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Formed as a private company, in 1896 '''Burma Railway''' (BR) took over the three metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railways operating in Burma under a guarantee provided by the Government of India.
'''Burma Railway'''
 
The Burma Railways metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) was originally known as the  ‘Burma State Railway’. In 1896 ‘Burma Railway Company’  was formed for the purpose of taking over the working of the  original system and extending it by the construction of other lines, particularly one from Mandalay to Kunberg. The railways taken over by the Company from Government in 1896 comprised the following lines:-
* Rangoon to Prome on the Irrawady river Formed as a private company, in 1896 the (BR)  took over the three state railways of operating in Burma under a guarantee provided by the Government of India.
*Rangoon to Mandalay, and thence to the bank of the Irrawaddy, opposite Sagaing
*Sagaing to Myitkyina with a branch to Katha, whence there is communication by river to Bhamo.
The above paragraph is taken directly from  the Administration Report on Indian Railways 1918
<ref name=Admin1918>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n179/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 171 (pdf64) ]; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
 
Following the merger of the [[Irrawaddy Valley State Railway]], the [[Sittang Valley State Railway]] and the [[Mu Valley State Railway]] to form the Burma Railway (BR), construction continued on various projects . In 1905 the network was 1340 miles(2157km);  expanding by 1916 to 1598miles(2572km) <ref name =Admin1918/>;  by 1937 the system length was 2051 miles(3301km) <ref>[https://ia801605.us.archive.org/30/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.36650/2015.36650.India-Railway-Board-History-Of-Indian-Railways-Constructed-And-In-Progress.pdf  US Archive .org pdf download of ‘History Of Indian Railways, constructed and in progress’, 31 March 1937 by ‘The Government of India – Railway Department’, pages 62-63 , pdf  85-88]; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020</ref>.  
Following the merger of the [[Irrawaddy Valley State Railway]], the [[Sittang Valley State Railway]] and the [[Mu Valley State Railway]] to form BR, construction continued on various projects until 1924 when the extent of line exceeded 1800 miles. From 1906, BR was managed by [[Walter Home]] who repeated his previous success at the helm of the [[Jodhpur-Bikaner Railway]], another metre gauge line.
<ref>[https://ia801009.us.archive.org/8/items/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System.pdf  " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta;  page 171-4] Retrieved 30 Apr 2016</ref>
<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Burma Wikipedia "History of Rail Transport in Burma"] Retrieved 30 Apr 2016</ref>


In 1928, BR was dissolved and the railways in Burma were brought once again under direct government control, being renamed '''Burma Railways'''. In 1937, Burma was split from India and political control passed to the newly-formed ''Burma Office''.
In 1928, BR was dissolved and the railways in Burma were brought once again under direct government control, being renamed '''Burma Railways'''. In 1937, Burma was split from India and political control passed to the newly-formed ''Burma Office''.
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[[image:Railroads in Burma.jpg|thumb|Railways in Burma in 1900]]
[[image:Railroads in Burma.jpg|thumb|Railways in Burma in 1900]]
[[File:Burma Railway System Map 1937.png|thumb| Burma Railway System  1937 Map]]
[[File:Burma Railway System Map 1937.png|thumb| Burma Railway System  1937 Map]]


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==Coal Supplies==
==Coal Supplies==
From 1891 coal for the BR was partly supplied from the [[Burma, Kebwet Coal Mine Railway|Kebwet Mine]], the coal was carried by the [[Irrawaddy Flotilla Company]](IFC) . By 1923 23,000 tons of coal had been extracted and carried by IFC. The coal was of inferior quality and supply ceased in January 1905. [[Burma, Kebwet Coal Mine Railway|''See separate page for further information'']]
From 1891 coal for the BR was partly supplied from the [[Burma, Kebwet Coal Mine Railway|Kebwet Mine]], the coal was carried by the [[Irrawaddy Flotilla Company]](IFC) . By 1923 23,000 tons of coal had been extracted and carried by IFC. The coal was of inferior quality and supply ceased in January 1905. [[Burma, Kebwet Coal Mine Railway|''See separate page for further information'']]
==Railway Constructiuons==
*[[Ava Road/Rail Bridge ]] crossing Irrawaddy River connecting [[Mandalay]] and [[Sagaing]], 16 span steel truss bridge 1128 metres in length, opened 1934, partially destroyed 1942, reconstructed 1954 <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ava_Bridge Wikipedia ‘Ava Bridge’]; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020</ref>, <ref>[https://structurae.net/structures/ava-bridge  “’nternational database of structures – Ava Bridge’]; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020</ref>.


