Great Indian Peninsula Railway: Difference between revisions

From FIBIwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
← Older edit
Nick Adams (talk | contribs)
231 edits
No edit summary
PEA-2292 (talk | contribs)
9,628 edits
‘Stations Infobox’ and ‘Stations’ heading revised
 
(76 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 70: Line 70:
|company12details=  
|company12details=  
|headquarters= [[Bombay]]
|headquarters= [[Bombay]]
|workshop= [[Parel]]
|workshop= ''see also'' [[GIPR Railway Workshops]] <br>[[Parel]] (BG), [[Bhusawal]], [[Harda]], [[Igatpuri]], [[Lonauli]], [[Jhansi]], [[Jubbulpore]], [[Bhusawal]]
|stations= [[Agra]], [[Ahmadnagar]], [[Akola]], [[Amraoti]], [[Banda]], [[Bhopal]], [[Bhusawal]], [[Cawnpore]], [[Chanda]], [[Delhi]], [[Dholpur]], [[Gwalior]], [[Hotgi]], [[Itarsi]], [[Jhansi]], [[Jubbulpore]], [[Khandwa]], [[Muttra]], [[Nagpur]], [[Narsinghpue]], [[Poona]], [[Raichur]], [[Saugor]], [[Wadi]]
|stations= ''' [[Agra]] ''', [[Ahmadnagar]], [[Akola]], [[Amraoti]], [[Banda]], [[Bhopal]], [[Bhusawal]], ''' [[Bombay]]''' , '''[[Cawnpore]]''', [[Chanda]], ''' [[Delhi]] ''', [[Dholpur]], [[Gwalior]], [[Hotgi]], [[Itarsi]], [[Jhansi]], [[Jubbulpore]], [[Khandwa]], [[Muttra]], [[Nagpur]], [[Narsinghpur]], [[Poona]], [[Raichur]], [[Saugor]], [[Wadi]]
''See also heading '''Stations''' for major stations marked'' '''bold'''
|system1date= 1951
|system1date= 1951
|system1details= [[Central Railway]] (IR zone)
|system1details= [[Central Railway]] (IR zone)
|system2date=
|system2date=
|system2details=
|system2details=  
|system3date=
|system3date=
|system3details=   
|system3details=   
Line 89: Line 90:
}}
}}


Like most of the early railways in India, the '''Great Indian Peninsula Railway''' (GIPR) was a British company, registered in London, privately owned and financed, operating under licence and guarantee from the (British) Board of Control in India and the [[East India Company]] (EIC).
[[Image:India-rail-1870.jpg|right|thumb|Map of GIPR in 1870]]
[[File: Great Indian Peninsula Railway Map 1909 north section.png|thumb|Great Indian Peninsula Railway Map 1909 – north section]]
[[File: Great Indian Peninsula Railway Map 1909 south section.png|thumb|Great Indian Peninsula Railway Map 1909 – south section]]
{{Railwaymap
|railway= the North East Division
|link= http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=108089533651928306068.0004776aacede4ad4baa7
}}


Like most of the early railways in India, the '''Great Indian Peninsula Railway''' (GIPR) was a British company, registered in London, privately owned and financed, operating under licence and guarantee from the (British) Board of Control in India and the [[East India Company]] (EIC). The GIPR was India's and Asia's first railway.


== History ==
The principal economic benefit of the GIPR was the opening up of the interior to Port and City of [[Bombay]]. The narrow coastal plain of India's west side is separated from the Deccan plateau by a mountain range, the Western Ghats which rises to 3,900 feet(1200m) and which has always restricted internal communication with the Arabian Sea.


Formed in 1845, it was not until 1849 (at the urging of the then Governor, Lord Dalhousie) that the EIC sanctioned the GIPR to construct an experimental line, built to the broad gauge of 5' 6", eastward from Bombay. The first sod was turned on 31 October 1850 and the first locomotive was used in construction on 22 December 1851, but the first passenger train in India did not run until 16 April 1853, when a train, with 14 railway carriages and 400 guests, left [[Bombay]] bound for [[Thane]], hauled by three locomotives: ''Sindh, Sultan,'' and ''Sahib''. The 21 mile journey took an hour and fifteen minutes over the first section of the GIPR to be opened.
The challenge was to create two lines through the Western Ghats, one to the north-east and one to the south-east, these  were fully open by 1865 in time for cotton from the Deccan to be exported from Bombay to Manchester thus filling the trade gap created by the American Civil War. The lines were exteded to link Bombay to Calcutta and Madras by 1870.  


