Difference between revisions of "Mysore State Railway"

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('Further Information' added)
(Major Revision following clarication from IOR records and further research)
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|company10details= [[Shimoga-Anandapuram Railway]]
 
|company10details= [[Shimoga-Anandapuram Railway]]
 
|company11= 1921
 
|company11= 1921
|company11details= [[Tadassa-Hebbe Tramway]]
+
|company11details= [[Tadasa-Hebbe Tramway]]
 
|company12= 1917
 
|company12= 1917
 
|company12details= [[Tarikere-Narasimharajapura Tramway]]
 
|company12details= [[Tarikere-Narasimharajapura Tramway]]
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}}
 
}}
  
The name, '''Mysore State Railway''' (MSR), originally referred to the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) line which connected the State capital, [[Mysore]], to [[Bangalore]] and named the [[Mysore-Bangalore Railway]]. Later, MSR, or '''Mysore Railway''' as it was sometimes known in this context, was the name applied to a network of disjointed metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) branch lines owned by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Mysore State]] Durbar.
+
The name, '''Mysore State Railway''' (MSR), originally referred to the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) line which connected the State capital, [[Mysore]], to [[Bangalore]] and named the [[Mysore-Bangalore Railway]]. The MSR also developed a number of other railways which from 1887 were initially leased the [[Southern Mahratta Railway]] (SMR).
  
 +
Later,the MSR, or '''Mysore Railway''' as it was sometimes known in this context, was the name applied to a network of disjointed metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) branch lines owned by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Mysore State]] Durbar.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
+
Following the disastrous famine of 1876-77, the original sections of the MSR were planned and built by the [[Mysore State|State of Mysore]], opening to traffic from 1881-82.  In 1887, in order to eradicate its "famine debt", the [[Mysore State|State of Mysore]] leased the MSR to the [[Southern Mahratta Railway]] (SMR) for a period of 45 years.
Following the disastrous famine of 1876-1877, the original sections of the MSR were planned and built by the State of Mysore, opening to traffic during 1881-1882.  In 1887, in order to eradicate its "famine debt", the State of Mysore leased the MSR to the [[Southern Mahratta Railway]] (SMR) for a period of 45 years.
 
 
<ref> [http://www.irfca.org/articles/manning/mysore.html "The Ex-Mysore State Metre Gauge Lines" by Ian Manning 2007. Placed on IRFCA ''Indian Railways Fan Club'' Server] Retrieved on  9  Feb 2016</ref>.
 
<ref> [http://www.irfca.org/articles/manning/mysore.html "The Ex-Mysore State Metre Gauge Lines" by Ian Manning 2007. Placed on IRFCA ''Indian Railways Fan Club'' Server] Retrieved on  9  Feb 2016</ref>.
  
 
In 1907, the SMR transformed itself into the [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]] (M&SMR), with the lease following. At this time, the Railway Department of the State of Mysore was defunct.
 
In 1907, the SMR transformed itself into the [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]] (M&SMR), with the lease following. At this time, the Railway Department of the State of Mysore was defunct.
  
From 1912, the State of Mysore again became actively involved in the promotion and construction of railway lines within its boundaries, and, between 1916 and 1918, opened 232 miles of railway to traffic. In 1919, the State succesfully sought the reversion of the [[Mysore]] to [[Bangalore]] section and two branch lines, the [[Birur-Shimoga Railway|Birur-Shimoga]] and the [[Mysore-Nanjangud Railway|Mysore-Nanjangud Railways]]. Further construction, chiefly between 1921 and 1934, added 105 miles of new track.
+
From 1912, the State of Mysore again became actively involved in the promotion and construction of railway lines within its boundaries, and, between 1916 and 1918, opened 232 miles of railway to traffic. In 1919, the State succesfully sought the reversion of the [[Mysore]] to [[Bangalore]] section and two branch lines, the [[Birur-Shimoga Railway| ‘Birur-Shimoga’]] and the [[Mysore-Nanjangud Railway| ‘Mysore-Nanjangud’ Railways]]. Further construction, chiefly between 1921 and 1934, added 105 miles of new track.
  