== Records ==
== Records ==
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*'''Z/L/F/8/1-2''' "Index to Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"
*'''Z/L/F/8/1-2''' "Index to Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"


The following staff from the [[Public Works Department]] are listed in the 1905 Civil List as being posted to Burma State Railway:-
In 1906 [[Walter Home]] was  appointed as Managing Director of the ‘Burma Railway Company’ due to his previous managing the [[Jodhpur-Bikaner Railway], a metre gauge line on most profitable basis. When taking charge, Burma Railway had about 600 miles of route open for traffic. He served as Managing Director for about two decades. And at the close of his era, Burma Railway extended its operations over 1800 miles. The situation has not changed much since Walter Home's time <ref>[http://www.irfca.org/articles/eminent-railwaymen.html#home “Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryears” by R R Bhandari July 2008, reproduced by IRFCA ''Indian Railways Fan Club''] Retrieved on 20 Apr 2020</ref> .
 
The following staff from the [[Public Works Department]] are listed in the 1905 Civil List, and other sources, as being posted to Burma Railway; ''in approximate date order'':-
*[[Frederick Robert Bagley]], 1883, posted to Burma Railway as Executive Engineer, Survey; 1897 Superintending Engineer and 1903 Chief Engineer of Burma Railways <ref> [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA430 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 430 (pdf page 393 )] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Frederick Robert Bagley]], 1883, posted to Burma Railway as Executive Engineer, Survey; 1897 Superintending Engineer and 1903 Chief Engineer of Burma Railways <ref> [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA430 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 430 (pdf page 393 )] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Frederick Lewis Dibblee]], 1886-88, posted to Burma , in charge[[Tounghoo-Mandalay Railway |Toungoo-Mandalay Division]] <ref>https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Frederick_Lewis_Dibblee  Grace’s Guide ‘Frederick Lewis Dibblee’]; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020</ref>.
*[[Abraham Robert Lilley]], from 1887, Executive Engineer, Burma Railway <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA548 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 548 (pdf page 511] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.  
*[[Abraham Robert Lilley]], from 1887, Executive Engineer, Burma Railway <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA548 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 548 (pdf page 511] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.  
*[[Henry Rigg]], 1889, Manager and Engineer-in-Chief Burma State Railways <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA600 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 600 (pdf page 563)] Retrieved on 22 May 2016</ref>.  
*[[Henry Rigg]], 1889, Manager and Engineer-in-Chief Burma State Railways <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA600 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 600 (pdf page 563)] Retrieved on 22 May 2016</ref>.  
*[[John Walker Buyers]], 1890, posted to Burma Railway as Superintending Engineer until retirement in 1891<ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA454 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 454 (pdf page 417)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>; prior to this he was deployed to [[Mu Valley State Railway]] which was absorbed into Burma State Railway.
*[[John Walker Buyers]], 1890, posted to Burma Railway as Superintending Engineer until retirement in 1891<ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA454 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 454 (pdf page 417)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>; prior to this he was deployed to [[Mu Valley State Railway]] which was absorbed into Burma State Railway.
*[[Edward Henry Clementson]], 1890, posted to Burma Railway as Executive Engineer <ref> India  Civil List 1890, page 41</ref>.
*[[Edward Henry Clementson]], 1890, posted to Burma Railway as Executive Engineer <ref> India  Civil List 1890, page 41</ref>.
*[[Cornelius Edward Cardew]], from 1890's, [[Burma Railway|Burma State Railway]], Locomotive Superintendent; 1892, [[Indian Railway Conference Association]], Lahore. 'Locomotive Superintendents Conference' delegate representing Burma Railway <ref>[http://www.steamindex.com/locomag/lcwr31.htm#133p The Locomotive Magazine and Railway Carriage and Wagon Review "Indian locomotive superintendents of the nineties", Volume 31, Number 393, 15 May 1925, page 133+ plate]; Retrieved 26 Jul 2016</ref>; Lieut.-Colonel of the [[Burma Railway Volunteers]]<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Cornelius_Edward_Cardew Grace's Guide "Cornelius Edward Cardew"] Retrieved on 26 Jul 2016</ref>.<ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA457 Google Books "India Office List 1905" page 420,pdf page 457] Retrieved on 26 Jul 2016</ref>; 1906, Retired
*[[Cornelius Edward Cardew]], from 1890's, Burma State Railway, Locomotive Superintendent; 1892, [[Indian Railway Conference Association]], Lahore. 'Locomotive Superintendents Conference' delegate representing Burma Railway <ref>[http://www.steamindex.com/locomag/lcwr31.htm#133p The Locomotive Magazine and Railway Carriage and Wagon Review "Indian locomotive superintendents of the nineties", Volume 31, Number 393, 15 May 1925, page 133+ plate]; Retrieved 26 Jul 2016</ref>; Lieut.-Colonel of the [[Burma Railway Volunteers]]<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Cornelius_Edward_Cardew Grace's Guide "Cornelius Edward Cardew"] Retrieved on 26 Jul 2016</ref>.<ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA457 Google Books "India Office List 1905" page 420,pdf page 457] Retrieved on 26 Jul 2016</ref>; 1906, Retired
*[[Charles Albert Bull]], 1891 September, posted to Burma Railway as Superintendent of Works, promoted 1892 June to Superintending Engineer <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA451 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" pages 451-452 (pdf pages 414-415)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Charles Albert Bull]], 1891 September, posted to Burma Railway as Superintendent of Works, promoted 1892 June to Superintending Engineer <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA451 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" pages 451-452 (pdf pages 414-415)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Hugh Lewin Monk]], 1895, Officiating Manager <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA569 Google Books "India List and India Office List, 1905" page 569 (pdf page 532)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>; prior to this he was deployed to [[Mu Valley State Railway]] which was absorbed into Burma State Railway.
*[[Hugh Lewin Monk]], 1895, Officiating Manager <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA569 Google Books "India List and India Office List, 1905" page 569 (pdf page 532)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>; prior to this he was deployed to [[Mu Valley State Railway]] which was absorbed into Burma State Railway.
*[[Frederick Benbow Hebbert]], 1896, Officiating Manager <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA517 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 517 (pdf page 480] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Frederick Benbow Hebbert]], 1896, Officiating Manager <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA517 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 517 (pdf page 480] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.
*[[Reuben William Roberts]], 1896, Executive Engineer 'on loan to Burma State Railway' <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA601 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 601 (pdf page 564)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.  
*[[Reuben William Roberts]], 1896, Executive Engineer 'on loan to Burma State Railway' <ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PA601 Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 601 (pdf page 564)] Retrieved on 29 May 2016</ref>.  
==Further Information==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Burma Wikipedia "History of Rail Transport in Burma"]


