Holkar State Railway: Difference between revisions

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Revised page with info from Steve Moore's BL research
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The [[Holkar State Railway]], opened  1874 as a  metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) line from [[Khandwa]] reaching  [[Indore]], 1876. The line was owned by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Holkar State]] and initially operated as the [[Holkar & Scindia-Neemuch Railway]].  
The '''Holkar State Railway''' opened  1874 as a  metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) line from [[Khandwa]] reaching  [[Indore]] in 1876, a line length of 69½ miles(111km). The line was financed by the Maharaja of Holkar of [[Indore]] and was owned by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Indore State]] and initially operated as the [[Holkar & Scindia-Neemuch Railway]].  


[[Holkar State]] is also known as Indore State<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indore_State Wikipedia "Indore State"]; Retrieved 11 Dec 2015</ref> and some early records describe this railway as the '''Indore State Railway'''.
Some early records describe this railway as the '''Indore State Railway'''.


[[Horace Bell]] and [[Archibald Crellin Cregeen]] were deployed in 1870 from the newly formed Railway Branch of the [[Public Works Department]] to the Indore State Railway as Executive Engineers during the construction and the railway opened in 1874.
'''Note.'''
 
*''‘Holkar State’ does not exist, it was only the name given to the railway, the correct name is [[Indore|’Indore State’]]<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indore_State Wikipedia "Indore State"]; Retrieved 11 Dec 2015</ref>  
[[Ernest Ifill Shadbolt]], who later became Director of Railway Construction for the Government of India, was Assistant Engineer, Construction.  [[James Rhind]] in 1873 went to India, and served in the Locomotive Department, 'receiving certificates of good service from his superior officers' before travelling back to England <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/James_Rhind Grace's Guide "James Rhind"] Retrieved on 25 Jul 2016</ref>. 
*''Narmada (Nerbudda) River – Narmada is the later name. The Imperial Gazetteer uses both'' <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_255.gif “Imperial Gazetteer of India”, v. 2, p. 220]; Retrieved 22 Dec 2017</ref>''  
 
[[Henry Dangerfield]] in 1878 transferred to Holkar State Railway and [[Scindia-Neemuch Railway]], transferred  as Superintendent of Way and Works, and he held this post till Dec 1880, being also manager of the line for the last two years <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Henry_Dangerfield Grace's Guide "Henry Dangerfield"] Retrieved on 25 Jul 2016</ref>.
 
[[James Condor]] was appointed  Manager of Holkar State Railway in 1881. He was, at the same time Manager of [[Sindia-Neemuch Railway]] and [[Neemuch Nasirabad State Railway]]<ref> [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA465 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 465 (pdf page 428)] Retrieved on 23 May 2016</ref>..
 
In 1881-82, the railway joined with others to form the '''[[Rajputana-Malwa State Railway]]''' (see'Algamation' below)
 
The railway had been worked by the '''[[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway]]'''(BB&CIR) from the beginning and was finally mergerd into BB&CIR in 1900.


==Early History==
==Early History==
The Maharaja of [[Holkar]], in 1870, offered a loan for the construction of a rail-line to his capital city of Indore, taking off from the [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]](GIPR)  mainline at Khandwa.
The [[Government of India]] accepted payment from the Maharaja Holkar of Indore towards the construction of a railway from the [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]](GIPR)  station at [[Khandwa]]  to his capital city of [[Indore]] and in March 1870 preliminary Surveys were started
<ref>[http://www.wr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1397109746468-history_1.pdf Indian Railways "History of Ratlam Division"]; Retrieved 11 Dec 2015</ref>
<ref name=Holkar> British Library IOR/V/24/3590 ; "Public Works Department: Railways" which contains "Administration report on the Holkar State Railway, 1878/79"</ref>.
<ref>[http://www.geocities.ws/manasampc/dp.html Geocities "Neesmuch - Railways"]; Retrieved 11 Dec 2015</ref>
<br> Particular attention was given to the crossing of the Narmada (Nerbudda) River (see spelling note). The result was a route from [[Khandwa]] via Sanawad to Kheri Ghat , crossing the Nerbudda;  then ascending the Chorul Valley on to the Malwa plateau onward to [[Mhow]] and [[Indore]]. The Government was not happy with this route through the Chorul Valley. The final route was for a metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]])  line 69½ miles long.
 
<br>The Holkar Railway required very heavy works due to very steep gradients(upto 1 in 40) on the Vindhya Ghats. It also involved digging of 4 tunnels, deep cuttings and heavy retaining walls. The River Narmada was crossed by a bridge of 14 spans, 197 feet each and piers 80 feet above low water level. There are 14 other large bridges with high piers, the highest pier being 152 feet above the bottom of the ravine.
The alignment was to pass through Sanawad, Kheree Ghat on the Narmada and then by way of the Choral Valley up the slopes of the Vindhyas to Indore. Maharaja Holkar’s contribution accelerated the construction of rail-lines in Malwa region.
<br>The first section Khandwa-Sanawad was opened for traffic in Dec 1874. The Narmada Bridge was opened for traffic on Oct 1876; it was named the ‘Holkar-Narmada Bridge’ <ref name=Holkar/>
 
The Holkar Railway required very heavy works due to very steep gradients(u pto 1 in 40) on the Vindhya Ghats. It also involved digging of 4 tunnels, deep cuttings and heavy retaining walls. The River Narmada was crossed by a brigde of 14 spans, 197 feet each and piers 80 feet above low water level. There are 14 other large bridges with high piers, the highest pier being 152 feet above the bottom of the ravine.
 
The first section Khandwa-Sanawad was opened for traffic on 1.12.1874. The Narmada Bridge was opened for traffic on 5.10.1876 it was named the ‘Holkar-Narmada Bridge’.


