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|image=Bengal and North Western Railway Logo b.jpg|caption= Bengal and North Western Railway Logo

|workshop= [[Gorakhpur]], [[Samastipur]] (and Stores), [[Sonpur]] <br> ''See'' [[B&NWR Railway Workshops]]

The '''Bengal and North-Western Railway''' (B&NWR) was a metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railwayowned and worked by the ‘Bengal and North Western Railway Company ‘(registered 23 October 1882, dissolved October 1946).<refbr>[https://ia801009.us.archive.org/8/items/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System.pdf " Administration Report on In 1890 the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent company took over management of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 157the ‘[[Tirhoot State Railway]]; Retrieved 17 Dec 2015’(TSR) and managed a number of further lines up until 1943</refbr>The ‘Bengal and North Western Railway’ was merged into the ‘[[Oudh and Tirhut Railway]]’ on 1 January 1943

==History==The Bengal ‘Bengal and North Western Railway Company came ‘came into being in October 1882 as a result of an agreement made with the Secretary of State for India. The government had started work in 1881 on constructing a rail link between [[Patna]] and [[Bahraich]], along the Ghaghara River. The company agreed to complete the construction works and, in consideration of that investment, the government would provide a tranche of land without charge (instead of providing a guaranteed return). Once constructed the company became responsible for the railway’s operation under the concession agreement<ref>Great Britain. Law Commission, Stationery Office [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228649/8330.pdf HGreat Britain.M. Government Law Commission, “Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report : Draft Statute Law (Repeals) Bill; April 2012"]; page 118, paragraph 3.14. Retrieved on 31 December 2015.19 Feb 2016</ref>

The B&NWR Agent and Chief Engineer was [[Alexander Izat]] from February 1883, 'on loan' from the [[Public Works Department]] <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Alexander_Izat Grace's Guide "Alexander Izat"]; Retrieved on 20 Jul 2016</ref>, a post which he held till the 31st May 1904 when he joined the Home Board as Managing Director <ref> [https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselect/PhotoEnqFull.asp?PrintID=123274 India Office Records “Bengal and N.W. Ry., Opening of Izat Bridge at Allahabad, on 31st October, 1912”. Photo 1082/13(5) ]; Retrieved 20 Jul 2016</ref>.An outstanding tribute was paid to [[Alexander Izat]] in 1912 - see the Inaugeration of the [[Izat Bridge]]  In 1890 the company took over management of the ‘[[Tirhoot State Railway, ]]’(TSR) and managed a number of further lines up until 1943.<ref name=name>Great Britain. Law Commission, Stationery Office [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228649/8330.pdf HGreat Britain.M. Government Law Commission, “Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report : Draft Statute Law (Repeals) Bill; April 2012"]; page 118, paragraph 3.15. Retrieved on 31 December 2015.19 Feb 2016</ref>.

The Later, following retirement of [[Alexander Izat]] in 1904, [[James Rennie Izat]], the eldest son became the B&NWR eventually comprising a complicated network of lines Chief Engineer <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/James_Rennie_Izat Grace's Guide "James Rennie Izat"]; Retrieved on 21 Jul 2016</ref>, and later the left (north) bank of the Ganges between B&NWR Agent and General Manager, with headquarters at [[KatiharGorakhpur]]<ref name=gazette>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35951/page/1373/data.pdf "The London Gazette 23 March ] in the east and ; Retrieved on 21 Jul 2016</ref>. [[LucknowWilliam Rennie Izat]] in , a younger son was the westB&NWR Chief Engineer <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/W._R._Izat Grace's Guide "W R Izat"]; Retrieved on 21 Jul 2016</ref>. ''It has not been possible to determine these dates''.

