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{{Line Railways Infobox
{{System_Railways_Infobox
|image=
|image=
|caption=  
|caption=  
|route= [[Dhola]] to [[Wadhwan]]<br>[[Bhavnagar]] to [[Mahuva]]
|gauge1= Metre gauge
|gauge1details= 307 miles (1944)
|gauge2=
|gauge2details=
|gauge3=
|gauge3details=
|gauge4=
|gauge4details=
|timeline1date= 1880
|timeline1date= 1880
|timeline1details= First section opened to traffic
|timeline2date=
|timeline2details=
|timeline3date=
|timeline3details=
|timeline4date=
|timeline4details= 
|timeline5date=
|timeline5details= 
|presidency= [[Bombay]]
|stations= [[Bhavnagar]], [[Dhandhuka]], [[Dhola]], [[Jasdan]], [[Kundla]], [[Limbdi]], [[Mahuva]], [[Palitana]], [[Wadhwan]]
|system1date= 1880
|system1details= [[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway]]
|system2date= 1911
|system2details= Own agency
|system3date=
|system3details= 
}}
{{System_Railways_Infobox
|image=
|caption=
|timeline1date= 1911
|timeline1details= [[Bhavnagar State Railway]] system formed
|timeline1details= [[Bhavnagar State Railway]] system formed
|timeline2date=  
|timeline2date=  
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}}
}}


The '''Bhavnagar State Railway''' (BSR) was formed and built by the State of [[Bhavnagar]] as a metre gauge line in 1880.  
{{Line Railways Infobox
|image=
|caption=
|route= [[Dhola]] to [[Wadhwan]]<br>[[Bhavnagar]] to [[Mahuva]]
|gauge1= Metre gauge
|gauge1details= 307 miles (1944)
|gauge2=
|gauge2details=
|gauge3=
|gauge3details=
|gauge4=
|gauge4details=
|timeline1date= 1880
|timeline1details= First section opened to traffic
|timeline2date=
|timeline2details=
|timeline3date=
|timeline3details=
|timeline4date=
|timeline4details= 
|timeline5date=
|timeline5details= 
|presidency= [[Bombay]]
|stations= [[Bhavnagar]], [[Dhandhuka]], [[Dhola]], [[Jasdan]], [[Kundla]], [[Limbdi]], [[Mahuva]], [[Palitana]], [[Wadhwan]]
|system1date= 1880
|system1details= [[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway]]
|system2date= 1911
|system2details= Own agency
|system3date=
|system3details= 
}}
 
'''Bhavnagar State Railway''' (BSR) was a Metre Gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railway line formed and built by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Bhavnagar State]] in [[Bhavnagar State]] in the [[Kathiawar|Kathiawar  Peninsula ]].
 
Soon after the formation of BSR in 1880 the company absorbed the [[Princely states|Princely ]] ‘[[Kathiawar State Railway]]’
Initially worked by an administrative coalition as the ‘[[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway]]’, the BSR operated as an independent system from 1911 under the administration of the Bhavnager Durbar.
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n178/mode/2up  " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government  Printing,  Calcutta;  page 169]; Retrieved 30 Jan 2016</ref>
 
For some years after 1911, the BSR also worked the ‘[[Dhrangadra Railway]]’.
 
In 1948 the BSR was merged to form the ‘[[Saurashtra Railway]]’.
 
