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After four years An 1852 dispatch concerning an “Experimental Line of protracted negotiation and strenuous efforts, including a direct appeal Railway in Bengal” shows that the section had been approved “commencing at or near Calcutta to the British Prime Minister, form part of a contact was signed in August 1849 between the EIR trunk line to connect to Delhi” and the EIC and became one of the three original guaranteed companies that “we have lately sanctioned a second section which will extend this line to construct experimental linesRajmahal”. It was not until August 1854 Also that it is desirable immediately to commence similar work in the EIR opened its first section from [[Howrah]] to [[Hooghly]], Upper Provinces...” The dispatch shows a distance change of 24 miles (38km. On 3rd Februaryheart, 1855the draft shows, “commencing with such places as Allahabad and Cawnpore” which the EIC were going to build funded by a Government loan but before the dispatch was sent other information arrived and the first portion of draft dispatch was altered passing the line, 121 miles(194km) from [[Howrah]]) decision back to [[Burdwan]] ( towards Delhi), was opened by Lord Dalhousie Government <ref name=SoP>"Symphony British Library IOR/E/4/818 ‘Construction of Progress: The Saga Experimental Line of Eastern Railway 1854in Bengal’, Page 505-2003" published by the Eastern Railway6, Kolkata 2003, page 7, 10511. Dispatch No 67, 14 21 December 1852 </ref>. Clearly the outcome of this was that the EIR were authorised to construct these extensions to the railway.
Formed in 1845, the EIR was not contracted by the EIC to begin railway construction until 1849 when it became one of the three original guaranteed companies sanctioned to construct experimental lines. It was not until August 1854 that the EIR opened its first section from [[Howrah]] to [[Hooghly]], a distance of 24 miles (38km. On 3rd February, 1855, the first portion of the line, 121 miles(194km) from [[Howrah]]) to [[Burdwan]] ( towards Delhi), was opened by Lord Dalhousie <ref name=SoP>"Symphony of Progress: The Saga of Eastern Railway 1854-2003" published by the Eastern Railway, Kolkata 2003, page 7, 10, 14 </ref>. In the spring of 1857 the [[Indian Mutiny]] broke out and as a consequence a large portion of the work of construction was delayed<ref>[https://ia801404.us.archive.org/16/items/historyeastindi00huddgoog/historyeastindi00huddgoog.pdf Archive.org "History of the East Indian Railway ..." by George Huddlestone Appendix B, page 19, pdf page 40]; Retrieved 11 Jun 2016</ref>. Eight members of EIR staff lost there lives and remembered on the [[East Indian Railway 1857 Cawnpore Memorial|Memorial at Cawnpore Church]]<ref>[https://ia801404.us.archive.org/16/items/historyeastindi00huddgoog/historyeastindi00huddgoog.pdf Archive.org "History of the East Indian Railway ..." by George Huddlestone Appendix B, pages 280, pdf page 335]; Retrieved 11 Jun 2016</ref> The line was extended to [[Rajmahal]] in October 1859 and opened by the first British Viceroy, Lord Canning on 15 October 1860. From [[Rajmahal]] EIR's lines proceeded westwards along the Ganges rapidly reaching [[Bhagalpur]] in 1861, [[Monghyr]] in February 1852 and [[Mughal Sarai]] (across the River Ganges from [[Benares]]) in December 1862. This last section included the EIR's first tunnel, the [[Jamalpur Tunnel]]; and the first major bridge on the route, the [[Soane Bridge]] near [[Arrah]] <ref name=SoP/>. By 1864, the EIR had arrived in Delhi although it was not until 1871 that the Bombay-Calcutta route was completed when the GIPR reached Juppulpore.
