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Refer to FIBIS Fact File #4: “Research sources for Indian Railways, 1845-1947” - available from the [http://www.fibis.org/store/fibis-books-and-publications/bff-0004-research-sources-for-indian-railways-1845-1947/ Fibis shop]. This Fact File contains invaluable advice on 'Researching ancestors in the UK records of Indian Railways' with particular reference to the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) held at the [[British Library]]
'Stations Infobox' info added
{{System_Railways_Infobox
|image=Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Logo b.jpg |caption= Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Logo
|timeline1date=
|timeline1details=
|company2=
|company2details= [[Powayan Light Railway]]
|company3=from 1891
|company3details= [[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway]]
|company4=before 1891|company4details= [[Lucknow-Sitapur-Sihramau Railway]] |company5=before 1891 |company5details= [[Bareilly-Pilibheet Provincial State Railway]]
|company6=
|company6details=
|company12details=
|headquarters= [[Izatnagar]]
|workshop= [[Bareilly]]|stations= [[Bareilly]], '''[[Lucknow]]''', [[Mailani]], [[Pilibhit]], [[Shahjahanpur]]''See also separate page'' [[Lucknow_Railways_and_Stations#Lucknow_Stations| ''' Lucknow Junction Station''']] ''for details''
|system1date= 1943
|system1details= [[Oudh and Tirhut Railway]]
|system3date=
|system3details=
}}'''Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway''' (R&KR) was a metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railway whose northern terminus at [[Kathgodam]] served the submontane belt of the [[United Provinces]] between [[Lucknow]] and [[Moradabad]], as well as a number of hill stations, such as [[Naini Tal]]. [[File:Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway 1909 Map v2.png|thumb| Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway 1909]][[File:Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway 1931 Map.png|thumb| Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway 1931]][[File:R&K Railway System 1937 Map.png|thumb| R&KR System 1937]] The ‘Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Company’ started construction and working of a railway line from Bhojeepura (near [[Bareilly]]) to [[Kathgodam]] under a contract dated 12 Oct 1882. This was the original main line and opened on 12 Oct 1884 and ran 54 miles(84km) in a north-westerly direction to [[Kathgodam]]. The R&KR also had working agreements with both the [[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]] ‘[[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway]]’ and the [[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]] ‘[[Powayan Light Railway]]’. The three railways were worked using shared facilities, classified as the ‘Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway System’ but retaining separate identities. ''See ‘Lines Worked’ and ‘Records' below'' In 1906 the R&KR extended the line from [[Bareilly]] to Soron where it joined existing MG line to Kasganj.The ‘Kasganj-Soron Section’ had been constructed by the State Government in 1885 as part of the ‘[[Rajputana-Malwa Railway]]’(RMR) ‘Cawnpore-Achnera Line ‘and in 1906 was passed to the R&KR. The extensions from Moradabad to Kashipur, Kashipur to Ramnagar and Lalkuan to Kashipur were completed by 1908<ref name=Hist>[http://www.ner.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1531745993019-From%20the%20pages%20of%20history.pdf ‘Government of India’ - “NorthEastern Railway – From the pages of History” ]; Retrieved 1 Jun 2019</ref>. The railway was progressively extended and by 1912 the R&KR covered 256 miles(412km); and the R&KR also worked the ‘[[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway]] ‘296 miles(476km) and together with the ‘[[Powayan Light Railway]]’; giving a total network of 592 miles(953km) <ref name=Lalvani>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=q4SlCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA218#v=onepage&q&f=false Google Books “The Making of India: The Untold Story of British Enterprise” by Kartar Lalvani, page 218]; Retrieved 8 Dec 2016</ref>.
