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{{Line Railways Infobox
{{Line Railways Infobox
|image= Bnr.jpg
|image= Bengal-Nagpur Railway 2b Logo.jpg
|caption= ''Bengal-Nagpur Railway device''
|caption= ''Bengal-Nagpur Railway device 1''
|route= [[Calcutta]] to [[Nagpur]] ([[Bombay]])<br>[[Calcutta]] to [[Waltair]] ([[Madras]])<br>[[Bilaspur]] to [[Katni]]
|route= [[Calcutta]] to [[Nagpur]] ([[Bombay]])<br>[[Calcutta]] to [[Waltair]] ([[Madras]])<br>[[Bilaspur]] to [[Katni]]
|gauge1= Broad gauge
|gauge1= Broad gauge
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{{System_Railways_Infobox
{{System_Railways_Infobox
|image= Bengal_Nagpur_Railway_logo.jpg
|image= Bengal_Nagpur_Railway_logo.jpg
|caption= ''Bengal-Nagpur Railway device''
|caption= ''Bengal-Nagpur Railway device 2''
|timeline1date=  
|timeline1date=  
|timeline1details=
|timeline1details=
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|company12details=  
|company12details=  
|headquarters= [[Calcutta]]
|headquarters= [[Calcutta]]
|workshop= [[Kharagpur]]
|workshop= Motibagh Workshop, Nagpur,[[Kharagpur]]  
|stations= [[Asansol]], [[Balasore]], [[Bilaspur]], [[Chanda]], [[Chhindwara]], [[Cuttack]], [[Jubbulpore]], [[Mandla]], [[Nagpur]], [[Raipur]], [[Sambalpur]], [[Vizagapatam|Vizagapattam]]
|stations= [[Asansol]], [[Balasore]], [[Bilaspur]], [[Chanda]], [[Chhindwara]], [[Cuttack]], [[Jubbulpore]], [[Mandla]], [[Nagpur]], [[Raipur]], [[Sambalpur]], [[Vizagapatam|Vizagapattam]]
|system1date= 1952
|system1date= 1952
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}}
}}


The '''Bengal-Nagpur Railway''' (BNR) was formed in 1887 to take over the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) [[Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway|Nagpur-Chhattisgarh Railway]], to convert the existing metre gauge track to broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) and to extend the system eastwards to join the [[East Indian Railway]] at [[Asansol]], 132 miles from Calcutta.
[[File: Bengal-Nagpur Railway Railway Map 1909.png|thumb| Bengal-Nagpur Railway Map 1909]]
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n9/mode/2up  " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government  Printing,  Calcutta;  pages 1 to 5]; Retrieved 19 Feb 2016</ref>
[[File:Bengal-Nagpur Railway 1937 Map.png|thumb| Bengal-Nagpur Railway System  1937 Map]]
The '''Bengal-Nagpur Railway''' (BNR) was formed in 1887 with the following three objectives <ref>[http://www.secr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1312278598168-Tourist%20Places.pdf Indian Railways “Nagpur Division Railway History”]; Retrieved 22 Dec 2017</ref> :-
*To take over the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) [[Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway|Nagpur-Chhattisgarh Railway]], 149 miles (240km) from the Government and to convert the existing metre gauge track to broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]])  
*To extend the system eastwards by 480 miles(772km) to join the [[East Indian Railway]] at [[Asansol]], 132 miles(212km) from [[Calcutta]]
*To construct the Branch Line from [[Bilaspur]] to [[Umaria Coalfield Railway|Umaria]] for through connection with the [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]](GIPR) system at [[Katni]]


== History ==
==History==
The BNR was the last major railway formed to benefit from a Government guarantee, with the system from the outset owned by the Government of India [[Government of India |GoI]] who contracted the BNR company to manage matters, initially for 25 years and therafter determinable every 10 years.  
The BNR was the last major railway formed to benefit from a Government guarantee, with the system from the outset owned by the [[Government of India | Government of India (GoI)]] who contracted the BNR Company to manage matters, initially for 25 years and thereafter determinable every 10 years.


