View source for Eastern Bengal Railway - Lines owned and worked

'''Eastern Bengal Railway - Lines owned and worked'''

<blockquote>- a sub-section of the '''[[Eastern Bengal Railway]]'''(EBR) page</blockquote>
<blockquote>- see also separate page '''[[Eastern Bengal Railway - Lines owned and worked|East Bengal Railway Bridges - Lines owned and worked]]'''</blockquote>

[[File:East Bengal Railway System 1937 Map.png|thumb| EBR Railway System  1937 Map]]
==EBR Railway Network==
The [[Eastern Bengal Railway]](EIR) owned and operated an extensive network of railways of broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]), metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) and 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])

The EBR also managed, worked and maintained a number of lines on behalf of other parties.

The development of the EBR can be considered as three systems:- 

[[File:East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge Division 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge Division 1909]]
==EBR Broad Gauge System==
The following is generally based on pages 42-43 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref  name=Admin191842>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n51mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 42-43 (pdf 51-52) ]; Retrieved  1 Sep 2020</ref> 

The broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) from the [[Calcutta]] terminus station at [[Sealdah]] via [[Dum Dum]] and [[Ranaghat]] to [[Poradaha]] opened in 1862 and extended in 1864 to [[Kushtia]]. The company had also acquired a steam vessel service operating between [[Kushtia]] and [[Dacca]] on the Ganges River (known in this region as the Padma River) <ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228649/8330.pdf  H.M. Government “Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report : Draft Statute Law (Repeals) Bill; April 2012"; pages 127-8, paragraphs 3.51 - 3.55] Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>.  In 1871 the line was extended from [[Poradaha]] to a new ferry terminal  at [[Goalundo]] , about 45 miles east of [[Kushtia]] and reducing the river trip to [[Dacca]]. These railways became the start of the ‘EBR Eastern Division’.

In 1868 the [[Government of India]] took ownership of the BG [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]] and awarded the EBR the contract for working the line from [[Calcutta]] to [[Port Canning]]. This became, this became start of the the ‘EBR Southern Section’.

‘EBR Eastern Section’ - by 1874 the BG branch from [[Poradaha]] to [[Damukdia]] on the right bank of Padma River, opposite [[Sara Ghat]] had opened. Passengers crossed the river Padma by railway operated steamer ferry using the [[Sara Train Ferry]]. In 1874 this linked to the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) [[Northern Bengal State Railway]] (NBSR) running northwards reaching [[Siliguri]]. By 1879 the  journey north from [[Calcutta]] to [[Shiliguri]] became possible without a break. At [[Siliguri]] , in the foothills of the Himilayas, there was a connection with  the [[Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway]] (which opened 1879-81)
<ref name=name>[http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Railway “National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh – Railways”];  Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>

‘EBR Central Section’ - the EBR operated the [[Bengal Central Railway]] from the outset  with two BG  lines
[[Ranaghat]] to [[Bangaon]], opened in Oct 1882; and [[Dum Dum]]  which reached [[Khulna]] (Khoolna) in 1884, via [[Bangaon]] (Bongong) and [[Jessore]].

‘EBR Southern Section’- in 1883 was extended to reach [[Diamond Harbour]]. 

‘EBR Eastern Section’ - in 1890 was extended further eastward to [[Faridpur]] and from 1905 northwards to reach [[Murshidabad]] and on to Lalgola Ghat in 1907. Two proposals for further extensions are given in the ‘Imperial Gazetteer’ :- the 1909 map shows a dotted line to extend the line northwards from [[Lagola]] to connect to the EBR metre gauge(MG) network at [[ Katiawar]] 
<ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gaz_atlas_1909/fullscreen.html?object=30  ‘Gazetteer of India’   v. 26, Atlas 1909 edition, Railway Map--Sectional (2), p. 24. ];  Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>
and the ‘Imperial Gazetteer’ states <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_056.gif  ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 18, p. 50. ];  Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref> “There is also a proposal to bridge the Bhagirathi River between Jiaganj and Murshidabad, and to connect the new line with the [[East Indian Railway]] system”.
<br>Neither of these proposals were adopted. 

