Difference between revisions of "Indian Branch Railway"
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| − | The '''Indian Branch Railway Company ''' (IBR) was formed | + | The '''Indian Branch Railway Company ''' (IBR) was formed in 1862 <ref>[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Indian_Branch_Railway Grace’s Guide ‘Indian Branch Railway’ ]; Retrieved 23 Jun 2018</ref> to construct short branches and feeder lines in northern India, with a 20-year subsidy from the Government of India([[Government of India |GoI]]) but no guarantee <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Branch_Railway_Company Wikipedia “Indian Branch Railway Company”]; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017</ref>. |
These terms failed to attract capital, and only one line had been constructed, the [[ Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]], which opened in 1863. Therefore in 1867 a contract was entered into with the '''Indian Branch Railway Company''', which soon after changed its name to the '''Awadh and Rohilkhand Railway Company''', guaranteeing interest at 5 per cent per annum on conditions similar to those laid down for the period 1854-60 <ref>[https://books.google.fr/books?id=LxKUSZkEyoIC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=Awadh-Rohilkhand+Railway&source=bl&ots=l2oJc_x4cs&sig=MDMBAbFDHQIOdhypeJ8llQZAzSo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQ6fyOnr_SAhWqDMAKHViUCdQQ6AEIQDAI#v=onepage&q=Awadh-Rohilkhand%20Railway&f=false Google Books "Readings in Indian Railway Finance" page 30 edited by K. B. Verma]; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017</ref>. | These terms failed to attract capital, and only one line had been constructed, the [[ Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]], which opened in 1863. Therefore in 1867 a contract was entered into with the '''Indian Branch Railway Company''', which soon after changed its name to the '''Awadh and Rohilkhand Railway Company''', guaranteeing interest at 5 per cent per annum on conditions similar to those laid down for the period 1854-60 <ref>[https://books.google.fr/books?id=LxKUSZkEyoIC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=Awadh-Rohilkhand+Railway&source=bl&ots=l2oJc_x4cs&sig=MDMBAbFDHQIOdhypeJ8llQZAzSo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQ6fyOnr_SAhWqDMAKHViUCdQQ6AEIQDAI#v=onepage&q=Awadh-Rohilkhand%20Railway&f=false Google Books "Readings in Indian Railway Finance" page 30 edited by K. B. Verma]; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017</ref>. | ||
| − | Around 1872 the | + | Around 1872 the ‘Indian Branch Railway’/‘Awadh and Rohilkhand Railway’ was absorbed into the '''[[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]]'''(O&RR). |
| − | == | + | ==Nalhati-Azimganj Railway== |
| − | + | The ‘[[Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]]’, opened in 1863 as a 4ft(1222mm) [[Rail_gauge_#4 foot Gauge|unique rail gauge]], constructed and worked by the ‘Indian Branch Railway Company’. The line was taken over by the Government in 1872, and by named as the [[Nalhati State Railway]]; converted to Broad Gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) in 1892 and becoming the ‘Azimganj Branch Line’ of the [[First Chord EIR Line]] ; 27 miles(43km) <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n61/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 53-56 (pdf 62-65]; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017</ref> - [[Nalhati State Railway|''See separate page for further information'']] | |
| − | + | ==Cawnpore-Lucknow-Fyzabad Railway== | |
| + | The line from [[Cawnpore]] via [[Lucknow]] to [[Fyzabad]] was surveyed in 1862 by the IBR and an engineer examined the proposed route <ref name=Mukher>[https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Pictorial_Lucknow.html?id=7RCe2E5ch80C&redir_esc=y Google Books “The Pictorial Lucknow” by P. C. Mukherji, pages 81-82. First published Lucknow 1883, reprinted by AES New Delhi 2003]; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016</ref>. Construction of the line progressed very slowly; and the 42 miles (67km) long, was opened on 23 Apr 1867. This became the ‘Cawnpore Branch’ of the [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR). The gauge of the original line is not known but was to Broad Gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) specification and became part of the O&RR network <ref name=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n139/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 132, pdf page 139]; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016</ref>. | ||
| − | In 1866, | + | ==Later History== |
