View source for Madras-Dhanushkodi Mainline

The '''Madras-Dhanushkodi Mainline''' is the name of the [[South Indian Railway]](SIR) metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) Mainline connecting [[Madras]] to the [[Pamban Branch Railway]]  to [[Dhanushkodi ]] with a length of 425 miles(684km) <ref name=Hist>[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 196-197 pdf 239-240]; Retrieved  29 Sept 2020</ref>. At  [[Dhanushkodi]] there was a connection to the ‘Indo-Ceylon Ferry Service’.

'''Madras-Tuticorin Mainline'''  was the earlier description to the Mainline from Madras  to [[Dhanushkodi]]. This description also included the ‘[[Tuticorin Branch Line]]’ from Madura to [[Tuticorin]], a further 99 miles(159km).<ref name=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n146/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 138-139 pdf 146-147]; Retrieved 29 Sept 2020</ref>. 

==Madras- Dhanushkodi  Mainline==
[[File: Madras Railway Map 1909, south section.png|thumb| Madras Railway Map 1909, south section]]
The following is based on the “Administration Report on Railways 1918”<ref name=Admin/> and the "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951"<ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951"; 'Events at a Glance'  page 273-278</ref>.
*[[Madras]] via Chingleput Junction and  [[Villupuram]] to [[Cuddalore]], opened 1876-77
*[[Cuddalore]] via [[Porto Novo]],  [[Chidambaram]], [[Coleroon]], [[Shiyali]] and  [[Mayavaram]] to [[Tanjore]], opened 1877-78
*[[Tanjore]] to [[Trichinopoly]], opened 1862, converted to MG, 1875 ''(see Gauge Note)''
*[[Trichinopoly]] to [[Madura]], opened 1875
*[[Madura]] via [[Mandapam]] and [[Rameswaram]] to [[Dhanushkodi]] , opened 1902-1914 ''see separate page'' '''[[Pamban Branch Railway]] ''' ''for full details ''.

==Gauge Note==
Part of this Mainline was originally built as broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) by the [[Great Southern of India Railway]](GSIR) with the construction of a BG line from [[Negapatam]] via [[Tanjore]] and [[Trichinopoly]]; then planned onwards to [[Tuticorin]]. Construction of this line commenced in 1859 reaching [[Tanjore]], 1861 and [[Trichinopoly]], 1862.

In 1874 the [[South Indian Railway]](SIR) was formed from merger of the [[Carnatic Railway]] and [[Great Southern of India Railway]]. It was decided that the SIR would use the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) and this required the conversion of BG lines already constructed and in service.

The BG line from [[Negapatam]] via [[Tanjore]] to [[Trichinopoly]] was converted to MG in 1875

==Further Information== 
See '''[[South Indian Railway]]'''

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:State Railways]]