Further minor branches had been constructed thereafter, giving by 1918 <ref  name=Admin191842/> a total BG network  of 569 miles(915km) :- 
* ‘EBR Eastern Section’  371 miles(597km)  
* ‘EBR Southern Section’  70 miles(113km) 
* ‘EBR Central Section’ 128 miles(206km)

By 1937 the BG line length increased to 846 miles(1361km)
<ref name=Hist193770>[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 70 pdf  95]; Retrieved  1 Sept 2020</ref>:-
* ‘EBR Eastern Section’ 629 miles(1012km). The original ‘BG Main Line’ from Calcutta ran as far as Santahar  where it interchanged to the  ’Santahar-Silguri Extension’, a 145 mile(233km)  metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) that had opened in 1877-78. This was converted to BG in stages from 1914 to 1926 to thus extending the ‘BG Main Line’ 
* ‘EBR Southern Section’ 92 miles(148km), with the added 23 miles(37km) ‘Lalshmikantapur Branch’, opened 1928
* ‘EBR Central Section’ 126 miles(203km) with only minor corrections from the 1918 Reportr

===Lines worked by EBR and included in the ‘EBR BG System===
In addition the BG [[Sara-Sirajgonj Railway]] 53 mile(85km) branch from the EBR mainline had been  constructed  and then worked by EBR as a part of the ‘EBR Eastern Section’ 

[[File:East Bengal Railway - Metre Gauge System 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Metre Gauge Division 1909]]

==EBR Metre Gauge System==
The following is generally based on pages 47-48 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref  name=Admin191847>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n55mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 47-48 (pdf 55-56) ]; Retrieved  1 Sep 2020</ref> 

The  EBR metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) system originated by absorption of other railways

''See separate pages for more information and references''

[[Northern Bengal State Railway]] (NBSR)  in 1877-78 opened the MG  [[Santahar]] via  [[Parvatipur]](Parbatipur on map) to [[Jalpaguri]] line extending it northwards to [[Siliguri]] in 1878 and southwards to the [[Sara Train Ferry|Train Ferry]] at [[Sara Ghat]] in 1879. This completed the northern link. The NBSR had also by this date completed the line eastward from [[Parvatipur]] via [[Rangpur]](Rungpore on map) to [[Kaunia]](Kauniya on map).  At [[Kaunia]] the line linked to the narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) [[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]].  In 1887, to ensure better management the NBSR was transferred to the EBR, this became the start of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’.

[[Dacca State Railway]](DSR)  also in 1887, was transferred to the EBR although this MG  line was not connected to the EBR system. Later, in 1899, the EBR constructed the MG [[Mymensingh-Jamalpur-Jagannath Railway]], owned by the [[Indian General Navigation and Railway Company]]. The two lines were linked and worked jointly by EBR. 

[[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]] in 1899-1900 opened two MG lines which were worked by EBR. [[Santahar]] to [[Bonarpara]], 51 miles(81km) and the [[Phulchari Branch Railway]] from [[Bonarpara]] to [[Phulchari]], 8 miles(14km). In 1904 the EBR acquired these lines became the first part of the EBR ‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Section’ when the system was extended to [[Kaunia]] in 1905

[[Gauhati Branch Railway]] in 1906 the EBR opened from [[Golakganj]] eastward and reached [[Armingoan]] by 1909; where it linked to EBR’s [[Amingaon-Pandu Train Ferry]]; crossing the Brahmaputra River to the [[Pandu Ghat-Gauhati Railway]] connecting to [[Assam-Bengal Railway]](ABR) at [[Gauhati]]. This completed the ‘EBR Mainline MG’ of 328 miles(528km).

By 1918, with further construction of branches, the EBR network had a MG line length of 978 miles(1574km) 
<ref  name=Admin191847/>

By 1937 the MG line length had increased to 1039 miles(1672km) with the addition of several MG branch lines and the reduction of 145(miles(223km) converted from MG to extend the  ‘Eastern Section - ‘BG Main Line’ mentioned above.
<ref name=Hist193776>[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 76 pdf  103]; Retrieved  1 Sept 2020</ref>-

[[File:East Bengal Railway - Narrow Gauge System 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Narrow Gauge System 1909]]
==EBR Narrow Gauge System ==
The following is generally based on pages 49-52 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n58mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 49-52 (pdf58-60) ]; Retrieved  27 Dec 2017</ref>.

The  EBR 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]  system originated by absorption of other railways

''See separate pages for more information and references''

[[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]]  had  opened in 1882 as a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) line running east wards from [[Kaunia]], where it connected to the NBSR metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]). Taken over by EBR in 1887 and in 1901 the section from [[Kaunia]] to  [[Teesta]] was converted to MG  becoming part of the [[Eastern Bengal Railway#EBR Metre Gauge Division|'EBR Metre Gauge']] 