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 14:26, 20 April 2020

Burma Railway
[[Image:|150px| ]]
System timeline
1896 Burma Railway Company formed to work existing state lines
1928 Nationalisation
1937 Separation of Burma from India
1948 Union of Burma created
Constituent companies / lines
1896 Irrawaddy Valley State Railway
1896 Sittang Valley State Railway
1896 Mu Valley State Railway
1923-1927 Madaya Light Railway
Key locations
Headquarters Rangoon
Workshops Insein
Major Stations Mandalay, Pegu, Prome, Toungoo
Successor system / organisation
1928 Burma Railways
1989 Myanmar Railways
System mileage
Metre gauge 1340 miles (1905)
2049 miles (1943)
Associated auxiliary force
n/a
How to interpret this infobox

Burma Railway

The Burma Railways metre gauge(MG) was originally known as the ‘Burma State Railway’. In 1896 ‘Burma Railway Company’ was formed for the purpose of taking over the working of the original system and extending it by the construction of other lines, particularly one from Mandalay to Kunberg. The railways taken over by the Company from Government in 1896 comprised the following lines:-

  • Rangoon to Prome on the Irrawady river Formed as a private company, in 1896 the (BR) took over the three state railways of operating in Burma under a guarantee provided by the Government of India.
  • Rangoon to Mandalay, and thence to the bank of the Irrawaddy, opposite Sagaing
  • Sagaing to Myitkyina with a branch to Katha, whence there is communication by river to Bhamo.

The above paragraph is taken directly from the Administration Report on Indian Railways 1918 [1]

History

Following the merger of the Irrawaddy Valley State Railway, the Sittang Valley State Railway and the Mu Valley State Railway to form the Burma Railway (BR), construction continued on various projects . In 1905 the network was 1340 miles(2157km); expanding by 1916 to 1598miles(2572km) [1]; by 1937 the system length was 2051 miles(3301km) [2].

In 1928, BR was dissolved and the railways in Burma were brought once again under direct government control, being renamed Burma Railways. In 1937, Burma was split from India and political control passed to the newly-formed Burma Office.