'Indian Railways' - In 1952, ==Stations==‘Howrah Railway Station’ was the EIR was split to form two zones terminus of the ‘[[East Indian RailwaysRailway]]’ (EIR) from the time of the inaugural train on 15 Aug 1854. The Moradabad, Lucknow & Allahabad Division [[Howrah]] was subsuned into connected to [[Northern RailwayCalcutta]] while crossing the remainder was merged with Hooghly River first by boat then, from the early 1870’s by the [[BengalHowrah Floating Bridge and Howrah Bridge| ‘Howrah Floating Bridge’ and finally in 1943 by the ‘Howrah Bridge’ ''-Nagpur Railwaysee separate page'']]* [[Agra_Railways_%26_Stations#Agra_Stations| ‘Agra Stations’]]* [[Cawnpore_Railways_and_Stations#Cawnpore_Stations| ‘Cawnpore Stations’]] (BNR) to form * [[Eastern RailwayDelhi_Railways_%26_Stations#Delhi_Stations| ‘Delhi Stations’]]. This latter merger was not considered a success as, in 1955, BNR was demerged to form * [[South Eastern RailwayHowrah_Railway_Station| ‘Howrah Station’]].
===Branch Lines and extensions===*See <big>'''[[BarunEast Indian Railway -Daltonganj RailwayLines owned and worked]], opened 1902. Section of EIR line*[[Bhagalpur Badli Railway]], under construction 1907 '''</big> for EIR*[[Ondaldetails and information:-Sainthia Railway]], opened 1908, a EIR Chord line linking the two EIR mainlines from Calcutta.*[[HowrahBG Lines -Burdwan Chord Railway]], opened 1917. Part of owned and worked by EIR system*[[Calcutta Chord Railway]], opened 1931-32. EIR link from Dum Dum to Dankuni over [[Willindon Bridge]]*[[Dildarnagar-Ghazipur-Trighat Branch Railway]], opened 1880. Branch line to EIR main line. ===Railways BG Lines absorbed into EIR===*[[Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway]], formed 1889 as private company, merged into BG Lines worked by EIR, 1925at some time*[[Deoghur Railway]], opened 1882. Short branch line linking important pilgrimage centre to main line, initally own agency; merged into EIR, 1911*[[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR), formed from [[Indian Branch Railway]](IBR); nationalised, 1889; merged into EIR, 1925*[[Patna & Gaya State Railway]], opened before 1881. State line merged into EIR, c.1892*[[Tarkessur Railway]], opened 1884BG Lines -85. Worked by EIR; Merged into EIR 1915.network expansion lines
*[http://dli.serc.iisc.ernet.in/handle/2015/148209 ''The Early History Of The East Indian Railway''] by Hena Mukherjee 1960. Pdf download, Digital Library of India
===Published books===
*Mukherjee, Hena. ''The Early History of the East Indian Railway 1845-1879''. Published by Firma KLM Private Limited, Calcutta 1994.
*"[http://www.easternrailwaysealdah.gov.in/WEBForm/ERSC.aspx?action=HT ''Symphony of Progress: The Saga of Eastern Railway 1854-2003'' published by the Eastern Railway in Kolkata 2003]. website of Eastern Railway, Sealdah
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[[Allahabad]] to [[Jubbulpore]]
|gauge1= Broad gauge
|gauge1details= 1962 miles (1905)<br>2775 miles (1918<br>4217 miles (1937)
|gauge2=
|gauge2details=
|timeline5details= Line acquired by State
|presidency= [[Bengal]]
|stations= '''[[Agra]]''', [[Benares]], '''[[Cawnpore]]''', '''[[Delhi]]''', '''[[Howrah]]''', [[Hooghly]], [[Mirzapur]], [[Patna]]''See also heading '''Stations''' for major stations marked'' '''bold'''
|system1date= 1880
|system1details= worked by East Indian Railway Company
|auxillary forces= [[East Indian Railway Regiment]]
}}
[[File: East Indian Railway Map 1909, east section.png|thumb| East Indian Railway Map 1909, east section - Howrah (Calcutta) to Gaya]]
[[File: East Indian Railway Map 1909, mid section.png|thumb| East Indian Railway Map 1909, mid section__ - Gaya to Cawnpore]]
[[File: East Indian Railway Map 1909 west section.png|thumb| East Indian Railway Map 1909, west section - Cawnpore to Delhi]]
Built on the same terms and conditions as the [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]] (GIPR), the '''East Indian Railway''' (EIR) was a British company, registered in London, privately owned and financed, operating under license and guarantee from the (British) Board of Control in India and the [[East India Company]] (EIC).
