Changes

|route= [[Calcutta]] to [[Faridpur]] (BG) with branches to<br>[[Budge -Budge]], [[Diamond Harbour]], [[Lalgola]]

|timeline2date= 1868|timeline2details= [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]] mergertaken over

|timeline4date= 1915|timeline4details= Opening of [[Hardinge Bridge]] at Sara Ghat

|stations= '''[[Sealdah|Calcutta Sealdah]]''', [[Dum Dum]], [[Naihati]], [[Kaliganga]], [[Rajbari]], [[Goalundo]], [[Ranaghat]], [[Krishnagar]], [[Plassey]], [[Murshidabad]], [[Bangaon]], [[Jessore]],See also separate page [[Calcutta_Railways_%26_Stations#Sealdah_Station| ''' Calcutta Seadah Station''']] for details

|company1= 1884|company1details= [[Eastern Bengal Railway]]|company2=1868

|workshopstations= See also separate page [[KanchraparaCalcutta_Railways_%26_Stations#Sealdah_Station| ''' Calcutta Seadah Station''']]for details|stationsworkshop= [[BangaonKanchrapara]], [[JessoreSaidpur]] <br>''See'' [[EBR Railway Workshops]],

The '''[[File: Eastern Bengal Railway''' Company (EBR) was formed in 1857 for "the construction and working of a line from [[Calcutta]] to [[Dacca]], with a branch to [[Jessore]]Map 1909. Capital 1,000,000''l''. This amount has been sanctioned for the line from Calcutta to the Ganges at Kooshtee([[Kushtia]]), near Pubnah, about 80 miles, all that is authorised to be proceeded with at present. Rate of Interest Guaranteed - 5 per cent on 1,000,000''l'' " <ref> "Money Market and City Intelligence", ''The Times'', Wednesday, 15 June 1859, #23333, 7a. </ref>. == History ==The first construction started in October 1859. Isambard Kingdom Brunel had been engaged in Britain as consulting engineer to the EBR and [[Bradford Lesliepng|thumb| Eastern Bengal Railway Map 1909]], an English civil engineer who specialised in bridges, was sent to India as engineer in charge of bridges and viaducts. He supervised the building of the Eschamutter and Koormar river bridges before returning to Britain in 1861. He returned to India in 1865 and became Chief Engineer and Agent <ref> [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Leslie Wikipedia "Bradford Leslie"]; Retrieved on 5 May 2016</ref><ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PpJMCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT74&lpg=PT74&dq=southern+punjab+railway+company&source=bl&ots=R1AsTgkegr&sig=CzpHod72_VMtjRKj6Ire4zWNOV4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyqrig1rXMAhVrJMAKHY0EDRc4ChDoAQg3MAU#v=onepage&q=southern%20punjab%20railway%20company&f=false Google Books “New Delhi: The Last Imperial City- Sir Bradford Leslie and the meaning of Empire, Chapter 5.3” by D. Johnson, Richard Watson"]; Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>.

The first train ran between '''Eastern Bengal Railway''' Company (EBR) was formed as a [[Sealdah]] and [[RanaghatGuaranteed Railways|Guaranteed Railway]] company in September 1862. Thereafter further phases considerably extended 1857 for "the reach construction and working of the a line and, by 1866, it linked from [[Calcutta]] to [[KushtiaDacca]]. The company had also acquired , with a steam vessel service operating between branch to [[KushtiaJessore]] and . Capital 1,000,000''l''. This amount has been sanctioned for the line from Calcutta to the Ganges at Kooshtee([[DaccaKushtia]]), near Pubnah, about 80 miles, all that is authorised to be proceeded with at present.Rate of Interest Guaranteed - 5 per cent on 1,000,000''l'' " <ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228649/8330.pdf H.M. Government “Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report : Draft Statute Law (Repeals) Bill; April 2012"; pages 127-8Money Market and City Intelligence", ''The Times'', Wednesday, 15 June 1859, #23333, paragraphs 3.51 - 37a.55] Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>.