The BNR was the last company to be nationalised, on 1 October 1944. In 1952, the BNR was merged with the [[East Indian Railway]] to form Indian Railways' '''Eastern Railway''' but in 1955, BNR re-emerged to form '''South Eastern Railway'''.
The [[Nagpur Chhattisgarh  Railway]] had opened in 1880; previously named the ‘Chhattisgarh State Railway’, owned by the Provincial Government; worked as part of the Indian State Railways; merged into BNR, 1887. This included the [[Umaria Coalfield Railway]] which had opened 1883, and connected to BNR main line in 1886-87.
The BNR Company took over the [[Bilaspur-Etawa Provincial State Railway]] which in 1891 connected  [[ Bilaspur]] to [[Katni]] with a short onward link to the  GIPR Marwara Junction


==Branch Lines and extensions==
By 1891 both routes were completed which had created a shorter route between [[Calcutta]] and [[Bombay]].  
*[[Anuppur-Manendragarb-Chimiri Railway]]. Opened 1939 by BNR; built primarily to convey coal from the Kotma area
*[[Cuttack-Midnapore-Calcutta Railway Survey]]. Surveyed 1899 and absorbed into BNR network, extended by BNR 1901
*[[Nagbhir-Nagpur Branch Railway]]. Opened 1908, branch line of BNR Southern Grid. Construction commenced 1905
*[[Raipur-Dhamtari Railway]] and [[Rajim Branch Railway]]. The first 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) branch of BNR, opened 1900 and extended to Rajim 1906
*[[Purulia Ranchi Light Railway]]. Opened 1907 Narrow gauge section of BNR
*[[Satpura Railway]]. Developed by the BNR 1902-9; connected Jubbupore with Gondia, Mandla Fort, Chhindwara and Nagpur; later extended. Comprising -
**[[Gondia-Chanda Railway]]. Extension of the BNR narrow gauge [[Satpura Railway]] network,  opened 1908-16
**[[Gondia-Nainpur-Chhindwara-Jabalpur Railway]]. Opened 1903-05 as part of [[Satpura Railway]].
**[[Jubbulpore-Gondia Railway]]. Opened 1902, owned by GoI; worked by BNR; merged into [[Satpura Railway]], c.1920
**[[Nainpur-Mandla Fort Railway]]. Opened 1909; worked by BNR as part of [[Satpura Railway]]


==Railways absorbed into BNR==
From 1898 the BNR established the [[Kharagpur Railway Workshops|'Kharagpur Railway Workshops' - ''see separate page'']]  
*[[East Coast State Railway]]. GoI survey 1890; GoI owned; opened 1893-98; N.sections worked and absorbed by BNR;
*[[Katni-Umaria Provincial State Railway]]. Opened 1886-87. Previously named [[Bilaspur-Etawa Provincial State Railway]] renamed [[Katni-Umaria Provincial State Railway]], c1887; then merged into BNR.
*[[Nagpur Chhattisgarh  Railway]]. Opened 1880; previously Chhattisgarh State Railway owned by Provincial Government; worked as part of the Indian State Railways; merged into BNR, 1887.
*[[Nagpur-Chhindwara Railway]]. Opened 1911, owned by GoI and worked by BNR merged into [[Satpura Railway]], c.1920.
*[[Umaria Coalfield Railway]]. Opened 1883 , connected to main line, 1891 as part of [[Katni-Umaria Provincial State Railway]], c1887; then merged into BNR.


==Lines worked by BNR at some time==
The [[Cuttack-Midnapore-Calcutta Railway Survey]] was undertaken in 1899 by the Government and used for the expansion of BNR, the scope of the Survey was increased by BNR in 1901.
*[[Baripada-Talbond Railway]]. Opened 1920, extension to [[Mayurbhanj Railway]]; worked by BNR.
 
*[[Bellary-Kistna State Railway]]. Constructed before 1890; surveyed for Hindpur extension 1892-94; worked by BNR.
In 1901 the [[Cuttack]] to [[Waltair]] section of the [[ East Coast State Railway]] was absorbed into the BNR and gave an important  route to [[Madras]]
*[[Central  Indian Coalfields Railway]]. Opened 1927, [[Government of India |GoI]] owned; part worked by BNR; later amagamated with [[East Indian Railway]](EIR)
 