In January 1844 [[Rowland Macdonald Stephenson]] published an article in the leading daily paper, 'The Englishman', with his proposals, illustrated by a large map of India, showing the whole system of lines which he held to be most suitable for the country. This gained Government support and he returned to London after reinforcing his position with the merchants of Bengal. Back in England, Stephenson proposed formation of a company with the title “'East Indian Railway Company” <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Rowland_Macdonald_Stephenson Grace's Guide "Rowland Macdonald Stephenson"] Retrieved on 4 Jun 2016</ref>
The '''East Indian RailwayCompany''' Company (EIR) was formed in May 1845 with a power to raise a capital of 4 million pound sterling and Stephenson was the first Agent and Chief Engineer. The early development of the EIR was based on the significant discussions, reports and papers were being prepared and circulated as proposed in the minutes of the Honourable the Court of Directors of the [[ East India Company]](EIC), of the 7th May, 1845. In the event the EIR were given consent construct a railway from [[Calcutta]] to [[Mirzapur|Mirzapore(Mirzapur)]] and the [[North West Provinces]]. This comprehensive Report with other papers, letters and observations has been transcribed in full by Fibis as it contains significant details and analysis and is described as the [[Great Trunk Railway from Calcutta|’ Great Trunk Railway from Calcutta’ ''- see separate page for details'']]. After four years of protracted negotiation and strenuous efforts, including a direct appeal to the British Prime Minister, a contact was signed in August 1849 between the EIR and the EIC and became one of the three original guaranteed companies sanctioned to construct experimental lines.
By 1865, with the opening of the [[Naini Bridge]] (over the Jamuna River at Naini, near [[Allahabad]]), there was a through line from [[Howrah]] (on the right bank of the Hoogly River facing [[Calcutta]]) to [[Agra]] (on the left bank of the Jamuna River facing [[Agra]], a line length of 1017 miles(1630km) <ref name=SoP/>
In 1866 the [[Yamuna Railway Bridge (Delhi)]] was constructed in 1866 by the [[East India Railway]] (EIR) and connected the two principal cities of North India [[Calcutta]] and [[Delhi]]; this being the last link of the trunk line on this route. <ref>[http://wikimapia.org/621608/Yamuna-Railway-Bridge Wikipapia "Yamuna Railway Bridge (Delhi)"]; Retrieved on 4 Jun 2016</ref>
The [[1870-71_Report_on_Railways#Progress_on_State_lines._Paragraphs_5-10.3B_Pages_3-4|
“1870-71 Annual Report for Indian Railways“]] for the EIR gives [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|Broad Gauge (BG)]] ‘Main Line’ 1278 miles(2057km) open and ‘Jubbulpore Line’ 224 miles(360km) open.
[[1870-71_Report_on_Railways#East_Indian_Railway._Paragraph_62.3B_Page_34|
The Report also gives the 'progress and commercial' summery for the railway]] - ''see separate pages for details.''
The Government of India (GoI) acquired the assets of the EIR on 31 December 1879 while leaving the management to the private company.