By 1859, GIPR was tasked with "the construction and working of the following lines, all of which terminate at Bombay, - viz. from Bombay, ''via'' Callian, to Jubbulpore, to meet the East Indian Railway Company's line from Allahabad, with branches to Mahim and Nagpore - 870 miles; and from Callian, ''via'' Poonah and Sholapore, to the opposite side of the river Kristna, to meet the line, ''via'' Bellary, from Madras - 366 miles - total, 1,236 miles. Capital 10,000,000''l''l. Rate of Interest Guaranteed - 5 per cent. on 8,000,000''l''. capital, and 4½ per cent. on 333,000''l''. debentures, the balance to be raised upon arrangements to be hereafter made." <sup>(1)</sup>  
== History ==
*1845. Registered as a company in 1845, with its head office in London, the ‘Great Indian Peninsula  initially proposed a length of 1300 miles, to connect Bombay with the interior of the Indian peninsula and to a major port on the east coast. It was meant for the purpose of increasing the export of cotton, silk, opium, sugar and spices. The Announcement of company formation gave the listing of the ‘Committee of Management ‘  <ref name=RegGIPR>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway:_1845_Company_Registration Grace's Guide " GIPR 1945 Company Registration] Retrieved on 5 May 2020</ref>.  One of these being [[Robert Stephenson]], London based Consulting Engineer, he remained in this capacity until 1859
*1847. [[Robert Stephenson |Stephenson ]] reported preliminary findings to the directors, although he cannot have been in a position to provide more than general advice and a reviews of the material gathered by the surveys This concluded that the best method to climb 1800 feet over the Ghat mountains in just 15 miles was to use locomotives assisted by ropes worked by a stationary engine <ref name=biog>[https://books.google.fr/books?id=BzErDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155#v=onepage&q&f=false Google Books “Robert Stephenson – The Eminent Engineer” edited by Michael R. Bailey; page 155-57] Retrieved on 5 May 2020</ref>.
* 1847-48. The subsequent recession removed the financial incentive for railways in India but the GIPR scheme continued but only through the involvement of the ’East India Company’ which guaranteed a minimum of 5% dividend , however only a 35 mile route between Bombay and Kalyan was authorised <ref name=biog/>.
*1849. At the urging of the Governor, Lord Dalhousie,  the East Indian Company(EIC) sanctioned the construction of a broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) railway eastward from [[Bombay]] and the ‘Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company ‘ was incorporated on August 1, 1849 by an act of the British Parliament. It had a share capital of 50,000 pounds. On August 17, 1849 it entered into a formal contract with the EIC for the construction and operation of an experimental line, 35 miles(56 km) long. The Court of Directors of the EIC appointed [[James John Berkley]] as Chief Resident Engineer and [[Charles Buchanan Ker]] and [[Robert W Graham]] as his assistants <ref name=GIPR>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway Grace's Gide "Great Indian Peninsula Railway which quotes from 'Morning Post' - Saturday 18 August 1849""]; Retrieved on 5 May 2020</ref>.
* 1850. [[Robert Stephenson |Stephenson ]]  provided the directors with cost estimates and recommended [[James John Berkley]] as Chief Engineer to supervise the building of the line. The Court of Directors of the [[East India Company]] appointed [[James John Berkeley]] as Chief Resident Engineer with [[Charles Buchanan Ker]] and [[Robert W Graham]] as his assistants <ref name=GIPR/>
*1850. A Tender was submitted for the first railway contract in Western India, from Bombay to Tanna, by [[William Frederick Faviell]] and  Henry Fowler. The Tender was accepted by the ‘Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company’<ref name=Faviell>[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/William_Frederick_Faviell 'Grace's Guide' - "William Frederick Faviell"] Retrieved on 5 May 2020</ref>. 
*1851-53. [[William Frederick Faviell|Faviell]] and Fowler actively prosecuted the work, Fowler’s health failed after a few months’ exposure to the climate of India, and compelled his return to England. The execution of the contract then devolved entirely upon Faviell, and was completed to the satisfaction of the Company, the line being opened for traffic on the 16th April, 1853. That was the first line of railway opened for public traffic in India, and in its construction the first locomotive engine used in Asia was introduced on the 23rd February, 1852, for ballasting the line near Bombay <ref name=Faviell/>.
*1859. [[George Berkley]] succeeded  [[Robert Stephenson]] as GIPR Consultant Engineer  based in London. Previously Assistant and had been liaising with his brother [[James John Berkley]], Chief Resident Engineer.
*1859, GIPR was tasked with "the construction and working of the following lines, all of which terminate at Bombay, - viz. from Bombay, ''via'' Callian, to Jubbulpore, to meet the East Indian Railway Company's line from Allahabad, with branches to Mahim and Nagpore - 870 miles; and from Callian, ''via'' Poonah and Sholapore, to the opposite side of the river Kristna, to meet the line, ''via'' Bellary, from Madras - 366 miles - total, 1,236 miles. Capital 10,000,000''l''l. Rate of Interest Guaranteed - 5 per cent. on 8,000,000''l''. capital, and 4½ per cent. on 333,000''l''. debentures, the balance to be raised upon arrangements to be hereafter made." <ref>"Money Market and City Intelligence", ''The Times'',  Wednesday, 15 June 1859, #23333, 7a.</ref> <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  128-130 paragraphs 3.57 - 3.64] Retrieved on 3 Jul 2016</ref>.


[[Image:India-rail-1870.jpg|left|thumb|Map of GIPR in 1870]]
'''Bombay - [[Callian]]''' - 33.5 miles(54km)
*1850-51, the first sod was turned on 31 October 1850 and the first locomotive was used in construction on 22 December 1851
*1853 April 16. A train, with 14 railway carriages and 400 guests, left [[Bombay]] bound for [[Thane]], hauled by three locomotives: ''Sindh, Sultan,'' and ''Sahib''. The 21 mile(34km) journey took an hour and fifteen minutes, it was the first section of the GIPR to be opened and the first railway for passenger service in India.
*1853-54, the continuation of the line from [[Thane]] to [[Callian]] (later named [[Kalyan]]) was the first contact awarded to [[Messrs. Wythes and Jackson, Construction Contractors|Messrs. Wythes and Jackson]] <ref name=GGW&J>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Wythes_and_Jackson Grace's Guide "Wythes and Jackson"]; Retrieved 6 Jul 2016</ref>. This section of the line involved a railway bridge over the Thane creek and the two-line [[Tannah Viaduct]] over the estuary and two tunnels. This viaduct  was the first substantial railway bridge to be constructed in India and connected Bombay Island to the mainland and opened and on 1 May 1854.