==History==The first construction started in October 1859. Isambard Kingdom Brunel had been engaged in Britain as consulting engineer to the EBR and [[Franklin PrestageBradford Leslie]] became the , Agent for the EBR an English civil engineer who specialised in the early 1870's. In its original contract with the Secretary of State for Indiabridges, the EBR Company was sent to open a rail-line to [[Darjeeling]]India as engineer in charge of bridges and viaducts. However He supervised the building of the [[Government of IndiaEast_Bengal_Railway_Bridges#Ichamati_River_Railway_Bridge|Eschamutter(Ichamati)]] took a decision to stop expansion of rail-lines by Guaranteed companies in new areas and instead decided to construct and manage new rail-lines as [[:Category:State RailwaysEast_Bengal_Railway_Bridges#Kumar_River_Railway_Bridge|State RailwaysKoomar(Kumar)]]river bridges before returning to Britain in 1861. Prestage resigned from EBR He returned to India in 1865 and became Chief Engineer and in 1879 set up the [[Darjeeling Steam Tramway]] Company Agent <ref>[httphttps://wwwen.irfcawikipedia.org/articleswiki/Bradford_Leslie Wikipedia "Bradford Leslie"]; Retrieved on 5 May 2016</ref><ref>[https://eminent-railwaymenbooks.google.co.htmluk/books?id=PpJMCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT74&lpg=PT74&dq=southern+punjab+railway+company&source=bl&ots=R1AsTgkegr&sig=CzpHod72_VMtjRKj6Ire4zWNOV4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyqrig1rXMAhVrJMAKHY0EDRc4ChDoAQg3MAU#prestage “Eminent Railwaymen v=onepage&q=southern%20punjab%20railway%20company&f=false Google Books “New Delhi: The Last Imperial City- Sir Bradford Leslie and the meaning of Yesteryears” Empire, Chapter 5.3” by R R Bhandari July 2008D. Johnson, reproduced by IRFCA ''Indian Railways Fan Club''Richard Watson"] ; Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>.

The EBR became the '''Eastern Bengal State Railway'''(EBSR)[[Brassey & Co|Brassey, owned Wythes and managed by Paxman Partenership]] undertook the Government construction of Indiathe EBR a line of 112 miles(179km) from [[Government of India Calcutta]] to [[Kushtia|GoIKooshtea(Kushtia)]]), on 30 June 1884the River Ganges. The line opened in stages from [[Calcutta]] in 1862 and completed through to [[Kushtia]] in 1864.

The GoI merged the [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]] into the EBSR, and several others in 18871870-71_Report_on_Railways#Progress_on_State_lines._Paragraphs_5-10. In 1904, 3B_Pages_3-4| “1870-71 Annual Report for Indian Railways for the EBSR took over the [[ Eastern Bengal Central RailwayRailway“]] which it had previously been working, and the gives:- [[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]]. In 1915, the system reverted to the style, '''Eastern Bengal Railway'''.Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|<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 42‘Broad Gauge (BG); 47]] Line sanctioned 159 miles(MG256km); 52, which included 45 miles(NG72km)]; Retrieved 17 Dec 2015</ref><ref>of Line opened 1870 with nil to be finished’. The Report also details the [[http://en1870-71_Report_on_Railways#Eastern_Bengal_Railway.banglapedia.org/index_Paragraphs_76-78.php?title=Railway Banglapedia "National Encyclopaedia 3B_Page_36|‘progress of Bangladesh" Railwaythe railway and the commercial summery’]]; Retrieved 17 Dec 2015</ref><ref>[http://inforail.blogspot.com/2012/10/brief-history-of-bangladesh-railway''see separate pages for Report details.html "Brief History of Bangladesh Railway" Bangladesh Railway Information]; Retrieved 17 Dec 2015</ref>''

During [[Franklin Prestage]] became the 1920s Agent for the EBR in the early 1870's. In its original contract with the Secretary of State for India, the EBR continued Company was to open a rail-line to grow [[Darjeeling]]. However the [[Government of India]] took a decision to stop expansion of rail-lines by merger and amalgamation, Guaranteed companies in new areas and also began instead decided to convert sections of metre construct and narrow gauge to eliminate manage new rail bottlenecks-lines as [[:Category:State Railways|State Railways]]. On 1 January 1941, the GoI acquired Prestage resigned from EBR and in 1879 set up the [[Bengal Dooars RailwayDarjeeling Steam Tramway]] and merged it into the EBRCompany <ref>[http://www.irfca.org/articles/eminent-railwaymen.html#prestage “Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryears” by R R Bhandari July 2008, reproduced by IRFCA ''Indian Railways Fan Club''] Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>.

In 1942, the GoI merged the The EBR with became the [[Assam '''Eastern Bengal State Railway]] to create '''(EBSR), owned and managed by the Government of India([[Bengal and Assam RailwayGovernment of India |GoI]]), on 30 June 1884.

