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'''Eastern Bengal Railway - Lines owned and worked'''
<blockquote>- a sub-section of the '''[[Eastern Bengal Railway]]'''(EBR) page</blockquote>
==EBR Railway Network==
The [[Eastern Bengal Railway]](EIR) owned and operated an extensive network of railways of broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]), metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) and 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])
The EBR also managed, worked and maintained a number of lines on behalf of other parties.
The development of the EBR can be considered as three systems:-
[[File:East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge Division 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge Division 1909]]
==EBR Broad Gauge System==
The following is generally based on pages 42-43 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n51mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 42-43 (pdf51-52) ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>
The broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) from the [[Calcutta]] terminus station at [[Sealdah]] via [[Dum Dum]] and [[Ranaghat]] to [[Poradaha]] opened in 1862 and extended in 1864 to [[Kushtia]]. The company had also acquired a steam vessel service operating between [[Kushtia]] and [[Dacca]] on the Ganges River (known in this region as the Padma River) <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 127-8, paragraphs 3.51 - 3.55] Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>. In 1871 the line was extended from [[Poradaha]] to a new ferry terminal at [[Goalundo]] , about 45 miles east of [[Kushtai]] and reducing the river trip to [[Dacca]]. These railways became the start of the ‘EBR Eastern Division’.
In 1868 the [[Government of India]] took ownership of the BG [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]] and awarded the EBR the contract for working the line from [[Calcutta]] to [[Port Canning]]. This became, this became start of the the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
‘EBR Eastern Section’ - by 1874 the BG branch from [[Poradaha]] to [[Damukdia]] on the right bank of Padma River, opposite [[Sara Ghat]] had opened. Passengers crossed the river Padma by railway operated steamer ferry using the [[Sara Train Ferry]]. In 1874 this linked to the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) [[Northern Bengal State Railway]] (NBSR) running northwards reaching [[Siliguri]]. By 1879 the journey north from [[Calcutta]] to [[Shiliguri]] became possible without a break. At [[Siliguri]] , in the foothills of the Himilayas, there was a connection with the [[Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway]] (which opened 1879-81)
<ref name=name>[http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Railway “National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh – Railways”]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>
‘EBR Central Section’ - the EBR operated the [[Bengal Central Railway]] from the outset with two BG lines
[[Ranaghat]] to [[Bangaon]], opened in Oct 1882; and [[Dum Dum]] which reached [[Khulna]] (Khoolna) in 1884, via [[Bangaon]] (Bongong) and [[Jessore]].
‘EBR Southern Section’- in 1883 was extended to reach [[Diamond Harbour]].
‘EBR Eastern Section’ - in 1890 was extended further eastward to [[Faridpur]] and from 1905 northwards to reach [[Murshidabad]] and on to Lalgola Ghat in 1907. Two proposals for further extensions are given in the ‘Imperial Gazetteer’ :- the 1909 map shows a dotted line to extend the line northwards from [[Lagola]] to connect to the EBR metre gauge(MG) network at [[ Katiawar]]
<ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gaz_atlas_1909/fullscreen.html?object=30 ‘Gazetteer of India’ v. 26, Atlas 1909 edition, Railway Map--Sectional (2), p. 24. ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>
and the ‘Imperial Gazetteer’ states <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_056.gif ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 18, p. 50. ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref> “There is also a proposal to bridge the Bhagirathi River between Jiaganj and Murshidabad, and to connect the new line with the [[East Indian Railway]] system”.
<br>Neither of these proposals were adopted.
Further minor branches had been constructed thereafter giving by 1918 a total BG network of 569 miles(915km) :- ‘Eastern Section’ 371 miles(597km), ‘Southern Section’ 70 miles(km) and ‘Central Section’ 128 miles(206km)
In addition the BG [[Sara-Sirajgonj Railway]] 53 mile(85km) branch from the EBR mainline had been constructed and then worked by EBR as a part of the ‘EBR Eastern Section’
==EBR Metre Gauge System==
The following is generally based on pages 47-48 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n56mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 47-48 (pdf56-57) ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>.
