Kalka-Simla Railway: Difference between revisions

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{{Line Railways Infobox
|image=Gallery on the line near Dhorampur.jpg
|caption=
|route= [[Kalka]] to [[Simla]]
|gauge1=
|gauge1details=
|gauge2=
|gauge2details=
|gauge3= 2' 6" NG
|gauge3details= 59 miles (1905)
|gauge4=
|gauge4details=
|timeline1date= 1903
|timeline1details= Opened to traffic
|timeline2date= 1905
|timeline2details= Converted to 2' 6" gauge
|timeline3date= 1906
|timeline3details= Taken over by GoI
|timeline4date=
|timeline4details= 
|timeline5date=
|timeline5details= 
|presidency= [[Bengal]]
|stations= [[Kalka]], [[Simla]]
|system1date= 1903
|system1details= Own agency
|system2date= after 1906
|system2details= [[North Western Railway]]
|system3date=
|system3details= 
}}
The '''Kalka-Simla Railway''' (KSR) was a narrow gauge branchline, the final leg in the journey from [[Delhi]] via [[Umballa]] to the hill town of [[Simla]], the summer retreat of the Viceroy and senior Government of India staff.
== History ==
The Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway Company signed a contact in 1898 for the construction and working of a 2ft/610mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])  line from Kalka to Simla. The line was opened to traffic in 1903.
As a result of high capital cost and high maintenance cost the Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway Company was in 1904 in severe financial crisis. Following the decision of the Imperial General Staffs to standardise, wherever possible, on a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]), the track was so converted in 1905.
The KSR was taken over by the Government in January 1906 and later worked by the [[North Western Railway]].
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n135/mode/1up  " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government  Printing,  Calcutta;  page 127]; Retrieved 19 Nov 2016</ref>
The KSR remains one of the longest narrow gauge railway lines still operated by [[Indian Railways]].
==Workshop==
In 1908 the Kalka Railway Workshop at [[Kalka]] gave employment to 200 operatives <ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V05_291.gif&volume=5 Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 5, p. 283. and v. 14, p. 314.]; Retrieved 6 Mar 2020</ref>.
[[Kalka]] was the terminal station of the broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]])[[Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway]](DUKR), where it connected to the 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) Kalka-Simla Railway KSR).
The workshop serviced the rolling stock of the KSR and probably the DUKR
==Personnel Records==
There are no Personnel Records held in the IOR
There are limited references in other documents:-
*[[Herbert Septimus Harington]] was Chief Engineer of the 'Kalka-Simla Railway' and also the [[Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway]] from about 1904 to 1908 <ref name=Grace>[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Herbert_Septimus_Harington ‘Grace’s Guide/Inst of Mechanical Engineers Obituary 1914’ “'Herbert Septimus Harington” ] Retrieved on 21 Nov 2018</ref>.
==Records==
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]]
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 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue”  - Search]; Retrieved 19 Nov 2016</ref> gives 7 references.  The most important being:-
*'''L/F/8/15/1040 '''  “Umballa Kalka Railway Company Limited, Contract for the construction of the Kalka-Simla Railway; 1898”
*'''L/F/8/16/1167 '''  “Delhi, Umballa, Kalka Railway Company Limited, Contract for the sale and purchase of the Kalka-Simla Railway; 1906”
*'''L/F/8/16/1106 '''  “Delhi Umalla Kalka Railway Company Limited, Contract for the advance of funds for the completion of the Kalka Simla Railway; 1903”
*'''L/AG/46/9 '''  “Records of the Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway Company; 1898-1907”
==Stations==
Some of the stations on the line, in order from Kalka to Simla.
<gallery>
File:Dharampur Railway Station Kalka Simla Railway.jpg|Dharampur
File:Kumaratti Railway Station KSR.jpg|Kumarhatti
File:Barogh Station, Kalka Simla Railway.jpg|Barogh Station
File:Railway Station Solan.jpg|Solan
File:View near Kathlighat Railway Station KS Railway.jpg|Kathlighat
</gallery>
==Building the Railway==
Attacks were an ever present threat to the builders of the Railway, who were trained in weaponry by an Instructor of Volunteers.<ref>Benham, Patrick [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2010-05/1273680739 Unattached List], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 12 May 2010. Retrieved on 1 Aug 2014.</ref>
== External links ==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFHw3L1FXvw&feature=related Indian Hill Stations - The Kalka -Shimla Railway] Youtube.com.  One hour BBC Documentary Film
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalka%E2%80%93Shimla_Railway Kalka-Shimla Railway] Wikipedia
*[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110205/saturday/main1.htm "Train of joy"] by Rajnish Wattas. A trip back in time on the Kalka-Shimla heritage rail track. February 5, 2011 ''The Tribune''
*[http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/kalka-shimla-railway-unesco-world.html Kalka Shimla Railway (UNESCO World Heritage Site)] from “Heritage of India”. Scroll down for some vintage postcards
*[http://naturebeautyofindianhillstation.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/kalka-shimla-railway.html Kalka-Shimla Railway] naturebeautyofindianhillstation.blogspot
*[http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r019.html "Hill Lines of India"] ''Mike's Railway History''.
*[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020615/windows/main4.htm "Man behind Barog tunnel lies forgotten"] by Jagmeet Singh June 15, 2002 ''The Tribune''
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/55078850@N03/7897064510/ Photograph: Barog tunnel in Kalka-Simla line] by ramu101.  flickr.com
== References ==
<references />
{{#widget:Google PlusOne
|size=small
|count=true
}}
[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Assisted Railways]]
[[Category:Assisted Railways]]
[[Category:Narrow Gauge (NG) Railways]]

