Northern and Eastern Railway
The Northern and Eastern Railway Company was formed in Calcutta in about 1845 by a Mr D C Aylwyn. The Company did not proceed to construct any railways as can be seen from the following:-
The following is recorded in the ‘Calcutta Review of 1846 [1]
In this Review of Mr Alwyn is described as:-
“... a buyer and seller of lacerated garments .... who was afterwards adroit enough to persuade a considerable number .... to purchase shares in a projected railway from Calcutta to Bogwangolah(Bhagwangola) , with a branch to Jessore and an extension to Dinapore and ultimately to Darjeeling”
It goes on:-
“It is utterly inconceivable how ... he .. could have persuaded the sober ditchers of Calcutta could have subscribed to a single share. But the railway mania was then at its height. Mr Aylwin had the name of George Hudson in his list of directors. He waited on the most influential members of society in Calcutta, official and non-official offering for their acceptance maps of Bengal beautifully taped and glazed to shew the directions of his line.”
The Review continues:-
“He gave out that the whole capital was already guaranteed by London millionaires, and that no assistance was required by Government.... By these and other contrivances he managed to dispose of a large number of shares and realize a pretty round sum in the shape of deposits”. “He then gave a railway dinner in the Town Hall at which Thomas Turton, the Vice president of the ‘Northern and Eastern Railway Company’ as it was called, filled the chair; and shortly after took his departure for England”. “But though 12 months have now elapsed .... not a word has been heard of the Bogwangolah Northern and Eastern”