| − | + | In 1866, without a guaranteed return from the Government of India([[Government of India |GoI]]), the IBR found it impossible to continue and in 1867, secured a new contract from the [[Government of India |GoI]] on terms similar to those on offer in the 1850s i.e. a guaranteed return on capital employed. | |
| − | |||
| + | The contract between the Secretary of State and the ‘Indian Branch Railway Company’ in August 1867 specified ‘for the construction and working of a light system of 36lbs rails at slow speed - 15 miles per hour, in North West Provinces and Oudh. The original lines proposed were from Lucknow to Byramghat, via Dilserai, and from Dilserai via Shahgunj and Jounpore to Benares, with a branch from Shahgunj to Fyzabad’ <ref>British Library ‘India Office Records’ L/F/8/11/875 ‘Contract between India Branch Railway Company and Secretary of State, 1867’</ref> . | ||
''The spelling of the place names in the above make interpretation of the proposed route difficult, many of the places cannot be identified but must be the following:-'' | ''The spelling of the place names in the above make interpretation of the proposed route difficult, many of the places cannot be identified but must be the following:-'' | ||
| − | The Benares-Shahganj-Bilwal-Malipur-Akbarpur-Fyzabad-Bara Banki- Lucknow, a length of 199 miles(319km), was opened from 1872 and completed 1874 and became the ‘Benares-Lucknow Loop’ of the [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR) <ref name=Admin/>. ''This clearly was originally under construction by IBR when absorbed into O&RR.'' It is | + | The Benares-Shahganj-Bilwal-Malipur-Akbarpur-Fyzabad-Bara Banki- Lucknow, a length of 199 miles(319km), was opened from 1872 and completed 1874 and became the ‘Benares-Lucknow Loop’ of the [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR) <ref name=Admin/>. ''This clearly was originally under construction by IBR when absorbed into O&RR.'' It is possible that this line was first constructed as a Metre Gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]])) but certainly later was operated by O&RR as part of its Broad Gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) network. |
Around 1872 the IBR was absorbed into the '''[[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]]'''(O&RR). The O&RR being merged into the [[East Indian Railway]] (EIR) in 1925. | Around 1872 the IBR was absorbed into the '''[[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]]'''(O&RR). The O&RR being merged into the [[East Indian Railway]] (EIR) in 1925. | ||
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<ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 23 Jan 2016</ref> | <ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 23 Jan 2016</ref> | ||
gives the following: - | gives the following: - | ||
| − | *'''L/F/8/11/875''' | + | *'''L/F/8/11/875''' “Indian Branch Railway Company Limited, Duplicate contract ; 1867” |
*'''L/PWD/2/168-170''' “Home and Overseas Correspondence of the Indian Branch Railway Company; 1862-1867”''(not catalogued)'' | *'''L/PWD/2/168-170''' “Home and Overseas Correspondence of the Indian Branch Railway Company; 1862-1867”''(not catalogued)'' | ||
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Unfortunately, there are no IBR staff records held in the [[India Office Records]] at the [[British Library]]. | Unfortunately, there are no IBR staff records held in the [[India Office Records]] at the [[British Library]]. | ||
| − | + | *Directors. The London based Directors for the ‘Indian Branch Railway Company’ are indexed in Grace's Guide from the 1867 Thacker’s Directory <ref name=Grace>[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1867_Thackers:_Indian_Branch_Railway 'Graces Guide' - "Thacker’s Directory, 1867 – Indian Branch Railway Company"]; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017</ref>. | |
| − | The | + | *Agent and Engineer-in-Chief, Cawnpore - James E Wilson <ref name=Grace/> |
| − | |||
==Further Information== | ==Further Information== | ||
| − | See | + | See '''[[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]]''' from 1872 |
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
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Revision as of 07:02, 24 June 2018
The Indian Branch Railway Company (IBR) was formed in 1862 [1] to construct short branches and feeder lines in northern India, with a 20-year subsidy from the Government of India(GoI) but no guarantee [2].
These terms failed to attract capital, and only one line had been constructed, the Nalhati-Azimganj Railway, which opened in 1863. Therefore in 1867 a contract was entered into with the Indian Branch Railway Company, which soon after changed its name to the Awadh and Rohilkhand Railway Company, guaranteeing interest at 5 per cent per annum on conditions similar to those laid down for the period 1854-60 [3].