[[File:Bhavangar State Railway.png|right|500px|Bhavnagar State Railway]]
==History==
*1878 November: The building of a metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railway from  [[Bhavnagar]] to [[Wadhwan]] was sanctioned <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110205000410/http://www.bhavnagar.com/history3.asp ‘Bhavanagar.com’ “History of Bhavanagar” by ’ Manoj Pande]; Retrieved 19 Jun  2019</ref>. The line was to interchange at [[Wadhwan]]  with the [[Bombay, Baroda Central India Railway]](BB&CIR) ‘[[Viramgam-Wadhwan Branch Line]]’  that had opened as a broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line in 1873'' ''(converted to MG in 1902)''<ref name=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n31/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 22 (pdf31) ]; Retrieved 10 May 2020</ref>.
*1879 March: [[Alexander Izat|Mr. Alexander Izat]] was appointed as the Engineer-in-Chief. He was earlier the Chief Engineer of the [[Dhond-Manmad State Railway]] (which had opened in 1878). Mr. R. Proctor Sims who was Bhavnagar's State Engineer had carried out the survey from Bhavnagar to Botad. The survey from Dhasa to Dhoraji was carried out under Mr. Ford who held analogous post in Gondal. An engineer from BB &CIR, Mr. Hargreaves did the survey from Botad to Wadhwan <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavnagar_State_Railway Wikipedia ‘Bhavangar State Railway’]; Retrieved 19 Jun  2019</ref>.
*1879 July: The Agreement was signed, whilst mainly between [[Bhavnagar State]] and [[Gondal State]] also involved the British Administration, (taking charge of the security of the line) and others due to the number of different States that the line passed through <ref>British Library IOR/V/1384 ‘India States Administration Reports – Kathiawar 1865-1875 No 50A of 1867, para 2</ref>.
*1880 December: The ‘Bhavnagar-Wadhwan Mainline’, 104 miles(167km), opened from [[Bhavnagar]] to [[Wadhwan]]  <ref name=Admin169>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n177/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 169(pdf177)]; Retrieved 19 Jun  2019</ref>, and to the junction with the [[Bombay, Baroda Central India Railway]](BB&CIR), 106 miles(171km) <ref name=Gaz1884>[https://archive.org/details/1884GazetteerByBombayPresidencyVol8Kathiawar349D/page/n249 ‘1884 Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency, Volume 8 Kathiawar -Railways pages 221-222(pdf249-250)]; Retrieved 10 May 2020</ref>. Built and financed by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Bhavnagar State]]. 
**''Line ‘A’ on map ''
*1881 January: The ‘Dhoraji Branch Line’, 89 miles(143km) opened. This branch from Dhola Junction (between [[Bhavnagar]] and [[Wadhwan]]) to [[Dhasa]], 15 miles(24km) <ref name=Admin169/> and from [[Dhasa]] via  [[Jetalsar]]  to [[Dhoraji]], 74 miles(119km)  <ref name=Admin181>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n189/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 181 (pdf189)]; Retrieved 10 May 2020</ref>. Funded in proportion to the distance in each Territory being approximately 2/3rd [[Bhavnagar State]] and 1/3rd [[Gondal State]] <ref name=Bombay>.[https://archive.org/details/1884GazetteerByBombayPresidencyVol8Kathiawar349D/page/n249 ‘1884 Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency’, Volume 8 Kathiawar -Railways pages 221-222(pdf249-250)]; Retrieved 18 Jun  2019</ref>.  
**''Line ‘B’ on map ''
*1881: The '[[Bhavnagar-Gondal State Railway]]' was formed as an administrative coalition between the 'Bhavnagar State Railway' and the [[Gondal Railway|’Gondal State Railway']] [[Bhavnagar-Gondal State Railway|''- see separate page for further information'']].
*1888: When the ‘[[Junagadh State Railway]]’ from  [[Junagadh]] to [[Jetalsar]]  opened in 1888 and on to [[Veraval]] the coalition briefly became the '[[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Veraval Railway]]'(BGJVR) 
*1889: When the ‘[[Porbandar State Railway]]’ extension from [[Dhasa ]] reached [[Porbandar]]  the coalition finally became the ‘[[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway]]’(BGJPR) - ''see separate page for further information'']].
This '''‘[[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway]]’'''(BGJPR)  coalition was also described in some records as the '''‘Kathiawar Railway’''', the '''‘Kathiawar Union Railway’''' and the ‘'''Kathiawar State Railway’'''.
*1910 November: The ‘Palitina Branch’ Line, 17 miles(27km) opened from Sihor to Palitina <ref name=Admin169/>.
**''Line ‘C’ on map ''
*1911: The BGJPR administrative coalition was dissolved in 1911 with the constituents going their independent ways.
The '''Bhavnagar State Railway''' (BSR) was formed under the administration of the Bhavnager Durbar. <ref name=Admin169/>.
 