Progressive development of the EIR network continued such that by 1918 there was over 2400 miles (3840km) of broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) track.<ref>[https://ia801009.us.archive.org/8/items/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System.pdf " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; pages 53-61]; Retrieved 17 Dec 2015</ref>
The Government of India (GoI ) took over the direct running of the EIR on 1 January 1925.Six divisions of the EIR were created:- Howhah, Asanol & Dinapore known as the lower divisions; Moradabad, Lucknow & Allahabad, the upper divisions. In 1952 the EIR was split to form two Zones of [[Indian Railways]]:-<br>‘[[Northern Railway]]’comprised the EIR Moradabad, Lucknow & Allahabad Divisions, which were added to other railways to form the [[Northern Railway| ‘Northern Railway Zone’ - ''see separate page'']]<br>‘[[Eastern Railway]]’ ’comprised the EIR Howhah, Asanol and Dinapore Divisions, which were added to to other railways to form the [[Eastern Railway| ‘Eastern Railway Zone’ - ''see separate page'']]
==Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon Workshops ==
*The first workshops to build [[EIR Locomotive Workshops|EIR Locomotives]], and [[EIR Carriage and Wagon Workshop|EIR Carriages and Wagons]] were established in [[Howrah]] and operational in the mid 1850’s.
*In 1862, the [[EIR Locomotive Workshops]] at [[Jamalpur]] were completed leaving the [[EIR Carriage and Wagon Workshop]] at [[Howrah]].
*By 1900 the new [[EIR Carriage and Wagon Workshop]] at [[Lillooah]] (3Km up line from Howrah) was established.
*On 15 January 1934, the [[EIR Locomotive Workshops|Jamalpur Locomotive Workshops]], along with the entire railway colony, were destroyed by an earthquake. It took 3 years to rebuild the facility.
==EIR Collieries and Coal Supplies==
''See separate pages''
* ‘[[Giridih District EIR Colliery Railways|EIR owned Collieries in Giridih District]]’ comprising:-
** ‘Kurhurbaree Colliery’
** ‘Seramphore Colliery’
* ‘[[Bokaro_Ramgarh_Coalfields_Railways#Joint_Collieries|Bokaro Joint Coalfield]]’, the EIR worked jointly with the ‘[[Bengal-Nagpur Railway]]’(BNR)
* ‘[[Bokaro_Ramgarh_Coalfields_Railways#Joint_Collieries| Sawang Joint Coalfield]]’, the EIR worked jointly with the BNR
* ‘[[ Central Indian Coalfields Railway]]’ , was owned by the Government of India until 1926 when absorbed into the EIR System, in addition to the above it served the following State Collieries:-
** ‘[[South Karanpura Coalfield]]’
** ‘[[North Karanpura Coalfield]]’
** ‘[[Bhurkunda Colliery]]’
** ‘[[Bokaro_Ramgarh_Coalfields_Railways#The_Coalfields|Ramgarh Coalfield]]’
** ‘[[Kargali Colliery]]’
== Organisation ==
# Audit & Accounts
# Carriage & Wagon - [[Lillooah|Lilloah]]; [[Allahabad]]
# Colliery- [[Giridih District EIR Colliery Railways|Giridih District]]
# Electrical
# Engineering
# Medical
# Printing
# Provifent Provident Institution
# Stores
# Traffic - [[Calcutta]] (Head Office); [[Allahabad]]; [[Asansol]]; [[Cawnpore]]; [[Howrah]]; Howrah Goods; [[Delhi]]; [[Dhanbaid]]; [[Dinapore]]; [[Gaya]]; [[Sahebgunge]]; [[Tundla]]
==EIR Railway Lines==
The EIR owned and worked on behalf of other parties an extensive network of broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) lines.
===Lines worked by EIR at some time=Bridges and Tunnels==*[[Barharwa-Azimganj-Katwa Railway]], opened c.1914. Branch/Loop line extension to See <big>'''[[Hooghly-Katwa Railway]] worked by EIR.*[[Central East Indian Coalfields Railway]], opened 1927. [[Government of India |GoI]] owned; part worked by [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]](BNR); later amagamated with EIR. *[[Hooghly-Katwa RailwayBridges and Tunnels]], opened c.1914. Branch'''</Loop line extension to [[Barharwa-Azimganj-Katwa Railway]] worked by EIR.*[[Jind-Panipat Railway]], opened 1916-17. Originally worked by EIR; later by [[North Western Railway]](NWR)*[[Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]], opened 1863. Originally part of [[Indian Branch Railway]](IBR), unique 4ft gauge; worked by O&RR, 1863-72; run as State Rly, 1872; leased to EIR, 1892.*[[Sheoraphuli-Tarakeshwar Railway]], opened 1885. Branch line opened by the [[Tarkessur Railway]] Co.; worked by EIR.*[[South Behar Railway]], opened 1899. Leased to the State by South Bihar Railway Co.; worked by EIR.*[[Thanesar-Kaithal Railway]], opened 1909. Branch line of [[Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway]]; worked by EIR, 1909.*[[Calcutta Port Commissioners' Railway]], opened 1892 and connected to EIR in 1924big>
== Records ==
Refer to FIBIS Fact File #4: “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 the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) held at the [[British Library]]
==Personnel==
<big>'''[[East Indian Railway Personnel]]'''</big> gives details of notable EIR staff from many different sources.
