Lines and Churchgate, making Marine Lines the new terminus.

ï‚·  1879.BB&CI extends BG network to Wadhwan (Surendranagar) in Kathiawar

ï‚·  Ahmedabad-Palanpur MG section opened. BB&CI trunk route reaches Godhra.

1893..The government-built Godhra-Nagda link is handed over to the BB&CI Railway for operation. BB&CI line to Nagda and Ujjain.1896

ï‚·  Indian Midland Railway merged into BBCI Railway.1901&Rajputana Malwa Rly. becomes part of the BB&CI Rly. (1900)

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ï‚·  Other Railways

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ï‚·  The Madras Guaranteed Railway Company is formed. (1852).Madras Railway's trunk route from Madras extended to Beypur / Kadalundi (near Calicut). Work begins on a north-western branch out ofArakkonam.  .1868.Madras Railway extends its network (with a new terminus at Royapuram) to Salem, and also finishes the Jolarpettai - Bangalore Cantonment branch. Jolarpettai - Bangalore Cantt. branchadded by Madras Railway; Bangalore Mail begins running. Madras Railway extends its lines to Renigunta.

ï‚· 

ï‚·  Great Southern Railway of India completes 125km BG line between Nagapatnam and Trichinopoly. (? Some sources suggest the line was till Tanjore, and extended to Trichinopoly by March 1862.1869 ,GSIR's line reaches Erode, connecting to the Madras State Rly. 1872..GSIR merged with with the MG Carnatic Rly.

ï‚·  The Indian Tramway Co. is formed for building short lines around Madras, also with a 20-year subsidy. 1866.Arakkonam-Conjeevaram 3'6" line built by the Indian Tramways Co. This suffered losses later, was reorganized to become the Carnatic Railway and finally was taken over by the South Indian Railway.

ï‚·  The history of railways in Kerala dates back to 1861 when the first railway line was laid between Beypore and Tirur. The Shoranur-Ernakulam line, opened in 1902 as a metre gauge line, was converted into broad gauge in 1934. Construction of other Travancore branches of the South Indian Railway started in 1899-1900. The railway line from Kollam to Punalur was opened for train services in 1904.

The extension of railway line further down was taken up in 1913 when the Secretary of the State for India sanctioned the Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram line. The work was completed in 1917 and the line opened in 1918. But the railway line was only up to Chakka. The survey for extending the line to Thampanoor was taken up in 1924-25. During that period, a survey was undertaken for a line betweenThiruvananthapuram and Nagercoil also. The plans and estimates for extending the line to Thampanoor were completed in 1928. The total expenditure incurred for the construction of the Chakka-Thampanoor railway line was Rs. 25.64 lakh.

ï‚·  "The Madras railway, which was registered in 1853, opened its main line from Madras across southern India to Beypoor (Kadalnudi)in 1856-61; it was extended along the west coast to Calicut(1888) and eventually to Mangalore(1907)."

ï‚·  "The South Indian railway which was formed in 1874 took over the Jalarpet - Mangalore section of Madras Railway from 1st January 1908 and the Trichinopoly-Erode line (of Great South of India Railway) in September 1929. The latter was metre gauge and was converted to broad gauge by SIR."

ï‚·  "The Shoranur-Cochin Railway, owned by Cochin Government, was opened as metre gauge line in 1902 and converted to broad gauge in 1934; it was also worked by South Indian Railway."

ï‚·  GSIR and Carnatic Rly. merger is now renamed the South Indian Railway. SIR on July 1 ,1874 takes over GSIR (BG) and Carnatic Rly. (MG).

ï‚·  All of the former GSIR lines (now in SIR) are converted to MG from BG. Madras Railway trunk route from Madras extended along the west coast to Calicut. SIR taken over by the state, but working of lines is by a reconstituted SIR company (1891?). South Indian Railway begins Madras - Tuticorin service connecting with the boat to Ceylon, using vestibuled coaches for both First and Second class. The trip takes nearly 22 hours for the 443 mile route. 1899

ï‚·  Bangalore City linked to Bangalore Cantonment by Madras Railway.

ï‚·  Bangalore-Mysore MG line opened by the Mysore State Rly. (this line later went to the Southern Mahratta Railway Co. which was chartered in 1882 to operate some famine-relief lines opened by the state).

ï‚·  1902.Shoranur-Cochin line is built, owned by the state but operated by the SIR.

