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The [[Pamban Branch Railway]] was a metre  gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) single line completed in 1914 by the [[South Indian Railway]] Company(SIR).
The '''Pamban Branch Railway''' was a metre  gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) single line completed in 1914 by the [[South Indian Railway]] Company(SIR).
<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamban_Bridge Wikipedia "Pamban_Bridge"]; Retrieved 13 Dec 2015</ref>
<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamban_Bridge Wikipedia "Pamban_Bridge"]; Retrieved 21 Jun 2016</ref>
The line linked the SIR network in India at [[Madurai]] with the Island of [[Pambam]], from where there was a ferry connection to [[Ceylon]].
The line linked the SIR network in India at [[Madura]] with the Island of [[Pambam]], from where there was a ferry connection to [[Ceylon]].


Also described as the '''Madura-Pamban Railway''' in some records, it was first surveyed by [[Ernest Ifill Shadbolt]] between the years of 1888 and 1893. (see 'Personnel' below)
Prior to the construction of this line, traffic between India and Ceylon was carried via [[Tuticorin]] and [[Colombo]], a route which line, which has necessitated a 12-hours' sea journey.  


It involved the construction of the '''[[Pamban Viaduct]]''' across the submerged reef lying between the mainland of India and the Island of [[Panbam]](Rameswaram)  
==Background==
<ref>[http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/article/10.1680/imotp.1915.16223 Institution of Civil Engineers "Minutes of the Proceedings" Volume 199, Issue 1915, 01 January 1915 , pages 377 –387]; Retrieved 13 Dec 2015</ref>.
A railway to  link [[Dhanushkodi]] in India to [[Talaimannar]] in [[Ceylon]], a distance of 22 miles(35km), was a constant challenge to railway engineers. The route would follow the chain of limestone shoals known as "Adam's Bridge" between [[Pamban]] Island (also known as Rameswaram Island), off the Indian south-eastern coast,  and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Geological evidence suggests that this bridge is a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam%27s_Bridge Wikipedia "Adam's Bridge"]; Retrieved 21 Jun 2016</ref>


Prior to the construction of this line, traffic between India and Ceylon was carried via Tuticorin and Colombo, a route which line, which has necessitated a 12-hours' sea journey. This branch then became the main line, extended to [[Mandapam]], on the mainland of India.
The route was first considered in 1876 but no definite decision was taken until 1894 with a proposal from the Ceylon Government, followed a year later by a survey by the Indian Government. These proposals were rejected as the outlay was greater than the anticipated traffic would justify and the idea of bridging the sea was abandoned <ref> Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951", pages 63-64 </ref>.
The route, described as the '''Madura-Pamban Railway''' in some records, was surveyed by [[Ernest Ifill Shadbolt]] between the years of 1888 and 1893. (see 'Personnel' below)
 
==History==
*1902, the branch of the SIR from [[Madura]] to [[Pambam]] Island was completed as far as [[Mandapam]], a village on the coast on the mainland side of the narrow strait which divides the island from the shore, a distance of 90 miles (145km) <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_405.gif "Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1906" page 399]; Retrieved 21 Jun 2016</ref>
*1908, after much consultion it was decided to build a viaduct from mainland India across the Palk Strait to [[Pamban]] Island with a "Scherzer Rolling Lifting Bridge" over the Pamban Pass shipping passage. The proposal involved:- 
**A short 6km extension of the existing railway line from [[Mandapam]] to the tip of the coast.
**The construction of the 2 km long '''[[Pamban Viaduct]]''' across the submerged reef lying between the mainland of India and the Island of [[Pamban]], this section to include  the "Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge".
**A 30 km line across Pamban Island via Rameswaram to [[Dhanushkodi]] to connect to the 'Indo-Ceylon Ferry Service'
*Work started on the viaduct in June 1911 and completed in June 1913. The line was opened in February 1914 together with the 'Indo-Ceylon Ferry Service' 


==Records==
==Records==

Revision as of 09:31, 21 June 2016

The Pamban Branch Railway was a metre gauge(MG) single line completed in 1914 by the South Indian Railway Company(SIR). [1] The line linked the SIR network in India at Madura with the Island of Pambam, from where there was a ferry connection to Ceylon.

Prior to the construction of this line, traffic between India and Ceylon was carried via Tuticorin and Colombo, a route which line, which has necessitated a 12-hours' sea journey.

Background

A railway to link Dhanushkodi in India to Talaimannar in Ceylon, a distance of 22 miles(35km), was a constant challenge to railway engineers. The route would follow the chain of limestone shoals known as "Adam's Bridge" between Pamban Island (also known as Rameswaram Island), off the Indian south-eastern coast, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Geological evidence suggests that this bridge is a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka [2]

The route was first considered in 1876 but no definite decision was taken until 1894 with a proposal from the Ceylon Government, followed a year later by a survey by the Indian Government. These proposals were rejected as the outlay was greater than the anticipated traffic would justify and the idea of bridging the sea was abandoned [3].

The route, described as the Madura-Pamban Railway in some records, was surveyed by Ernest Ifill Shadbolt between the years of 1888 and 1893. (see 'Personnel' below)

History

  • 1902, the branch of the SIR from Madura to Pambam Island was completed as far as Mandapam, a village on the coast on the mainland side of the narrow strait which divides the island from the shore, a distance of 90 miles (145km) [4]
  • 1908, after much consultion it was decided to build a viaduct from mainland India across the Palk Strait to Pamban Island with a "Scherzer Rolling Lifting Bridge" over the Pamban Pass shipping passage. The proposal involved:-
    • A short 6km extension of the existing railway line from Mandapam to the tip of the coast.
    • The construction of the 2 km long Pamban Viaduct across the submerged reef lying between the mainland of India and the Island of Pamban, this section to include the "Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge".
    • A 30 km line across Pamban Island via Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi to connect to the 'Indo-Ceylon Ferry Service'
  • Work started on the viaduct in June 1911 and completed in June 1913. The line was opened in February 1914 together with the 'Indo-Ceylon Ferry Service'

Records

An on-line search of the India Office Records(IOR) records relating to this railway [5] gives the following: -

  • L/F/8/16/1095 “South Indian Railway Company Limited, Contract as to the construction and working of the Pamban Branch and the Travancore Branch; 1901"

Personnel

No Staff Lists have been found.

The “Indian Biographical Dictionary” gives Ernest Ifill Shadbolt, Public Works Department, Executive Engineer from 1888 to 1893 as 'Engineer-in-Chief of the Madura-Pamban Railway Survey also Bezwada-Madras and Tinnevelly-Quilon Railway Surveys ' [6]

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia "Pamban_Bridge"; Retrieved 21 Jun 2016
  2. ↑ Wikipedia "Adam's Bridge"; Retrieved 21 Jun 2016
  3. ↑ Southern Railway Heritage Centre "Marvels of the South Indian Railway 1859-1951", pages 63-64
  4. ↑ "Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1906" page 399; Retrieved 21 Jun 2016
  5. ↑ “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 26 Jan 2016
  6. ↑ “Indian Biographical Dictionary” 1915 page 390; Retrieved on 27 May 2016

Further Information

See South Indian Railway

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