'''North-East Line''' - [[Bombay]] via [[Callian]] and [[Thal Ghat Railway Construction|Thal Ghat]] to [[Jubbulpore]] - 615 miles(990km)


When, in 1871, the GIPR eventually reached [[Jubbulpore]] and linked to the [[East Indian Railway]] (EIR), it completed Dalhousie’s dream of a Bombay-Calcutta route.
The GIPR Chief Engineer [[James John Berkley]]'s proposal was to form a grand trunk communication by the north-eastern mainline between [[Bombay]] and [[Calcutta]],
*1857-61, [[Callian]] (later named [[Kalyan]]) to [[Kasara]] section constructed, a further  42 miles(68 km)<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway Graces Guide "Great Indian Peninsula Railway - 1865"]; Retrieved 3 Jul 2016</ref>  rising to an altitude of 948 feet(289m) above sea level at [[Kasara]] at the approach to the [[Thal Ghat Railway Construction|Thal Ghat]]. Opened in 1861.
*1857 Aug, [[Messrs. Wythes and Jackson, Construction Contractors|Messrs. Wythes and Jackson]] were awarded the contract for the '''[[Thal Ghat Railway Construction]]'''
*1857-65. The [[Thal Ghat Railway Construction|Thal Ghat Railway]] was a major project to take the GIPR mainline across the Western Ghats towards [[Jubbulpore]]. The [[Kasara]] to [[Igatpuri]] section was 9.5 miles(15km) and within that distance the line had to rise to 1,918 feet(585m). The construction required 13 tunnels, 6 viaducts, including the [[Ehagaon Viaduct]]; cuttings; embankments; 15 bridges and culverts and the Reversing Station <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=a5MEAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=bombay+mechanics&hl=en&ei=8FUcTMGmHqC0nAeWxImdDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false  Google Books  "Paper on the (GIPR) Thul Ghaut Railway" incline  delivered to the Bombay Mechancs Institution in December 1860 by the GIPR Chief Engineer [[James John Berkley]], page 20.] Retrieved on 2 Jul 2016</ref>.
*c.1859-65, [[Messrs. Wythes and Jackson, Construction Contractors|Messrs. Wythes and Jackson]] were awarded a further contact to construct a further section of the GIPR north-eastern line from [[Igatpuri]] at the end of the Thal Ghat, this was opened in stages reaching [[Chalisgaon]] in 1861, [[Jalgaon]] in 1863 and [[Bhusawal]] in 1865, a total of 191.24 miles(307km)<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n73/mode/1up " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government  Printing,  Calcutta;  pages 64-68, pdf pages 73-77]; Retrieved 6 Jun 2016</ref>.
*1861-65, [[Igatpuri]]-[[Jalgaon]]-[[Bhusawal]] progressivly opened.
*1863-67, [[GIPR Nagpur Branch]] from [[Bhusawal]] was built by [[Messrs. Lee, Watson and Ayton, Construction Contractors]]. 
*1865, with completion of [[Thal Ghat Railway Construction|Thal Ghat]] and the [[Taptee (Bhusawal) Viaduct GIPR| Taptee Viaduct]] near [[Bhusawal]] the mainline from [[Bombay]] reached [[Khandwa]].
*1868 July, [[Robert Maitland Brereton]], GIPR Chief Engineer was given responsibility for completing the connection between [[Bhusawal]] and [[Jubbulpore]] which he completed many months ahead of schedule  <ref name>[http://www.thestatesman.com/mobi/news/8th-day/the-opening-of-the-mumbai-to-kolkata-railway/141013.html#SL3vjC1hEy3Vmu3P.99 The Statesman, New Delhi "The opening of the Mumbai to Kolkata railway by Michael Sandford, May 9 2016]; Retrieved  3 Jul 2016</ref>.
*1868-70 the [[Khandwa]] to [[Itarsi]] section opened and with the [[Nerbudda (Itsari-Jubblepore) Bridge GIPR|Nerbudda Bridge ]] completed the line reached [[Jubbulpore]] in 1870
*1870 March 8. The [[Alfred Viaduct]] was inaugurated and named after the Duke of Edinburgh (Alfred Ernest Albert) who was visiting India and travelled by East Indian Railway from Calcutta. The Viceroy and the Governor of Bombay, Sir Fitzgerald Seymour had come from Bombay. With the opening of the GIPR North-Eastern Line the connection at [[Jubbulpore]] to the [[East Indian Railway]] (EIR) completed Dalhousie’s dream of a Bombay-Calcutta route.