==Branch Lines and extensions==*The GoI merged the broad gauge([[Budge-Budge Branch RailwayRail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] opened 1890. Branch line of EBR*[[Canning Branch Railway]] opened 1862-63. Branch line of EBR *[[Chitpur Branch Railway]] opened 1873. Branch line of ) EBR *[[Dalsingpara Branch Railway]] opened after 1811. Branch of Jainti Section of EBR ; under construction in 1911*[[Dhubri Branch Railway]] opened 1902. Branch of Assam Section of EBR.*[[Faridpur Branch Railway]] opened 1898-99. Branch from Poradaha Section of EBR*[[Gauhati Branch Railway]] opened 1906. Part of Assam Section of EBR incorporating part of [[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]]; extended up to 1909*[[Goalundo Branch Railway]] opened 1862. Branch from Poradaha Section of EBR ; extended up to 1882.*[[Godagari Ghat Branch Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]] opened 1909. Branch from Katihar Section of EBR *[[Jainti Branch Railway]] opened 1900-1. Branch of Jainti Section of EBR*[[Jagannathganj Ghat Branch Railway]] opened c.1887?. Branch from into the Dacca Section of EBR (Narayanganj to Bahadurabad Ghat section*[[Jogbani Branch Railway]] opened 1887. Branch from Katihar Section of EBR ; extended 1909*[[Kankurgachi Chord Railway]] opened 1907. Short connecting section of EBR*[[Katihar Branch Railway]] opened 1883. Branch of Katihar Section of EBR ; opened 1883 EBSR, and extended 1889*[[Kaunia-Bonarpara Extension Railway]] opened 1905. Extension to EBR network*[[Khulna Branch Railway]] opened 1883-4. Originally [[Bengal Central Railway]]; in 1905 became Branch line of EBR *[[Kishanganj Branch Railway]] opened 1892. Branch from Katihar Section of EBR*[[Kurigram Branch Railway]] opened 1882. Branch line of Eastern Bengal State Railway*[[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway]] opened 1905. Branch line of 1887 several EBR ; opened 1905, extended 1907*[[Lalmonirhat-Gitaldahametre gauge(Geetaldaha) Railway]] opened c.1900. Link between [[Bengal Dooars RailwayRail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]] ) and narrow gauge [[Cooch Behar State RailwayRail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]].railways*[[Manihari Branch Railway]] opened 1887. Branch from Katihar Section of Railways – this giving the three Rail Gauges that made up the EBR *[[Murshidabad Branch Railway]] opened 1909network. Branch line of EBR*[[Patipukur Loop Railway]] opened 1904. Chord line of EBR for goods*[[Raiti Branch Railway]] opened 1910. Branch from Poradaha Section of EBR*[[Tanga Branch Railway]]. Branch of Assam Section of EBR ; under construction, 1911

==Railways absorbed into EBR==*[[Bengal Central Railway]] opened 1882. Private company without guarantee; merged into EBR In 1915, 1905*[[Bengal Dooars Railway]](BDR) opened 1893. Independent Company operation small MG network; merged into EBR , 1941*[[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]] opened 1899. Amalgamated with EBR , 1904 together with [[Phulchari Branch Railway]] and [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]]. *[[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]] opened 1862. Surrendered the system reverted to [[Government of India |GoI]] the style, 1 Apr 1868; Worked by State, 1868-70; by EBR, 1870-74; merged into EBR, 1884*[[Cooch Behar State Railway]] opened 1893. State railway, worked and finally bought by EBR c.1899*[[Dacca State Railway]] opened 1885. Formerly [[Narayanganj-Dacca-Mymensingh State Railway]] ; merged into EBR , 1887; becoming Dacca Section of EBR *[[Diamond Harbour Line Railway]] opened 1862. First opened as [[Calcutta and South '''Eastern Railway]]; merged into EBR , 1884*[[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]] opened 1884-85. Constructed by EBR as [[Rail_gauge#Metre_Gauge|NG]] Tram, converted to [[Rail_gauge#Metre_Gauge|NG]], 1901; part to EBR Gauhati Branch ; part to BDR Kurigram Branch *[[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]] opened c.1885. Narrow gauge(NG); merged into EBR 1887; converted to metre gauge 1928/29.*[[Mymensingh-Jamalpur-Jagannath Railway]] opened 1898. Owned by [[Indian General Navigation and Railway Company]]; worked and finally purchased by EBR * [[Northern Bengal State Railway]](NBSR)opened 1877. Merged into EBR , 1887; becoming the EBR North Bengal Section*[[Poradah Branch Railway]] opened c.1880. Constructed by [[Northern Bengal State Railway]](NBSR) but worked by EBR; apparently taken over by EBR c.1913*[[Ranagat-Bangaon Railway]] opened 1882. Opened as part of [[Bengal Central Railway]]; became section of EBR , 1905*[[Ranaghat-Krishnagar Light Railway]] opened 1899. Narrow gauge(NG), via Shantipur. Constructed by [[Martin's Light Railways]] Company taken over by EBR, 1904*[[Santipur-Nabadwip Light Railway]] opened 1898. Constructed by [[Martin's Light Railways]] Company; taken over by EBR , 1904 *[[Sara-Sirajgonj Railway]] opened 1915-16'. Private company, worked by EBR, finally purchased by EBR