Around 1872 the ‘Indian Branch Railway’/‘Awadh and Rohilkhand Railway’ was absorbed into the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway(O&RR).
Contents
Nalhati-Azimganj Railway
The ‘Nalhati-Azimganj Railway’, opened in 1863 as a 4ft(1222mm) unique rail gauge, constructed and worked by the ‘Indian Branch Railway Company’. The line was taken over by the Government in 1872, and by named as the Nalhati State Railway; converted to Broad Gauge(BG) in 1892 and becoming the ‘Azimganj Branch Line’ of the First Chord EIR Line ; 27 miles(43km) [4] - See separate page for further information
Cawnpore-Lucknow-Fyzabad Railway
The line from Cawnpore via Lucknow to Fyzabad was surveyed in 1862 by the IBR and an engineer examined the proposed route [5]. Construction of the line progressed very slowly; and the 42 miles (67km) long, was opened on 23 Apr 1867. This became the ‘Cawnpore Branch’ of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway(O&RR). The gauge of the original line is not known but was to Broad Gauge(BG) specification and became part of the O&RR network [6].
Later History
In 1866, without a guaranteed return from the Government of India(GoI), the IBR found it impossible to continue and in 1867, secured a new contract from the GoI on terms similar to those on offer in the 1850s i.e. a guaranteed return on capital employed.
The contract between the Secretary of State and the ‘Indian Branch Railway Company’ in August 1867 specified ‘for the construction and working of a light system of 36lbs rails at slow speed - 15 miles per hour, in North West Provinces and Oudh. The original lines proposed were from Lucknow to Byramghat, via Dilserai, and from Dilserai via Shahgunj and Jounpore to Benares, with a branch from Shahgunj to Fyzabad’ [7] .
The spelling of the place names in the above make interpretation of the proposed route difficult, many of the places cannot be identified but must be the following:-
The Benares-Shahganj-Bilwal-Malipur-Akbarpur-Fyzabad-Bara Banki- Lucknow, a length of 199 miles(319km), was opened from 1872 and completed 1874 and became the ‘Benares-Lucknow Loop’ of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway(O&RR) [6]. This clearly was originally under construction by IBR when absorbed into O&RR. It is possible that this line was first constructed as a Metre Gauge(MG)) but certainly later was operated by O&RR as part of its Broad Gauge(BG) network.
Around 1872 the IBR was absorbed into the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway(O&RR). The O&RR being merged into the East Indian Railway (EIR) in 1925.
Records
An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway [8] gives the following: -
- L/F/8/11/875 “Indian Branch Railway Company Limited, Duplicate contract ; 1867”
- L/PWD/2/168-170 “Home and Overseas Correspondence of the Indian Branch Railway Company; 1862-1867”(not catalogued)
Personnel
Unfortunately, there are no IBR staff records held in the India Office Records at the British Library.
- Directors. The London based Directors for the ‘Indian Branch Railway Company’ are indexed in Grace's Guide from the 1867 Thacker’s Directory [9].
- Agent and Engineer-in-Chief, Cawnpore - James E Wilson [9]
Further Information
See Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway from 1872
References
- ↑ Grace’s Guide ‘Indian Branch Railway’ ; Retrieved 23 Jun 2018
- ↑ Wikipedia “Indian Branch Railway Company”; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017
- ↑ Google Books "Readings in Indian Railway Finance" page 30 edited by K. B. Verma; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017
- ↑ “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 53-56 (pdf 62-65; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017
- ↑ Google Books “The Pictorial Lucknow” by P. C. Mukherji, pages 81-82. First published Lucknow 1883, reprinted by AES New Delhi 2003; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 132, pdf page 139; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016
- ↑ British Library ‘India Office Records’ L/F/8/11/875 ‘Contract between India Branch Railway Company and Secretary of State, 1867’
- ↑ “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 23 Jan 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 'Graces Guide' - "Thacker’s Directory, 1867 – Indian Branch Railway Company"; Retrieved 5 Mar 2017