==Amalgamation==
==Amalgamation==
In 1881-82, the '''[[Rajputana-Malwa State Railway]]''' (RMSR) was created joining under single management, existing State Railways:-
In 1881-82, the '''[[Rajputana-Malwa State Railway]]''' (RMSR) was created, joining under single management, existing State Railways:-
*[[Rajputana State Railway]] (RSR)
*[[Rajputana State Railway]] (RSR)
*'''Holkar State Railway'''
*'''Holkar State Railway'''
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In 1900 the RMSR was merged into the [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway]](BB&CIR), becoming the latter's Metre Gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) section; known as Ratlam Division of BB&CIR.
In 1900 the RMSR was merged into the [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway]](BB&CIR), becoming the latter's Metre Gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) section; known as Ratlam Division of BB&CIR.
==Personnel==
No  Staff Records for the Holkar State Railway (or the Indore State Railway) have been found.
The following have been identified from various sources:-
*[[Horace Bell]] and [[Archibald Crellin Cregeen]] were deployed in 1870 from the newly formed Railway Branch of the [[Public Works Department]] to the Indore State Railway as Executive Engineers during the construction and the railway opened in 1874.
*[[Ernest Ifill Shadbolt]], who later became Director of Railway Construction for the Government of India, was Assistant Engineer, Construction.  [[James Rhind]] in 1873 went to India, and served in the Locomotive Department, 'receiving certificates of good service from his superior officers' before travelling back to England <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/James_Rhind Grace's Guide "James Rhind"] Retrieved on 25 Jul 2016</ref>. 
*[[Henry Dangerfield]] in 1878 transferred to Holkar State Railway and [[Scindia-Neemuch Railway]], transferred  as Superintendent of Way and Works, and he held this post till Dec 1880, being also manager of the line for the last two years <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Henry_Dangerfield Grace's Guide "Henry Dangerfield"] Retrieved on 25 Jul 2016</ref>.
*[[James Condor]] was appointed  Manager of Holkar State Railway in 1881. He was, at the same time Manager of [[Sindia-Neemuch Railway]] and [[Neemuch Nasirabad State Railway]]<ref> [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA465 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 465 (pdf page 428)] Retrieved on 23 May 2016</ref>..


==Records==
==Records==
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[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Indian States Railways]]
[[Category:State Railways]]

Revision as of 08:32, 22 December 2017

The Holkar State Railway opened 1874 as a metre gauge(MG) line from Khandwa reaching Indore in 1876, a line length of 69½ miles(111km). The line was financed by the Maharaja of Holkar of Indore and was owned by the Princely Indore State and initially operated as the Holkar & Scindia-Neemuch Railway.

Some early records describe this railway as the Indore State Railway.

Note.

  • ‘Holkar State’ does not exist, it was only the name given to the railway, the correct name is ’Indore State’[1]
  • Narmada (Nerbudda) River – Narmada is the later name. The Imperial Gazetteer uses both [2]

Early History

The Government of India accepted payment from the Maharaja Holkar of Indore towards the construction of a railway from the Great Indian Peninsula Railway(GIPR) station at Khandwa to his capital city of Indore and in March 1870 preliminary Surveys were started [3].
Particular attention was given to the crossing of the Narmada (Nerbudda) River (see spelling note). The result was a route from Khandwa via Sanawad to Kheri Ghat , crossing the Nerbudda; then ascending the Chorul Valley on to the Malwa plateau onward to Mhow and Indore. The Government was not happy with this route through the Chorul Valley. The final route was for a metre gauge(MG) line 69½ miles long.
The Holkar Railway required very heavy works due to very steep gradients(upto 1 in 40) on the Vindhya Ghats. It also involved digging of 4 tunnels, deep cuttings and heavy retaining walls. The River Narmada was crossed by a bridge of 14 spans, 197 feet each and piers 80 feet above low water level. There are 14 other large bridges with high piers, the highest pier being 152 feet above the bottom of the ravine.
The first section Khandwa-Sanawad was opened for traffic in Dec 1874. The Narmada Bridge was opened for traffic on Oct 1876; it was named the ‘Holkar-Narmada Bridge’ [3]

Amalgamation

In 1881-82, the Rajputana-Malwa State Railway (RMSR) was created, joining under single management, existing State Railways:-

All these railways were worked by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway(BB&CIR).

In 1900 the RMSR was merged into the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway(BB&CIR), becoming the latter's Metre Gauge(MG) section; known as Ratlam Division of BB&CIR.

Personnel

No Staff Records for the Holkar State Railway (or the Indore State Railway) have been found.

The following have been identified from various sources:-

Records

An on-line search of the India Office Records (IOR) records held at the British Library relating to this railway [7] gives the following:-

  • V/24/3585; "Public Works Department: Administration report on the Holkar State Railway, 1874/75"
  • V/24/3590; "Public Works Department: Railways" which contains "Administration report on the Holkar State Railway, 1878/79"

Further Information

See Rajputana-Malwa State Railway and Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia "Indore State"; Retrieved 11 Dec 2015
  2. ↑ “Imperial Gazetteer of India”, v. 2, p. 220; Retrieved 22 Dec 2017
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 British Library IOR/V/24/3590 ; "Public Works Department: Railways" which contains "Administration report on the Holkar State Railway, 1878/79"
  4. ↑ Grace's Guide "James Rhind" Retrieved on 25 Jul 2016
  5. ↑ Grace's Guide "Henry Dangerfield" Retrieved on 25 Jul 2016
  6. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 465 (pdf page 428) Retrieved on 23 May 2016
  7. ↑ “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 7 Apr 2016
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