Adyar River Tramway: Difference between revisions

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The '''Adyar River Tramway''' was under consideration in 1842 to provide a stone tramway to connect south [[Madras]] to the outlying districts of Santhome and Mylapore.  
The '''Adyar River Tramway''' was constructed in the early 1840’s and connected south [[Madras]] to the outlying districts of Santhome and Mylapore.  
<ref> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adyar_River Wikipedia  “Adyar River ” ] Retrieved on  14 Aug 2016</ref>
<ref> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adyar_River Wikipedia  “Adyar River ” ] Retrieved on  31 Mar 2016</ref>


A bridge carrying over the Adyar River named the  '''[[Elphinstone Bridge]]''' had been constructed about 1840 during the time of Lord Elphinstone, who was governor of Madras from 1837 to 1842.
The bridge carrying the tramway over the Adyar River was named the  '''Elphinstone Bridge''' was constructed in the 1840s during the time of Lord Elphinstone, who was governor of Madras from 1837 to 1842.
 
<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/173yearold-elphinstone-bridge-gets-a-makeover/article4302496.ece The Hindu Newspaper 13 Jan 2013 “Elphinstone Bridge”] Retrieved on 31 Mar 2016</ref>
The proposal was to construct a stone tramway on the existing bridge, presumably to convey carts pulled by bullock and extended over existing roads. A short length was constucted but in 1843 the experiment was abandoned. 
 
==History==
By 1842 a letter to the Court of Directors of the [[East India Company]] requested payment of R1817.15 for the construction of the tramway <ref>British Library IOR/Z/E/4/A/198 “Letter dated  23rd November 1842”</ref>.
 
In the reply the Directors requested a report from the Military Board on the feasibility of the experiment <ref>British Library IOR/F/4/2089 “Military Report 135 1843 Board collections 97150” </ref>. In the engineer’s report Lieutenant Robertson says the engineer escorted the Superintendent of Roads to review the tramway. A length of stone tramway 684ft (0.12Km) had been built “substantially with judgement. The track had been down 2 monsoons so was a fair trial. It was useful with the public facilitating the haulage across what was in some parts a heavy bed of sand".  The cost quoted differed at R1539 for the length of road. This meant a calculated R11,88.00 per mile (1.06Km). There was evidence that the sets had moved and over a longer route would be costly to maintain. A suggestion that causeways would be cheaper and more easily maintained <ref>British Library IOR/F/4/2089 “Military Report 135 1843 Board collections 97150”</ref>. These facts unfortunately put an end to the experiment and the Directors declined to continue <ref>British Library IOR/E/4/963/P905 “Letter from the Revenue Department dated 9th September 1863” </ref>.


==Records==
==Records==
The [[India Office Records]] (IOR) records held at the [[British Library]] relating to this tramway are primary information sources: -
An on-line search of the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) records held at the [[British Library]] relating to this tramway <ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2  “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue”  - Search];  Retrieved  31 Mar 2016</ref>
gives the following: -
*Z/E/4/46/A198; 1842-1845; Adyar River, Tramway across, construction
*Z/E/4/46/A198; 1842-1845; Adyar River, Tramway across, construction
*Z/E/4/46/M386; 1842-1845; Madras Town, Tramway across Adyar River, construction  
*Z/E/4/46/M386; 1842-1845; Madras Town, Tramway across Adyar River, construction  
*Z/E/4/46/T283 and Z/E/4/46/R430; 1842-1845;  Tramways, across Adyar River , satisfactory construction.
*Z/E/4/46/T283 and Z/E/4/46/R430; 1842-1845;  Tramways, across Adyar River , satisfactory construction.
 
''These records have not been examined and may provide further information.''
==Further Information==
See '''[[Elphinstone Bridge]]'''


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 06:47, 14 August 2016

The Adyar River Tramway was constructed in the early 1840’s and connected south Madras to the outlying districts of Santhome and Mylapore. [1]

The bridge carrying the tramway over the Adyar River was named the Elphinstone Bridge was constructed in the 1840s during the time of Lord Elphinstone, who was governor of Madras from 1837 to 1842. [2]

Records

An on-line search of the India Office Records (IOR) records held at the British Library relating to this tramway [3] gives the following: -

  • Z/E/4/46/A198; 1842-1845; Adyar River, Tramway across, construction
  • Z/E/4/46/M386; 1842-1845; Madras Town, Tramway across Adyar River, construction
  • Z/E/4/46/T283 and Z/E/4/46/R430; 1842-1845; Tramways, across Adyar River , satisfactory construction.

These records have not been examined and may provide further information.

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia “Adyar River ” Retrieved on 31 Mar 2016
  2. ↑ The Hindu Newspaper 13 Jan 2013 “Elphinstone Bridge” Retrieved on 31 Mar 2016
  3. ↑ “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 31 Mar 2016
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