The EBR metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) system originated by absorption of other railways
[[File:East Bengal Railway - Metre Gauge System 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Metre Gauge Division 1909]]
''See separate pages for more information and references''
[[Northern Bengal State Railway]] (NBSR) in 1877-78 opened the MG [[Santahar]] via [[Parvatipur]](Parbatipur on map) to [[Jalpaguri]] line extending it northwards to [[Siliguri]] in 1878 and southwards to the [[Sara Train Ferry|Train Ferry]] at [[Sara Ghat]] in 1879. This completed the northern link. The NBSR had also by this date completed the line eastward from [[Parvatipur]] via [[Rangpur]](Rungpore on map) to [[Kaunia]](Kauniya on map). At [[Kaunia]] the line linked to the narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) [[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]]. In 1887, to ensure better management the NBSR was transferred to the EBR, this became the start of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’.
[[Dacca State Railway]](DSR) also in 1887, was transferred to the EBR although this MG line was not connected to the EBR system. Later, in 1899, the EBR constructed the MG [[Mymensingh-Jamalpur-Jagannath Railway]], owned by the [[Indian General Navigation and Railway Company]]. The two lines were linked and worked jointly by EBR.
[[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]] in 1899-1900 opened two MG lines which were worked by EBR. [[Santahar]] to [[Bonarpara]], 51 miles(81km) and the [[Phulchari Branch Railway]] from [[Bonarpara]] to [[Phulchari]], 8 miles(14km). In 1904 the EBR acquired these lines became the first part of the EBR ‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Section’ when the system was extended to [[Kaunia]] in 1905
[[Gauhati Branch Railway]] in 1906 the EBR opened from [[Golakganj]] eastward and reached [[Armingoan]] by 1909; where it linked to EBR’s [[Amingaon-Pandu Train Ferry]]; crossing the Brahmaputra River to the [[Pandu Ghat-Gauhati Railway]] connecting to [[Assam-Bengal Railway]](ABR) at [[Gauhati]]. This completed the ‘EBR Mainline MG’ of 328 miles(528km).
By 1918, with further construction of branches, the EBR network had a MG line length of 978 miles(1573km)
[[File:East Bengal Railway - Narrow Gauge System 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge System 1909]]
==EBR Narrow Gauge System ==
The following is generally based on pages 49-52 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n58mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 49-52 (pdf58-60) ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>.
The EBR 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]] system originated by absorption of other railways
''See separate pages for more information and references''
[[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]] had opened in 1882 as a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) line running east wards from [[Kaunia]], where it connected to the NBSR metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]). Taken over by EBR in 1887 and in 1901 the section from [[Kaunia]] to [[Teesta]] was converted to MG becoming part of the [[Eastern Bengal Railway#EBR Metre Gauge Division|'EBR Metre Gauge']]
[[Cooch Behar State Railway]], 2ft 6in/762mm [[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]], from its junction with the EBR at [[Gitaldaha]] reached [[Cooch Behar]] in 1898, owned by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Cooch Behar State]] and worked by the EBR. The line was extended northward to the border with British Territory in 1900 and to [[Jainti]] in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in 1901. In 1910 the entire line from [[Gitaldaha]] to [[Jainti]] line was converted to MG becoming the 'Jainti Branch' of the [[Eastern Bengal Railway#EBR Metre Gauge Division|'EBR Metre Gauge']]
[[Khulna-Bagerhat Railway]], 2ft 6in/762mm [[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]], 20 miles(32km) opened in 1918. Owned by a private company but worked by EBR. The line ran from [[Khulna]] [[Khulna]] was the end of the ‘EBR Central Section’ broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) mainline to [[Bagirhaut]],
== Alphabetical Listing of EBR lines and lines worked by EBR==
''See separate pages for more information and references''
*[[Bengal Central Railway]], BG line, opened 1882-84 and worked by EBR. Private company without guarantee; merged into EBR , 1905 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Central System’.