*[[Ganjam District Light Railway]]. Surveyed 1899 but did not go ahead in entirety; Parlakimedi Light Railway opened 1 section, 1900 worked by BNR from 1902.
The BNR was the last company to be nationalised, on 1 October 1944. In 1952, the BNR was merged with the [[East Indian Railway]] to form the Indian Railway ‘[[Eastern Railway]]’ but in 1955, BNR re-emerged to form the ‘[[South Eastern Railway]]’.
*[[Kamptee-Deolapar-Ramtek Railway]]; Surveyed 1903 to construct light railway on public roads to convey Manganese; worked by BNR(qv); no further information
 
*[[Mayurbhanj Railway]]; 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]); opened 1905, formerly [[Mourbhanj Railway]], renamed 1920 and transferred  to private company; worked by BNR.
==BNR Workshops==
*[[Panposh-Ruipura Railway]]. Opened 1919-20; worked by BNR.
The BNR had workhops at several locations
*[[Parlakimedi Light Railway]]; 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]); opened 1900; private company,owned by Raja of Parlakimedi, worked by BNR.
* ''see'' [[BNR Railway Workshops]]
*[[Pench Valley Coalfield Railway]]; opened 1906-7; 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])line, from the Pench and Kanhan coalfields to [[Chhindwara]] where it connected to the (BNR) [[Satpura Railway]] network; worked by BNR.
* ''and ''[[Kharagpur Railway Workshops]]
*[[Tumsar-Tirodi Light Railway]]. Opened 1910 as Tumsar-Katangi Rly owned by Central India Mining Co ; Purchased in 1916-17 by [[Government of India |GoI]]; worked by BNR; connecting to BNR's [[Satpura Railway]].
 
*[[Visakhapatnam Port Trust Railway]]. Inner harbour railway, built by BNR 1927-33 to export manganese ore.
==BNR Collieries and Coal Supplies==
''See separate pages''
* ‘[[Umaria Coalfield Railway|Umaria Colliery]]’, a BNR Colliery from 1888
* ‘[[Bengal-Nagpur_Railway_-_Lines_Owned_and_Worked#1918_BG_Network|Sanctoria Colliery]]’, from 1889
* ‘[[Bengal-Nagpur_Railway_-_Lines_Owned_and_Worked#1918_BG_Network|Nodila Colliery]]’, from 1903
* ‘[[Bengal-Nagpur_Railway_-_Lines_Owned_and_Worked#1918_BG_Network|Murulidih Colliery]]’, from 1907
* ‘[[Argada Colliery BNR| Argada Colliery]]’, a BNR Colliery
* ‘[[Deulberra Colliery]]’ (was ‘Talchar Colliery’), a BNR Colliery
* ‘[[Bokaro_Ramgarh_Coalfields_Railways#Joint_Collieries|Bokaro Joint Coalfield]]’, the BNR worked jointly with the ‘[[East Indian Railway]]’(EIR)
* ‘[[Bokaro_Ramgarh_Coalfields_Railways#Joint_Collieries| Sawang Joint Coalfield]]’, the BNR worked jointly with EIR
 
==BNR Railway Network==
See '''[[Bengal-Nagpur Railway - Lines Owned and Worked]]''' for details


==Records==
==Records==
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*'''L/AG/46/5''' “Records of the Bengal Nagpur Railway Company;  1856-1947
*'''L/AG/46/5''' “Records of the Bengal Nagpur Railway Company;  1856-1947
*'''L/F/7/249-255 ''' "Finance Department Records; 1890-1947
*'''L/F/7/249-255 ''' "Finance Department Records; 1890-1947
There are no BNR Staff Agreements in the IOR but as a State Railway a search of the following may yield a result -
*'''L/F/8/1-20''' "Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"
*'''Z/L/F/8/1-2''' Index to Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"
[[Image:Bnrkhargur.jpg|thumb|left|BNR Loco Running Staff 1910]]


A series of articles on the BNR, then celebrating its (highly significant) 25th year, was published during 1911 in ''The Indian Railway Gazette''. The December 1911 issue carried biographical entries on the top 12 staff complete with individual photographic portraits. Microfilm of the Gazette can be consulted at the British Library's Newsroom.  
A series of articles on the BNR, then celebrating its (highly significant) 25th year, was published during 1911 in ''The Indian Railway Gazette''. The December 1911 issue carried biographical entries on the top 12 staff complete with individual photographic portraits. Microfilm of the Gazette can be consulted at the British Library's Newsroom.  


