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[[File:Cochin State Forest Tramway.png|thumb| Cochin State Forest Tramway]][[Chalakudy]] was a station on the [[Shoranur-Cochin Railway]], a MG line that had opened in 1902 between [[Shoranur]] and [[Cochin|the Ernakulum Terminus in Cochin]], this line was first worked by [[Madras Railway]], and by [[South Indian Railway]] from1908 from 1908 <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n153/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 145 (pdf153) ]; Retrieved 10 Apr 2018</ref> .
<br>[[File:CFST Incline Section.jpg|thumb|CFST Incline Section]]There were two tracks in parallel on each incline, one for upward movement and the other for downward movement. There were brake houses at the top of each incline, erected between both the lines. There was a wheel drum of 6 feet(1.8mtr) diameter in the brake house complete with gear wheels & brakes. The 1½ inch(38mm) diameter steel cable was wound on this wheel drum. The train of trucks carrying timber was brought to this point, the locomotive detached and each truck manually brought near the brake house. The cables were then attached to each truck and manually pushed downward through the incline. While the truck kept moving downwards with the control of brakes, another set of empty trucks & saloons carrying passengers kept moving upwards
Map and photos added and layout changed
[[File:Cochin State Forest Tramway.png|thumb| Cochin State Forest Tramway]]The '''Cochin State Forest Tramway''' (CSFT) was a 1,000 mm metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) railway line and historical forest tramway running from the Parambikulam Forest Area (now the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary) in Palakkad District to [[Chalakudy]] in Thrissur District . Operating from 1907 to 1963, it served the State of [[Cochin]] and brought prosperity by bringing Teak and Rosewood from forests which were later shipped to different locations all around the globe.
<ref name=Wiki>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochin_State_Forest_Tramway Wikipedia "Cochin State Forest Tramway"]; Retrieved 10 Apr 2018</ref>.
The construction of the tramway commenced in 1901 and was inaugurated by Sir Arthur Oliver Villiers Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill, Governor of Madras, in October 1905. Regular work in the tramway started in 1907. On June 26, 1907, the Maharaja of Cochin passed the Cochin Forest Tramway Act, which provided for protection and management of the tramway
<ref name=Varma>[https://www.irfca.org/articles/CochinStateForestTramwayJournal.doc “Journal on the Cochin State Forest Tramway” by Devan R Varma with David Churchill and Marc Reusser, 2005 published on-line by ‘Indian Railways Fan Club’"]; Retrieved 10 Apr 2018</ref>. [[File:Map Cochin Forest Railway.jpg|600px|center| Route marked in RED]]
The total length of the tramway system was 49½ miles/79.5km from [[Chalakudy]], the location of the forest headquarters used to house the tramway workshop & timber yard. The entire tramway is divided into three sections and five inclines as detailed below <ref name=Varma/>:-
* ‘Section 3 from Komalapara to Chinnar’ (Mile 49.5/79.5km, altitude 2000ft/610mtr). From Komalapara, the line passed through 5 zigzag curves and descended to Myladappan. The line continued to descend from this point through another set of 4 zigzag curves and reached mile 32. At this point, the line crossed Muthuvarachal River and entered Orukomban ranges. The line continued further along the banks of Karappara River till Mile 36. At Mile 41 mile, the line crossed Kuriyarkutty River and ran along Parambikulam River up to the last point at Chinnar in the Parambikulam range
[[File:CFST Zig Zag.jpg|thumb|CFST Zig Zag Section]]
'''Description of Zigzag Sections'''
<br>The zigzags were in sections where difficult terrains had to be covered. The train moves forward through an extended line till an end point, starts moving backwards in reverse, rolls along the main line till it reaches another reverse point. Many such forward – backward – reverse movements take the train up or down through steep faces of mountains. There were two such zigzags in section 1 & 12 zigzags in section 2.
'''Description of Incline Sections'''
It used to take 4 hours to cover Section 1; 2 hours to cover Section 2 and another 3 hours to cover Section 3. There were rest houses in Kavalai, Komalapara, Kuriyarkutty & Parambikulam. The tramway used to charge 4 Anas (25 paise) from civilian passengers for travelling the entire distance. The line went through lush green forests, crossed streams & rivers and was considered to be a scenic & enjoyable journey. British officers used to travel in saloons attached to the tramway with servants & supplies and spend vacations in the rest houses en route <ref name=Varma/>:-
* “Journal on the Cochin State Forest Tramway” by Devan R Varma with David Churchill and Marc Reusser, 2005 published on-line by ‘Indian Railways Fan Club’ <ref name=Varma/> provides considerably more information than given here.
*For a detailed account of the locomotives and wagons used, see “Industrial Railways and Locomotives of India and South Asia” compiled by Simon Darvill <ref name =darvill>“Industrial Railways and Locomotives of India and South Asia” compiled by Simon Darvill. Published by ‘The Industrial Railway Society’ 2013. ISBN 978 1 901556 82-7. Available at http://irsshop.co.uk/India. Reference: Entry KL15 page ....</ref>.
*Wikimedia Images at [https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1VASU_enFR554FR554&sxsrf=ALeKk02NhO9mveITqg0dmXE1YQafyad-Gw:1603720811374&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=Wikimedia+Cochin+Forest&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2j5_KtdLsAhUIuRoKHax1BG4QjJkEegQIChAB&biw=1284&bih=550 Cochin Forest Railway Images]
== References ==