*[[Bengal Dooars Railway]](BDR), MG line, opened 1893. Independent Company operation small MG network linking to the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ [[Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha Railway|’Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha’ MG section]], merged into EBR , 1941
*[[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]], MG line, opened 1899 by a branch company but worked by EBR. Amalgamated into the EBR, 1904 together with [[Phulchari Branch Railway]], to form the [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway|‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway’]].
*[[Budge-Budge Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Southern Section’, opened 1890.
*[[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]], BG line, opened 1862. Surrendered to [[Government of India |GoI]] , 1868 and worked by EBR; merged into EBR, 1884 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
*[[Canning Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Southern Section’, opened 1862-63.
*[[Chitpur Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1873.
*[[Churni Extension Railway]], BG short extension of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1902
*[[Cooch Behar State Railway]], NG line, opened 1894-98. [[Princely states|Princely State]] railway, joined to the [[Jainti Branch Railway]], (British Section ), worked by EB, and finally bought by EBR c.1899 and converted to MG, 1910.
*[[Dacca State Railway]], MG line, formerly [[Narayanganj-Dacca-Mymensingh State Railway]], opened 1885 ; merged into EBR , 1887; becoming the EBR ‘Dacca Section Railway’.
*[[Dacca Section Railway]], MG section of the of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, transferred to EBR 1887 from [[Dacca State Railway|”Dacca State Railway’]].
*[[Dalsingpara Branch Railway]], BG branch line of the [[Jainti Branch Railway|Jainti Branch]] of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, under construction in 1911, opened 1912 extended 1914.
*[[Dhubri Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Assam Section Metre Gauge’, opened 1902
*[[Diamond Harbour Line Railway]], BG link line opened 1862 by the [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]]; and worked by EBR; merged into EBR, 1884 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
*[[Faridpur Branch Railway]], BG branch of the [[Poradah Branch Railway]] of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1898-99.
*[[Gauhati Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Assam Section Metre Gauge’, incorporating part of [[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]] , opened 1906, extended up to 1909.
*[[Goalundo Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1862; extended up to 1882.
*[[Godagari Ghat Branch Railway]], MG branch line from the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1909.
*[[Jainti Branch Railway]], (British Section ), MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, converted to MG 1910. Originally NG, opened 1900-1 as a feeder through ‘British Territory’ to join with the ‘[[Cooch Behar State Railway]]’
*[[Jagannathganj Ghat Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ of the [[Dacca Section Railway]], formerly the [[Dacca State Railway]], opened c.1887?
*[[Jogbani Branch Railway]], MG branch line from the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887, extended 1909.
*[[Kankurgachi Chord Railway]], BG short connecting line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1907.
*[[Katihar Section Railway]], MG section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1883 and extended 1889.
*[[Kaunia-Bonarpara Extension Railway]], MG section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ as an extension to [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]], opened 1905.
*[[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]], NG line, opened 1882 , taken over by EBR 1887, divided into two sections - the [[Kaunia-Teesta Section Railway|’Kaunia-Teesta Section’]] and the [[Teesta-Kurigram Railway|’Teesta-Kurigram Railway’]].
*[[ Kaunia-Teesta Section Railway]], originally a NG line and part of the [[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway|’ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway’]], opened 1882, taken over by EBR 1887, the [[ Kaunia-Teesta Section Railway|’ Kaunia-Teesta Section’]] converted to MG, 1901, to become part of the the 'EBR Metre Gauge' mainline. *[[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]].
*[[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]], NG line, opened 1882 , alternative name see [[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway|’Kaunia-Kurigram Railway’]].
*[[Khulna-Bagerhat Railway]], NG line, opened 1918-19. Narrow gauge(NG) railway owned by private company. ; Constructed and worked by EBR, later converted to MG becming part of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ system.
*[[Khulna Branch Railway]], BG line, opened 1883-4 as a branch of [[Bengal Central Railway]]; until merger in 1905 when becoming a branch line of the ‘EBR Eastern Section’.
*[[Kishanganj Branch Railway]], MG branch line of the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1892.