==Bhavnagar State Railway==
With the dissolving of the BGJPR the ‘Bhavagar State Railway’(BSR)  continued to develop :-
*1911-12: The ‘ Kundla Extension’, 36 miles(58km) from the mainline at [[Dhasa]] to Kundla (Savar Kundla)  <ref name=Admin169/>.
**''Line ‘D’ on map ''
*1913: The ‘Jasdan Branch’, 33 miles(54km) from the mainline at Botard to Jasdan, this was partly funded by the Jasdan Darbar <ref name=Admin169/>.
**''Line ‘E’ on map ''
*1921-22: The ‘Mahuva Extension’, 47½ miles(76km), a further extension from Kundla  via Rajula Junction to Mahuva. This includes 4½ miles(7km)  of  ‘Mahuva Dock Estate Railway’which is worked for goods traffic only<ref name=Hist1937>[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 221, pdf 264 ]; Retrieved 19 Aug 2020</ref>.
**''Line ‘F’ on map ''
*1922:  The ‘Dhandhuka  Branch’, 30 miles(48km), from the mainline at Botard to Dhandhuka  where it connected to the BB&CIR network.  Also described as the ’Botard- Dhandhuka Branch’ <ref name=Hist1937/>.
**''Line ‘G’ on map ''
*1927: The ‘Rajula Town and Quarry Branch’, 6 miles(10km) from Rajula Junction to Rajula Town and a spur to the nearby quarries at Rajula <ref name=Hist1937/>.
**''Line ‘J’ on map''
*1928: The ‘Port Albert Victor Branch’, 7½ miles(12km), which became an important oil terminal. Also described as the ‘Dungar Victor Extension’ <ref name=Hist1937/>.
**''Line ‘H’ on map''
* 1929: The ‘Ningala-Gadhada  Branch’ , 9½ miles(15km), from Ningala to Gadhada , opened 1 Jan 1929 <ref name=Hist1937/><ref>[https://ia801602.us.archive.org/6/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.96301/2015.96301.Kathiawar-Economics.pdf  Kathiawar Economics’,1943, by A  B Trivedi, 1943 Digital Library of India Archive.org  Page 192)]; Retrieved 18 Jun  2019</ref>.
**''Line ‘K’ on map'' - this line does not appear on the 1931 Map
* 1948: The BSR was merged to form the [[Saurashtra Railway| ‘Saurashtra Railway’’ ''- see separate page'']]
 
The ‘Statistics of Working’, 1937 show the year-by-year financial results from 1913-14 through to 1936-37 and the BSR System rising from 200 miles(322km) reaching 307 miles (494km) from 1928-29 onwards<ref name=Hist1937/>
 
The 1937 record also shows the  '''[[Bhavnagar Tramway|Bhavnagar Talaja Tramway]] ''' included in the returns of the BSR from 1926 onwards ‘[[Bhavnagar Tramway|''- see separate page for details'']]
 
== Classification ==
[[Indian Railway Classification]] of 1926 - Class II railway system.
 
==Lines Worked by BSR==
* [[Dhrangadra Railway| ‘Dhrangadra Railway’ ''- see separate page'']] from opening in 1898 worked by BGJPR  and from 1911 by BSR.
* [[Bhavnagar Tramway| ‘Bhavnagar Tramway’''- see separate page'']], built by [[Bhavnagar State]], first section opened 1926 , extended 1938 and worked by BSR.
* [[Wadhwan-Sayla Tramway| ‘Wadhwan-Sayla Tramway’ ''- see separate page'']] built by an Agency of BSR, opened in 1924 and worked by BSR.
 
==Personnel Records ==
No Staff Lists have been found.
 
The Records show the following deployed to the 'Kathiawar State Railway' ,which became ‘Bhanagar State Railway’.
*[[Trevredyn Rashleigh Wynne ]] deployed from the Railway Branch of the [[Public Works Department]], 1879-83, to the Kathiawar State Railway as Assistant Engineer, later promoted to Executive Engineer.
*[[John Edwin Dallas]], Assistant Engineer, also from the Railway Branch was P.A. to the Engineer-in-Chief Kathiawar State Railway, from 1881.
*[[Ernest Ifill Shadbolt]], also from the Railway Branch was Executive Engineer, Kathiawar State Railway, 1887-91.
 