On 30 June 1900, the assets of the GIPR were purchased by the GoI and merged with those of the [[Indian Midland Railway]] into a "new" GIPR, managed by the old company.
'''South-East Line''' - [[Callian]] via [[Bhore Ghat Railway Construction|Bhor Ghat]] and [[Poona]] to meet the [[Madras Railway]] - 409 miles(658km)
*1856 May, the line was extended to  the villages of [[Palasdhari]](Padusdhurree) and to [[Khopoli]](Campoolie) <ref name=wiki> [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway#Bombay_to_Tannah Wikipedia “Great Indian Peninsula Railway”]; Retrieved  25 June 2016</ref> at the approach to the [[Bhore Ghat Railway Construction|Bhor Ghat]]. The 
*1856-63. The [[Bhore Ghat Railway Construction]] was a major engineering challenge to take the GIPR mainline across the Western Ghats towards Madras. The construction with GIPR Chief Engineer [[James John Berkley]] in charge involved an incline length of 15 miles(24km), 26 tunnels (totalling 2.25 miles(3.6km) in length), and 8 viaducts of masonry construction.
*1858, the line from [[Khandala]] to  [[Poona]] section was opened to traffic  <ref name=wiki/> , this section included the  [[Dapoorie Viaduct]]
*1858-63, during this period, the 21 km gap to [[Khandala]] was covered by palanquin, pony or cart through the village of Campoolie <ref name=wiki/>. 
*1863, [[Bhore Ghat Railway Construction|Bhor Ghat]] completed the mainline was through to [[Poona]](now called Pune) and [[Sholapore]](Solapur).
*1870, the [[Kistna Viaduct, Raichur(GIPR)|Kisna Viaduct]] was opened and [[Raichur]] was reached in May 1871  <ref name=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n73/mode/2up " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government  Printing,  Calcutta;  pages 64-68, pdf pages 73-77]; Retrieved 23 Jul 2016</ref> where it joined the [[Madras Railway]] to link to [[Madras]] <ref name=GIPR/>.  


On 1 July 1925, the GoI took over direct control of the GIPR and transferred the [[Allahabad]] to [[Jubbulpore]] branch of the [[East Indian Railway|EIR]] to the GIPR.  
===GIPR Development from 1870===
With the completion of the GIPR mainlines the three Presidency Capitals of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta were linked. The length of the route opened was then 1483 miles(2388 km) <ref name=GIPR/>.
*[[1870-71_Report_on_Railways#Progress_on_State_lines._Paragraphs_5-10.3B_Pages_3-4| “1870-71 Annual Report for Indian Railways  for the  GIPR “]] gives:- [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|
‘Broad Gauge (BG)]] Line opened 1870/71,  400 miles(644km), giving total Line length 1272 miles(2047km) and nil to be finished’. The Report also details of  the [[1870-71_Report_on_Railways#Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway._Paragraphs_63.2C64.3B_Page_34.2C35|‘progress of the railway and the commercial summery’]] - ''see separate pages for Report details.''
*1900 June 30, the assets of the GIPR were purchased by the [[Government of India]](GoI) and merged with those of the [[Indian Midland Railway]] into a "new" GIPR, managed by the old company.
The GIPR continued to expand its network with the addition of 'Branch Lines', certain railways being ‘Absorbed’ and 'Working Agreements' on other railways - [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway - Lines owned and worked|'''See separate page - GIPR Lines Owned and Worked''']]
*1918 “Administration Report on Indian Railways” <ref name=Admin/> describes the ‘Great Indian Peninsula System’  with a total of 3441 miles(5489km). Comprising the ‘GIPR broad gauge’ ([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line length of 2668 miles(4293km) and other Railways [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway  - Lines owned and worked| as detailed on separate ‘GIPR Lines‘ page]]
*1925 Jan 1, the GoI took over direct control of the GIPR and transferred the [[Allahabad]] to [[Jubbulpore]] branch of the [[East Indian Railway|EIR]] to the GIPR.
*1937 “History Of Indian Railways” gives the ‘Great Indian Peninsula System’  with a total of 3727 miles(5998km). Comprising the ‘GIPR broad gauge’([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line length of 3166 miles(5095km)  and other Railways [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway  - Lines owned and worked| as detailed on separate ‘GIPR Lines’ page]]
*1951. The GIPR combined with the [[Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway]], the [[Dholpur State Railway]] and the [[Scindia State Railway]] to become [[Central Railway]], a zone of [[Indian Railways]].


In 1951, the GIPR combined with the [[Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway]], the [[Dholpur State Railway]] and the [[Scindia State Railway]] to become [[Central Railway]], a zone of [[Indian Railways]].
===GIPR Bridges and Constructions===
The physical difficulties which had to be overcome are
'''Design and construction: Bhore Ghat Incline - between Bombay and Poona'''
The great physical difficulties which occur in the course of the GIPR are the mountains which separate [[Bombay]] from the Deccan, the ascent of which involves works of extraordinary magnitude and interest.  
<br> See separate page ''' [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway Bridges and Constructions]] ''' for details.


GIPR Chief Engineer 1849 - 1862:  Mr. James James Berkley (surveyor and route designer).
===Stations===
Consultant engineer 1847 - 1867: Mr Arthur Anderson West (surveyor of the Bhore Gate Incline)<sup> (2)</sup>
Bombay's [[Bombay Victoria Terminus Construction Railway|Victoria Terminus]] was both the principal station and GIPR's HQ; designed by [[architect]] Frederick William Stevens. [[Bombay Victoria Terminus Construction Railway|Victoria Terminus Construction]] commenced in 1878, it opened on Queen Victoria's 1887 Golden Jubilee and completed in 1888.
[[Image:Victoria Terminus. G I P Ry, Bombay.JPG‎|right|thumb|320px|''Victoria Terminus, GIPR, Bombay'']]
See separate pages for details of the Stations and Rail System into the following major Cities:-
* [[Agra_Railways_%26_Stations#Agra_Stations| ‘Agra Stations’]]
* [[Bombay_Victoria_Terminus_Construction_Railway| ‘Bombay Victoria Terminus’]]
* [[Cawnpore_Railways_and_Stations#Cawnpore_Stations| ‘Cawnpore Stations’]]
* [[Delhi_Railways_%26_Stations#Delhi_Stations| ‘Delhi Stations’]]