*[[Kosi Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887, extended to 1909
*[[Krishnager-Nabadwip Light Railway ]], NG line part of the [[Santipur-Nabadwip Light Railway ]]
*[[Kurigram Branch Railway]], NG line, alternative name see ‘[[Teesta-Kurigram Branch Railway]]’
*[[Kushtia Loop Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1864; extended 1881
*[[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway]],BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’opened 1905 as the [[Murshidabad Branch Railway]], extended 1907 to [[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway|’Lalgola Ghat’]]
*[[Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha Railway]], MG section of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ mainline , opened 1901-02 providing link between [[Bengal Dooars Railway]] and [[Cooch Behar State Railway]].
*[[Manihari Branch Railway]], MG section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887 as a branch to [[Katihar]], later becoming the western end of the MG mainline.
*[[Murshidabad Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1905, extended to [[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway|’Lalgola Ghat’]].
*[[Mymensingh-Jamalpur-Jagannath Railway]], MG privately owned by [[Indian General Navigation and Railway Company]], worked by EBR. Acquired by the State and passed in EBR in the 1920’s.
*[[Northern Bengal State Railway]], MG, opened 1877-79. Merged into EBR , 1887; becoming the start of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ – ‘ North Bengal Section’
*[[Patipukur Loop Railway]], BG chord line for goods only, of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1904.
*[[Poradaha Branch Railway]], MG, opened c.1880. Constructed by [[Northern Bengal State Railway]], but worked by EBR; apparently taken over by EBR c.1913
*[[ Phulchari Branch Railway]] MG line, opened 1899 by a branch company but worked by EBR. Amalgamated into the EBR, 1904 together with [[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]], to form the [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway|‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway’]].
*[[Raiti Branch Railway]], BG branch of the [[Poradah Branch Railway]] of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1916.
*[[Ranagat-Bangaon Railway]], BG opened 1882 as part of [[Bengal Central Railway]]; became section of EBR , 1905
*[[Ranaghat-Krishnagar Light Railway]] Company, NG lines opened 1898-99 as two parts [[Santipur-Krishnager Light Railway]] and [[Krishnager-Nabadwip Light Railway]] built and initially worked by [[Martin's Light Railways]]. Company taken over by EBR, 1904becoming part of ‘EBR Narrow Gauge Section’
*[[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]], MG chord line, formed by amalgamation in 1904 of the [[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]] and the [[ Phulchari Branch Railway]] as part of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, extended 1905.
*[[Santahar-Siliguri Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1877-78.
*[[Santipur-Krishnager Light Railway]], NG, part of the ‘[[Ranaghat-Krishnagar Light Railway]]’
*[[Santipur-Nabadwip Light Railway]] NG, opened 1898. Constructed by [[Martin's Light Railways]] Company; taken over by EBR , 1904
*[[Sara-Sirajgonj Railway]], BG privately owned line, opened 1915-16. Worked by EBR and finally purchased by EBR
*[[Singhjani Branch Railway]], MG branch line of [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1900, extended to 1914.
*[[Tangla Branch Railway]], MG branch of Assam Section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ opened 1912.
*[[Teesta-Kurigram Railway]], NG line, also known as the [[Kurigram Branch Railway]], opened 1882 as part of the the [[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]], taken over by EBR 1887 and remained NG until after 1916.
==EBR Train Ferry Links==
*[[Pandu Ghat-Gauhati Railway]] opened c.1908 Link constructed by EBR to link the [[Amingaon-Pandu Train Ferry]]. Rail transhipment by ferry crossing the Brahmaputra River linking EBR system to [[Assam Bengal Railway]](ABR)'s network. Worked by ABR; transferred to ABR, 1922
*[[Sara Train Ferry]] opened c.1899. Ferry link from EBR main line across Ganges to Sara taking Goods wagons. Operated until 1915 on opening of Hardinge Bridge
== References ==
<references />
<blockquote>- a sub-section of the '''[[Eastern Bengal Railway]]'''(EBR) page</blockquote>
==EBR Railway Network==
The [[Eastern Bengal Railway]](EIR) owned and operated an extensive network of railways of broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]), metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) and 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])
The EBR also managed, worked and maintained a number of lines on behalf of other parties.
