View source for Jamrud-Dakka-Jalabad Portable Railway

'''Jamrud-Dakka-Jalabad Portable Railway'''

==Background==
A railway from India to Afghanistan via [[Khyber Pass]] had first been surveyed 1879; finally construction started in 1905 from a place called Kacha Garhi between [[Peshawar]] and [[Jamrud]]. The track made progress westwards and 32km of track was laid by 1907, this was uplifted in 1909. [[Khyber Railway|See 'Khyber Railway' ''(separate page for more information)'']]

==Jamrud-Dakka-Jalabad Portable Railway==
As a consequence of the [[3rd Afghan War]] in May 1919 an urgent [[Light Portable  Railway|'Light Portable  Railway' ''(see separate page  for more information)'']] was proposed from [[Jamrud]] in India through the [[Khyber Pass]] to Dakkar in Afghanistan with an extension to [[Jalalabad]] if required. 'A large amount of 'War Department Light Railway' 60cm (600mm) narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) rolling stock was despatched immediately with the rails to be obtained in India. Even though the [[3rd Afghan War]] ended in Aug 1919, it is thought that the line from Jamrud to Dakka was laid, but documents to definately corroburate this have not been found <ref name =IA07>“Industrial Railways and Locomotives of India and South Asia” compiled by Simon Darvill. Published by ‘The Industrial Railway Society’ 2013. ISBN 978 1 901556 82-7. Available at  http://irsshop.co.uk/India. Reference:  Entry IA07  page ....</ref>.

A report in Oct 1919 refered to an experimental use of two converted Ford Lorries on the "Dakka to Jalalabad Tramway" and in Feb 1920 that "some of the equipment used on Dakka to Jalalabad Tramway was still in store by the NWR at Sukkur <

''No further information has been found.''

==Later Developments==
[[Khyber Railway|See 'Khyber Railway' ''(separate page for more information)'']]. This railway from [[Jamrud]] to the summit of the pass at [[Landi Kotal]] was opened in Nov 1925 using the broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) as an extension to the [[North Western Railway]](NWR) network

==Place Names and Locations==
The "Imperial Gazetteer of India"  describes the road route as it existed in 1908:- 
<blockquote>''The Khyber Pass is the great northern route from Afghanistan into India ... the pass begins near Jamrud, 10½ miles(17km) west of Peshawar, and twists through the hills for about 33 miles(53km) in a north-westerly direction till it debouches at Dakka. The most important points en route are Ali Masjid, a village and fort 10¼ miles(16.4km) from [[Jamrud]], [[Landi Kotal]], the summit of the pass, 10 miles(16km) farther; and Tor Kham, at which point the pass enters Afghan territory, about 6 miles(10km) beyond Landi Kotal'' <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_305.gif 'Imperial Gazetteer of India', v. 15, p. 299.]; Retrieved 5Dec 2017</ref></blockquote>
By interpretation of the above, which now forms the National Highway N5, Jamrud to Torkham ''(was Tor Kham)'' Border Crossing is 38.5km; Torkham Border Crossing toJalalabad is 74km. Dakka ''(not shown on map)'' would be about 20km on this route from Torkham.

== References ==
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[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Industrial Railways]]
[[Category:Tramways]]
[[Category:Narrow Gauge (NG) Railways]]
[[Category:Portable Railways]]