Southern Punjab Railway: Difference between revisions

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|timeline1details=
|timeline1details=
|timeline2date= 1897
|timeline2date= 1897
|timeline2details= Delhi to Samasata line opened to traffic
|timeline2details= Delhi to Samasata line opened to traffic  
|timeline3date=  
|timeline3date=  
|timeline3details=
|timeline3details=
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|timeline5details= Line acquired by State and merged into NWR
|timeline5details= Line acquired by State and merged into NWR
|presidency= [[Bengal]]
|presidency= [[Bengal]]
|stations= [[Bahawalpur]], [[Bhatinda]], [[Fazilka]], [[Ferozepore]], [[Jakhai]], [[Rohtak]]
|stations= [[Bahawalpur]], [[Bhatinda]], [[Fazilka]], [[Ferozepore]], [[Ghaziabad]], [[Jakhai]], [[Rohtak]]
[[Ghaziabad]] was the connection to [[Delhi]]  - see separate page [[Delhi_Railways_%26_Stations#Delhi_Stations| ''Delhi Stations''']] for details
|system1date=
|system1date=
|system1details= Worked by [[North Western Railway]]
|system1details= Worked by [[North Western Railway]]
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}}
}}


The '''Southern Punjab Railway'''(SPR) was a broad gauge line built to provide a more direct connection from [[Karachi]] to [[Delhi]] by linking to the original [[Indus Valley State Railway|Indus Valley]] line at [[Samasata]] and avoiding the [[North Western Railway]] loop via [[Lahore]].
The '''Southern Punjab Railway'''(SPR) was a broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line built to provide a more direct connection from [[Karachi]] to [[Delhi]] by linking to the original [[Indus Valley State Railway|Indus Valley]] line at [[Samasata]] and avoiding the [[North Western Railway]] loop via [[Lahore]].
<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazilka_railway_station Wikipedia "Fazilka railway station"]; Retrieved 13 Dec 2015</ref>   
<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazilka_railway_station Wikipedia "Fazilka railway station"]; Retrieved 13 Dec 2015</ref>   


The CPR main line ran north west from Delhi to Bhatinda then south west through Bahawalpur State to Samasata, a total distance of 402 miles.
==History==
The '''Southern Punjab Railway'''(SPR) Company was formed in 1895 with [[Bradford Leslie]] as Chairman. Under contract with the Secretary of State for India, Leslie and his partners formed the company to build a BG Railway from [[Delhi]] to [[Samasata]] about  400 miles to the west.


==SPR Branch Lines and extensions==
[[Horace Bell ]] was the  Consulting Engineer for SPR in London for the construction.,  
*'''[[Delhi-Samasatta Railway]]''' was opened in 1897 by the SPR connecting [[Delhi]] with [[Samasatta]] via [[Bhatinda]]. The line passed through [[Muktasar]] and [[Fazilka]] and provided direct connection through [[Samasatta]] (now in Pakistan) to [[Karachi]].
*'''[[Macleodganj Railway]]''' was an extension constructed  by SPR in 1905 and worked by them. Later renamed Mandi Sadiqgan Railway and now in Pakistan.
*'''[[Narwana-Kaithal Railway]]''' was opened in 1899 by SPR, linking [[Kaitha]] to [[Narwana]], from where a  branch line to [[Kuruksheta]] was opened in  1910.


==Railways absorbed into SPR==
The Mainline ran north west from [[Delhi]] to [[Bhatinda]] then south west through Bahawalpur State to [[Samasata]], a total distance of 402 miles(643km). Several extension lines (Jullunder, Sutlej Valley etc.) extended the length to 502 miles(803km) in 1905.
*'''[[Sutlej Valley Railway]]''', opened 1910. Constructed as part of Sutlej Valley Irrigation project; merged into SPR, 1917-18; some evidence that line then dismantled.


==Lines worked by SPR at some time==
The SPR  Mainline and the extensions were all worked by the ‘[[North Western Railway]]’(NWR) , each line reported financially individually until purchased by Government in 1929-30. From that time onwards the each line was absorbed into the ‘NWR System’.  
*'''[[Narwana-Kaithal Railway]]''', opened 1899, extended to Kuruksheta, 1910; worked by SPR.


== Records ==
==SPR Network of Lines ==
India Office Records relating to the Southern Punjab Railway Company
The listings below are generally based on the “Administration Report on Railways 1918”  <ref name=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n121/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 120-126 (pdf 129-134]; Retrieved  2 Nov 2020</ref> with page numbers (and pdf pages) noted at the end of each entry.
Reference: IOR/L/AG/46/39
 
Administrative History: Company formed in 1895. Main line ran north west from Delhi to Bhatinda then south west through Bahawalpur State to Samasata, a total distance of 402 miles. Several extension lines (Jullunder, Sutlej Valley etc.). Worked by the North Western State Railway (see L/AG/46/34). Purchased by Government in 1930.
This 1918 Report <ref name=Admin/> details  the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’  but with the ‘Statistics of Working’ (route mileages, capital outlay, income etc) for each part of the SPR given as a separate entities..
 