The development of the EBR can be considered as three systems:-
[[File:East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge Division 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge Division 1909]]
==EBR Broad Gauge System==
The following is generally based on pages 42-43 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n51mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 42-43 (pdf51-52) ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>
The broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) from the [[Calcutta]] terminus station at [[Sealdah]] via [[Dum Dum]] and [[Ranaghat]] to [[Poradaha]] opened in 1862 and extended in 1864 to [[Kushtia]]. The company had also acquired a steam vessel service operating between [[Kushtia]] and [[Dacca]] on the Ganges River (known in this region as the Padma River) <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 127-8, paragraphs 3.51 - 3.55] Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>. In 1871 the line was extended from [[Poradaha]] to a new ferry terminal at [[Goalundo]] , about 45 miles east of [[Kushtai]] and reducing the river trip to [[Dacca]]. These railways became the start of the ‘EBR Eastern Division’.
In 1868 the [[Government of India]] took ownership of the BG [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]] and awarded the EBR the contract for working the line from [[Calcutta]] to [[Port Canning]]. This became, this became start of the the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
‘EBR Eastern Section’ - by 1874 the BG branch from [[Poradaha]] to [[Damukdia]] on the right bank of Padma River, opposite [[Sara Ghat]] had opened. Passengers crossed the river Padma by railway operated steamer ferry using the [[Sara Train Ferry]]. In 1874 this linked to the metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) [[Northern Bengal State Railway]] (NBSR) running northwards reaching [[Siliguri]]. By 1879 the journey north from [[Calcutta]] to [[Shiliguri]] became possible without a break. At [[Siliguri]] , in the foothills of the Himilayas, there was a connection with the [[Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway]] (which opened 1879-81)
<ref name=name>[http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Railway “National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh – Railways”]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>
‘EBR Central Section’ - the EBR operated the [[Bengal Central Railway]] from the outset with two BG lines
[[Ranaghat]] to [[Bangaon]], opened in Oct 1882; and [[Dum Dum]] which reached [[Khulna]] (Khoolna) in 1884, via [[Bangaon]] (Bongong) and [[Jessore]].
‘EBR Southern Section’- in 1883 was extended to reach [[Diamond Harbour]].
‘EBR Eastern Section’ - in 1890 was extended further eastward to [[Faridpur]] and from 1905 northwards to reach [[Murshidabad]] and on to Lalgola Ghat in 1907. Two proposals for further extensions are given in the ‘Imperial Gazetteer’ :- the 1909 map shows a dotted line to extend the line northwards from [[Lagola]] to connect to the EBR metre gauge(MG) network at [[ Katiawar]]
<ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gaz_atlas_1909/fullscreen.html?object=30 ‘Gazetteer of India’ v. 26, Atlas 1909 edition, Railway Map--Sectional (2), p. 24. ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>
and the ‘Imperial Gazetteer’ states <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_056.gif ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 18, p. 50. ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref> “There is also a proposal to bridge the Bhagirathi River between Jiaganj and Murshidabad, and to connect the new line with the [[East Indian Railway]] system”.
<br>Neither of these proposals were adopted.
Further minor branches had been constructed thereafter giving by 1918 a total BG network of 569 miles(915km) :- ‘Eastern Section’ 371 miles(597km), ‘Southern Section’ 70 miles(km) and ‘Central Section’ 128 miles(206km)
In addition the BG [[Sara-Sirajgonj Railway]] 53 mile(85km) branch from the EBR mainline had been constructed and then worked by EBR as a part of the ‘EBR Eastern Section’
==EBR Metre Gauge System==
The following is generally based on pages 47-48 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n56mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 47-48 (pdf56-57) ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>.