==B&NWR Lines Owned and Worked==[[File:Bengal & and North -Western main line===Railway Railway Map 1909.png|thumb|B&BNR Lines Owned and Worked , 1909]][[File:B&NWR Lines Owned and Worked 1937.png|thumb| B&NWR Lines Owned and Worked , 1937]]The B&NWR main line was 301 miles long system, (including the ‘[[Tirhoot State Railway]]’), eventually comprising a complicated network of lines on the left (north) bank of the Ganges between [[Katihar]] in the east and [[Metre gaugeLucknow]] consisting in the west . The northernmost of which lies along the Nepal Frontier, whereit is in close touch for a length of about 400 miles. Its southern boundary is for the most part the Ganges, and includes within its area the whole of the trans-Gogra districts with most of Bihar. The lines run through an especially fertile area of following sections:land between the Ganges and Gogra rivers known as the Doab. Doab literally means land lying between two confluent rivers. Most of the trade was born by these rivers and the railway has many spur lines to ghats on both rivers * Sonepur To the east it is bounded by the [[Eastern Bengal Railway]](EBR); on the west by the [[Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway]](R&KR);to Mankapur the south by the [[East Indian Railway]](EIR) and [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR) broad-gauge lines Also links up with the [[Rajputana-Malwa Railway]](219 RMR) metre-gauge system at Cawnpore. In 1905 there was 1468 miles(2363km) of metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) opened 15 January 1885* Mankapur to Gonda in the B&NWR Network, (17 902 miles plus the 566 miles‘[[Tirhoot State Railway]](TSR)’) opened 2 April 1884* Gonda <br>By 1918 this increased to Colonelganj 2046 miles(18 miles3293km) opened ; (29 October 18911242 miles plus 804 miles TSR) 1 February 1892 * Colonelganj <ref name=Admin1918>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n165/mode/2up "Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to Jarwal Road 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 157-162]; Retrieved 16 Apr 2020</ref><br>By 1937 there was 2108 miles(3392km); (11 1270 miles plus 740 milesTSR) opened <ref name=Admin1937>[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 11-20, pdf 32-41]; Retrieved 16 Apr 2020</ref> [[B&NWR Lines Owned and Worked|''See separate page'' '''B&NWR Lines Owned and Worked''' ''for full details of all lines'' ]] == Classification ==[[Indian Railway Classification]] of 1926 – Class 1 February 1892railway system <ref name=Admin1937/>. ==B&NWR Railway Workshops==The B&NWR constructed a number of workshops over the years at [[Sonpur]], [[Gorakhpur]] and [[Samastipur]]  [[B&NWR Railway Workshops|''See separate page'' '''B&NWR Railway Workshops''']] ==B&NWR Railway Constructions==[[File:B&NWR Bridges ABC.png|thumb|B&NWR Bridges]]''See separate page for details''* '''[[Inchcape Bridge]]''' marked '''A''' on map* '''[[Izat Bridge]]''' marked '''B''' on map* Jarwal Road to Bahramghat (5 miles) (including '''[[Elgin Bridge, Barabanki|Elgin Bridge]]) opened 18 December 1896''' marked '''C''' on map ==Records==* Bahramghat Refer to Burhwal (FIBIS Fact File #4 miles) opened 24 November 1896* Burwhal : “Research sources for Indian Railways, 1845-1947” - available from the [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 Barabanki the [[India Office Records]] (Broad gauge: 17 milesIOR) opened 1 April 1872held at the [[British Library]]** Burhwal to Barabanki (Broad to Mixed gauge) converted 24 November 1896** Burhwal to Barabanki (Mixed An on-line search of the IOR records relating to Metre gauge) converted around 1943this railway* Dighwara<ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search"]; Retrieved 20 Jan 2016</ref> gives 81 references. The most important being:-Goldingganj diversion (7 miles) opened around 1960* Barabanki '''L/AG/46/23''' “Records of the India Office relating to Chhapra (Metre to Broad gauge) converted 1981the Bengal and North Western Railway; 1882-1921” * Chhapra Kacheri to Dighwara (Metre to Broad gauge'''L /F/7/256-278''' “Collection 27: 10 miles) converted autumn 2006Bengal and North Western Railway; 1908-1946”

===Lines worked by B&NWRPersonnel Records===* [[Benares City Branch Railway]], opened as branch of [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR) 1899; however worked by B&NWR*[[Cawnpore-Barabanki Railway]], opened 1896; worked Jointly between B&NWR and [[Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway]]( R&KR) networks*[[Darbhanga State Railway]], opened 1883-84 as Nirmali Branch of [[Tirhoot State Railway]](TSR); worked by B&NWR 1886-1890; then reverted to TSR*['''[Nirmali Branch Railway]], alternative name for [[Darbhanga State Railway]] *[[Masharak-Thawe Extension Railway]], opened 1931, worked by B&NWR*[[Patna-Baraich Railway]], constucted by B&NWR under arrangement with Government of India([[Government of India |GoIOffice Records]]); first phase opened 1884 and worked by B&NWR'''. *[[Sagauli-Raxaul Railway]],opened 1899, included under There are no staff lists or personnel records for the B&NWR, 1904*held at the [[Tirhoot State RailwayBritish Library]], opened 1874. Temporary famine relief line; worked by B&NWR 1886-1890; then independent

==Further Reading=='''Miscellaneous references''' have been identified from varied sources:-# Rao*[[James Rhind]], 1883, B&NWR Locomotive Superintendent, Mposted from PWD at request of [[Alexander Izat]], on taking charge of the construction of the B&NWR. He equipped the line with rolling-stock, built a number of steamers and flats for the [[Ganges Ferry, Digha Ghat-Sonpur]], near [[Bankipore]], and also for the crossing of the Gogra River, near Ajoodhia'. He died in September 1888 on duty with B&NWR <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.Auk/James_Rhind Grace's Guide "James Rhind"] Retrieved on 23 Jul 2016</ref>. (1988) *[[George John Price]], 1896, B&NWR Assistant Engineer. Indian RailwaysEmployed for some years on the construction of the B&NWR Mansi-Khatihar branch line in [[Kharik]] subdivision, New Delhiunder [[Alexander Izat]] the Chief Engineer and Agent. Transferred to [[Gonda]], in Oudh, where he was placed in charge of a B&NWR division of the railway and died in service November, 1903 <ref>[http: National Book Trust//www. Chapter 1 gracesguide.co.uk/George_John_Price Grace's Guide "George John Price"] Retrieved on 23 Jul 2016</ref>.*[[William Ernest Napper]], 1903- Evolution 20 Engineer. In charge of Indian Railways-Historical Background[[Gonda]] Division on death of [[George John Price]] in Nov 1903. Remained with B&NWR until 1920 [[William Ernest Napper|''see biography'']]