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The '''Barasat-Basirhat Light Railway''' (BBLR) was a short 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) railway which ran from [[Barasat]], on the [[Eastern Bengal Railway]] (Central Section), east for 26 miles (42km) to [[Basirhat]].The line opened in 1905 and extended to Chingrighata in 1909. The ‘Shambasar Branch’ opened in 1910 reaching Belgatchia in 1914, giving a total length of 52 miles(83km) <refname=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n220/mode/2up " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 212]; Retrieved 29 Jan 201623 Aug 2017</ref>

The Barasat-Basirhat Light Railway Company was one of several small narrow gauge concerns owned and worked by [[Martin's Light Railways]], a management company based in [[Calcutta]].The principal Agreement dated 14 Dec 1897 between the District Board of the 24-Paragas and Messrs [[Martin & Company]] on behalf of the ‘Baraset-Basirhat Tramway Company Limited’, and gave concession for construction and operation of a tramway on a public road. It was in 1907 that a new company the ‘Barasat-Basirhat Light Railway Company Limited’ was formed <ref name=Admin/>

A further Agreement dated 15 Aug 1914 <ref>[British Library India Office Records L/F/8/17/1371 “Messrs. Martin and Co. on behalf of the Baraset-Basirhat Light Railway Company Limited, Application for construction of an extension to the Baraset-Basirhat Light Railway; 1914” </ref> gives sanction to the construction of a extension of the existing Baraset-Basirhat Light Railway, from the existing station of that line at Pattipooker to the tramway terminus at Belgatchia. The following clauses are of note:- *7.The tramway authorised by this order is a single line was taken over by [[Indian Railways]] in 1952 with passing places …….. running along the south side of the 5th and 6th miles of the Calcutta—Jessore Road to the tramway terminus at Belgatchia a distance of 5,450 feet (1.032 miles or 1.661 Km).*8. The Tramway is to run on 9ft width but closed in 1955a road width of 20 feet must be maintained and at no time is there to be more than one line of rails on metalled roads.*11. In 1962, part The gauge of the old track was converted tramway is to broad gauge be 2ft 6 inches*19. The vehicles used may be steam powered, and an outside cylinder type of locomotive used. *20. The speed shall not exceed 12 miles an hour on fenced sections and 10 miles an hour on unfenced. Locomotives must be fitted with Cowcatchers.*37. No train shall run between sunset and re-opened to trafficsunrise without consent of the Local Government approved in writing.

==Records==Refer to FIBIS Fact File #4: “Research sources for Indian Railways, 1845-1947” - available from the The line was taken over by [[http://www.fibis.org/store/fibis-books-and-publications/bff-0004-research-sources-for-indian-railways-1845-1947/ 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 in 1952 but closed in 1955. In 1962, part of the IOR records relating old track was converted to this railway<ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives broad gauge and Manuscripts Catalogue” re- Search]; Retrieved opened to traffic 20 Jan 2016</ref>gives the following: -*'''L/F/8/17/1371 ''' “Messrs. Martin and Co. on behalf of the Baraset-Basirhat Light Railway Company Limited, Application for construction of an extension to the Baraset-Basirhat Light Railway; 1914” == External links ==*[httphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin%27s_Light_Railways "Martin's #Barasat.E2.80.93Basirhat_Light_Railway Wikipedia “Baraset-Basirhat Light Railways"Railway” ] ''Wikipedia''.; Retrieved 23 Aug 2017</ref>