The EBR metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) system originated by absorption of other railways
[[File:East Bengal Railway - Metre Gauge System 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Metre Gauge Division 1909]]
''See separate pages for more information and references''
[[Northern Bengal State Railway]] (NBSR) in 1877-78 opened the MG [[Santahar]] via [[Parvatipur]](Parbatipur on map) to [[Jalpaguri]] line extending it northwards to [[Siliguri]] in 1878 and southwards to the [[Sara Train Ferry|Train Ferry]] at [[Sara Ghat]] in 1879. This completed the northern link. The NBSR had also by this date completed the line eastward from [[Parvatipur]] via [[Rangpur]](Rungpore on map) to [[Kaunia]](Kauniya on map). At [[Kaunia]] the line linked to the narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) [[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]]. In 1887, to ensure better management the NBSR was transferred to the EBR, this became the start of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’.
[[Dacca State Railway]](DSR) also in 1887, was transferred to the EBR although this MG line was not connected to the EBR system. Later, in 1899, the EBR constructed the MG [[Mymensingh-Jamalpur-Jagannath Railway]], owned by the [[Indian General Navigation and Railway Company]]. The two lines were linked and worked jointly by EBR.
[[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]] in 1899-1900 opened two MG lines which were worked by EBR. [[Santahar]] to [[Bonarpara]], 51 miles(81km) and the [[Phulchari Branch Railway]] from [[Bonarpara]] to [[Phulchari]], 8 miles(14km). In 1904 the EBR acquired these lines became the first part of the EBR ‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Section’ when the system was extended to [[Kaunia]] in 1905
[[Gauhati Branch Railway]] in 1906 the EBR opened from [[Golakganj]] eastward and reached [[Armingoan]] by 1909; where it linked to EBR’s [[Amingaon-Pandu Train Ferry]]; crossing the Brahmaputra River to the [[Pandu Ghat-Gauhati Railway]] connecting to [[Assam-Bengal Railway]](ABR) at [[Gauhati]]. This completed the ‘EBR Mainline MG’ of 328 miles(528km).
By 1918, with further construction of branches, the EBR network had a MG line length of 978 miles(1573km)
[[File:East Bengal Railway - Narrow Gauge System 1909.png|thumb|East Bengal Railway - Broad Gauge System 1909]]
==EBR Narrow Gauge System ==
The following is generally based on pages 49-52 of the ‘1918 Administration Report on Railways’
<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n58mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” pages 49-52 (pdf58-60) ]; Retrieved 27 Dec 2017</ref>.
The EBR 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]] system originated by absorption of other railways
''See separate pages for more information and references''
[[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]] had opened in 1882 as a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) line running east wards from [[Kaunia]], where it connected to the NBSR metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]). Taken over by EBR in 1887 and in 1901 the section from [[Kaunia]] to [[Teesta]] was converted to MG becoming part of the [[Eastern Bengal Railway#EBR Metre Gauge Division|'EBR Metre Gauge']]
[[Cooch Behar State Railway]], 2ft 6in/762mm [[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]], from its junction with the EBR at [[Gitaldaha]] reached [[Cooch Behar]] in 1898, owned by the [[Princely states|Princely ]][[Cooch Behar State]] and worked by the EBR. The line was extended northward to the border with British Territory in 1900 and to [[Jainti]] in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in 1901. In 1910 the entire line from [[Gitaldaha]] to [[Jainti]] line was converted to MG becoming the 'Jainti Branch' of the [[Eastern Bengal Railway#EBR Metre Gauge Division|'EBR Metre Gauge']]
[[Khulna-Bagerhat Railway]], 2ft 6in/762mm [[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]], 20 miles(32km) opened in 1918. Owned by a private company but worked by EBR. The line ran from [[Khulna]] [[Khulna]] was the end of the ‘EBR Central Section’ broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) mainline to [[Bagirhaut]],
== Alphabetical Listing of EBR lines and lines worked by EBR==
''See separate pages for more information and references''
*[[Bengal Central Railway]], BG line, opened 1882-84 and worked by EBR. Private company without guarantee; merged into EBR , 1905 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Central System’.
*[[Bengal Dooars Railway]](BDR), MG line, opened 1893. Independent Company operation small MG network linking to the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ [[Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha Railway|’Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha’ MG section]], merged into EBR , 1941
*[[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]], MG line, opened 1899 by a branch company but worked by EBR. Amalgamated into the EBR, 1904 together with [[Phulchari Branch Railway]], to form the [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway|‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway’]].