There are some reports, letters and notes on the railway's history covering 1890-1930 held at  
There are some reports, letters and notes on the railway's history covering 1890-1930 held at  
*[http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/leisculture/heritage1/hals/ '''Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies'''], including copies of the ''Bengal-Nagpur Railway Magazine'' for July 1929, August 1929, November 1930 and December 1930.
*[http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/leisculture/heritage1/hals/ 'Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies'], including copies of the ''Bengal-Nagpur Railway Magazine'' for July 1929, August 1929, November 1930 and December 1930.


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
*[[Francis Joseph Edward Spring]], 1880-84 deployed from the Railway Branch of the [[Public Works Department]], to the Bengal-Nagpur Railway Survey
There are no BNR Staff Agreements in the  [[India Office Records]].IOR but as a State Railway a search of the following may yield a result -
*[[Trevredyn Rashleigh Wynne ]], 1887-1905 deployed from the Railway Branch of the [[Public Works Department]], to the BNR as its first Agent and Chief Engineer. 
*'''L/F/8/1-20''' "Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"
*[[Frederick Smith Stanton]], 1887-92, following his retirement as Director General of Indian Railways, served on the Board of the  Bengal-Nagpur Railway Company, based in London.
*'''Z/L/F/8/1-2''' Index to Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"
*[[C W Bowles]] Colonel;  date unknown but prior to 1907; BNR Engineer in charge of constructing its workshops, houses, schools, churches, hospitals, armoury, recreational facilities and a gaol. It was during this period that he experimented with using the Ewing System for transporting construction material during the laying of railway tracks for BNR. The Ewing system was subsqently used by Bowles for the [[Patiala State Monorail Trainways]]
 
'''[[Bengal-Nagpur Railway Personnel]]''' gives details of BNR staff from several sources:-
*“India  Civil List 1890”  <ref>Fibis Records, scans of original ” </ref>  and  the " India List and India Office List, 1905" <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PR14 " India List and India Office List, 1905"] Retrieved on 1 Jun 2016</ref>  for [[Public Works Department]] Railway Branch  or  [[:Category:State Railways|State Railways]] personnel deployed to BNR gives a number of entries.  The most notable of these have been listed.  
*"Grace's Guide ” for notable personnel  <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Main_Page  “Grace’s Guide”];  Retrieved  1 Jun 2016</ref>


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
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** A map on which the Bengal-Nagpur Railway is shown may be found  in [http://web.ncf.ca/kharagpurdiaspora/index.html#pt.7  Correspondence Part 7] (scroll down a considerable way)     
** A map on which the Bengal-Nagpur Railway is shown may be found  in [http://web.ncf.ca/kharagpurdiaspora/index.html#pt.7  Correspondence Part 7] (scroll down a considerable way)     
*[http://indianrailwaynotes.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/south-eastern-railway.pdf  "Indian Railway Notes" by Hugh Scholey]  
*[http://indianrailwaynotes.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/south-eastern-railway.pdf  "Indian Railway Notes" by Hugh Scholey]  


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 13:02, 12 August 2020

Bengal-Nagpur Railway

Bengal-Nagpur Railway device 1
Line of route
Calcutta to Nagpur (Bombay)
Calcutta to Waltair (Madras)
Bilaspur to Katni
Gauge / mileage
Broad gauge 1696 miles (1905)
Timeline
1887 Company formed
1888 Existing metre gauge converted to broad
1944 Line acquired by state
Key locations
Presidency Bengal
Stations
System agency
Worked by Bengal-Nagpur Railway
How to interpret this infobox


Bengal-Nagpur Railway

Bengal-Nagpur Railway device 2
System timeline
1944 Management of line taken over by state
Constituent companies / lines
Bengal-Nagpur Railway
Jubbulpore-Gondia Railway
Mayurbhanj Railway
Parlakimedi Light Railway
Raipur-Dhamtari Railway
Key locations
Headquarters Calcutta
Workshops Motibagh Workshop, Nagpur,Kharagpur
Major Stations Asansol, Balasore, Bilaspur, Chanda, Chhindwara, Cuttack, Jubbulpore, Mandla, Nagpur, Raipur, Sambalpur, Vizagapattam
Successor system / organisation
1952 Eastern Railway (IR zone)
1955 South Eastern Railway (IR zone)
System mileage
Broad gauge 1696 miles (1905)
2498 miles (1943)
Narrow (2' 6") gauge 343 miles (1905)
798 miles (1943)
Associated auxiliary force
Bengal Nagpur Railway Battalion
How to interpret this infobox
Bengal-Nagpur Railway Map 1909
Bengal-Nagpur Railway System 1937 Map

