The 'Madras-Tuticorin Mainline' is the name of the [[South Indian Railway]](SIR) metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) Mainline connecting [[Madras]] to the [[Pamban Branch Railway]] with a length of 460 miles(km). Included in the line is the [[Tuticorin Branch Line]] to [[Tuticorin]], a further 99 miles.
The 'Madras-Tuticorin Mainline' is the name of the [[South Indian Railway]](SIR) metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) Mainline connecting [[Madras]] to the [[Pamban Branch Railway]] with a length of 460 miles(km). Included in the line is the [[Tuticorin Branch Line]] to [[Tuticorin]], a further 99 miles.
The origin of part of this line goes back to the [[Great Southern of India Railway]] with the construction of a broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line from [[Negapatam]] to [[Tuticorin]] via [[Tanjore]] and [[Madura]].
==Progress in SIR MG Mainline opening==
[[File: Madras Railway Map 1909, south section.png|thumb| Madras Railway Map 1909, south section]]
The following is based on the “Administration Report on Railways 1918”<ref name=AdminSIR>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n147/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 138 (pdf 147)]; Retrieved 29 Jan 2018</ref> and the "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951"<ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951"; 'Events at a Glance' page 273-278</ref>.
MG 'Madras-Tuticorin Mainline', with dates of opening:-
*[[Madras]] via Chingleput Junction, [[Villupuram]] to [[Cuddalore]], 1876-77
*[[Cuddalore]] via [[Porto Novo]], [[Chidambaram]], [[Coleroon]], [[Shiyali]], [[Mayavaram]] to [[Tanjore]], 1877-78
*[[Tanjore]] to [[Trichinopoly]], 1862, converted to MG, 1875 ''(see Gauge Note)''
*[[Trichinopoly]] to [[Madura]], 1875
*[[Madura]] to [[Manadapam and Rameswaram]], 1902-1914 ''(see separate page [[Pamban Branch Railway]])''.
==SIR MG Branch Lines==
*[[Tuticorin Branch Line]] from [[Madura]] to [[Tuticorin]], 1876
*[[Pulliarpati Quarry Branch Line]]
*[[Tinnevelly Branch Line]]
*[[Cuddlelore Wharf Branch Line]]
*[[Capper Quarry Branch Line]]
*[[Livinggopuram Salt Branch Line]]
*[[Villipuram-Kathpadi Extension Raimway]]
==Gauge Note==
Part of this Mainline was originally built as broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) by the [[Great Southern of India Railway]](GSIR) with the construction of a BG line from [[Negapatam]] via [[Tanjore]] and [[Trichinopoly]]; then planned onwards to [[Tuticorin]]. Construction of this line commenced in 1859 reaching [[Tanjore]], 1861 and [[Trichinopoly]], 1862.
In 1874 the [[South Indian Railway]](SIR) was formed from merger of the [[Carnatic Railway]] and [[Great Southern of India Railway]]. It was decided that the SIR would use the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) and this required the conversion of BG lines already constructed and in service.
The following is based on the “Administration Report on Railways 1918”<ref name=AdminSIR>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n147/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 138 (pdf 147)]; Retrieved 29 Jan 2018</ref> and the "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951"<ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951"; 'Events at a Glance' page 273-278</ref>.
The BG line from [[Negapatam]] via [[Tanjore]] to [[Trichinopoly]] was converted to MG in 1875
==Progress in Mainline opening==
[[File: Madras Railway Map 1909, south section.png|thumb| Madras Railway Map 1909, south section]]
