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|workshop= [[SIR Central Workshops, Golden Rock, Trichinopoly|Golden Rock, Trichinopoly]] <br> [[Negapatam]]<br> ''see also'' [[SIR Railway Workshops]]

The '''[[File: South Indian Railway 1909.png|thumb| South Indian Railway''' (SIR) was the new name applied in 1874 to the merged undertakings of the 1909]][[Carnatic File: South Indian Railway1931.png|thumb| South Indian Railway 1931]] and the [[Great Southern of File:South India RailwaySystem 1937 Map.png|thumb| South Indian Railway System 1937]].

In 1872From 1875 the originally constructed BG lines were converted to MG in order to have a seamless flow of traffic , since all the other lines around [[Trichinopoly]] were MG. The [[Negapatam]] to [[Carnatic RailwayTrichinopoly]] merged with the section converted in 1875 and to [[Great Erode]] by the end of 1879 <ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951", page 13 </ref>. The construction of India the [[Pondicherry Railway]]. In 1874in French territory by the SIR commenced in 1878 simultaneously with a SIR branch, so when opened in 1879 connected [[Pondicherry]] to the merged companies were renamed the SIR mainline at [[South Indian RailwayVillupuram]]. During The line was maintained and worked by the 1870s SIR under the management of the existing broad gauge lines were converted SIR Agent which had remained at the original [[Negapatam]]. The joint Agent finally moved to metre gauge.[[Trichinopoly]] in 1880 <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 2012Southern Railway Heritage Centre "; pages 135Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1371951", paragraphs 3.84 pages 15- 3.90] Retrieved on 2 January 201619 </ref>.

Ownership of the SIR and other lines passed to the Government of India([[Government of India |GoI]]) on 31 December 1890 and a new company , ‘ The South Indian Railway Company Limited’ was formed to work the system so created under contract; this contract was extended in 1909. <refname=Admin>[https://ia801009.us.archive.org/8/itemsstream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System.pdf " Administration #page/n136/mode/1up “Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; 1918” pages 136-152(pdf145-161)]; Retrieved 21 Dec 2015 4 Feb 2018</ref>

The year previously (1 Jan 1908), the [[Jalarpet]] to [[Mangalore]] broad gauge section had been transferred to the SIR from the [[Madras Railway]]. In turn, the Metre gauge [[Katpadi]] section was relinquished and became part of the newly formed [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]].

In 1951, the SIR became a constituent part of '''[[Southern Railway]]''', a zone of [[Indian Railways]]. == FIBIS Resources ==*The South Indian Railway, as seen from Space. with 100-year-old photos from the British Raj - Lecture by Mike Muirhead (October 2016) available in lecture section of FIBIS Member's area.

==SIR Branch Lines and extensionsLocomotive, Carriage & Wagon Workshops==* 1860, [[Pamban Branch RailwayNegapatam]], opened 1914. SIR branchline between India and Island of Rameswaram, Ceylon* workshops established by the [[Villupuram-Dharmavaram Great Southern of India Railway]], opened before 1901and taken over by SIR in 1872. A branch of SIR * 1928, [[Villupuram-Guntakal RailwaySIR Central Workshops, Golden Rock, Trichinopoly]], opened capable of handling both BG and MG stock 1890. Part <ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of SIR network* [[Villupuramthe South Indian Railway 1859-Nellore Railway]]1951", opened before 1891pages 105 </ref>. State Railway, included with SIR , 1891* [[Villupuram-Tiruvanamalai SIR Railway Workshops|'''See also SIR 'RailwayWorkshops' ''']], opened before 1891. State Railway, included with SIR , 1891

==Railways absorbed into SIRSchools==*[[Carnatic Railway]]. Took over Indian Tramway1928, 1870; merged with Great Southern of India to form SIR Golden Rock, 1872**[[Indian Tramway Co.Trichinopoly]], opened 1865. Formerly Arakkonamtwo schools were established, the 'European and Anglo-Conjeevaram Tramway; Failed in 1870 Indian School' with 28 pupils and taken over by Carniatic Rly merged finally SIR.. *[[Great the 'Indian Primary School' with 400 pupils <ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of India the South Indian Railway]]1859-1951", opened 1861pages 15-19 </ref>. Merged with Carnatic Rly Company to form SIR ; 1872**1931, [[Karaikkal-Peralam RailwayTrichinopoly]], opened 1898. Financed by French Govt, constructed by [[Great 'Railway Training School' established for training of Traffic Department Signallers for European and native Indians <ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of India the South Indian Railway]]; later absorbed into SIR1859-1951", page 141 </ref>.

