Howrah-Amta Light Railway: Difference between revisions

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[[File: Howrah-Amta Light Railway Map 1909.png|thumb| Howrah-Amta Light Railway Map 1909]]


The '''Howrah-Amta Light Railway''' (HALR) was a short 2ft/610mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) railway which ran from [[Howrah]] westwards to [[Amta]].
The '''Howrah-Amta Light Railway''' (HALR) was a short 2ft/610mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) railway which ran from [[Howrah]] westwards to [[Amta]].

Revision as of 05:10, 5 October 2016

Howrah-Amta Light Railway
[[Image:|150px| ]]
Line of route
Howrah to Amta
Gauge / mileage
2' 0" NG 37 miles (1905)
42 miles (1943)
Timeline
1898 Line opened to traffic
1971 Closed
Key locations
Presidency Bengal
Stations Howrah, Amta
System agency
Worked by Martin's Light Railways
How to interpret this infobox
Howrah-Amta Light Railway Map 1909

The Howrah-Amta Light Railway (HALR) was a short 2ft/610mm narrow gauge(NG) railway which ran from Howrah westwards to Amta. [1]

The HALR was one of several small narrow gauge concerns owned and worked by Martin's Light Railways, a management company based in Calcutta. [2]

History

On 12 June 1889 an agreement was signed between the District Board of Howrah and Messrs. Walsh, Lovett & Company on behalf of the Bengal District Road Tramways Company; this gave the Company the right to construct and work a tramway over a portion of roads [1]. This was subsequently renewed with Martin's Light Railways Co Ltd and sanctioned by Government notification in the Calcutta Gazette of 27 March 1895 [2]. On the 2 May 1895 the 'Howrah-Amta Light Railway Company’ was formed and worked by Martin's Light Railways (MLR).

The Howrah-Amta line was opened up to Domjur in 1897, and to Amta in 1898. An extension from Bargachhia (Bargechhe) junction to Antpur was opened in 1904, and a further extension to Champadanga in 1908, giving a total line length of 44 miles (70km) [1].

The Howrah- Amta Light and the Howrah-Sheakhalla Light Railways start from Telkalghat on the Hooghly river, and skirting the Court maidan pass through the crowded Panchanantala road to Kadamtala station. Here they separate, the Howrah-Sliiakhala line running north-west along the Benares road to the border of the district, and thence to Shiakhala in Hooghly district. The Howrah-Amta line runs west, chiefly along the side of the Jagatballabhpur road, and then goes south-west to Amta [2].

The lines continued to operate privately long after Independence in 1947, and finally converted to Broad Gauge and electrified from 1984 onwards [2].

References