*[[Budge-Budge Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Southern Section’, opened 1890.
*[[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]], BG line, opened 1862. Surrendered to [[Government of India |GoI]] , 1868 and worked by EBR; merged into EBR, 1884 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
*[[Canning Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Southern Section’, opened 1862-63.
*[[Chitpur Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1873.
*[[Churni Extension Railway]], BG short extension of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1902
*[[Cooch Behar State Railway]], NG line, opened 1894-98. [[Princely states|Princely State]] railway, joined to the [[Jainti Branch Railway]], (British Section ), worked by EB, and finally bought by EBR c.1899 and converted to MG, 1910.
*[[Dacca State Railway]], MG line, formerly [[Narayanganj-Dacca-Mymensingh State Railway]], opened 1885 ; merged into EBR , 1887; becoming the EBR ‘Dacca Section Railway’.
*[[Dacca Section Railway]], MG section of the of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, transferred to EBR 1887 from [[Dacca State Railway|”Dacca State Railway’]].
*[[Dalsingpara Branch Railway]], BG branch line of the [[Jainti Branch Railway|Jainti Branch]] of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, under construction in 1911, opened 1912 extended 1914.
*[[Dhubri Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Assam Section Metre Gauge’, opened 1902
*[[Diamond Harbour Line Railway]], BG link line opened 1862 by the [[Calcutta and South Eastern Railway]]; and worked by EBR; merged into EBR, 1884 becoming the start of the ‘EBR Southern Section’.
*[[Faridpur Branch Railway]], BG branch of the [[Poradah Branch Railway]] of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1898-99.
*[[Gauhati Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Assam Section Metre Gauge’, incorporating part of [[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]] , opened 1906, extended up to 1909.
*[[Goalundo Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1862; extended up to 1882.
*[[Godagari Ghat Branch Railway]], MG branch line from the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1909.
*[[Jainti Branch Railway]], (British Section ), MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, converted to MG 1910. Originally NG, opened 1900-1 as a feeder through ‘British Territory’ to join with the ‘[[Cooch Behar State Railway]]’
*[[Jagannathganj Ghat Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ of the [[Dacca Section Railway]], formerly the [[Dacca State Railway]], opened c.1887?
*[[Jogbani Branch Railway]], MG branch line from the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887, extended 1909.
*[[Kankurgachi Chord Railway]], BG short connecting line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1907.
*[[Katihar Section Railway]], MG section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1883 and extended 1889.
*[[Kaunia-Bonarpara Extension Railway]], MG section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ as an extension to [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]], opened 1905.
*[[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]], NG line, opened 1882 , taken over by EBR 1887, divided into two sections - the [[Kaunia-Teesta Section Railway|’Kaunia-Teesta Section’]] and the [[Teesta-Kurigram Railway|’Teesta-Kurigram Railway’]].
*[[ Kaunia-Teesta Section Railway]], originally a NG line and part of the [[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway|’ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway’]], opened 1882, taken over by EBR 1887, the [[ Kaunia-Teesta Section Railway|’ Kaunia-Teesta Section’]] converted to MG, 1901, to become part of the the 'EBR Metre Gauge' mainline. *[[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]].
*[[Kaunia-Dharlia State Tram/Railway]], NG line, opened 1882 , alternative name see [[ Kaunia-Kurigram Railway|’Kaunia-Kurigram Railway’]].
*[[Khulna-Bagerhat Railway]], NG line, opened 1918-19. Narrow gauge(NG) railway owned by private company. ; Constructed and worked by EBR, later converted to MG becming part of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ system.
*[[Khulna Branch Railway]], BG line, opened 1883-4 as a branch of [[Bengal Central Railway]]; until merger in 1905 when becoming a branch line of the ‘EBR Eastern Section’.
*[[Kishanganj Branch Railway]], MG branch line of the [[Katihar Section Railway|Kahihar Section]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1892.
