|timeline1details= Formed from merger of [[Carnatic Railway]] and [[Great Southern of India Railway]]
|timeline2date= 1874
|timeline2details= Renamed [[South Indian Railway]]
|timeline3date= 1908
|timeline3details= [[Jalarpet]] to [[Mangalore]] transferred from [[Madras Railway]]. [[Katpadi]] section transferred to [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]].
|timeline4date=
|timeline4details=
|timeline5date=
|timeline5details=
|presidency= [[Madras]]
|stations= [[Trichinopoly]]
|system1adte= 1891
|system1details= Own agency
|system2adte=
|system2details=
|system3adte=
|system3details=
|auxillary forces=
}}
{{System_Railways_Infobox
|image= South Indian Railway logo.jpg
|caption= ''South Indian Railway device''
|timeline1date= 1891
|timeline1details= SIR re-formed to work line now owned by State
|timeline2date=
|timeline2details=
|timeline3date=
|timeline3details=
|timeline4date=
|timeline4details=
|timeline5date= 1944
|timeline5details= Management of system taken over by State
|company1= 1891
|company1details= [[South Indian Railway]]
|company2=
|company2details= [[Karaikkal-Peralam Railway]]
|company3=
|company3details= [[Pondicherry Railway]]
|company4=
|company4details= [[Tanjore District Board Railway]]
|company5=
|company5details= [[Tinnevelly-Quilon Railway]]
|company6=
|company6details=
|company7=
|company7details=
|company8=
|company8details=
|company9=
|company9details=
|company10=
|company10details=
|company11=
|company11details=
|company12=
|company12details=
|headquarters= [[Trichinopoly]]
|workshop= [[Golden Rock]]
|stations=
|system1date=
|system1details=
|system2date= 1951
|system2details= '''Southern Railway''' (IR zone)
|system3date=
|system3details=
|gauge1= Broad gauge
|gauge1details= 559 miles (1943)
|gauge2= Metre gauge
|gauge2details= 1353 miles (1905)<br>1483 miles (1943)
|gauge3=
|gauge3details=
|gauge4=
|gauge4details=
|auxillary forces= [[South Indian Railway Battalion]]
}}
The '''South Indian Railway''' (SIR) was the new name applied in 1874 to the merged undertakings of the [[Carnatic Railway]] and the [[Great Southern of India Railway]] and initially administered from [[Negapatam]]. <ref name> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951", page 3 </ref>.
== History ==
On 1st July 1874 the [[Great Southern of India Railway]] Company (GSIR) and the [[Carnatic Railway]], were amalgamated under the title of the '''South Indian Railway'''.
At the time of amalgamation the GSIR had constructed a broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line from [[Negapatam]] to [[Trichinopoly]] and on to [[Erode]] where it connected to the [[Madras Railway]] and the [[Carnatic Railway]] had constructed a metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) line from [[Arkonam]] Junction to [[Conjeeveram]] <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"; page 136, pdf page 143, paragraphs 3.87] Retrieved on 20 Jun 2016</ref>.
From 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 [[Trichinopoly]] section converted in 1875 and to [[Erode]] by the end of 1879 <ref name> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951", page 13 </ref>.
The construction of the [[Pondicherry Railway]] in French territory by the SIR commenced in 1878 simultaneously with a SIR branch, so when opened in 1879 connected [[Pondicherry]] to the SIR mainline at [[Villupuram]]. The line was maintained and worked by the SIR under the management of the SIR Agent which had remained at the original [[Negapatam]]. The joint Agent finally moved to [[Trichinopoly]] in 1880 <ref name> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951", pages 15-19 </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.
<ref>[https://ia801009.us.archive.org/8/items/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System.pdf " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; pages 136-152, pdf pages 145-161]; Retrieved 20 Jun 2016</ref>
The year previously (1908), the [[Jalarpet]] to [[Mangalore]] broad gauge section had been transferred to the SIR from the [[Madras Railway]]. In turn, the [[Katpadi]] section was relinquished and became part of the newly formed [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]].
On 1 April 1944, the [[Government of India |GoI]] took over direct control of the SIR.
In 1951, the SIR became a constituent part of '''Southern Railway''', a zone of Indian Railways.
==Railways absorbed into SIR==
*[[Great Southern of India Railway]], opened 1861. Merged with Carnatic Rly Company to form SIR ; 1872
*[[Carnatic Railway]]. Took over Indian Tramway, 1870; merged with Great Southern of India to form SIR , 1872
**[[Indian Tramway Co.]], opened 1865. Formerly Arakkonam-Conjeevaram Tramway; Failed in 1870 and taken over by Carniatic Rly merged finally SIR..
*[[Karaikkal-Peralam Railway]], opened 1898. Financed by French Govt, constructed by [[Great Southern of India Railway]]; later absorbed into SIR
==SIR Branch Lines and extensions==
*[[Karaikkal-Peralam Railway]], opened 1898. SIR branchline which connected the French enclave of [[Karikal|Karaikkal]] with the rest of British India at [[Peralam]].