The '''Rohilkund lines from Pilibhit to Carewganj and Kumaon Railway''' (R&KR) was a metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railway whose northern terminus at [[Kathgodam]] served the submontane belt of the [[United Provinces]] between [[Lucknow]] and [[Moradabad]], as well as a number of hill stations, such as [[Naini Tal]]. Shabaznager were completed by 1916 <ref name=Hist/>
The main line from [[Bhojeepura]] to [[Kathgodam]] opened in 1884 and developed until 1916 with a number of network extensions1918 “Administration Report” <ref name=Admin1918/>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n204/mode/2up gives a total of 610 miles(982km) "Administration Report on for the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government ‘Rohilkund and Kumaon System’ Printing, comprising Calcuttathe actual ‘R&KR’ 259 miles(417km); page 196]; Retrieved 18 Jul 2016</ref>*the ‘[[Kasganj]] extension Lucknow- completed in 1885 reaching [[BareillyState Railway ]], 1906; 63 ’ 312 miles(100km502km)*[[Ramnager]] extension from [[Moradabad]], 1908; 48 miles(76km) *[[Kashipur]] extension from and the ‘[[LalkuaPowayan Light Railway]], 1907; 36 miles’ (57km) *[[Shahjahanpur]] extension from [[Pilibhit]], 1911-16; 56 39 miles(89km63km)
The R&KR also worked1937 “History of Indian Railways” <ref name=Hist183>[https://ia801605.us.archive.org/30/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.36650/2015.36650.India-Railway-Board-History-Of-Indian-Railways-Constructed-And-In-*[[LucknowProgress.pdf US Archive .org pdf download of ‘History Of Indian Railways, constructed and in progress’, 31 March 1937 by ‘The Government of India -Bareilly State RailwayDepartment’ page 183 pdf 224]] , from 1891, ; Retrieved 24 Sept 2020</ref> gives a metre gaugetotal of 571 miles([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]919km) line of 198 for the ‘Rohilkund and Kumaon System’ comprising the actual ‘R&KR’ unchanged at 259 miles (317km417km) in 1891; extended to the ‘[[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway ]]’ unchanged at 312.46 miles(500km502km) length by 1914 <ref name=Admin1918/>.*The ‘[[Powayan Light Railway]], from the 17 Dec 1900, a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])line of 38.86 miles(62km) length <ref name=Admin1918/>.’ having closed in WW1
== Company History ==The R&KR Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Company, Limited, was a Joint Stock Company with limited liability, having its registered office in London<ref name=IOR>British Library ‘India Office Records’ L/F/8/13/977 “Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway- Contract for advance of capital and as to debentures supplemental to the Contact dated 8 Sep 1890” , 1892</ref> . The company was privately owned and worked from formation in 1882.
In 1883 [[Alexander Izat]] was appointed Director, prior to this he was employed by the [[Railway Branch - Public Works Department (PWD)]] where he had served in various parts of India and was instrumental in initiating and carrying out many metre-gauge extensions<ref name=biog>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Alexander_Izat Grace's Guide "Alexander Izat"]; Retrieved on 18 Jul 2016</ref>. He represented R&KR at the [[Indian Railway Conference Association]] and remained as Director, until his retirement in 1904. In 1918 he is recorded as being R&KR Chairman with headquarters in London <ref name=Admin1918/>
The R&KR remained a private Company until nationalisation in 1943 when it was amalgamated with the [[Bengal and North-Western Railway]](B&NWR), with which it had been closely associated, and the [[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway]], to form the [[Oudh and Tirhut Railway]](O&TR).
In turn, in 1952, the [[Oudh and Tirhut Railway]] became part of 'North Eastern Railway', a zone of [[Indian Railways]]. ==Lines owned and operated by R&KR==Information mainly based on the “Administration Report for Railways 1918” <ref name=Admin1918>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n204/mode/1up "Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 196]; Retrieved 8 Dec 2016</ref>.