*[[Kosi Branch Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887, extended to 1909
*[[Krishnager-Nabadwip Light Railway ]], NG line part of the [[Santipur-Nabadwip Light Railway ]]
*[[Kurigram Branch Railway]], NG line, alternative name see ‘[[Teesta-Kurigram Branch Railway]]’
*[[Kushtia Loop Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1864; extended 1881
*[[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway]],BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’opened 1905 as the [[Murshidabad Branch Railway]], extended 1907 to [[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway|’Lalgola Ghat’]]
*[[Lalmanir Hat- Gitaldaha Railway]], MG section of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ mainline , opened 1901-02 providing link between [[Bengal Dooars Railway]] and [[Cooch Behar State Railway]].
*[[Manihari Branch Railway]], MG section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1887 as a branch to [[Katihar]], later becoming the western end of the MG mainline.
*[[Murshidabad Branch Railway]], BG branch line of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1905, extended to [[Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway|’Lalgola Ghat’]].
*[[Mymensingh-Jamalpur-Jagannath Railway]], MG privately owned by [[Indian General Navigation and Railway Company]], worked by EBR. Acquired by the State and passed in EBR in the 1920’s.
*[[Northern Bengal State Railway]], MG, opened 1877-79. Merged into EBR , 1887; becoming the start of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ – ‘ North Bengal Section’
*[[Patipukur Loop Railway]], BG chord line for goods only, of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1904.
*[[Poradaha Branch Railway]], MG, opened c.1880. Constructed by [[Northern Bengal State Railway]], but worked by EBR; apparently taken over by EBR c.1913
*[[ Phulchari Branch Railway]] MG line, opened 1899 by a branch company but worked by EBR. Amalgamated into the EBR, 1904 together with [[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]], to form the [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway|‘Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway’]].
*[[Raiti Branch Railway]], BG branch of the [[Poradah Branch Railway]] of ‘EBR Eastern Section’, opened 1916.
*[[Ranagat-Bangaon Railway]], BG opened 1882 as part of [[Bengal Central Railway]]; became section of EBR , 1905
*[[Ranaghat-Krishnagar Light Railway]] Company, NG lines opened 1898-99 as two parts [[Santipur-Krishnager Light Railway]] and [[Krishnager-Nabadwip Light Railway]] built and initially worked by [[Martin's Light Railways]]. Company taken over by EBR, 1904becoming part of ‘EBR Narrow Gauge Section’
*[[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]], MG chord line, formed by amalgamation in 1904 of the [[Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway]] and the [[ Phulchari Branch Railway]] as part of the ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, extended 1905.
*[[Santahar-Siliguri Railway]], MG branch line of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1877-78.
*[[Santipur-Krishnager Light Railway]], NG, part of the ‘[[Ranaghat-Krishnagar Light Railway]]’
*[[Santipur-Nabadwip Light Railway]] NG, opened 1898. Constructed by [[Martin's Light Railways]] Company; taken over by EBR , 1904
*[[Sara-Sirajgonj Railway]], BG privately owned line, opened 1915-16. Worked by EBR and finally purchased by EBR
*[[Singhjani Branch Railway]], MG branch line of [[Santahar-Kaunia Loop Railway]] of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’, opened 1900, extended to 1914.
*[[Tangla Branch Railway]], MG branch of Assam Section of ‘EBR Metre Gauge’ opened 1912.
*[[Teesta-Kurigram Railway]], NG line, also known as the [[Kurigram Branch Railway]], opened 1882 as part of the the [[Kaunia-Kurigram Railway]], taken over by EBR 1887 and remained NG until after 1916.
==EBR Train Ferry Links==
*[[Pandu Ghat-Gauhati Railway]] opened c.1908 Link constructed by EBR to link the [[Amingaon-Pandu Train Ferry]]. Rail transhipment by ferry crossing the Brahmaputra River linking EBR system to [[Assam Bengal Railway]](ABR)'s network. Worked by ABR; transferred to ABR, 1922
*[[Sara Train Ferry]] opened c.1899. Ferry link from EBR main line across Ganges to Sara taking Goods wagons. Operated until 1915 on opening of Hardinge Bridge
== References ==
<references />