 
From 1 January 1938, the lines leased to M&SMR reverted to the control of the State of Mysore, creating a homogenous railway of just under 740 miles. In 1950, MSR was nationalised and in 1951 became part of Southern Railway, one of the then newly formed zones of Indian Railways.
 
From 1 January 1938, the lines leased to M&SMR reverted to the control of the State of Mysore, creating a homogenous railway of just under 740 miles. In 1950, MSR was nationalised and in 1951 became part of Southern Railway, one of the then newly formed zones of Indian Railways.
  
==Lines worked by MSR at some time==
+
== Original Mysore State Lines==
*[[Bangalore Harihar Railway]], opened  1919. Worked by [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]](M&SMR) until 1919, then MSR.
+
* [[Mysore-Bangalore Railway]]’, 86 miles(138km) MG from [[Mysore]] to [[Bangalore]] via Chanapatna, constructed by Mysore State, opened 1881-82 <ref name=Adminp92>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n100/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 92 (pdf100) ]; Retrieved 13 Feb 2018</ref>. Worked by Mysore State until 1887, SMR 1887-1907, then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1919, then reverted to MSR.
*[[Birur-Shimoga Railway]], opened  1899. Worked by M&SMR until 1919, then by MSR
+
* [[Bangalore Harihar Railway]]’, 210 miles(336km) MG from [[Bangalore]] to [[Harihar]] via [[Yesvantpur|Yesvantpur Junction]], constructed by Mysore State, opened  in stages from 1884-89 <ref name=Adminp92/>. Worked by Mysore State until 1887, SMR 1887-1907, then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1938 when it  reverted to MSR.
**[[Anandapuram-Sagara Railway]], opened  1938. Further extension of [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]]; worked by MSR.
+
* [[Yesvantpur-Hindupur Railway]], 58½ miles(94km). ‘[[Yesvantpur|Yesvantpur Junction]] to Mysore Frontier’, 51¼ miles opened 1893-94 <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n98/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 90 (pdf98) ]; Retrieved 13 Feb 2018</ref>; ‘Mysore Frontier to [[Hindupur]]’, 7¼ miles opened 1893  <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n94/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 86 (pdf94)]; Retrieved  13 Feb 2018</ref>
**[[Sagara-Talaguppe Railway]], opened  1940. Opened as extension to [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]]; worked by MSR.
+
* [[Mysore-Nanjangud Railway]], 16 miles(26km) MG from [[Mysore]] to [[Nanjangud]], a branch line, constructed by Mysore State , opened  1891 <ref name=Adminp92/>. Worked by SMR until 1907; then M&SMR until 1919; then reverted to MSR.
**[[Shimoga-Anandapuram Railway]], opened  1934. Opened 1934 as extension to [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]]; worked by MSR)
+
* [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]], 38 miles(61km) MG from [[Birur]] to [[Shimoga]], a branch line, constructed by Mysore State, opened  1899 <ref name=Adminp88>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n96/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 88 (pdf96) ]; Retrieved  13 Feb 2018</ref>. Worked by SMR until 1907; then M&SMR until 1919; then reverted to MSR.
*[[Bowringpet-Chikballapur Railway]], opened 1916. Narrow Gauge Railway; worked by MSR.
+
 