==Lines worked by SIR at some timeHospitals==*Initially two hospitals operated at [[Cuddapah-Nellore RailwayNegapatam]], opened before 1887. Worked by SIR linking Vijayawada and Chennai, extended 1890 *[[Mayavaram Mutupet RailwayTrichinopoly]], opened 1890. Worked by SIR , 1897*[[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]], opened 1899. Worked by Madras Railway Co to 1907; then worked by SIR ; line extended, 1908 *[[Podanur-Pollachi Railway]], opened 1905and in the early 1900's Dispensaries set up in several locations. District Board owned; worked by SIR as part of Metre gauge section network. *[[Pondicherry In 1928 a full Railway]], opened 1879. French enclave; railway worked by SIR *[[Salem-Metur-Dam Railway]]. Link railway to SIR main line Hospital was established at Salem from Metur Dam; worked by SIR Golden Rock, 1933 *[[Shoranur-Cochin RailwayTrichinopoly]]. Privately funded, opened in 1902. Worked by SIR , 1908**[[Cochin Harbour Extension <ref> Southern Railway]], opened 1938. Part Heritage Centre "Marvels of [[Shoranur-Cochin Railway]]; worked by SIR *[[Shoranur-Nalambur Railway]], opened 1927. Worked by SIR , 1933*[[Suramangalam-Salem Railway]]. District Board owned, opened 1917-18, worked by SIR *[[Tanjore District Board Railway]]. Formed 1900 by raising funds to construct feeder line; worked by SIR ==Railways worked by MR at some time==*[[Tirupattur-Krishnagiri Railway]] opened 1905. MR famine protection line; worked by [[Madras Railway]](MR) until 31 December 1907; then working passed to SIR*[[Tinnevelly-Quilon Railway]].'British Section' opened 1902, worked by SIR, 50 miles from Tinnevelly to frontier of Travancore State. 'the South Indian State Section' opened 1903, worked by SIR, 58 miles from frontier through Travancore State to Quillon *[[Tinnevelly-Tiruchendur Railway]]. Constructed by District Board after 1908 and worked by SIR *[[Vriddhachalam1859-Cuddalore Railway]]1951", opened cpage 117 </ref>.1880. Worked by SIR , 1933

== Records SIR Rail Network==

The following are held in ===Railways amalgamated to form SIR==='''First Amalgamation 1872'''*[[Great Southern of India Railway]](GSIR), broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]), opened 1861. Merged with [[Carnatic Railway|Carnatic Railway Company]] to form SIR, 1872; and subsequently converted to metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) as part of the SIR '[[Madras-Tuticorin Mainline]]' MG Network.*[[Carnatic Railway]]. Took over [[Indian Tramway Co.]], 1870; merged with the [[Great Southern of India Office RecordsRailway]] to form SIR, 1872.**[[Indian Tramway Co.]], opened 1865. Formerly [[Arakkonam-Conjeevaram Tramway] at the ] which failed in 1870 and taken over by [[British LibraryCarnatic Railway]]:.

*'''L/AG/46/18/Second Amalgamation 1908'''*[[Madras Railway]](MR) was a broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) network that was constructed, owned and worked by MR up to 31 Dec 1907. On 1Jan 1908 the 'Southern Section' was transferred to SIR. This Section from [[Jalarpet]] had opened 1860-461; extended to [[Calicut]], 1888 and finally to [[Mangalore]], 1907. Line length 417 miles(671km). Upon amalgamation this became the SIR '[[Jalarpet-Mangalore Mainline]]'' : contracts of employment.**[[Mettupalaiyam Branch Line]]. Constructed, owned and worked by MR up to 31 Dec 1907, then transferred to SIR. Podanor Junction to Coimbatore and Mettupalaiyam. Opened 1873, 1891-1940 26 miles(41km) ) **[[Palghat Branch Line]]. Palakkad Junction(index not completeOlavakode)to [[Palghat]].Constructed, owned and worked by MR up to 31 Dec 1907, then transferred to SIR. Opened 1888, 2.5 miles(4km)

*At this time the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) lines north of [[Katpadi]] were relinquished and became part of the newly formed '[[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]]'. The above is indexed in:SIR only retained the [[Villupuram-Katpadi Railway Section]]*These amalgamations the SIR network was classified as the 'Metre Gauge' and the 'Broad Gauge' Divisions

*[[South Indian Railway - Lines Owned and Worked|<big>'''Z/L/AG/46South Indian Railway - Lines Owned and Worked''' : Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways, 1849-1925</big> gives for full information and details.]]

== External LinksRecords ==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://wwwsearcharchives.archivebl.orguk/streamprimo_library/salemgazet02richuoft#pagelibweb/24action/modesearch.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 British Library “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 22 Jan 2016</ref> gives many references. The most important being:-*'''L/2up Sections on Salem AG/46/13''' "Records of the Great Southern of India Railway Company, 1859-74"*'''L/AG/46/38''' "Records of the India Office relating to the South Indian Railway Company, 1884- Vriddhachalam 1914" *'''L/AG/46/18''' "Records of the South Indian Railway and Salem Company, 1891-1940"*'''L/F/7/2594- Mettar 2606''' "Collection 400: South Indian Railway, dates unspecified"*'''L/F/7/2595''' “Collection 400/2: South Indian Railway] from Madras Distict Gazetteer : Terms for incorporation of Salem (pub 1932) Archive.orgcertain District Board Lines in Company's undertaking, 1925-37"

==Personnel=='''India Office Records'''. The following are held in the [[India Office Records|IOR]] at the [File[British Library]]:Trich_Worksheds*'''L/AG/46/18/1-4''' "Contracts of Employment, 1891-1940" (index not complete).jpg|thumb|left|300px|The engineering staff of the SIR worksheds above is indexed in :*'''Z/L/AG/46''' "Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways, 1849-1925"[[TrichinopolySouth Indian Railway Personnel|''' See also South Indian Railway Personnel''' for details of notable SIR staff from many different sources.]] *These have been listed by SIR Department and in Chronological order.*The entries link to the 1920s.[[:Category:Railway People|Notable Railway People]]pages.