ï‚·  Southern Mahratta Rly. Co. opens Hospet-Bellary and Gadag-Hotgi lines. 1888..Southern Mahratta Rly.'s main eastward route connects with other lines going until Bezwada (Vijayawada), which were later taken over by the SMR. The section in Goa worked by SMR for West of India Portuguese Rly. terminating at Marmagoa opens. Goa-Guntakal MG line completed by the Southern Mahratta Rly Co., with branches from Londa to Poona (connecting to Mysore via Bangalore, and also with Gadag-Hotgi), and Bezwada (Vijayawada) to Marmagoa.(1890).

ï‚·  Nov. 1 : Through BG connection between Bezwada (Vijayawada) and Madras (Chennai) opensin 1898.1901East Coast Rly. line to Waltair becomes part of the Madras Railway.

ï‚·  Sind (later Sind, Punjab and Delhi) Railway is formed(1856).Sind and Punjab Railway is engaged in construction of a northward line from Karachi, a Lahore-Multan line, and a Lahore-Delhi line.May13:,1861 Karachi-Kotri section of the Scinde Rly. opens to public traffic, the first section in the region that would later become Pakistan. November:1868 Sind, Punjab, and Delhi Railway's line towardsAmritsar from Delhi (Ghaziabad) is open for traffic up to Ambala. Amritsar-Attari section completed on the route to Lahore. Sind and Punjab Railway's Multan-Lahore-Amritsar line is completed. Works begins on line from Delhi to Amritsar.October: Sind, Punjab, and Delhi Railway completes Amritsar-Saharanpur-Ghaziabad line, linking Punjab Railway with the EIR and providing connectivity betweenMultan and Delhi. 

ï‚·   Mughalsarai - Lahore main line is also completed in 1870  

ï‚·  1878.Punjab Northern State Railway builds the Lahore-Jhelum line (parts that opened as MG in 1876 are converted to BG). 1883Punjab Northern State Railway line extended from Jhelum to Peshawar.

ï‚·  Indus Valley State Rly. opens Multan-Kotri line. Attock bridge across the Indus is constructed.1883

ï‚·  Punjab Northern State Railway line extended from Jhelum to Peshawar.

ï‚·  Khojak tunnel opens, the westernmost point of the Kandahar State Rly. (Chaman Extension Rly.) which was to reach Afghanistan but which in fact never crossed the frontier from British India beyondChaman. At the time, this was the longest railway tunnel in the subcontinent

ï‚·  1898Delhi - Bhatinda - Samasatta line opened by Southern Punjab Railway Co.

ï‚·  Eastern Bengal Railway and the Great Southern of India formed (1858).Eastern Bengal Railway begins construction on Calcutta-Kushtia line (175km). in 1859. November: 1862. EBR's Calcutta-Kushtia line open for traffic. Kushtia-Siliguri line (MG) of North Bengal State Railway.1888

ï‚·  Calcutta and South-Eastern Railway formed(1859) .Calcutta and South-Eastern Railway's 45km line from Calcutta to Port Canning is constructed in 1862..Calcutta and South-Eastern Railway, having suffered extensive losses on their Sealdah-Canning line because of floods and other problems, decide to transfer the line to the government in return for capital costs, becoming the first railway to be taken over by the state.

ï‚·  Lucknow-Kanpur line opened by the Indian Branch Railway Co. It became Oudh and Rohilkhand Rly. (formerly the Indian Branch Rly. Co.). 1872..Oudh & Rohilkund Rly. opens line from Benares (Varanasi) to Lucknow. 1874.ORR extends line from Lucknow to Moradabad. ORR line extended to Saharanpur1886.

ï‚·  Khanderao, the Gaekwar of Baroda, opens 8 miles of an NG railway line from Dabhoi towards Miyagam. Oxen were used as the motive power! 1873Dabhoi-Miyagam line (the first 2'6" line) is re-laid with stronger rails to allow locomotives to be used (earlier oxen were the motive power) although locomotives were not used regularly on this until 1880. This later becomes part of the Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway.

ï‚·  1874.Wadi-Secunderabad railway line built with financing from the Nizam of Hyderabad, and later becomes part of the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway. Secunderabad railway station built by this railway. Nizam's State Railway's main line is extended to Bezwada (Vijayawada).

