The Gaekwar's Dabhoi Railway(GDR) was the original name of the ox-driven line between Dabhoi and Miyagam Karjan, a distance of 20 miles(33km) and opened in 1862. The line was laid during the reign of Sir Khanderao Gaekwar of Baroda, the Maharaja of Baroda. Owned by the Princely Baroda State, it was the first railway built and operated by a Native Prince. [1][2]. The network expanded finally becoming the Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway in 1921.
Note.
Some records refer to this railway as theDabhoi Railway
Some web record, including Wikipedia, incorrectly name this railway as the Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway; which in fact did not come into existence until 1921.
The original line was a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge(NG) with rails weighing 13 lbs to a yard. The line was designed and constructed by A.W.Forde. A pair of oxen used to haul trains composed of 4-6 vehicles. In 1863, Khanderao purchased 3 steam locomotives built by Neilson and Co., Glasgow. These 0-4-0 ST locomotives proved to be too heavy for the rails. During the reign of Malharrao in 1871, the old rails were removed and new rail 30 lbs to a yard were laid [3]. The 20mile(32km) ‘Dabhoi-Miyagam’ line was reopened for traffic on 8 April 1878 [4].
An Agreement was made, effective from 1 Jan 1897, with the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway(BB&CIR) for the management, maintenance and working of the ‘Dabhoi Railway’ on behalf of the ‘Government of His Highness the Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda’ [4]. It is not known if BB&CIR were responsible prior to this date. Certainly from this date onwards the BB&CIR were totally responsible for the operation.
Gaekwars Dabhoi Railway Maps
Dabhoi by 1909 had become an important narrow gauge(NG) railway junction as the Gaewar’s Dabhoi Railway was expanded; it became the centre where the lines from Miyagam, Chandod , Bodeli and Baroda converge [5].
A Contract dated 8 April 1907, effective from 1 Jan 1906, between the Secretary of State and the BB&CIR formalised the arrangements for ‘the management, maintenance and working’ of the Dabhoi railway [4].
Further expansion of the network initiated an Agreement, dated 9 May 1916 between the ‘Government of His Highness the Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda’ and the BB&CIR for the ‘management, maintenance and working, by the Company, of the Miyagam-Malsar, Dabhoi-Jarod, Jarod- Samlaya, Samlaya-Timba, Masor Road-Jambusar and the Motipura-Tankhala extensions from the dates they are or shall have been opened for public traffic’ [4].
With the completion of the ‘Dabhoi-Jarod Line’ in 1919 a total of 187 miles(299km) of Gaekwars Dabhoi Railway was open [4].
The GDR became the narrow gauge(NG) part of the Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway (GBSR) on Oct 1st 1921 as result of the continued expansion or the network into Baroda State. At this time the NG system was 268 miles(429km) in length [6].
Opening of Gaekwar’s Dabhoi Railway lines in chronological order
Information retrieved from “Administration Report on Railways 1918” [4]
Note Town Names – modern names in (brackets) as seen on Google MapsBaroda (Vadodora; Miyagam (Miyaram), Chhota Udaipur (Chhota Udepur)
’Dabhoi –Miyagam Line’ 20 miles(32km) NG: 1862, the original Gaekwar's Dabhoi Railway, driven by oxen; 1873 Apr 4, line re-laid in stronger rails; 1878 Jan 8, date of reopening, locomotives introduced from about 1878
’Dabhoi-Bodeli Line’ 22 miles(35km) NG: Dabhoi to Sankheda Bahadarpur, 10 miles(15km), 1879 Sep 17; Sankheda Bahadarpur via Chhuchapura Junction to Bodeli, 12 miles(20km), 1890 Jun 16
’Dabhoi-Baroda Line’ 19miles(34km) NG: Dabhoi to Goya Gate, 17 miles(31km), 1880 Jul 1; Goya Gate to Baroda (Vishvamitri Station), 2 miles(3km), 1881 Jan 24
’Baroda-Masor Road Line’ 20 miles(32km) NG: Baroda (Vishvamitri Station) to Padra, 7 miles(11km), 1897 Jul 1; Padra to Mobha, 6 miles(10km), 1903 Jul 10; Mobha to Masor Road, 7 miles(11km), 1904 Nov 1 NG:1
’Miyaram Karjan-Malsar Extension’ to the ‘Dabhoi-Miyaram Line’ giving total 44 miles(56km) Miyaram via Chorada Junction to Malsar, 24 miles(44km), 1912 Jan 15
’Dabhoi-Timba Line’ 62 miles(100km) NG: Daboi to Jarod, 24 miles(38km), 1913 Nov 15; Jarod to Samlaya Junction, 5 miles(9km), 1915 Dec 13; Samlaya via Savli to Timba, 33 miles(53km) 1919 Feb 1
’Baroda-Jambusar Line’ an extension of the ‘Baroda-Masor Road Line’ giving total 26 miles(43km) NG: Masor Road to Jambusar, 7 miles(11km), 1917 May 1
Lines Worked as an extension to Gaekwar’s Dabhoi Railway(GDR)
Bodeli-Chhota Udaipur Railway 22.5 miles(36km) NG was sanctioned in 1915 and constructed by the BB&CIR on behalf of the; Baroda and Chota Udaipur Durbars. Opened in 1917 Dec 1, connected to the GDR ‘Daboi-Bodeli Line’ at Chhuchapura Junction and worked by BB&CIR [7]. The progress had been restricted by “the large contribution arising from lack of funds caused by the large contribution, both direct and indirect, which the Native States had made to the Imperial resources for the conduct of the war” [8].
Proposals and Surveys on behalf of the GDR
A number of projects were considered, some were abandoned and, several were postponed on account of WW1. The progress had been restricted by “the large contribution arising from lack of funds caused by the large contribution, both direct and indirect, which the Native States had made to the Imperial resources for the conduct of the war” [8]. Some were finally completed after 1921 by GBSR.
‘Broach-Jambusar-Masor Road(Kangat) Branch’, 31 miles (50km) NG: proposed 1903 then abandoned [8]. The GDR ‘Jambusar-Masor Road was finally opened in 1917. Broach was not connected to Jambusar until after the GBSR took over in 1921.
‘Kosamba- Zankavao Section’, 26 miles(42km)NG, surveyed in 1900 [8]. Not constructed until after 1921 by the GBSR as part of the ‘Kosamba- Zankavao-Umarpada Line’
‘Zankavao-Vajipur Section’, 26 miles(42km)NG, surveyed in 1903 [8], apparently never constructed.
‘Nar-Nadiad Loop’ 20 miles(32km) NG, surveyed in 1905 [8]. Finally constructed as part of the ’Nar-Petlad-Nadiad Line’ via Sojitra, Dewa(Deva), opened after 1921 by GBSR.
‘Miyagram-Sinor Branch’, c.20 miles(32km)NG, proposed 1906 [8]. Opened in 1915 as part of the GDR ’Miyaram Karjan-Malsar Extension’
‘Barodi-Savli Line’, 32 miles (51km) NG): proposed 1906 [8]. The section Samlaya via Savli to Timba was opened in 1919. Baroda to Samlaya was completed after the GBSR took over in 1921
‘Choranda-Moti Koral Line’, 12 miles(19km) was sanctioned in 1914 for the GDR [4]. Finally completed and opened by GBSR in 1921 [9]
‘Motipura -Taukhala Line’, 26 miles(42km) ) was sanctioned in 1914 [4]. Finally completed and opened by GBSR in 1923 March 15 [9]