GIPR Engineers: Messrs. Adamson and Clowser, subsequently replaced by Messrs. West and Tate in Nov 1859.
===Bombay Dock Railways===
The GIPR had a collection of sidings spurring off to the docks in the east Bombay. There were numerous spurs to:
*Victoria Dock 1891
*Princes Dock 1888
*Carnac Basin
*Malet Basin
*Frere Basin
*Clerk Basin


'''Construction Contractors'''
==Great Indian Peninsula Railway  - Lines owned and worked==
Autumn 1855 Mr William Frederick Faviell , work begun at Bhore Ghat on the 24th January 1856. In March 1859, Mr. Faviell gave up his contract; and, for a short time, GIPR's engineers Messrs. Swainson Adamson and George Louis Clowser, carried on the works.  
The GIPR operated an extensive network of railways of broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]). In 1905 the route mileage was 1562 miles(2514km) and by 1918 was 2553 miles(4109km) divided into three sections ‘North East Division’, ‘South East Division’ and ‘Midland Division’ and their associated branches.


The GIPR construction contract was relet in November 1859 to Mr. Solomon Tredwell, but he died within fifteen days of landing in India. Mrs. Alice Tredwell assumed the contract and appointed Messrs. Adamson and Clowser to manage the contract for her, in her absence - as Mrs. Tredwell returned to England. This arrangement was to last seven years.  
The GIPR also managed, worked and maintained a number of lines on behalf of other parties.


“These gentlemen (Adamson and Clowser) carried on the work with the greatest zeal and ability.” Labour management could limit construction progress, but “by their good and liberal management (Adamson and Clowser) collected and kept on the work a force of 25,000 men during two seasons, and in 1861 of more than 42,000 men.” <sup> (3)</sup>
''See seperate page'' '''[[Great Indian Peninsula Railway  - Lines owned and worked]]'''


Incline length: 15 miles, tunnels: 26 (totalling 2.25 miles in length),and 8 viaducts of masonry construction.
==Later Development==
Indian Railways (IR), '''[[Central Railway]] Zone''' (CR) was formed on 5 November 1951 by grouping several government-owned railways, including the ‘Great Indian Peninsula Railway’


== Records ==
==Records==
An on-line search of the [[India Office Records]] (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 22 Jan 2016</ref> gives 136  references.  The most important being:-
*'''L /AG/46/12 '''  “Records of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company; 1845-1926”
*'''L/AG/46/12A '''  “Records of the Great Indian Peninsula Extension Railway Company;  1863-1869”


The following are held in the [[India Office Records]] at the [[British Library]].
==Personnel==
<big>'''[[Great Indian Peninsula Railway Personnel]]'''</big> gives details of GIPR staff from several other sources:-
*Grace's Guide<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Main_Page  “Grace’s Guide”];  Retrieved  3 Jul 2016</ref>
*Wikipedia and many other sources.


*'''L/AG/46/12/86''' : GIPR Lists of appointments (officers 1849-1885; workmen 1852-1880)
'''IOR Records'''
The following [[India Office Records]] (IOR) are relevant :-
*'''L/AG/46/12/86''' : GIPR Lists of appointments (officers 1849-1885; workmen 1852-1880)
*'''L/AG/46/12/88''' : GIPR Contracts of employment (officers 1886-1925; workmen 1881-1925)
*'''Z/L/AG/46'''  : Index to UK Appointments to  Indian Railways (1849-1925)
*'''Mss Eur D1184/14''' :  Letters to Arthur A West from G L Clowser Nov 1860-Nov


*'''L/AG/46/12/88''' :  GIPR Contracts of employment (officers 1886-1925; workmen 1881-1925)
'''FIBIS Resources'''
*[http://fibis.ourarchives.online/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=1068&s_id=323  List of Indian Railways UK Contracted Staff taken from IOR Series L/AG/46/12]. FIBIS database


*'''Mss Eur D1184/14''' :  Letters to Arthur A West from G L Clowser Nov 1860-Nov 1861  British Library, Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
== External links ==
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway Great Indian Peninsula Railway] Wikipedia
 
 
Both of the above are indexed in
 
*'''Z/L/AG/46''' :  Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways (1849-1925)
 
 
== External Links ==
 
 
*[http://www.allen-family-tree.co.uk/solomon-tredwell.html Solomon and Alice Tredwell, contractors for Bhore Ghat] ''Instone Family Tree''.


*[http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?txtkeys1=Great+Indian+Peninsula+Railway GIPR picture gallery] ''Science & Society Picture Library''.
*[http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?txtkeys1=Great+Indian+Peninsula+Railway GIPR picture gallery] ''Science & Society Picture Library''.
*[http://the-railway-image.fotopic.net/c600548.html GIPR picture gallery] ''David Flitcroft's Photographs''.


*[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1899/aug/03/guaranteed-railways-in-india "Guaranteed Railways in India"] ''Hansard 1803-2005'' (accessed 04 December 2008)
*[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1899/aug/03/guaranteed-railways-in-india "Guaranteed Railways in India"] ''Hansard 1803-2005'' (accessed 04 December 2008)