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ï‚·  Construction of the Siliguri-Darjeeling line, the first hill railway in India (not counting the ghat sections near Bombay). 1878.The Darjeeling Steam Tramway (later the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) starts services on its first section, the Siliguri-Darjeeling line.1881.September: Darjeeling Steam Tramway becomes the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

ï‚·  1879.North Bengal State Rly. opens Parbatipur-Kaunia MG line.

ï‚·  1880 ..The Kandahar State Railway from Ruk to Sibi is formed; 133.5 miles of track are laid in 101 days!

ï‚·  1880.. Bengal and North Western, Bengal Central, Rohilkhand-Kumaon, and Indian Midland Railways formed without guarantees; Southern Mahratta Railways formed with guarantees.

ï‚·  1881The Maharaja Sindia of Gwalior opens the Agra-Gwalior line of what became the Sindia State Rly. Maharaj Scindia of Gwalior opens NG (2') railway lines from Gwalior to Bhind and Shivpuri. These later become part of the Gwalior Light Railways in1898

ï‚·  1882Marwar-Pali section opened on June 24 as part of the new Jodhpur Railway. Pali-Luni section of Jodhpur Railway opens on June 17,1884.

ï‚·  Assam Rly. and Trading Co. opens Dibrugarh/Amlapatty - Dinjan Stream MG section as part of the Dibru-Sadia Railway (section operational on Aug. 15). Amlapatty - Dinjan route extended to Tinsukia andMargherita. 1884

ï‚·  1884..Bengal-Nagpur Railway (a private company) sanctioned, with guarantees. 1902.BNR takes over part of the East Coast Rly. lines (Cuttack - Vizianagaram, branch line to Puri).

ï‚·  Calcutta-Khulna line opened by Bengal Central Rly.

ï‚·  Indian Midland Rly. opens lines from Jhansi to Gwalior, Kanpur, Manikpur, and Bhopal.

ï‚·  Delhi-Ambala-Kalka line laid. Delhi-Ambala-Kalka line opened. 1892

ï‚·  Jamlpur-Jagannathganj Rly. open to traffic.

ï‚·  1890..East Coast State Railway (government-owned) sanctioned. 1893.Cuttack - Khurda Road - Puri line opened by the East Coast Rly.

ï‚·  NG lines: Wadhwan-Morvi-Rajkot line opened (later converted to BG);

ï‚·  1900

ï‚·  Doon Railway opens (Haridwar-Dehradun).

ï‚·  Tapti Valley Railway opened.

ï‚·  Assam Bengal Rly. opens branch line to Guwahati.

ï‚·  Bengal Dooars Rly. open link to EBR at Lalmonirhat.

ï‚·  Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Branch Rly. opens MG line from Santahar east (with a ferry section) to Mymensingh.

ï‚·  Manmad-Secunderabad MG line opened by the Hyderabad Godavary Valley Rly

ï‚· 

ï‚·  MG SYSTEM

ï‚· 

ï‚·  Lord Mayo introduces meter gauge as a compromise between proposals for narrow gauges less thand 3' and broad gauge, for use in areas with limited traffic in 18701872.First (??) MG line from Delhi toFarukh Nagar is built. The world's first commercial MG sevice runs from Delhi to Rewari IN 1873

ï‚·  Delhi-Bandikui, Bandikui-Agra lines of Rajputana State Railway opened, and Alwar line is under construction IN 1874(all MG).

ï‚·  Tirhoot State Rly. opens MG lines to Samastipur and Darbhanga. 1874

ï‚·  Rajputana State Railway MG line reaches Ajmer.

ï‚·  Former GSIR Nagapatnam - Trichinopoly BG line converted to MG.

ï‚·  Hathras Road - Mathura Cantt. section opened to traffic. The first train runs here on Oct. 19. 1874.

ï‚·  Khandwa-Indore MG line of Holkar State Railway under construction, passing the Mhow ghat section by 1878.

ï‚· 

ï‚·  Lord Salisbury, Secretary of State for India, stipulates the use of BG to settle the gauge debate, and work begins on relaying many MG lines to BG.

