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 to 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.
==Original Mysore State Railway History==
1876-77: following the disastrous famine the original sections of the MSR were planned and built by the [[Mysore State|State of Mysore]], opening to traffic from 1881-82.
<br> 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.
<ref> [http://www.irfca.org/articles/manning/mysore.html "The Ex-Mysore State Metre Gauge Lines" by Ian Manning 2007. IRFCA ''Indian Railways Fan Club'' ] Retrieved on 9 Feb 2016</ref>.
<br> 1893: it was determined that the Mysore State Railway (MSR) would cede ownership and jurisdiction of “the mainline from Harihar to Bangalore and to Hindupur which will be taken over by the British Government” ...”The section from Bangalore to Mysore and Nanjangode is an isolated local line, jurisdiction over which should be retained by the Mysore State” <ref>British Library ‘India Office Records’ R/2/Box 4/35 Dispatch No 872-I, Fort William, 9 Mar 1893 from- Sir Mortimer Durand, K.C.I.E., C.S.I. Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department to The Resident in Mysore, Para 2.</ref>
<br>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.
== Original Mysore State Railway Lines==
* ‘[[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, then by SMR. In 1893 ownership transferred to the Government of India and worked by SMR until 1907, then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1919, when it reverted to 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/>, with 33 stations <ref>British Library ‘India Office Records’ IOR/R/2/Box 4/35</ref> . Worked by Mysore State until 1887, SMR 1887-1907. In , then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1938 when it reverted to MSR.
* ‘[[Bangalore Hindupur Railway]]’, 51 miles(82km) MG from [[Yesvantpur]] to the Mysore Frontier at [[Hindupur]] constructed by Mysore State. On opening in 1893 ownership transferred to the Government of India and worked by SMR until 1907, then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1938 when reverted to 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.
* ‘[[Yesvantpur-Hindupur Railway]], total 58½ miles(94km) MG. ‘[[Yesvantpur|Yesvantpur Junction]] to Mysore Frontier Section’, 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]] Section’, 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>/>. Worked by SMR until 1907; then M&SMR until 1919; then reverted to 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.
==Second Mysore State Railway==
[[File: Mysore State Railway 1931.png|thumb| Mysore State Railway 1931]]
''This development is clearly seen on the 1931 Map''.
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 successfully 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.
==Lines constructed/worked by the Second MSR==
''See separate pages for further information''. Listed here in chronological order
lineowned by [[Kolar and Mysore District Board]], opened 1913, worked by MSR and extended 1918
* ‘[[Tarikere-Narasimharajapura Tramway]]’, 2ft (610km) NG Tramway, opened 1915. Worked by MSR
* ‘[[Bowringpet-Chikballapur Railway]]’, 2ft 6in/762mm NG railway, owned by [[Kolar and Mysore District Board]], opened 1916. Worked by MSR.
* ‘[[Chikballapur-Bangalore City Railway]]’, 2ft 6in/762mm NG railway, opened 1918. Worked by MSR.
* ‘[[Mysore-Arsikere Railway]]’, MG railway, opened 1918. Worked by MSR..
* ‘[[Chickjajur-Chitaldrug Railway]]’, MG branch line, opened 1921. Worked by MSR.
* ‘[[Tadasa-Hebbe Tramway]]’, 2ft (610km) NG Tramway, opened 1921. Worked by MSR
* ‘[[Najangud-Chamrajnagar Railway]]’, MG extension of [[Mysore-Nanjangud Railway]] opened 1926. Worked by MSR
* ‘[[Anandapuram-Sagara Railway]]’, MG further extension of [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]] opened 1938. Worked by MSR.
* ‘[[Sagara-Talaguppe Railway]]’, MG further extension of [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]], opened 1940. Worked by MSR.
* ‘[[Shimoga-Anandapuram Railway]]’, MG further extension of [[Birur-Shimoga Railway]], opened 1934. Worked by MSR)
== Records ==
An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway <ref name=name>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 26 Jan 2016</ref>
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
==Personnel==
Unfortunately, there are no MSR Staff agreements held at the [[British Library]] in the [[India Office Records]].
*[[Augustus Le Messurier]] Col. R.E. Bombay Engineers, was appointed Engineer-in-Chief of Mysore State Railway in 1879 and became Manager in 1880 <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA546 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 546 (pdf page 509] Retrieved on 23 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Henry Wilkins Clift]], Executive Engineer from [[:Category:State Railways|State Railways]] was posted to the Mysore State Railway from c.1879 <ref> [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA456 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 456 (pdf page 419)] Retrieved on 23 May 2016</ref>
==Further Information==
===Tramways===
For details and map for railway and tramways in the north of Mysore State see '''[[Tramways in Mysore State]]'''
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 to 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.
1876-77: following the disastrous famine the original sections of the MSR were planned and built by the State of Mysore, opening to traffic from 1881-82.
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].
1893: it was determined that the Mysore State Railway (MSR) would cede ownership and jurisdiction of “the mainline from Harihar to Bangalore and to Hindupur which will be taken over by the British Government” ...”The section from Bangalore to Mysore and Nanjangode is an isolated local line, jurisdiction over which should be retained by the Mysore State” [2] 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.
Original Mysore State Railway Lines
‘Mysore-Bangalore Railway’, 86 miles(138km) MG from Mysore to Bangalore via Chanapatna, constructed by Mysore State, opened 1881-82 [3]. Worked by Mysore State until 1887, then by SMR. In 1893 ownership transferred to the Government of India and worked by SMR until 1907, then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1919, when it reverted to MSR.
‘Bangalore Harihar Railway’, 210 miles(336km) MG from Bangalore to Harihar via Yesvantpur Junction, constructed by Mysore State, opened in stages from 1884-89 [3], with 33 stations [4] . Worked by Mysore State until 1887, SMR 1887-1907. In , then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1938 when it reverted to MSR.
‘Bangalore Hindupur Railway’, 51 miles(82km) MG from Yesvantpur to the Mysore Frontier at Hindupur constructed by Mysore State. On opening in 1893 ownership transferred to the Government of India and worked by SMR until 1907, then M&SMR as part of the M&MSR ‘Mysore Section’ until 1938 when reverted to MSR.
‘Mysore-Nanjangud Railway’, 16 miles(26km) MG from Mysore to Nanjangud, a branch line, constructed by Mysore State , opened 1891 [3]. Worked by SMR until 1907; then M&SMR until 1919; then reverted to MSR.
‘Yesvantpur-Hindupur Railway, total 58½ miles(94km) MG. ‘Yesvantpur Junction to Mysore Frontier Section’, 51¼ miles opened 1893-94 [5]; ‘Mysore Frontier to Hindupur Section’, 7¼ miles opened 1893 [6]/>. Worked by SMR until 1907; then M&SMR until 1919; then reverted to MSR.
‘Birur-Shimoga Railway’, 38 miles(61km) MG from Birur to Shimoga, a branch line, constructed by Mysore State, opened 1899 [7]. Worked by SMR until 1907; then M&SMR until 1919; then reverted to MSR.
Second Mysore State Railway
Mysore State Railway 1931
This development is clearly seen on the 1931 Map.
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 successfully 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.
Lines constructed/worked by the Second MSR
See separate pages for further information. Listed here in chronological order
An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway [8]
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
↑British Library ‘India Office Records’ R/2/Box 4/35 Dispatch No 872-I, Fort William, 9 Mar 1893 from- Sir Mortimer Durand, K.C.I.E., C.S.I. Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department to The Resident in Mysore, Para 2.