*These have been listed by EIR Department and in Chronological order.
*The entries link to the [[:Category:Railway People|Notable Railway People]] pages.
The following employment records held at the IOR are relevant :-
*'''L/AG/46/11/133-137''' "Contracts of appointment, c1858-1925" (possibly not all included)
The above is indexed in
*'''Z/L/AG/46''' "Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways (1849-1925)"
*'''FIBIS database''' [http://searchfibis.fibisourarchives.org/frontisonline/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_dataset&id=1989&s_id=1068 List of Indian Railways UK Contracted Staff taken from IOR Series L/AG/46/12].
The following is not included in the index Z/L/AG/46.
*'''L/AG/46/11/138-141''' : "Half-yearly staff lists, 1861-1890 & 1911-1922" (giving ages from 1886).
'''Thacker's Directories'''The following for East Indian Railways Personnel have been indexed in Grace's Guide - *[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1856_Thackers:_East_Indian_Railway 1856 Thackers East Indian Railways Personnel] *[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1861_Thackers:_East_Indian_Railway 1861 Thackers East Indian Railways Personnel]*[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1867_Thackers:_East_Indian_Railway 1867 Thackers East Indian Railways Personnel]*[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1872_Thackers:_East_Indian_Railway 1872 Thackers East Indian Railways Personnel]*[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1877_Thackers:_East_Indian_Railway 1877 Thackers East Indian Railway Railways Personnel]*[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1882_Thackers:_East_Indian_Railway 1882 Thackers East Indian Railways Personnel] '''East Indian Railway Company Records''' gives details of EIR staff from several sources:-*"The following have been indexed in Grace's Guide ” for notable personnel <ref>*[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Main_Page “Grace’s Guide”East_Indian_Railway:_1880_Employees 1880 Alphabetic List of Europeans and East Indians in the Company Service]; Retrieved 5 Jun 2016</ref>*Wikipedia*etc
==FIBIS resources==
*[http://searchfibis.fibisourarchives.org/frontisonline/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_dataset&id=1989&s_id=1068 List of Indian Railways UK Contracted Staff taken from IOR Series L/AG/46/11]. FIBIS database*[http://searchfibis.fibisourarchives.org/frontisonline/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=839&s_id=243 Index to V/13/244 East Indian Railway Staff List 1914]FIBIS database
*"The Indian Railways and a dynasty of Pearce's (1855 to 1930)", ''[[FIBIS Journal]]'', Spring 2011, Number 25 page 13-16.
*"The Walsh Family and the Cawnpore Massacre" by Paddy Walsh ''FIBIS Journal Number 31 (Spring 2014)'' pages 3-15.
*George Huddleston, [http://www.archive.org/stream/historyeastindi00huddgoog#page/n9/mode/1up ''History of the East Indian Railway''] (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink & Co, 1906). Archive.org. [A second part, published in 1939, took the history to 1924.]
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/bengalassambehar00playuoft#page/358/mode/2up/ "The East Indian Railway"], page 358 from ''Bengal and Assam, Behar and Orissa: their history, people, commerce and industrial resources'' by Somerset Playne and J W Bond 1917 Archive.org
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Guaranteed Railways]]
[[Category:State Railways]]