''Significant later information is shown in italics. The listings below includes information concerning the changes from 1929-30 when the SPR was fully integrated into the NWR System'' '' <ref name=Hist151>[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 151-156  pdf  190-195]; Retrieved  2 Nov 2020</ref>
 
===SPR Mainline and Branches ===
[[File: Southern Punjab Railway Map 1909.png|600px|right| Southern Punjab Railway Map 1909]]
Total broad gauge [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] line length 426 miles(685km). Page 121(pdf 130)
* ‘[[Delhi-Samasata Railway|Delhi-Samasata Mainline]]’, from [[Delhi]] via [[Narwana]], [[Jakhal]], [[Bhatinda]]  to [[Samasata]], opened 1897, 399 miles(642km). ''From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR  Samastra-Bhatinda-Delhi Section’ '' 
** ‘Delhi Brewery Branch Line’, opened 1909, 0.8 mile(1.3km)
** ‘[[Narwana-Kaithal Railway|Narwana-Kaithal Branch Line]]’, opened 1899, from [[Narwana]] to [[Kaithal]], 23 miles(37km). ''From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Narwana- Kurukshetra Section’, 53 miles(85km) by putting together the ’SPR Narwana-Kaithal  Line’ with the [[Thanesar-Kaithal Railway| ‘Thanesar-Kaithal Railway’ from Kaithal to Kurukshetra - see separate page]] ''
** ‘Jind City Branch Line’, from [[Jhind|Jind]] Junction to [[Jhind|Jind]] City, opened 1916, 2.5 miles(4km). ''From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Jind-Panipat Section’, 18 miles(29km) by putting together the ‘SPR Jind City Branch Line’ with the [[Jind-Panipat Railway | ‘Jind-Panipat Railway’ from Jind to Panipat - see separate page]] ''
 
===[[Jullundur-Doab Railway| Jullundur-Doab Extension Railway]]===
Classified under  the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge  [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]  line length 130 miles(209km). Page 123(pdf132)
* ‘[[Jullunder-Ferozepore Mainline]]', [[Jullunder]] via Karpurthala, Sultanpur Lodi,  Lohian Khas, Gidarpind, Makhu  to [[Ferozepore]] Cantonment, opened 1912-14, 73 miles(117km). ''From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Jullundur Doab Extension’''
** ‘Phillaur Branch Line’, Lohian Khas to [[Phillaur]], opened 1913, 39 miles(63km) . ''From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Phillaur-Lohian Khas Branch’ ''
** ‘[[Jullundur-Nakodar Chord Railway]]' known as the ‘Nakodar Branch Line’, [[Jullunder]] to [[Nakodar]], opened 1914, 19 miles(30km) . ''From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Jullundur City-Nakodar Branch’''
 
===[[Ludhiana Extension Railway]]===
Classified under the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge  [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]  line length 152 miles(244km). Page 123(pdf132)'
* ‘Ludhiana-Ferozepore Line’, [[Ludhiana]] to [[Ferozepore]], opened 1905, 77 miles(124km)
* ‘Ferozepore-MacLeod Ganj Line’, [[Ferozepore]] to [[McLeod Ganj ]](a suburb of [[Dharamsala]]), opened  1906, 75 miles(120km)
* ''From 1929-30 these two lines together became the ‘NWR Ludhiana Extension Railway’''
 
===[[Sutlej Valley Railway| Sutlej Valley Extension Railway]]===
Classified under the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge  [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]  line length 208 miles(335km). Pages 124-5(pdf135-6)
* ‘[[Kasur-Lodhran Railway]]', [[Kasur]] to [[Lodhran]], opened 1910, closed and dismantled 1917-18, 208 miles(335km). Reconstructed 1923-26 with line length 213 miles(343km). ''From 1929-30 this became the [[Sutlej Valley Railway| ‘NWR Sutlej Valley Extension Railway’]]
 
===[[Ludhiana-Dhuri-Jakhal Railway]]===
Classified under the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge  [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]  line length 79 miles(127km). Page 115(pdf124)  
*[[Ludhiana]] via [[Dhuri]] to [[Jakhal]], opened 1901. Managed, maintained and worked by [[North Western Railway]] (NWR) under an Agreement with the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Maler Kotla State]] Durbar and the [[Jhind State]] Durbars. The line was used by SPR linking the ’[[Delhi-Samasata Railway|Delhi-Samasata Mainline]]’ at [[Jakhal]] with '[[Ludhiana Extension Railway]]' at [[Ludhiana]]. ''From 1929-30 this became the [[Ludhiana-Dhuri-Jakhal Railway | ‘NWR Ludhiana-Dhuri-Jakhal Railway’]]
 