*[[Chickjajur-Chitaldrug Railway]], opened 1921. A short MG branch line, worked by MSR.
+
==Lines constructed/worked by MSR==
*[[Kolar and Mysore District Board]], owners of two NG Narrow Gauge Railways, both worked by MSR
+
''See separate pages for further information''
**[[Chikballapur-Bangalore City Railway]], opened 1918
+
* [[Tarikere-Narasimharajapura Tramway]], opened 1915. Narrow gauge tramway, worked by MSR
**[[Yelahaka-Bangarpet Railway]], opened 1913 and extended 1918.
+
* [[Yelahaka-Bangarpet Railway]]’, owned by [[Kolar and Mysore District Board]], opened 1913, worked by MSR and extended 1918
*[[Mysore-Arsikere Railway]], opened  1918. Worked by MSR.
+
* ‘[[Bowringpet-Chikballapur Railway]]’, owned by [[Kolar and Mysore District Board]], opened  1916. Narrow Gauge Railway; worked by MSR.
*[[Mysore-Nanjangud Railway]], opened 1891. Worked by M&SMR until 1919; then by MSR.
+
* [[Chikballapur-Bangalore City Railway]], opened 1918; worked by
**[[Najangud-Chamrajnagar Railway]], opened  1926. Extension of [[Mysore-Nanjangud Railway]]; worked by MSR
+
* [[Mysore-Arsikere Railway]], opened 1918. Worked by MSR.
* [[Tadasa-Hebbe Tramway]], opened 1921. Worked by MSR
+
* [[Chickjajur-Chitaldrug Railway]], opened  1921. A short MG branch line, worked by MSR.
* [[Tarikere-Narasimharajapura Tramway]], opened 1915. Narrow gauge tramway, worked by MSR
+
* [[Tadasa-Hebbe Tramway]], opened 1921. Worked by MSR
 +
* [[Najangud-Chamrajnagar Railway]], opened  1926. Extension of [[Mysore-Nanjangud Railway]]; worked by MSR
 +
* [[Anandapuram-Sagara Railway]], opened 1938. Further extension of [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]]; worked by MSR.
 +
* [[Sagara-Talaguppe Railway]], opened 1940. Opened as extension to [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]]; worked by MSR.
 +
* ‘[[Shimoga-Anandapuram Railway]]’, opened  1934. Opened 1934 as extension to [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]]; worked by MSR)
 +
 
  
 
== Records ==
 
== Records ==
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* R/2/Box4/34; “Files 479A 1-3 1888 Cession to the British Govt. of jurisdiction over the Mysore State Railways”; 1886-93
 
* R/2/Box4/34; “Files 479A 1-3 1888 Cession to the British Govt. of jurisdiction over the Mysore State Railways”; 1886-93
 
* /L/F/8/13/939; “Southern Mahratta Railway Company Limited, Contract for an extension of the Mysore State Railway and maintenance and working and extension as separate undertaking Secretary of State”; 31 Aug 1887
 
* /L/F/8/13/939; “Southern Mahratta Railway Company Limited, Contract for an extension of the Mysore State Railway and maintenance and working and extension as separate undertaking Secretary of State”; 31 Aug 1887
* L/F/8/20/1704; “Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company Limited, Contract as to transfer of Mysore-Nanjangud, Birur-Shimoga and Mysore-Bangalore sections of the Mysore Railway to the Mysore Durbar Secretary of “;24 Oct 1924
+
* L/F/8/20/1704; “Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company Limited, Contract as to transfer of Mysore-Nanjangud, Birur-Shimoga and Mysore-Bangalore sections of the Mysore Railway to the Mysore Durbar Secretary" 24 Oct 1924
  
 
Unfortunately, there are no MSR Staff agreements held at the [[British Library]] in the [[India Office Records]].
 
Unfortunately, there are no MSR Staff agreements held at the [[British Library]] in the [[India Office Records]].

