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In 1862By 1865, with the opening of the [[JamalpurNaini Bridge]](over the Jamuna River at Naini, near [[Allahabad] Locomotive workshops were established. On 15 January 1934]), there was a through line from [[Howrah]] (on the workshops along with 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 entire railway colony were destroyed [[Yamuna Railway Bridge (Delhi)]] was constructed in 1866 by an earthquakethe [[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. It took 3 years to rebuild the facility<ref>[http://wikimapia.org/621608/Yamuna-Railway-Bridge Wikipapia "Yamuna Railway Bridge (Delhi)"]; Retrieved on 4 Jun 2016</ref>
Progreesive In 1887 the [[Jubilee Bridge]] was completed, crossing the Hooghly River between Naihati and [[Hooghly]]. The bridge was constructed by the EIR and connected to the [[East Bengal Railway]](EBR) enabling freight traffic from upper India to run to the Port of Calcutta <ref> “Symphony of Progress - The Saga of the Eastern Railway 1854-2003”; published by Eastern Railway, kolkata 2003; page 30</ref>. 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>
==== 'Indian Railways ====' - In 1952, the EIR was split to form two zones of [[Indian Railways]]. The Moradabad, Lucknow & Allahabad Division was subsuned into [[Northern Railway]] while the remainder was merged with the [[Bengal-Nagpur Railway]] (BNR) to form [[Eastern Railway]]. This latter merger was not considered a success as, in 1955, BNR was demerged to form [[South Eastern Railway]].
In 1952==Locomotive, the EIR was split Carriage & Wagon Workshops ==*The first workshops to form two zones of build Locomotives, Carriages and Wagons were established in [[Indian RailwaysHowrah]]and operational in the mid 1850’s. The Moradabad*In 1862, Lucknow & Allahabad Division was subsuned into the [[Northern RailwayEIR Jamalpur Locomotive Workshops ]] while were completed leaving the remainder was merged with [[EIR Carriage and Wagon Workshop]] at [[Howrah]]. *By 1900 the new [[Bengal-Nagpur RailwayEIR Carriage and Wagon Workshop]] (BNR) to form at [[Eastern RailwayLillooah]](3Km up line from Howrah) was established. This latter merger was not considered a success as*On 15 January 1934, in 1955, BNR was demerged to form the [[South Eastern RailwayEIR Jamalpur Locomotive Workshops|Jamalpur Loco Workshops]], along with the entire railway colony, were destroyed by an earthquake. It took 3 years to rebuild the facility.
The ==EIR operated many schools, of which probably the best known was [[Schools#O|Oak Grove School]] at [[Mussoorie]]. Oak Grove School is still associated with [[Indian Railways]] and [[Northern Railway]].Lines==
*[[Howrah-Burdwan Chord Railway]], opened 1917. Part of EIR system
==Lines connected to EIR system==*[[Calcutta Port Commissioners' Railway]], opened 1892 and connected to EIR in 1924
==Personnel==The following employment records held at the IOR are relevant :-
**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.]
'History' amended; new headings 'Loco...' 'Personnel'; 'Notes' now 'Auxilliary Forces' etc
== History ==
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 Railway''' 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.
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. 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>.
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 1854 that the EIR opened its first section from [[Howrah]] to [[Hooghly]]. 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.
The Government of India (GoI) acquired the assets of the EIR on 31 December 1879 while leaving the management to the private company.
The GoI took over the direct running of the EIR on 1 January 1925.
== Organisation ==
By 1914, EIR was organised into the following departments, each with its own workshops with the main ones shown.
# Agency
# Audit & Accounts
# Carriage & Wagon## - [[Lillooah|Lilloah]]## ; [[Allahabad]]
# Colliery
# Electrical
# Engineering
# Locomotive## - [[Allahabad]]## ; [[Asansol]]## ; [[Dhanbaid]]## ; [[Dinapore]]## ; [[Jamalpur]]## ; [[Tundla]]
# Medical
# Printing
# Provifent Institution
# Stores
# Traffic## - [[Calcutta]] (Head Office)## ; [[Allahabad]]## ; [[Asansol]]## ; [[Cawnpore]]## ; [[Howrah]]## [[; Howrah Goods]]## ; [[Delhi]]## ; [[Dhanbaid]]## ; [[Dinapore]]## ; [[Gaya]]## ; [[Sahebgunge]]## ; [[Tundla]]
== Schools ==
The EIR operated many schools, of which probably the best known was [[Schools#O|Oak Grove School]] at [[Mussoorie]]. Oak Grove School is still associated with [[Indian Railways]] and [[Northern Railway]].
===Branch Lines and extensions===
*[[Barun-Daltonganj Railway]], opened 1902. Section of EIR line
*[[Bhagalpur Badli Railway]], under construction 1907 for EIR
*[[Ondal-Sainthia Railway]], opened 1908, a EIR Chord line linking the two EIR mainlines from Calcutta.*[[Howrah-Burdwan Chord Railway]], opened 1917. Part of 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 absorbed into EIR===
*[[Delhi-Umballa-Kalka Railway]], formed 1889 as private company, merged into EIR, 1925
*[[Deoghur Railway]], opened 1882. Short branch line linking important pilgrimage centre to main line, initally own agency; merged into EIR, 1911
*[[Tarkessur Railway]], opened 1884-85. Worked by EIR; Merged into EIR 1915.
===Lines worked by EIR at some time===
*[[Barharwa-Azimganj-Katwa Railway]], opened c.1914. Branch/Loop line extension to [[Hooghly-Katwa Railway]] worked by EIR.
*[[Central Indian Coalfields Railway]], opened 1927. [[Government of India |GoI]] owned; part worked by [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]](BNR); later amagamated with EIR.
*[[Hooghly-Katwa Railway]], 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)
*[[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.
== Records ==
*'''L/AG/46/11 ''' “Records of the East Indian Railway Company; 1844-1953”
*'''L/AG/46/31 ''' “Records of the India Office relating to the East Indian Railway Company; 1879-1952”
*'''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://search.fibis.org/frontis/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).
'''[[East Indian Railway Personnel]]''' gives details of EIR staff from several sources:-
*"Grace's Guide ” for notable personnel <ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Main_Page “Grace’s Guide”]; Retrieved 5 Jun 2016</ref>
*Wikipedia
*etc
==FIBIS resources==
*"East Indian Railway", ''The Railway Gazette'', 1st November 1929, page 21-32 & 113-114.
==Also seeAssociated Auxiliary Force==
*[[East Indian Railway Regiment]]
===Historical books online===
*[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
*[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
== References ==
<references />
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