*[[Bhojeepura-Kathgodam R&KR Mainline]] from Bhojeepura (near [[Bareilly]] to [[Kathgodam]] , 1884; 54 miles(84km)**‘Kasganj Extension Line’ from [[Bareilly]] to Soron, 1885; to [[Kasganj]], 1906; 63 miles(100km). **‘Ramnagar Extension Line’ from [[Moradabad]] via the ‘[[Ramganga Bridge]]' to [[Ramnagar]], 1907-8; 48 miles(76km)**‘Kashipur Extension Line’ from [[Lalkua]] to [[Kashipur]], 1907; 36 miles(57km). This line surveyed as [[Kichha-Kashipur Extension Survey| ‘Kichha-Kashipur Extension Survey’ 'North Eastern '- see separate page'']] **‘Shahjahanpur Extension Line’ from [[Pilibhit]] 1911; reaching [[Shahjahanpur]] 1916; 56 miles(89km) ==Lines worked by R&KR==*[[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway]](LBSR), was formed in 1891 from the merger of the [[Lucknow-Sitapur-Sihramau Railway]] and [[Bareilly-Pilibheet Provincial State Railway]] <ref name=IOR/>. The metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railway formed an alternative northern "loop" between the cities of [[Lucknow]] and [[Bareilly]] to the broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) main line of the [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]]. The MG of 198 miles (317km) in 1891; extended to 312 miles(500km) by 1918 <ref name=Admin1918/> and the same in 1937<ref name=Hist190>[https://ia801605.us.archive.org/30/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.36650/2015.36650.India-Railway-Board-History-Of-Indian-Railways-Constructed-And-In-Progress.pdf US Archive .org pdf download of ‘History Of Indian Railways, constructed and in progress’, 31 March 1937 by ‘The Government of India - Railway Department’ page 190 pdf 231]; Retrieved 24 Sept 2020</ref>. *[[Powayan Light Railway]], from the 17 Dec 1900 worked by R&KR, a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) line of 39 miles(62km) length <ref name=Admin1918/> and dismantled in WW1 <ref name=Hist183/> [[Powayan Light Railway| ''see separate page for information'']] ==Lines Surveyed/Proposed by R&KR==* [[Kichha-Kashipur Extension Survey| ‘Kichha-Kashipur Extension Survey’ ''- see separate page'']] surveyed 1894-98 which became the ‘R&KR Kasganj Extension Line’ listed above* ‘Kathgodam-Nainital Branch’, proposed by private enterprise in 1895 for the development of Kuaon and Nainitial districts. It was to be a 2ft/610mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) line, 13 miles(21km) line at estimated cost RS.12 lakhs. The concession lapsed in 1898 <ref name=History1906>[https://archive.org/stream/RailwayProjects/Railway%20projects#page/n80/mode/1up “Histories of (Indian)Railway Projects ...up to June 1906” page 42]; Retrieved 3 Oct 2017</ref>.* ‘Philibhit-Sitapur Railway’, sanctioned for survey 1905-6; MG line from [[Pilibhit]] - Bisalpur to [[Shahjahanpur]] and thence to [[Sitapur]], a zone length of about 105 miles(168km) <ref name=History1906/>. ** 'Philibhit - Shahjahanpur Section’ was constructed by R&KR as ’Shahjahanpur Extension Line’, opened 1911-16 - ''see above''; ** ‘Shahjahanpur - Sitapur Section’ was constructed the East Indian RailwaysRailway]](EIR] as a broad gauge(BG) line from Rosa (just south of Shahjahanpur ) to Sitapur Cantonment and opened in 1910-14 and became the [[East_Indian_Railway_-_Lines_owned_and_worked#Northern_Main_Line|EIR ‘‘Rosa-Sitapur Branch’]]* ‘Dudhwa Branch Extension’ and ‘Ramnager Ghat Extension’, first proposed in 1895 by the Agents, the R&KR, on behalf of the [[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway]](LBSR) - ''[[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway|see for information]]'' <ref name=History1906/>.* ‘Pilibhit-Barmedo Branch’, surveyed in 1903 by the Agents, the R&KR, on behalf of the [[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway]](LBSR) - ''[[Lucknow-Bareilly State Railway|see for information]]'' <ref name=History1906/>
==Records==
An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway <ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 27 Jan 2016</ref>
gives many references. The most important being:-
*'''L/AG/46/35''' “ Records of the India Office relating to the Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Company; 1882-1931"
*'''L/F/7/2382-2391''' “Collection 380: Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway, date unspecified"
==Personnel Records==
There are no personnel or staff records held in the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) held at the [[British Library]]
There is a photograph dated 1911 in the British Library ‘Satow Collection’:
"Miscellaneous Portrait Groups of Railway Officials" Photo 1082/13(4) with the following Catalogue Note <ref>[https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselect/PhotoEnqFull.asp?PrintID=123273 India Office Records “Officers of R. & K. Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway, Feb. 1911". Photo 1082/13(4))]; Retrieved on 21 Jul 2016</ref>:-
Officers of Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway, Feb. 1911.
Group portrait of railway officials, with identifications written on mount as follows:
*front row, seated on ground: Kellie, Edwards, Welsh;
*second row, seated: Bruce, Izat, Finlayson, Robb, Ralston;
*third row, standing: Steyn, Bannister, Storrar, O'Brien, Irons, Young, Smith;
*back row, standing: Sandes, Donaldson, Will, Clark, Addis
''The R&KR officers detailed above have not been identified at the present time.''
== References ==