Latest revision as of 15:05, 6 March 2020

Kalka-Simla Railway

Line of route
Kalka to Simla
Gauge / mileage
2' 6" NG 59 miles (1905)
Timeline
1903 Opened to traffic
1905 Converted to 2' 6" gauge
1906 Taken over by GoI
Key locations
Presidency Bengal
Stations Kalka, Simla
System agency
1903 Own agency
after 1906 North Western Railway
How to interpret this infobox

The Kalka-Simla Railway (KSR) was a narrow gauge branchline, the final leg in the journey from Delhi via Umballa to the hill town of Simla, the summer retreat of the Viceroy and senior Government of India staff.

History

The Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway Company signed a contact in 1898 for the construction and working of a 2ft/610mm narrow gauge(NG) line from Kalka to Simla. The line was opened to traffic in 1903.

As a result of high capital cost and high maintenance cost the Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway Company was in 1904 in severe financial crisis. Following the decision of the Imperial General Staffs to standardise, wherever possible, on a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge(NG), the track was so converted in 1905.

The KSR was taken over by the Government in January 1906 and later worked by the North Western Railway. [1]

The KSR remains one of the longest narrow gauge railway lines still operated by Indian Railways.

Workshop

In 1908 the Kalka Railway Workshop at Kalka gave employment to 200 operatives [2].

Kalka was the terminal station of the broad gauge(BG)Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway(DUKR), where it connected to the 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge(NG) Kalka-Simla Railway KSR).

The workshop serviced the rolling stock of the KSR and probably the DUKR

Personnel Records

There are no Personnel Records held in the IOR

There are limited references in other documents:-

Records

Refer to FIBIS Fact File #4: “Research sources for Indian Railways, 1845-1947” - available from the 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

An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway [4] gives 7 references. The most important being:-

  • L/F/8/15/1040 “Umballa Kalka Railway Company Limited, Contract for the construction of the Kalka-Simla Railway; 1898”
  • L/F/8/16/1167 “Delhi, Umballa, Kalka Railway Company Limited, Contract for the sale and purchase of the Kalka-Simla Railway; 1906”
  • L/F/8/16/1106 “Delhi Umalla Kalka Railway Company Limited, Contract for the advance of funds for the completion of the Kalka Simla Railway; 1903”
  • L/AG/46/9 “Records of the Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway Company; 1898-1907”

Stations

Some of the stations on the line, in order from Kalka to Simla.

  • Dharampur
    Dharampur
  • Kumarhatti
    Kumarhatti
  • Barogh Station
    Barogh Station
  • Solan
    Solan
  • Kathlighat
    Kathlighat

Building the Railway

Attacks were an ever present threat to the builders of the Railway, who were trained in weaponry by an Instructor of Volunteers.[5]

External links

References

  1. ↑ " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 127; Retrieved 19 Nov 2016
  2. ↑ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 5, p. 283. and v. 14, p. 314.; Retrieved 6 Mar 2020
  3. ↑ ‘Grace’s Guide/Inst of Mechanical Engineers Obituary 1914’ “'Herbert Septimus Harington” Retrieved on 21 Nov 2018
  4. ↑ British Library “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 19 Nov 2016
  5. ↑ Benham, Patrick Unattached List, Rootsweb India Mailing List, 12 May 2010. Retrieved on 1 Aug 2014.

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