==Lines worked by During the 1920s, the EBR at some time==*[[Khulna-Bagerhat Railway]] opened 1918-19. Narrow gauge(NG) railway; constructed in 1918. Worked continued to grow by EBR*[[Lalmonirhat-Gitaldaha(Geetaldaha) Railway]] opened c.1900. Link between [[Bengal Dooars Railway]] merger and [[Cooch Behar State Railway]]amalgamation, jointly worked.*[[Teesta-Kurigram Railway]] opened c.1885. Section and also began to convert sections of [[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]] , worked by EBR*[[Netrakona-Mohanganj Railway]] was constructed between 1912 metre and 1918 by the Mymensingh–Bhairab Bazar Railway Company, worked by EBRnarrow gauge to eliminate rail bottlenecks.

==Train Ferry Links EBR==*[[Pandu Ghat-Gauhati Railway]] opened c.1908 Link constructed by EBR to link On 1 January 1941, the [[Amingaon-Pandu Train Ferry]]. Rail transhipment by ferry crossing GoI acquired the Brahmaputra River linking EBR system to [[Assam Bengal Dooars Railway]](ABR)'s network. Worked by ABR; transferred to ABR, 1922*[[Sara Train Ferry]] opened c.1899. Ferry link from and merged it into the EBR main line across Ganges to Sara taking Goods wagons. Operated until 1915 on opening of Hardinge Bridge

==Records==Refer to FIBIS Fact File #4: “Research sources for Indian RailwaysIn 1942, 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 GoI merged the UK records of Indian Railways' EBR with particular reference to the [[India Office RecordsAssam Bengal Railway]] (IOR) held at to create the [[British LibraryBengal and Assam Railway]] An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway<ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 British Library “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 22 Jan 2016</ref> gives many references. The most important being:-*'''L /AG/46/10 ''' “Eastern Bengal Railway Company; 1856-1885*'''L /AG/46/30 ''' “Records of the India Office relating to the Eastern Bengal Railway Company; 1885-1920”

==EBR Personnel==The following employment records held in the IOR are relevant :-*See separate page '''L/AG/46/10/35''' “Contracts of appointment (1862-1869)” *'''FIBIS database[[Eastern Bengal Railway Personnel]]''' [http://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=1068&s_id=323 List of Indian Railways UK Contracted Staff taken from IOR Series L/AG/46/12].

== EBR Lines owned and worked ==The above development of the EBR network is partially indexed detailed in*a separate page '''Z/L/AG/46[[Eastern Bengal Railway - Lines owned and worked]] ''' “Index to UK Appointments to Indian Railways (1849-1925)” broken down into the three Rail Gauge Divisions.<br>The following initial construction of Bridges is not included covered in the index Z/L/AG/46.*a separate page '''L/AG/46/10/35[[East Bengal Railway Bridges|Eastern Bengal Railway Bridges]]''' “Lists as part of the development of staff, 1879-1881”the EBR system

'''[[Eastern Bengal Railway Personnel]]''' gives details of EBR staff from several other sources:-==External Links== *“India Civil List 1890” <ref>Fibis Records, scans of original ” </ref> and the " India List and India Office List, 1905" <ref>[httpshttp://playen.googlebanglapedia.comorg/books/readerindex.php?idtitle=b2NPAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PR14 Railway Banglapedia " India List and India Office List, 1905National Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh"] Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref> for [[Public Works Department]] Railway Branch or [[:Category:State Railways|State Railways]] personnel deployed to EBR gives a number of entries. The most notable of these have been listed. *"Grace's Guide ” for notable personnel <ref>[http://wwwinforail.gracesguideblogspot.cocom/2012/10/brief-history-of-bangladesh-railway.uk/Main_Page “Grace’s Guide”html "Brief History of Bangladesh Railway" Bangladesh Railway Information]; Retrieved 2 Jun 2016</ref>*Wikipedia