ï‚· 

ï‚·  1n 1879,In a reversal of the broad-gauge policy instituted under Lord Salisbury, the Rajputana-Malwa Railway is authorized to build its lines to meter-gauge.1879Ajmer-Ahmedabad line (MG) opens, and becomes part of the Rajputana State Railway. 1881Khandwa-Indore line extended to Ajmer. Rajputana State Rly. merged into Rajputana Malwa Rly .Jodhpur is connected (via Luni) to the Rajputana MalwaRailway network (first train on March 9) (MG). This line later becomes part of the Jodhpur Bikaner Rly. 1889..Jodhpur Bikaner Railway formed.

ï‚·  Jodhpur connected to Bikaner by MG (Jodhpur - Merta Road opened April 8, Merta Road - Nagaur on Oct. 16, and Nagaur-Bikaner on Dec. 9)1890.

ï‚·  Merta - Kuchaman section opened to carry salt traffic from the Rajputana areas.1893

ï‚·  1900.Balotra-Hyderabad section of Jodhpur Bikaner Rly. opens.

ï‚·  1901 MG lines: Kaunia-Dharlla Rly. lines converted to MG; Jodhpur - Hyderabad (by Jodhpur Bikaner Rly., after a section near Hyderabad is converted from BG to MG).

ï‚·  1902The Luni-Shadipalli line is completed in the Thar desert. The Shadipalli-Hyderabad (now Pakistan) line is regauged to MG. 1902

ï‚·  All of the former GSIR lines (now in SIR) are converted to MG from BG.

ï‚·  (1877?) Following an agreement between the British and the French, an MG line is laid between Pondicherry and Villupuram.

ï‚·  Bhavnagar-Wadhwan (Surendranagar) line opened by Kathiawar State Rly. (later part of Bhavnagar State Rly.). (MG)

ï‚·  Kanpur-Farukhabad section is operational

ï‚·  Nagpur-Rajnandgaon MG line opened.

ï‚·  April: Bengal & North-Western Rly. opens Nawabganz-Gonda-Bahraich line (MG)

ï‚·  MG lines: Assam Behar State Rly. builds to Parbatipur; Bangalore-Tumkur-Gubbi (Mysore State Rly.); Rohilkund-Kumaon Rly. builds line to Kathgodam.

ï‚·  1885..

ï‚·  Assam Rlys. & Trading Co. builds Dibru-Sadiya Rly. (MG)

ï‚·  Narayangang-Mymensingh MG line opened by Dacca State Rly.

ï‚·  Miraj-Pune MG line opened. 1886

ï‚·  DHR line extended to Darjeeling Bazaar.

ï‚·  Assam Behar State Rly.'s Parbatipur MG line is extended to Katihar. 1889

ï‚·  Gubbi-Birur-Harihar MG line opened by Mysore State Rly. 1892Yeshwantpur-Dodballapur MG line by Mysore State Rly. MG line from Yeshwantpur extended to Mysore frontier by Mysore State Rly.

ï‚·  Construction begins for the Nilgiri railway..1897..Mettupalayam-Coonoor rail line constructed. aug 1898 August: Mettupalayam-Coonoor rail line opens, but is soon closed after heavy rains cause severe damage to the track.Mettupalaiyam-Coonoor section of the Nilgiri Mountain Rly. re-opens after repair and restoration in Nov

ï‚·  Assam Bengal Railway incorporated (MG).

ï‚·  Bengal Dooars Rly. opens (MG).

ï‚·  Udaipur-Chittorgarh MG line built by the Mewar Darbar1894

ï‚·  Rajkot - Jamnagar MG section opened by Jamnagar Rly.

First locomotive built in India at the Ajmer works, an 'F' class 0-6-0 MG loco for the Rajputana Malwa Railway (F-734). This is now preserved at the National Rail Museum

ï‚·  Major policy change in policy  in 1869

ï‚·  intially all construction was by private company formed under guarantee system. In the 1840s, when the first proposals for railways in India were being debated in Great Britain, there was intense lobbying in support of these proposals by banks, traders, shipping companies, and others who had a strong interest in seeing railways be formed in India. These supporters prevailed upon the British Parliament to create the Guarantee System, whereby any company that constructed railways in India was guaranteed a certain rate of interest on its capital investment. This guarantee was honoured by the East India Company which then controlled large parts of India. The railways that were formed with such agreements governing them were called guaranteed railways. Typically, the guarantee was for a return of 5% annually, and the right for the railway company to pull out of the venture and get compensation from the government at any time. .Railway construction in India took an abrupt boom and a large number of companies started working. These companies had only one thing in their mind... To earn enough money.They had no co-ordination in their working and time tables. The British government was seriously thinking about this.