The Bengal-Nagpur Railway (BNR) was formed in 1887 with the following three objectives [1] :-

History

The BNR was the last major railway formed to benefit from a Government guarantee, with the system from the outset owned by the Government of India (GoI) who contracted the BNR Company to manage matters, initially for 25 years and thereafter determinable every 10 years.

The Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway had opened in 1880; previously named the ‘Chhattisgarh State Railway’, owned by the Provincial Government; worked as part of the Indian State Railways; merged into BNR, 1887. This included the Umaria Coalfield Railway which had opened 1883, and connected to BNR main line in 1886-87.

The BNR Company took over the Bilaspur-Etawa Provincial State Railway which in 1891 connected Bilaspur to Katni with a short onward link to the GIPR Marwara Junction

By 1891 both routes were completed which had created a shorter route between Calcutta and Bombay.

From 1898 the BNR established the 'Kharagpur Railway Workshops' - see separate page

The Cuttack-Midnapore-Calcutta Railway Survey was undertaken in 1899 by the Government and used for the expansion of BNR, the scope of the Survey was increased by BNR in 1901.

In 1901 the Cuttack to Waltair section of the East Coast State Railway was absorbed into the BNR and gave an important route to Madras

The BNR was the last company to be nationalised, on 1 October 1944. In 1952, the BNR was merged with the East Indian Railway to form the Indian Railway ‘Eastern Railway’ but in 1955, BNR re-emerged to form the ‘South Eastern Railway’.

BNR Workshops

The BNR had workhops at several locations

BNR Collieries and Coal Supplies

See separate pages

BNR Railway Network

See Bengal-Nagpur Railway - Lines Owned and Worked for details

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 [2] gives 47 references. The most important being:-

  • L/AG/46/5 “Records of the Bengal Nagpur Railway Company; 1856-1947
  • L/F/7/249-255 "Finance Department Records; 1890-1947

A series of articles on the BNR, then celebrating its (highly significant) 25th year, was published during 1911 in The Indian Railway Gazette. The December 1911 issue carried biographical entries on the top 12 staff complete with individual photographic portraits. Microfilm of the Gazette can be consulted at the British Library's Newsroom.

There are some reports, letters and notes on the railway's history covering 1890-1930 held at

Personnel

There are no BNR Staff Agreements in the India Office Records.IOR but as a State Railway a search of the following may yield a result -

  • L/F/8/1-20 "Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"
  • Z/L/F/8/1-2 Index to Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"

Bengal-Nagpur Railway Personnel gives details of BNR staff from several sources:-

  • “India Civil List 1890” [3] and the " India List and India Office List, 1905" [4] for Public Works Department Railway Branch or State Railways personnel deployed to BNR gives a number of entries. The most notable of these have been listed.
  • "Grace's Guide ” for notable personnel [5]

External Links

  • Evolution of SER over the years A history of the South Eastern Railway, including the BNR and its constituents. This archived link from South Eastern Railway is most likely chapters (or content) from the book South Eastern Railway: March to New Millennium 1878-2001 by R. R. Bhandari 2001. Unfortunately, not all the chapters are accessible.
  • Kharagpur’s Diaspora Reunited Memories and photos of a BNR family, the Cramptons, from the 1930s to 1950s.
    • A map on which the Bengal-Nagpur Railway is shown may be found in Correspondence Part 7 (scroll down a considerable way)
  • "Indian Railway Notes" by Hugh Scholey

References

  1. ↑ Indian Railways “Nagpur Division Railway History”; Retrieved 22 Dec 2017
  2. ↑ British Library Archives & Manuscripts Catalogue; Retrieved 18 Jan 2016
  3. ↑ Fibis Records, scans of original ”
  4. ↑ " India List and India Office List, 1905" Retrieved on 1 Jun 2016
  5. ↑ “Grace’s Guide”; Retrieved 1 Jun 2016

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