*[http://www.centralrailwayonline.com/aboutus.jsp History (of Central Railway)] ''Central Railway (Indian Railways)''.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100126031433/http://www.centralrailwayonline.com/aboutus.jsp History (of Central Railway)] ''Central Railway (Indian Railways)''. (now an archived site)
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhatrapati_Shivaji_Terminus  Victoria Terminus, (GIPR HQ & station <nowiki>[</nowiki>Bombay<nowiki>]</nowiki>)]  Wikipedia (now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus)
 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131120075151/http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/vim0PsB8bW75gL0GQFEkaK/Mumbai-Multiplex--The-line-starts-here.html  "Mumbai Multiplex : The line starts here"] by  Supriya Nair 4 January  2013. livemint.com "The ‘heritage wing’ of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a railway enthusiast’s dream"
{{Railwaymap
*[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/mumbai-over-100-documents-of-great-indian-peninsula-railway-to-be-digitised-2907994/ "Mumbai: Over 100 documents of Great Indian Peninsula Railway to be digitized"] by Neha Kulkarni, July 12, 2016 ''The Indian Express''.
|railway= the North East Division
==Historical photographs online==
|link= http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=108089533651928306068.0004776aacede4ad4baa7
*[https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-03022-S/1 Hawkes collection of Indian Railway Photographs (Y3022S)] Royal Commonwealth Society Library/ University of Cambridge Digital Library. The description states "An album containing albumen prints of various sizes by R. Phillips of Darjeeling, Samuel Bourne and others. The name of F.A. Hawkes, who was an engineer...  appears frequently in it".  
}}
:Once inside the digital file, click on Contents for image titles. includes photographs whose titles include  GIPR 1868-1869.
 
===Historical books online===
 
*[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=MnAgAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR3 ''The Cotton and Commerce of India: considered in relation to the interests of Great Britain; with remarks on Railway Communication in the Bombay Presidency‬''] by John Chapman, founder and late manager of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company 1851 Google Books. [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=MnAgAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR19 Contents-Railway Chapters] page xix.
== Notes ==
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=a5MEAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=bombay+mechanics&hl=en&ei=8FUcTMGmHqC0nAeWxImdDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false  Paper on the (GIPR) Thul Ghaut Railway incline] by James John Berkley: GIPR Chief Engineer, Bombay, 1860.
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/reminiscencesofo00brer#page/8/mode/2up ''Reminicences of an old English Civil Engineer 1858 -1908''] by Robert Maitland Brereton 1908 Archive.org. Includes [http://archive.org/stream/reminiscencesofo00brer#page/48/mode/2up  Appendix: India] page 49.  Brereton's account of working on the GIPR 1857-1870. He became Chief Engineer.
<sup>1</sup> "Money Market and City Intelligence", ''The Times'', Wednesday, 15 June 1859, #23333, 7a.
 
<sup>2</sup> [http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/docserver/fulltext/imotp.1913.17480.pdf] obituary: Arthur Anderson West p363
 
<sup>3</sup> [http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Thane-I/trade_roads.html#5 Railways] Thana District Gazetteer
 




== References ==
<references />


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

Latest revision as of 08:42, 6 March 2021

Great Indian Peninsula Railway

The Bombay-Poona Mail in full flight about 1910
Line of route
Bombay to Raichur (SE Division}
Bombay to Jubbulpore (NE Division))
Bhusawal to Delhi
Bhusawal to Nagpur
Gauge / mileage
Broad gauge 1562 miles (1905)
Timeline
1845 Company formed
1853 First section of line open to traffic
1871 Through trains to Calcutta via Jubbulpore
Dhond-Manmad State Railway absorbed
1900 Line acquired by State
Key locations
Presidency Bombay
Stations Kalyan, Poona, Hotgi, Wadi, Ahmadnagar, Akola, Chanda, Khandwa, Itarsi, Narsinghpur
System agency
Worked by Great Indian Peninsula Railway
How to interpret this infobox
Great Indian Peninsula Railway

Great Indian Peninsula Railway device
System timeline
1900 Company re-formed to work State line
1925 Government takes over working of system
Constituent companies / lines
Great Indian Peninsula Railway
Agra-Delhi Chord Railway
Bhopal-Itarsi Railway
Bhopal-Ujjain Railway
Bina-Goona-Baran Railway
Gwalior Light Railway
1900 Indian Midland Railway
Key locations
Headquarters Bombay
Workshops see also GIPR Railway Workshops
Parel (BG), Bhusawal, Harda, Igatpuri, Lonauli, Jhansi, Jubbulpore, Bhusawal
Major Stations Agra , Ahmadnagar, Akola, Amraoti, Banda, Bhopal, Bhusawal, Bombay , Cawnpore, Chanda, Delhi , Dholpur, Gwalior, Hotgi, Itarsi, Jhansi, Jubbulpore, Khandwa, Muttra, Nagpur, Narsinghpur, Poona, Raichur, Saugor, Wadi

See also heading Stations for major stations marked bold

Successor system / organisation
1951 Central Railway (IR zone)
System mileage
Broad gauge 2988 miles (1905)
3363 miles (1943)
2' 0" NG 183 miles (1905)
202 miles (1943)
Associated auxiliary force
Great Indian Peninsula Railway Regiment
How to interpret this infobox
Map of GIPR in 1870
Great Indian Peninsula Railway Map 1909 – north section
Great Indian Peninsula Railway Map 1909 – south section
See our interactive map of
the North East Division
locations and routes on Google Maps


Like most of the early railways in India, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) was a British company, registered in London, privately owned and financed, operating under licence and guarantee from the (British) Board of Control in India and the East India Company (EIC). The GIPR was India's and Asia's first railway.

The principal economic benefit of the GIPR was the opening up of the interior to Port and City of Bombay. The narrow coastal plain of India's west side is separated from the Deccan plateau by a mountain range, the Western Ghats which rises to 3,900 feet(1200m) and which has always restricted internal communication with the Arabian Sea.