[[Cooch Behar State Railway]], 2ft 6in/762mm [[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]],  from its junction with the EBR at [[Gitaldaha]] reached [[Cooch Behar]] in 1898, owned by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Cooch Behar State]] and  worked by the EBR. The line was extended northward to the border with British Territory in 1900 and to [[Jainti]] in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in 1901. In 1910 the entire line from [[Gitaldaha]] to [[Jainti]] line was converted to MG becoming the 'Jainti Branch' of the [[Eastern Bengal Railway#EBR Metre Gauge Division|'EBR Metre Gauge']] 

[[Khulna-Bagerhat Railway]],   2ft 6in/762mm [[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]],  20 miles(32km) opened in 1918.  Owned by a private company but worked by EBR. The line ran from [[Khulna]]  [[Khulna]] was the end of the ‘EBR Central Section’  broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) mainline to [[Bagirhaut]],

== Alphabetical Listing of EBR lines and lines worked by EBR==
''See separate pages for more information and references''
*[[Bengal Central Railway]], BG line,  opened 1882-84 and worked by EBR. Private company without guarantee; merged into EBR , 1905 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Central System’. 
*[[Bengal Dooars Railway]](BDR), MG line,  opened 1893. Independent Company operation small MG network linking to the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ [[Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha  Railway|’Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha’ MG section]], merged into EBR , 1941
*[[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]], MG line,  opened 1899 by a branch company but worked by EBR. Amalgamated into the EBR, 1904 together with [[Phulchari Branch Railway]], to form the [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway|‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway’]]. 	
*[[Budge-Budge Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Southern Section’, opened 1890. 
*[[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]], BG line, opened 1862. Surrendered to [[Government of India |GoI]] , 1868 and worked by EBR; merged into EBR, 1884 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
*[[Canning Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Southern Section’, opened 1862-63.
*[[Chitpur Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’,  opened 1873. 
*[[Churni Extension Railway]], BG short extension  of  ‘EBR Eastern  Section’, opened 1902
*[[Cooch Behar State Railway]], NG line, opened 1894-98. [[Princely states|Princely State]] railway, joined to the  [[Jainti Branch Railway]], (British Section ), worked by EB, and finally bought by EBR  c.1899 and converted to MG, 1910.
*[[Dacca State Railway]], MG line, formerly [[Narayanganj-Dacca-Mymensingh State Railway]], opened 1885 ; merged into EBR , 1887; becoming  the EBR ‘Dacca Section Railway’. 
*[[Dacca Section Railway]], MG section of the of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, transferred to EBR 1887 from [[Dacca State Railway|”Dacca State Railway’]].
*[[Dalsingpara Branch Railway]], BG branch line of the [[Jainti Branch Railway|Jainti Branch]] of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’,   under construction in 1911, opened 1912 extended 1914.
*[[Dhubri Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Assam Section Metre Gauge’, opened 1902
*[[Diamond Harbour Line Railway]], BG link line opened 1862 by the  [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]];  and worked by EBR; merged into EBR, 1884 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
*[[Faridpur Branch Railway]], BG branch  of the [[Poradaha Branch Railway]]  of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’,   opened 1898-99. 
*[[Gauhati Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Assam Section Metre Gauge’, incorporating part of [[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]] , opened 1906, extended up to 1909.
*[[Goalundo Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’,  opened 1862; extended up to 1882.
*[[Godagari Ghat Branch Railway]], MG branch line from the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1909. 
*[[Jainti Branch Railway]], (British Section ), MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, converted to  MG 1910. Originally NG, opened 1900-1 as a feeder through ‘British  Territory’ to join with the  ‘[[Cooch Behar State Railway]]’ 
*[[Jagannathganj Ghat Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’  of the [[Dacca Section Railway]],  formerly the [[Dacca State Railway]],  opened c.1887?
*[[Jogbani Branch Railway]], MG branch line from the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887, extended 1909.
*[[Kankurgachi Chord Railway]], BG short connecting line of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’, opened 1907. 
*[[Katihar Section Railway]], MG section of  ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1883 and extended 1889.
*[[Kaunia-Bonarpara Extension Railway]], MG section of  ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ as an extension to [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]], opened 1905.
*[[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]], NG line,  opened 1882 , taken over by EBR 1887, divided into two sections - the [[Kaunia-Teesta Section  Railway|’Kaunia-Teesta Section’]] and the [[Teesta-Kurigram Railway|’Teesta-Kurigram Railway’]].