The infamous Thailand-Burma Railway, constructed between 1942-1943 by Allied POWs under the direction of their Japanese captors, is at present outside of the scope of this article.

Railways in Burma in 1900
Burma Railway System 1937 Map

Neighbouring countries Railway Link Proposals

  • Assam-Burma Connection Railway Project. A series of proposals from 1892 onwards to link India and Burma by rail; eventually all were dropped.
  • Burma-Yunnan Railway Project. A project to connect the Burma Railway network to the China’s south-western Yunnan province. Construction started in 1938 and was abandoned in the early 1940’s

Extensions to Burma Railway

Connection Line to Burma Railway

  • Burma Mines Railway. Opened 1907, private NG railway to transport locally mined silver; connecting to Lashio branch of BR; independent until after 1947

Railways aquired by BR

Madaya Light Railway. Unassisted private company, 1912; Purchased by Government of India(GoI) 1923, passed to BR; closed 1927

Coal Supplies

From 1891 coal for the BR was partly supplied from the Kebwet Mine, the coal was carried by the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company(IFC) . By 1923 23,000 tons of coal had been extracted and carried by IFC. The coal was of inferior quality and supply ceased in January 1905. See separate page for further information

Railway Constructiuons

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 [5] gives many references. The most important being:-

  • L/AG/46/7 “Records of the Burma Railways Company, 1896-1921”
  • L/AG/46/28 “Records of the India Office relating to the Burma Railways Company 1897-1927”

Personnel Records

  • L/AG/46/7/17-18 “Records of the Burma Railways Company, which includes lists of employees, 1898-1921”
  • L/F/10/250 "Records of service: Officers employed by the Burma Railways Co Ltd. Half-yearly Staff lists 1922-1928"

This railway was a State Railways and the following IOR records relating to Staff employment are held :-

  • L/F/8/1-20 "Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"
  • Z/L/F/8/1-2 "Index to Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"

In 1906 Walter Home was appointed as Managing Director of the ‘Burma Railway Company’ due to his previous managing the [[Jodhpur-Bikaner Railway], a metre gauge line on most profitable basis. When taking charge, Burma Railway had about 600 miles of route open for traffic. He served as Managing Director for about two decades. And at the close of his era, Burma Railway extended its operations over 1800 miles. The situation has not changed much since Walter Home's time [6] .

The following staff from the Public Works Department are listed in the 1905 Civil List, and other sources, as being posted to Burma Railway; in approximate date order:-

Further Information

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 171 (pdf64) ; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020
  2. ↑ US Archive .org pdf download of ‘History Of Indian Railways, constructed and in progress’, 31 March 1937 by ‘The Government of India – Railway Department’, pages 62-63 , pdf 85-88; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020
  3. ↑ Wikipedia ‘Ava Bridge’; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020
  4. ↑ “’nternational database of structures – Ava Bridge’; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020
  5. ↑ British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue; Retrieved 18 Jan 2016
  6. ↑ “Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryears” by R R Bhandari July 2008, reproduced by IRFCA Indian Railways Fan Club Retrieved on 20 Apr 2020
  7. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 430 (pdf page 393 ) Retrieved on 29 May 2016
  8. ↑ https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Frederick_Lewis_Dibblee Grace’s Guide ‘Frederick Lewis Dibblee’]; Retrieved 20 Apr 2020
  9. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 548 (pdf page 511 Retrieved on 29 May 2016
  10. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 600 (pdf page 563) Retrieved on 22 May 2016
  11. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 454 (pdf page 417) Retrieved on 29 May 2016
  12. ↑ India Civil List 1890, page 41
  13. ↑ The Locomotive Magazine and Railway Carriage and Wagon Review "Indian locomotive superintendents of the nineties", Volume 31, Number 393, 15 May 1925, page 133+ plate; Retrieved 26 Jul 2016
  14. ↑ Grace's Guide "Cornelius Edward Cardew" Retrieved on 26 Jul 2016
  15. ↑ Google Books "India Office List 1905" page 420,pdf page 457 Retrieved on 26 Jul 2016
  16. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" pages 451-452 (pdf pages 414-415) Retrieved on 29 May 2016
  17. ↑ Google Books "India List and India Office List, 1905" page 569 (pdf page 532) Retrieved on 29 May 2016
  18. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 517 (pdf page 480 Retrieved on 29 May 2016
  19. ↑ Google Books " India List and India Office List, 1905" page 601 (pdf page 564) Retrieved on 29 May 2016
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