The challenge was to create two lines through the Western Ghats, one to the north-east and one to the south-east, these were fully open by 1865 in time for cotton from the Deccan to be exported from Bombay to Manchester thus filling the trade gap created by the American Civil War. The lines were exteded to link Bombay to Calcutta and Madras by 1870.

History

  • 1845. Registered as a company in 1845, with its head office in London, the ‘Great Indian Peninsula initially proposed a length of 1300 miles, to connect Bombay with the interior of the Indian peninsula and to a major port on the east coast. It was meant for the purpose of increasing the export of cotton, silk, opium, sugar and spices. The Announcement of company formation gave the listing of the ‘Committee of Management ‘ [1]. One of these being Robert Stephenson, London based Consulting Engineer, he remained in this capacity until 1859
  • 1847. Stephenson reported preliminary findings to the directors, although he cannot have been in a position to provide more than general advice and a reviews of the material gathered by the surveys This concluded that the best method to climb 1800 feet over the Ghat mountains in just 15 miles was to use locomotives assisted by ropes worked by a stationary engine [2].
  • 1847-48. The subsequent recession removed the financial incentive for railways in India but the GIPR scheme continued but only through the involvement of the ’East India Company’ which guaranteed a minimum of 5% dividend , however only a 35 mile route between Bombay and Kalyan was authorised [2].
  • 1849. At the urging of the Governor, Lord Dalhousie, the East Indian Company(EIC) sanctioned the construction of a broad gauge(BG) railway eastward from Bombay and the ‘Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company ‘ was incorporated on August 1, 1849 by an act of the British Parliament. It had a share capital of 50,000 pounds. On August 17, 1849 it entered into a formal contract with the EIC for the construction and operation of an experimental line, 35 miles(56 km) long. The Court of Directors of the EIC appointed James John Berkley as Chief Resident Engineer and Charles Buchanan Ker and Robert W Graham as his assistants [3].
  • 1850. Stephenson provided the directors with cost estimates and recommended James John Berkley as Chief Engineer to supervise the building of the line. The Court of Directors of the East India Company appointed James John Berkeley as Chief Resident Engineer with Charles Buchanan Ker and Robert W Graham as his assistants [3]
  • 1850. A Tender was submitted for the first railway contract in Western India, from Bombay to Tanna, by William Frederick Faviell and Henry Fowler. The Tender was accepted by the ‘Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company’[4].
  • 1851-53. Faviell and Fowler actively prosecuted the work, Fowler’s health failed after a few months’ exposure to the climate of India, and compelled his return to England. The execution of the contract then devolved entirely upon Faviell, and was completed to the satisfaction of the Company, the line being opened for traffic on the 16th April, 1853. That was the first line of railway opened for public traffic in India, and in its construction the first locomotive engine used in Asia was introduced on the 23rd February, 1852, for ballasting the line near Bombay [4].
  • 1859. George Berkley succeeded Robert Stephenson as GIPR Consultant Engineer based in London. Previously Assistant and had been liaising with his brother James John Berkley, Chief Resident Engineer.
  • 1859, GIPR was tasked with "the construction and working of the following lines, all of which terminate at Bombay, - viz. from Bombay, via Callian, to Jubbulpore, to meet the East Indian Railway Company's line from Allahabad, with branches to Mahim and Nagpore - 870 miles; and from Callian, via Poonah and Sholapore, to the opposite side of the river Kristna, to meet the line, via Bellary, from Madras - 366 miles - total, 1,236 miles. Capital 10,000,000ll. Rate of Interest Guaranteed - 5 per cent. on 8,000,000l. capital, and 4½ per cent. on 333,000l. debentures, the balance to be raised upon arrangements to be hereafter made." [5] [6].

Bombay - Callian - 33.5 miles(54km)

  • 1850-51, the first sod was turned on 31 October 1850 and the first locomotive was used in construction on 22 December 1851
  • 1853 April 16. A train, with 14 railway carriages and 400 guests, left Bombay bound for Thane, hauled by three locomotives: Sindh, Sultan, and Sahib. The 21 mile(34km) journey took an hour and fifteen minutes, it was the first section of the GIPR to be opened and the first railway for passenger service in India.
  • 1853-54, the continuation of the line from Thane to Callian (later named Kalyan) was the first contact awarded to Messrs. Wythes and Jackson [7]. This section of the line involved a railway bridge over the Thane creek and the two-line Tannah Viaduct over the estuary and two tunnels. This viaduct was the first substantial railway bridge to be constructed in India and connected Bombay Island to the mainland and opened and on 1 May 1854.

North-East Line - Bombay via Callian and Thal Ghat to Jubbulpore - 615 miles(990km)

The GIPR Chief Engineer James John Berkley's proposal was to form a grand trunk communication by the north-eastern mainline between Bombay and Calcutta,

South-East Line - Callian via Bhor Ghat and Poona to meet the Madras Railway - 409 miles(658km)

  • 1856 May, the line was extended to the villages of Palasdhari(Padusdhurree) and to Khopoli(Campoolie) [12] at the approach to the Bhor Ghat. The
  • 1856-63. The Bhore Ghat Railway Construction was a major engineering challenge to take the GIPR mainline across the Western Ghats towards Madras. The construction with GIPR Chief Engineer James John Berkley in charge involved an incline length of 15 miles(24km), 26 tunnels (totalling 2.25 miles(3.6km) in length), and 8 viaducts of masonry construction.
  • 1858, the line from Khandala to Poona section was opened to traffic [12] , this section included the Dapoorie Viaduct
  • 1858-63, during this period, the 21 km gap to Khandala was covered by palanquin, pony or cart through the village of Campoolie [12].
  • 1863, Bhor Ghat completed the mainline was through to Poona(now called Pune) and Sholapore(Solapur).
  • 1870, the Kisna Viaduct was opened and Raichur was reached in May 1871 [13] where it joined the Madras Railway to link to Madras [3].