ï‚·  in 1869,Governor-General Lord Lawrence suggests that the Government of India itself undertake all future construction of railway lines. But GIPR's guarantees and leases are extended, and also those of the Bombay, Baroda, and Madras Railway Companies. Still, this year marks a turning point in government policy away from the guarantee system. By this time 4000 mile Railways were already constructed as indicated below

ï‚·  in 1871...EIR trackage totals 1350 miles; other railways: GIPR -- 875, Madras Railway -- 680, Sind and Punjab -- 400, BBCI -- 300, East Bengal -- 115, and Great Southern -- 170.

ï‚·  1880

ï‚·  About 9,000 miles of railways in India, of which 2,175 miles are state-owned. Famine Commission suggests creating another 5,000 miles of railways, and private construction of railways is resumed. The state takes over the Nizam's Railway.

ï‚·  1884..A Select Committee in the House of Commons recommends continuing the policy of using MG for local and secondary lines only, and suggests that feeder lines to BG should also be BG.

ï‚·  1886 A Select Committee in the House of Commons recommends against laying any new MG lines outside areas where MG was dominant. Railways Act passed by the government defining the framework for railway construction and operation. 1890

ï‚·  Strategic considerations from the War Department force all new narrow-gauge lines to be laid to 2'6" gauge instead of 2' gauge from 1897 onwards. 2'6" was the narrow-gauge standard for all the imperial colonies. 1899

ï‚·  .

ï‚·  1901 .Sir Thomas Robertson Committee submits recommendations on administration and working of the railways.An early version of the railway board is constituted, with three members serving on it at first.

ï‚·  Railway mileage now at about 24,750 miles in India, of which 14,000 miles are BG, and most of the rest MG (with only a few hundred miles of 2' and 2'6" gauge lines).

ï‚·  The railways also start returning some modest profits; for the last 40 years they had been making large losses.

ï‚·  
Sir Thomas Robertson who was appointed by His Majesty as Special Commissioner to report on future management of railways submitted his report in 1903. As a result of his efforts the Railway Board assumed office in 1905. Railway mileage now at about 24,750 miles in India, of which 14,000 miles are BG, and most of the rest MG (with only a few hundred miles of 2' and 2'6" gauge lines).  

ï‚· 

ï‚·  Regrouping was first conceived  in  1904, but materialised after World War. three territorial divisions were formed.

1. Western Division consisting of : Great Indian Peninsula , Bombay Boroda Central India(BBCI), North  Western, Jodhpur, Bikaner together with branch and feeder railways in their areas.

2. Eastern Division consisting of : EIR, Oudh & Rohilkund, Bengal & North Western, Rohilkund & Kumaon,  Assam   Bengal, Bengal Nagpur(BNR), East Bengal (EBR).
3. Southern Division consisting of : Madras Railway, Southern Marhatta, South Indian, Nizam together with ports and local railways. 

HICCUPS !

1914          World War I places heavy strain on the railways. Railway production is diverted to meet the needs of British forces outside India. At the end  of the war Indian railways are in a total state of dilapidation and disrepair. All services are downgraded or restricted.The entire railway system in India was in doldrums.

1920        Total trackage at 37,000 miles (about 15% privately-held). The East India Railway Committee (chaired by  Sir William Acworth, hence also known as the Acworth Committee) points out the need for unified Management of the entire railway system. On the recommendations of this committee, the government takes over the actual management of all railways, and also separates railway finances from the general   governmental finances (the latter step led to the practice, followed to this day, of presenting the Railway Budget separately from the General Budget every year).


1922         Retrenchment Committee under Lord Inchcape recommends drastic cuts in working expenses and other measures designed to produce a fixed annual profit for the state.

 

         Railway finances separated from general finances in the general government budget
1939

         World War II. Railways under strain again. Locomotives, wagons, and track material are taken from India to the middle East; 28 branch lines were completely cannibalized for this. Railway workshops are used to manufacture shells and other military equipment. The entire railway system is in poor shape by the end of the war.


1942         Most of the remaining large railway companies are taken over by the state.


1951         Zonal grouping of IR begun. SR is created on April 14, CR and WR on Nov. 5.


         NR, ER, and NER zones created on April 14.
1952

1956        Passenger fares standardized at 30 pies, 16 pies, 9 pies and 5 pies per mile for 1st, 2nd, Inter, and 3rd  class, respectively. (Platform tickets are 2 annas each.)