*[[Pamban Branch Railway]], opened 1914. SIR branchline between India and Island of Rameswaram, Ceylon
*[[Villupuram-Dharmavaram Railway]], opened before 1901. A branch of SIR
*[[Villupuram-Guntakal Railway]], opened 1890. Part of SIR network
*[[Villupuram-Nellore Railway]], opened before 1891. State Railway, included with SIR , 1891
*[[Villupuram-Tiruvanamalai Railway]], opened before 1891. State Railway, included with SIR , 1891
*[[Quilon-Trivandrum Extension Railway]], first section opened 1918 completed 1931
==Lines worked by SIR at some time==
*[[Pondicherry Railway]], opened 1879. French enclave; railway worked by SIR
*[[Cuddapah-Nellore Railway]], opened before 1887. Worked by SIR linking Vijayawada and Chennai, extended 1890
*[[Mayavaram Mutupet Railway]], 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
*[[Tanjore District Board Railway]]. Formed 1900 by raising funds to construct feeder line; worked by SIR
*[[Shoranur-Cochin Railway]]. Privately funded, opened in 1902. Worked by SIR , 1908
*[[Tinnevelly-Quilon Railway]].'British Section' opened 1902, worked by SIR, 50 miles from Tinnevelly to frontier of Travancore State. 'Indian State Section' opened 1903, worked by SIR, 58 miles from frontier through Travancore State to Quillon
*[[Podanur-Pollachi Railway]], opened 1905. District Board owned; worked by SIR as part of Metre gauge section network.
*[[Tirupattur-Krishnagiri Railway]] opened 1905 as a famine protection line; worked by [[Madras Railway]](MR) until 31 December 1907; then working passed to SIR
*[[Tinnevelly-Tiruchendur Railway]]. Constructed by District Board after 1908 and worked by SIR
*[[Suramangalam-Salem Railway]]. District Board owned, opened 1917-18, worked by SIR
*[[Shoranur-Nalambur Railway]], opened 1927. Worked by SIR , 1933
*[[Salem-Metur-Dam Railway]]. Link railway to SIR main line at Salem from Metur Dam; worked by SIR, 1933
*[[Cochin Harbour Extension Railway]], opened 1938. Part of [[Shoranur-Cochin Railway]]; worked by SIR
*[[Vriddhachalam-Cuddalore Railway]], opened c.1880. Worked by SIR , 1933
== 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 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 22 Jan 2016</ref> gives many references. The most important being:-
*'''L/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, 1884-1914"
*'''L/AG/46/18''' "Records of the South Indian Railway Company, 1891-1940"
*'''L/F/7/2594-2606''' "Collection 400: South Indian Railway, dates unspecified"
*'''L/F/7/2595''' “Collection 400/2: South Indian Railway: Terms for incorporation of certain 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 [[British Library]]:
*'''L/AG/46/18/1-4''' "Contracts of Employment, 1891-1940" (index not complete).
The above is indexed in:
*'''Z/L/AG/46''' "Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways, 1849-1925"
'''[[South Indian Railway Personnel]]''' gives 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 [[:Category:Railway People|Notable Railway People]] pages.
== External Links==
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/salemgazet02richuoft#page/24/mode/2up Sections on Salem - Vriddhachalam Railway and Salem - Mettar Railway] from Madras Distict Gazetteer of Salem (pub 1932) Archive.org
*[https://books.google.fr/books?id=SzWvq8EYBwUC&pg=PA133&hl=fr&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false Extracts from Google Books “Illustrated guide to the South Indian Railway: including the Tanjore District Board, Pondicherry, Peralam-Karaikkal, Travancore State, Cochin State, Coimbatore District Board, Tinnevelly-Tiruchendur, and the Nilgiri Railways”] by South Indian Railway Co. Ltd, 1926. Reprinted by New Delhi Asian Educational Services 2004.
[[File:Trich_Worksheds.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The engineering staff of the SIR worksheds in [[Trichinopoly]] in the 1920s.]]
From 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 Trichinopoly section converted in 1875 and to Erode by the end of 1879 [3].
The construction of the Pondicherry Railway in French territory by the SIR commenced in 1878 simultaneously with a SIR branch, so when opened in 1879 connected Pondicherry to the SIR mainline at Villupuram. The line was maintained and worked by the SIR under the management of the SIR Agent which had remained at the original Negapatam. The joint Agent finally moved to Trichinopoly in 1880 [4].
Ownership of the SIR and other lines passed to the 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.
[5]
Tinnevelly-Quilon Railway.'British Section' opened 1902, worked by SIR, 50 miles from Tinnevelly to frontier of Travancore State. 'Indian State Section' opened 1903, worked by SIR, 58 miles from frontier through Travancore State to Quillon
Podanur-Pollachi Railway, opened 1905. District Board owned; worked by SIR as part of Metre gauge section network.
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
[6] gives many references. The most important being:-
L/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, 1884-1914"
L/AG/46/18 "Records of the South Indian Railway Company, 1891-1940"
L/F/7/2594-2606 "Collection 400: South Indian Railway, dates unspecified"
L/F/7/2595 “Collection 400/2: South Indian Railway: Terms for incorporation of certain District Board Lines in Company's undertaking, 1925-37"
Personnel
India Office Records. The following are held in the IOR at the British Library:
L/AG/46/18/1-4 "Contracts of Employment, 1891-1940" (index not complete).
The above is indexed in:
Z/L/AG/46 "Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways, 1849-1925"