Revision as of 08:01, 18 February 2018

Mysore State Railway
[[Image:|150px| ]]
Line of route
Mysore to Bangalore
Bangalore to Harihar
Gauge / mileage
Metre gauge 296 miles (1905)
Timeline
1887 Leased to Southern Mahratta Railway
1919 Mysore-Bangalore section reverted to State
1938 Bangalore-Harihar section reverted to State
Key locations
Presidency Madras
Stations Bangalore, Birur, Harihar, Kadur, Maddur, Mysore, Seringapatam, Tumkur
System agency
1882 Worked by Southern Mahratta Railway
1938 Reverted to Mysore State Railway control
How to interpret this infobox
Mysore State Railway
[[Image:|150px| ]]
System timeline
1887 First system leased to Southern Mahratta Railway
1912 System re-formed by State of Mysore
1919 Reversion of some lines
1938 Lease terminated and lines reverted to full State of Mysore control
Constituent companies / lines
1919 & 1938 Mysore State Railway
1938 Anandapuram-Sagara Railway
1919 Birur-Shimoga Railway
1916 Bowringpet-Chikballapur Railway
1921 Chickjajur-Chitaldrug Railway
1918 Chikballapur-Bangalore City Railway
1918 Mysore-Arsikere Railway
1919 Mysore-Nanjangud Railway
1926 Nanjangud-Chamrajnagar Railway
1934 Shimoga-Anandapuram Railway
1921 Tadasa-Hebbe Tramway
1917 Tarikere-Narasimharajapura Tramway
Key locations
Headquarters Mysore
Workshops Bangalore
Major Stations Arsikere, Birur, Bowringpet, Chamrajnagar, Chikballapur, Chitaldrug, Harihar, Hassan, Hindupur, Kadur, Maddur, Nanjangud, Seringapatam, Shimoga, Tumkur
Successor system / organisation
1950 Nationalised
1951 Southern Railway (IR zone)
System mileage
Metre gauge 600 miles (1940)
2' 6" NG 102 miles (1940)
2' 0" 36 miles (1940)
Associated auxiliary force
n/a
How to interpret this infobox

The name, Mysore State Railway (MSR), originally referred to the metre gauge(MG) line which connected the State capital, Mysore, to Bangalore and named the Mysore-Bangalore Railway. The MSR also developed a number of other railways which from 1887 were initially leased the Southern Mahratta Railway (SMR).

Later,the MSR, or Mysore Railway as it was sometimes known in this context, was the name applied to a network of disjointed metre gauge(MG) branch lines owned by the Princely Mysore State Durbar.

History

Following the disastrous famine of 1876-77, the original sections of the MSR were planned and built by the State of Mysore, opening to traffic from 1881-82. In 1887, in order to eradicate its "famine debt", the State of Mysore leased the MSR to the Southern Mahratta Railway (SMR) for a period of 45 years. [1].

In 1907, the SMR transformed itself into the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway (M&SMR), with the lease following. At this time, the Railway Department of the State of Mysore was defunct.

From 1912, the State of Mysore again became actively involved in the promotion and construction of railway lines within its boundaries, and, between 1916 and 1918, opened 232 miles of railway to traffic. In 1919, the State succesfully sought the reversion of the Mysore to Bangalore section and two branch lines, the ‘Birur-Shimoga’ and the ‘Mysore-Nanjangud’ Railways. Further construction, chiefly between 1921 and 1934, added 105 miles of new track.

From 1 January 1938, the lines leased to M&SMR reverted to the control of the State of Mysore, creating a homogenous railway of just under 740 miles. In 1950, MSR was nationalised and in 1951 became part of Southern Railway, one of the then newly formed zones of Indian Railways.

Original Mysore State Lines

Lines constructed/worked by MSR

See separate pages for further information


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 [6] gives the following: -

  • R/2/Box4/34; “Files 479A 1-3 1888 Cession to the British Govt. of jurisdiction over the Mysore State Railways”; 1886-93
  • /L/F/8/13/939; “Southern Mahratta Railway Company Limited, Contract for an extension of the Mysore State Railway and maintenance and working and extension as separate undertaking Secretary of State”; 31 Aug 1887
  • L/F/8/20/1704; “Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company Limited, Contract as to transfer of Mysore-Nanjangud, Birur-Shimoga and Mysore-Bangalore sections of the Mysore Railway to the Mysore Durbar Secretary" 24 Oct 1924

Unfortunately, there are no MSR Staff agreements held at the British Library in the India Office Records.

Personnel

Further Information

For details and map for railway and tramways in the north of Mysore State see Tramways in Mysore State

References