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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://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n165/mode/2up" 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 157-162the ‘[[Tirhoot State Railway]]; Retrieved 19 Feb 2016’(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

The B&NWR Agent and Chief Engineer was [[Alexander Izat]] for a short time in 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 7 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”. No other staff records have been identifiedPhoto 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>[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228649/8330.pdf Great Britain. Law Commission, “Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report : Draft Statute Law (Repeals) Bill; April 2012"]; page 118, paragraph 3.15. Retrieved 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 land between the Ganges and Gogra rivers known as the Doab. Doab literally means land lying between two confluent rivers. Most of following sections:the trade was born by these rivers and the railway has many spur lines to ghats on both rivers * Sonepur to Mankapur To the east it is bounded by the [[Eastern Bengal Railway]](219 milesEBR) opened 15 January 1885* Mankapur to Gonda ; on the west by the [[Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway]](17 milesR&KR) opened 2 April 1884* Gonda ;to Colonelganj the south by the [[East Indian Railway]](18 milesEIR) opened and [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](29 October 1891O&RR) 1 February 1892* Colonelganj to Jarwal Road broad-gauge lines Also links up with the [[Rajputana-Malwa Railway]](11 milesRMR) opened 1 February 1892metre-gauge system at Cawnpore. * Jarwal Road to Bahramghat In 1905 there was 1468 miles(5 miles2363km) of metre gauge(including [[Elgin Bridge, BarabankiRail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|Elgin BridgeMG]]) opened 18 December 1896* Bahramghat to Burhwal in the B&NWR Network, (4 902 miles plus the 566 miles) opened 24 November 1896* Burwhal to Barabanki ‘[[Tirhoot State Railway]](Broad gauge: 17 milesTSR) opened 1 April 1872** Burhwal to Barabanki (Broad to Mixed gauge’) converted 24 November 1896** Burhwal <br>By 1918 this increased to Barabanki 2046 miles(Mixed to Metre gauge3293km) converted around 1943* Dighwara-Goldingganj diversion ; (7 1242 miles plus 804 milesTSR) opened around 1960 * Barabanki <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 Chhapra 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 157-162]; Retrieved 16 Apr 2020</ref><br>By 1937 there was 2108 miles(Metre to Broad gauge3392km) converted 1981* Chhapra Kacheri to Dighwara ; (Metre to Broad gauge: 10 1270 miles plus 740 milesTSR) converted autumn 2006<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 railway 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''']]

===Lines worked by B&NWR=Railway Constructions==*[[Benares City Branch Railway]], opened as branch of [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR) 1899; however worked by File:B&NWR*[[Cawnpore-Barabanki Railway]], opened 1896; worked Jointly between Bridges ABC.png|thumb|B&NWR and [[Rohilkund and Kumaon RailwayBridges]]( 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''See separate page for details''*'''[[Nirmali Branch RailwayInchcape Bridge]], alternative name for [[Darbhanga State Railway]] ''' marked '''A''' on map*'''[[Masharak-Thawe Extension RailwayIzat Bridge]], opened 1931, worked by ''' marked '''B&NWR''' on map*'''[[Patna-Baraich Railway]]Elgin Bridge, constucted by B&NWR under arrangement with Government of India([[Government of India Barabanki|GoI]]); first phase opened 1884 and worked by B&NWR. *[[Sagauli-Raxaul Railway]],opened 1899, included under B&NWR, 1904*[[Tirhoot State RailwayElgin Bridge]], opened 1874. Temporary famine relief line; worked by B&NWR 1886-1890; then independent''' marked '''C''' on map

As ==Personnel Records=='''[[India Office Records]]'''. There are no staff lists or personnel records for the B&NWR held at the [[British Library]]. '''Miscellaneous references''' have been identified from varied sources:-*[[James Rhind]], 1883, B&NWR Locomotive Superintendent, posted 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 State Railway a search number of steamers and flats for the following may yield a result [[Ganges Ferry, Digha Ghat-*Sonpur]], near [[Bankipore]], and also for the crossing of the Gogra River, near Ajoodhia'''L. He died in September 1888 on duty with B&NWR <ref>[http:/F/8www.gracesguide.co.uk/1-20''James_Rhind Grace' s Guide "James Rhind"Appointments ] Retrieved on 23 Jul 2016</ref>. *[[George John Price]], 1896, B&NWR Assistant Engineer. Employed for some years on the construction of the B&NWR Mansi-Khatihar branch line in [[Kharik]] subdivision, under [[Alexander Izat]] the Chief Engineer and Agent. Transferred to State Railways made [[Gonda]], in Oudh, where he was placed in charge of a B&NWR division of the UK 1855-1946" *'''Zrailway and died in service November, 1903 <ref>[http:/L/Fwww.gracesguide.co.uk/8George_John_Price Grace's Guide "George John Price"] Retrieved on 23 Jul 2016</1ref>.*[[William Ernest Napper]], 1903-220 Engineer. In charge of [[Gonda]] Division on death of [[George John Price]] in Nov 1903. Remained with B&NWR until 1920 [[William Ernest Napper|''see biography' Index to Appointments to State Railways made in the UK 1855-1946"']]