The following are recorded as 'on loan' to Bhanagar and  Gondal Railway from the [[Public Works Department]](PWD)
*[[Ernest Ifill Shadbolt]], PWD Assistant Engineer from 1874 to 1884 'services lent to Bhavnagar and Gondal States' Railways <ref>[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:The_Indian_Biographical_Dictionary.djvu/430 “Indian Biographical Dictionary” 1915 page 390]; Retrieved on 30 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Alexander Izat]], 1879,  Engineer-in-Chief <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavnagar_State_Railway Wikipedia "Bhavnagar State Railway"]; Retrieved on 7 Jul 2016</ref>, on loan
*[[Richard Gardiner]] Lieut-Col. R.E. from PWD,  1887, Manager and Engineer-in-Chief of 'Bhavnagar-Gondal Railway' until retirement in 1893.<ref> [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA499 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 499 (pdf page 462)] Retrieved on 30 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Willoughby Verner Constable]], 1887, Officiating Manager of 'Bhavnagar, Gondal and States Railways' <ref> [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA466 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 466 (pdf page 429)] Retrieved on 17 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Horace Chaloner Knox]], 1890, Executive Engineer employed with 'Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway' <ref> India  Civil List 1890, page 41</ref>.
 
==Further Information==
See '''[[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway]]''' for period  to 1911


Initially worked by an administrative coalition, the [[Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway]], the BSR operated as an independent system from 1911 until it was merged to form the [[Saurashtra Railway]] in 1948. For some years after 1911, the BSR also worked the [[Dhrangadra Railway]].
and '''[[Kathiawar Peninsula Railway and Tramway Systems]]''' gives a map, timeline and relates this railway to others in the Kathiawar Peninsula.


== References ==
<references />


[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Indian States Railways]]
[[Category:Indian States Railways]]

Latest revision as of 07:56, 19 August 2020

Bhavnagar State Railway
[[Image:|150px| ]]
System timeline
1880 Bhavnagar State Railway system formed
Constituent companies / lines
1911 Bhavnagar State Railway
1911 Dhrangadra Railway
Key locations
Headquarters Bhavnagar
Workshops
Major Stations Bhavnagar, Dhola, Wadhwan
Successor system / organisation
1948 Saurashtra Railway
System mileage
Metre gauge 206 miles (1921)
307 miles (1944)
Associated auxiliary force
n/a
How to interpret this infobox
Bhavnagar State Railway
[[Image:|150px| ]]
Line of route
Dhola to Wadhwan
Bhavnagar to Mahuva
Gauge / mileage
Metre gauge 307 miles (1944)
Timeline
1880 First section opened to traffic
Key locations
Presidency Bombay
Stations Bhavnagar, Dhandhuka, Dhola, Jasdan, Kundla, Limbdi, Mahuva, Palitana, Wadhwan
System agency
1880 Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway
1911 Own agency
How to interpret this infobox

Bhavnagar State Railway (BSR) was a Metre Gauge(MG) railway line formed and built by the Princely Bhavnagar State in Bhavnagar State in the Kathiawar Peninsula .

Soon after the formation of BSR in 1880 the company absorbed the Princely ‘Kathiawar State Railway’

Initially worked by an administrative coalition as the ‘Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway’, the BSR operated as an independent system from 1911 under the administration of the Bhavnager Durbar. [1]

For some years after 1911, the BSR also worked the ‘Dhrangadra Railway’.

In 1948 the BSR was merged to form the ‘Saurashtra Railway’.

Bhavnagar State Railway
Bhavnagar State Railway

History

This ‘Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway’(BGJPR) coalition was also described in some records as the ‘Kathiawar Railway’, the ‘Kathiawar Union Railway’ and the ‘Kathiawar State Railway’.

  • 1910 November: The ‘Palitina Branch’ Line, 17 miles(27km) opened from Sihor to Palitina [6].
    • Line ‘C’ on map
  • 1911: The BGJPR administrative coalition was dissolved in 1911 with the constituents going their independent ways.

The Bhavnagar State Railway (BSR) was formed under the administration of the Bhavnager Durbar. [6].