Railways Act, 1989, updated the legal framework for railways in India after nearly a century, replacing the Railways Act of 1890.

Reorganisation of Railways system in India

Regrouping was first conceived  in  1904, but materialised after World War. three territorial divisions were formed.

1. Western Division consisting of : Great Indian Peninsula , Bombay Boroda Central India(BBCI), North  Western, Jodhpur, Bikaner together with branch and feeder railways in their areas.

2. Eastern Division consisting of : EIR, Oudh & Rohilkund, Bengal & North Western, Rohilkund & Kumaon,  Assam   Bengal, Bengal Nagpur(BNR), East Bengal (EBR).
3. Southern Division consisting of : Madras Railway, Southern Marhatta, South Indian, Nizam together with ports and local railways

After independance

 In 1947 ,there were 42 Railways including 32 owned by princely state & private company

date	railway		Present divisions
14.04.1951	Southern Railway	1.   Madras Railway 2.  South Marhatta Railway3.   South Indian Railway 4.   MysoreRailway 5.sangli state rly	Madras  Palghat Trivendrum ,Trichacharapalli   Madurai Salem (2007)
05-11-1951	Central Railway	1.   GIPR 2.   Nizam 3.  Scindia 4.   Dholpur Rly	MUMBAI , BHUSAWAL NAGPUR PUNE SOLAPUR ,
05-11-1951	Western Railway	1.   BB&CI (Bombay Baroda& Central Indian) 2.  Sourashtra 3.  Rajasthan 4.   Jaipur5.Cutch state Railway	Mumbai ,Baroda,Ratlam,Ahmadabad, Rajkot,Bhavnagar
14.04.1952	Northern Railway	1.   Eastern Punjab 2.  jodhpurr .  Bikaner 4.   3 Upper divisions of E.I.R.llahabad,Moradabad &Lucknow)	Delhi,Lucknow,Moradabad,Ambala,Ferozpur
14-04-1952	North Eastern Railway	1.   Oudh 2.   Tirhut 3.  Assam 4.coochbihar state.5.part of BBCI	Lucknow,Banaras,Izzatnager
14-04-1952	Eastern Railway	1.   Bengal Nagpur 2.  Remaining Divisions of E.I.R 3.east bengal	Howrah,Asansol,Malda,Sealdah
1956	South eastern	carved out from eastern (BNR)	Kharagpur ,Ranchi,Adra,Chakradharpur
1958	North east frontier	Carved out from north eastern(ASSAM RAILWAY)	Rangia Tinsukia Alipurdwar Katihar  Lumding
2nd oct1966	South central	Carved out from southern(BZA,HUBLI & central(SC,SUR)	Hydrabad.Secundrabad,Naded,Vijaywada,Guntur,Guntkal
1.10.2002	East central	Carved out from eastern(DHN,DNR,MGS & north eastern(SON ,SPJ)	SONPUR SAMSTIPUR Mugalsarai DANAPUR DHANBAD
1.10.2002	North western	Carved out from northern(BIK ,JU & western (JP,AIJ)	JAIPUR AJMER BIKANER JODHPUR
1.1.2003	West central	CENTRAL(JBP,BPL & WESTERN(KOTA)	Jabalpur KOTA BHOPAL
1.1.2003	South western	Carved out from southern(SBC.MYS) & south central (HUBLI)	HUBLI MYSORE BANALORE
1.1.2003	East coast	Carved out from south eastern(KUR,SBP,VSKP)	Khurda road ,sambalpur vishakhapatnam
1.1.2003	South east central	Carved out from south eastern(BSP,NGP)	BILASPUR RAIPUR NAGPUR
1.1.2003	North central	Carved out from northern (ALLD)& central (JHS)	ALLAHABAD JHANSI AGRA

ï‚·  in 1966 , Secundrabad ,solapur divn of central railway & BZA ,Hubli divn of SR was grouped in a new zone South central Railway

ï‚·  2003 was  year of major reorganization when 7 railways( NC ,EC,WC,NW,SW,ECO ,SECR  & 8 more division( AGRA,RANCHI,RAIPUR,GUNTUR,NADED RANGIYA AHMADABAD & PUNE) were created on Indian Railways .Salem division is added in  2007