==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 Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue”  - Search];  Retrieved  Jan 2016</ref>
gives many references. The most important being:-
*'''L/AG/46/39'''  “Records of the India Office relating to the Southern Punjab Railway Company; 1895-1914".'
*'''L/F/7/2607-2615'''  “Collection 401: Southern Punjab Railway, date unspecified"
 
also concerning the working of the Southern Punjab Railway by NWR.
*'''L/AG/46/34'''  “ Records of the India Office relating to the North Western State Railway",


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 09:33, 9 March 2021

Southern Punjab Railway
[[Image:|150px| ]]
Line of route
Delhi to Samasata
McLeod Ganj to Ludhiana
Narwana to Kaithal (branch)
Gauge / mileage
Broad gauge 502 miles (1905)
Timeline
1897 Delhi to Samasata line opened to traffic
1930 Line acquired by State and merged into NWR
Key locations
Presidency Bengal
Stations Bahawalpur, Bhatinda, Fazilka, Ferozepore, Ghaziabad, Jakhai, Rohtak

Ghaziabad was the connection to Delhi - see separate page Delhi Stations' for details

System agency
Worked by North Western Railway
How to interpret this infobox

The Southern Punjab Railway(SPR) was a broad gauge(BG) line built to provide a more direct connection from Karachi to Delhi by linking to the original Indus Valley line at Samasata and avoiding the North Western Railway loop via Lahore. [1]

History

The Southern Punjab Railway(SPR) Company was formed in 1895 with Bradford Leslie as Chairman. Under contract with the Secretary of State for India, Leslie and his partners formed the company to build a BG Railway from Delhi to Samasata about 400 miles to the west.

Horace Bell was the Consulting Engineer for SPR in London for the construction.,

The Mainline ran north west from Delhi to Bhatinda then south west through Bahawalpur State to Samasata, a total distance of 402 miles(643km). Several extension lines (Jullunder, Sutlej Valley etc.) extended the length to 502 miles(803km) in 1905.

The SPR Mainline and the extensions were all worked by the ‘North Western Railway’(NWR) , each line reported financially individually until purchased by Government in 1929-30. From that time onwards the each line was absorbed into the ‘NWR System’.

SPR Network of Lines

The listings below are generally based on the “Administration Report on Railways 1918” [2] with page numbers (and pdf pages) noted at the end of each entry.

This 1918 Report [2] details the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ but with the ‘Statistics of Working’ (route mileages, capital outlay, income etc) for each part of the SPR given as a separate entities..

Significant later information is shown in italics. The listings below includes information concerning the changes from 1929-30 when the SPR was fully integrated into the NWR System [3]

SPR Mainline and Branches

Southern Punjab Railway Map 1909
Southern Punjab Railway Map 1909

Total broad gauge BG line length 426 miles(685km). Page 121(pdf 130)

Jullundur-Doab Extension Railway

Classified under the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge BG line length 130 miles(209km). Page 123(pdf132)

  • ‘Jullunder-Ferozepore Mainline', Jullunder via Karpurthala, Sultanpur Lodi, Lohian Khas, Gidarpind, Makhu to Ferozepore Cantonment, opened 1912-14, 73 miles(117km). From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Jullundur Doab Extension’
    • ‘Phillaur Branch Line’, Lohian Khas to Phillaur, opened 1913, 39 miles(63km) . From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Phillaur-Lohian Khas Branch’
    • ‘Jullundur-Nakodar Chord Railway' known as the ‘Nakodar Branch Line’, Jullunder to Nakodar, opened 1914, 19 miles(30km) . From 1929-30 this became the ‘NWR Jullundur City-Nakodar Branch’

Ludhiana Extension Railway

Classified under the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge BG line length 152 miles(244km). Page 123(pdf132)'

  • ‘Ludhiana-Ferozepore Line’, Ludhiana to Ferozepore, opened 1905, 77 miles(124km)
  • ‘Ferozepore-MacLeod Ganj Line’, Ferozepore to McLeod Ganj (a suburb of Dharamsala), opened 1906, 75 miles(120km)
  • From 1929-30 these two lines together became the ‘NWR Ludhiana Extension Railway’

Sutlej Valley Extension Railway

Classified under the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge BG line length 208 miles(335km). Pages 124-5(pdf135-6)

Ludhiana-Dhuri-Jakhal Railway

Classified under the ‘SPR Network’ as part of the ‘NWR System’ . Total broad gauge BG line length 79 miles(127km). Page 115(pdf124)

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 many references. The most important being:-

  • L/AG/46/39 “Records of the India Office relating to the Southern Punjab Railway Company; 1895-1914".'
  • L/F/7/2607-2615 “Collection 401: Southern Punjab Railway, date unspecified"

also concerning the working of the Southern Punjab Railway by NWR.

  • L/AG/46/34 “ Records of the India Office relating to the North Western State Railway",

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia "Fazilka railway station"; Retrieved 13 Dec 2015
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 120-126 (pdf 129-134; Retrieved 2 Nov 2020
  3. ↑ 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 151-156 pdf 190-195; Retrieved 2 Nov 2020
  4. ↑ “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved Jan 2016
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