*[[ Kaunia-Teesta Section  Railway]], originally a NG line and part of the [[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway|’ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway’]], opened 1882, taken over by EBR 1887, the [[ Kaunia-Teesta Section  Railway|’ Kaunia-Teesta Section’]] converted to MG, 1901, to become part of the  the 'EBR Metre Gauge' mainline. *[[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]].
*[[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]], NG line,  opened 1882 ,  alternative name see [[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway|’Kaunia-Kurigram Railway’]].
*[[Khulna-Bagerhat Railway]], NG line,  opened 1918-19. Narrow gauge(NG) railway owned by private company. ; Constructed and worked by EBR, later converted to MG becming part of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ system.
*[[Khulna Branch Railway]], BG line, opened 1883-4 as  a branch of [[Bengal Central Railway]]; until merger in 1905 when becoming a  branch line of the  ‘EBR Eastern  Section’.
*[[Kishanganj Branch Railway]], MG branch line of the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1892. 
*[[Kosi Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887, extended to 1909
*[[Krishnager-Nabadwip Light Railway ]], NG line part of the [[Santipur-Nabadwip Light Railway ]]
*[[Kurigram Branch Railway]], NG line,  alternative name see ‘[[Teesta-Kurigram Railway]]’
*[[Kushtia Loop Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’, opened 1864; extended 1881  
*[[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway]],BG  branch line of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’opened 1905 as the [[Murshidabad Branch Railway]], extended 1907 to [[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway|’Lalgola Ghat’]]
*[[Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha  Railway]], MG section of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ mainline , opened 1901-02 providing link between [[Bengal Dooars Railway]] and [[Cooch Behar State Railway]].
*[[Manihari Branch Railway]], MG section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened  1887 as a branch to [[Katihar]],  later becoming the western end of the MG mainline. 
*[[Murshidabad Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’,  opened 1905, extended to [[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway|’Lalgola Ghat’]]. 
*[[Mymensingh-Jamalpur-Jagannath Railway]], MG privately owned by [[Indian General Navigation and Railway Company]], worked by EBR. Acquired by the State and passed in EBR in the 1920’s.
*[[Northern Bengal State Railway]], MG, opened 1877-79. Merged into EBR , 1887; becoming the start of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ – ‘ North Bengal Section’
*[[Patipukur Loop Railway]], BG chord  line for goods only, of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’,   opened  1904. 
*[[Poradaha Branch Railway]], MG, opened c.1880. Constructed by [[Northern Bengal State Railway]], but worked by EBR; apparently taken over by EBR c.1913
*[[ Phulchari Branch Railway]] MG line,  opened 1899 by a branch company but worked by EBR. Amalgamated into the EBR, 1904 together with [[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]],  to form the [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway|‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway’]]. 	
*[[Raiti Branch Railway]], BG branch  of the [[Poradaha Branch Railway]]  of ‘EBR Eastern  Section’,  opened 1916. 
*[[Ranagat-Bangaon Railway]], BG  opened 1882 as part of [[Bengal Central Railway]]; became section of EBR , 1905
*[[Ranaghat-Krishnagar Light Railway]] Company, NG lines opened 1898-99 as two parts [[Santipur-Krishnager Light Railway]]  and [[Krishnager-Nabadwip Light Railway]] built and initially worked by [[Martin's Light Railways]]. Company  taken over by EBR, 1904becoming part of ‘EBR Narrow Gauge Section’
*[[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]], MG chord line,  formed by amalgamation in 1904 of the [[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]] and the [[ Phulchari Branch Railway]] as part of the  ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, extended 1905.
*[[Santahar-Siliguri Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1877-78.
*[[Santipur-Krishnager Light Railway]], NG, part of the ‘[[Ranaghat-Krishnagar Light Railway]]’  
*[[Santipur-Nabadwip Light Railway]] NG, opened 1898. Constructed by [[Martin's Light Railways]] Company; taken over by EBR , 1904 
*[[Sara-Sirajgonj Railway]], BG privately owned line, opened 1915-16. Worked by EBR and  finally purchased by EBR
*[[Singhjani Branch Railway]], MG branch line of [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]]  of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1900, extended to 1914.
*[[Tangla Branch Railway]], MG branch of Assam Section of  ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ opened 1912.
*[[Teesta-Kurigram Railway]],  NG line, also known as the [[Kurigram Branch Railway]], opened 1882 as part of the the [[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]], taken over by EBR 1887 and remained NG until after 1916.

==EBR Train Ferry Links==
*[[Pandu Ghat-Gauhati Railway]] opened c.1908 Link constructed by EBR to link the [[Amingaon-Pandu Train Ferry]]. Rail transhipment by ferry crossing the Brahmaputra River linking EBR system to [[Assam Bengal Railway]](ABR)'s network. Worked by ABR; transferred to ABR, 1922
*[[Sara Train Ferry]] opened c.1899. Ferry link from EBR main line across Ganges to Sara taking Goods wagons. Operated until 1915 on opening of [[Hardinge Bridge]].

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Railways]]