GIPR Development from 1870

With the completion of the GIPR mainlines the three Presidency Capitals of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta were linked. The length of the route opened was then 1483 miles(2388 km) [3].

The GIPR continued to expand its network with the addition of 'Branch Lines', certain railways being ‘Absorbed’ and 'Working Agreements' on other railways - See separate page - GIPR Lines Owned and Worked

GIPR Bridges and Constructions

The physical difficulties which had to be overcome are The great physical difficulties which occur in the course of the GIPR are the mountains which separate Bombay from the Deccan, the ascent of which involves works of extraordinary magnitude and interest.
See separate page Great Indian Peninsula Railway Bridges and Constructions for details.

Stations

Bombay's Victoria Terminus was both the principal station and GIPR's HQ; designed by architect Frederick William Stevens. Victoria Terminus Construction commenced in 1878, it opened on Queen Victoria's 1887 Golden Jubilee and completed in 1888.

Victoria Terminus, GIPR, Bombay

See separate pages for details of the Stations and Rail System into the following major Cities:-

Bombay Dock Railways

The GIPR had a collection of sidings spurring off to the docks in the east Bombay. There were numerous spurs to:

  • Victoria Dock 1891
  • Princes Dock 1888
  • Carnac Basin
  • Malet Basin
  • Frere Basin
  • Clerk Basin

Great Indian Peninsula Railway - Lines owned and worked

The GIPR operated an extensive network of railways of broad gauge(BG). In 1905 the route mileage was 1562 miles(2514km) and by 1918 was 2553 miles(4109km) divided into three sections ‘North East Division’, ‘South East Division’ and ‘Midland Division’ and their associated branches.

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

See seperate page Great Indian Peninsula Railway - Lines owned and worked

Later Development

Indian Railways (IR), Central Railway Zone (CR) was formed on 5 November 1951 by grouping several government-owned railways, including the ‘Great Indian Peninsula Railway’

Records

An on-line search of the India Office Records (IOR) records relating to this railway [14] gives 136 references. The most important being:-

  • L /AG/46/12 “Records of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company; 1845-1926”
  • L/AG/46/12A “Records of the Great Indian Peninsula Extension Railway Company; 1863-1869”

Personnel

Great Indian Peninsula Railway Personnel gives details of GIPR staff from several other sources:-

  • Grace's Guide[15]
  • Wikipedia and many other sources.

IOR Records The following India Office Records (IOR) are relevant :-

  • L/AG/46/12/86 : GIPR Lists of appointments (officers 1849-1885; workmen 1852-1880)
  • L/AG/46/12/88 : GIPR Contracts of employment (officers 1886-1925; workmen 1881-1925)
  • Z/L/AG/46  : Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways (1849-1925)
  • Mss Eur D1184/14 : Letters to Arthur A West from G L Clowser Nov 1860-Nov

FIBIS Resources

External links

Historical photographs online

  • Hawkes collection of Indian Railway Photographs (Y3022S) Royal Commonwealth Society Library/ University of Cambridge Digital Library. The description states "An album containing albumen prints of various sizes by R. Phillips of Darjeeling, Samuel Bourne and others. The name of F.A. Hawkes, who was an engineer... appears frequently in it".
Once inside the digital file, click on Contents for image titles. includes photographs whose titles include GIPR 1868-1869.

Historical books online


References

  1. ↑ Grace's Guide " GIPR 1945 Company Registration Retrieved on 5 May 2020
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Google Books “Robert Stephenson – The Eminent Engineer” edited by Michael R. Bailey; page 155-57 Retrieved on 5 May 2020
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Grace's Gide "Great Indian Peninsula Railway which quotes from 'Morning Post' - Saturday 18 August 1849""; Retrieved on 5 May 2020
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 'Grace's Guide' - "William Frederick Faviell" Retrieved on 5 May 2020
  5. ↑ "Money Market and City Intelligence", The Times, Wednesday, 15 June 1859, #23333, 7a.
  6. ↑ H.M. Government “Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report : Draft Statute Law (Repeals) Bill; April 2012"; pages 128-130 paragraphs 3.57 - 3.64 Retrieved on 3 Jul 2016
  7. ↑ Grace's Guide "Wythes and Jackson"; Retrieved 6 Jul 2016
  8. ↑ Graces Guide "Great Indian Peninsula Railway - 1865"; Retrieved 3 Jul 2016
  9. ↑ Google Books "Paper on the (GIPR) Thul Ghaut Railway" incline delivered to the Bombay Mechancs Institution in December 1860 by the GIPR Chief Engineer James John Berkley, page 20. Retrieved on 2 Jul 2016
  10. ↑ " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; pages 64-68, pdf pages 73-77; Retrieved 6 Jun 2016
  11. ↑ The Statesman, New Delhi "The opening of the Mumbai to Kolkata railway by Michael Sandford, May 9 2016; Retrieved 3 Jul 2016
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Wikipedia “Great Indian Peninsula Railway”; Retrieved 25 June 2016
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; pages 64-68, pdf pages 73-77; Retrieved 23 Jul 2016
  14. ↑ British Library “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 22 Jan 2016
  15. ↑ “Grace’s Guide”; Retrieved 3 Jul 2016
Retrieved from "https://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway&oldid=85676"