Bhavnagar State Railway

With the dissolving of the BGJPR the ‘Bhavagar State Railway’(BSR) continued to develop :-

  • 1911-12: The ‘ Kundla Extension’, 36 miles(58km) from the mainline at Dhasa to Kundla (Savar Kundla) [6].
    • Line ‘D’ on map
  • 1913: The ‘Jasdan Branch’, 33 miles(54km) from the mainline at Botard to Jasdan, this was partly funded by the Jasdan Darbar [6].
    • Line ‘E’ on map
  • 1921-22: The ‘Mahuva Extension’, 47½ miles(76km), a further extension from Kundla via Rajula Junction to Mahuva. This includes 4½ miles(7km) of ‘Mahuva Dock Estate Railway’which is worked for goods traffic only[10].
    • Line ‘F’ on map
  • 1922: The ‘Dhandhuka Branch’, 30 miles(48km), from the mainline at Botard to Dhandhuka where it connected to the BB&CIR network. Also described as the ’Botard- Dhandhuka Branch’ [10].
    • Line ‘G’ on map
  • 1927: The ‘Rajula Town and Quarry Branch’, 6 miles(10km) from Rajula Junction to Rajula Town and a spur to the nearby quarries at Rajula [10].
    • Line ‘J’ on map
  • 1928: The ‘Port Albert Victor Branch’, 7½ miles(12km), which became an important oil terminal. Also described as the ‘Dungar Victor Extension’ [10].
    • Line ‘H’ on map
  • 1929: The ‘Ningala-Gadhada Branch’ , 9½ miles(15km), from Ningala to Gadhada , opened 1 Jan 1929 [10][11].
    • Line ‘K’ on map - this line does not appear on the 1931 Map
  • 1948: The BSR was merged to form the ‘Saurashtra Railway’’ - see separate page

The ‘Statistics of Working’, 1937 show the year-by-year financial results from 1913-14 through to 1936-37 and the BSR System rising from 200 miles(322km) reaching 307 miles (494km) from 1928-29 onwards[10]

The 1937 record also shows the Bhavnagar Talaja Tramway included in the returns of the BSR from 1926 onwards ‘- see separate page for details

Classification

Indian Railway Classification of 1926 - Class II railway system.

Lines Worked by BSR

Personnel Records

No Staff Lists have been found.

The Records show the following deployed to the 'Kathiawar State Railway' ,which became ‘Bhanagar State Railway’.

  • Trevredyn Rashleigh Wynne deployed from the Railway Branch of the Public Works Department, 1879-83, to the Kathiawar State Railway as Assistant Engineer, later promoted to Executive Engineer.
  • John Edwin Dallas, Assistant Engineer, also from the Railway Branch was P.A. to the Engineer-in-Chief Kathiawar State Railway, from 1881.
  • Ernest Ifill Shadbolt, also from the Railway Branch was Executive Engineer, Kathiawar State Railway, 1887-91.

The following are recorded as 'on loan' to Bhanagar and Gondal Railway from the Public Works Department(PWD)

Further Information

See Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagad-Porbandar Railway for period to 1911

and Kathiawar Peninsula Railway and Tramway Systems gives a map, timeline and relates this railway to others in the Kathiawar Peninsula.

References

  1. ↑ " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 169; Retrieved 30 Jan 2016
  2. ↑ ‘Bhavanagar.com’ “History of Bhavanagar” by ’ Manoj Pande; Retrieved 19 Jun 2019
  3. ↑ “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 22 (pdf31) ; Retrieved 10 May 2020
  4. ↑ Wikipedia ‘Bhavangar State Railway’; Retrieved 19 Jun 2019
  5. ↑ British Library IOR/V/1384 ‘India States Administration Reports – Kathiawar 1865-1875 No 50A of 1867, para 2
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 169(pdf177); Retrieved 19 Jun 2019
  7. ↑ ‘1884 Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency, Volume 8 Kathiawar -Railways pages 221-222(pdf249-250); Retrieved 10 May 2020
  8. ↑ “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 181 (pdf189); Retrieved 10 May 2020
  9. ↑ .‘1884 Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency’, Volume 8 Kathiawar -Railways pages 221-222(pdf249-250); Retrieved 18 Jun 2019
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 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 221, pdf 264 ; Retrieved 19 Aug 2020
  11. ↑ Kathiawar Economics’,1943, by A B Trivedi, 1943 Digital Library of India Archive.org Page 192); Retrieved 18 Jun 2019
  12. ↑ “Indian Biographical Dictionary” 1915 page 390; Retrieved on 30 May 2016
  13. ↑ Wikipedia "Bhavnagar State Railway"; Retrieved on 7 Jul 2016
  14. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 499 (pdf page 462) Retrieved on 30 May 2016
  15. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 466 (pdf page 429) Retrieved on 17 May 2016
  16. ↑ India Civil List 1890, page 41
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