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Public Works Department - Railway Branch

The Railway Branch of the Public Works Department (PWD) was created in 1866-68 with the decision to divide the PWD into three branches:- the Civil Branch, the Military Works Branch and the Railway Branch.

The background to the restructuring is given on the Public Works Department page, the

• The Control of PWD was removed from under the Military Board and placed under the Chief Engineers.
• The PWD came under the control of respective provincial Government
• Chief Engineers to be assisted by the Superintending Engineer & Executive Engineer.

Railway Branch- PWD The ownership of the Railways, progressively from 1868 onwards, was acquired by the Government of India (GoI). The management and organisation of these acquired Railways was delegated to the Public Works Department - Railway Branch. The Railway Branch of the PWD existed from about 1866 through to 1905.

In 1901, on the recommendations of the Sir Thomas Robertson Committee regarding the administration and working of the railways, an early version of the Railway BoardLink title was constituted, with three members serving on it at first.

In 1905 the Railway Board was created taking over from the PWD Railway Branch. Its powers were formalised by the Goverment of India (GoI) and of consisted a Government Railway official, who was the Chairman of the Board, a Railway Manager from England and an Agent of a Company Railway .

Personnel Records - Railway Branch

• PWD recruited Staff became Civil Servents.
• As railways were acquired by the GoI from 1868 onwards they were classified as a State RailwayState Railway the Europeans employed were usually on the strength of the PWD - Railway Branch and therefore a civil servant (eligible for pension etc). NB in this context, if your ancestor turns up on a railway in India and the record contains "PWD" in the note or description, then this does not refer to "Permanent Way Department" (as it would in a UK context) but to the Public Works Department!
• Civil Lists were regularly
  • 1890 Civil List - Railways Branch is listed on "Fibis Database"
• From 1905 the senior personnel are recorded as being Railway Board Establishment.