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In 1863, the IBR built the [[Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]]. The line used a 4ft(1222mm) [[Rail_gauge_#4 foot Gauge|unique rail gauge]]. The [[Nalhati]] to [[Azimganj]] line was taken over by the Government in 1872, and by this time named as the '''[[Nalhati State Railway]]'''.
In 1866, it began construction ''The spelling of a Metre Gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]])) line between Lucknow-Kanpur, completed the following year. Without a guaranteed return from place names in the Government above make interpretation of India([[Government of India |GoI]]), the IBR found it impossible to continue and in 1867proposed route difficult, secured a new contract from many of the [[Government of India |GoI]] on terms similar to those on offer in places cannot be identified but must be the 1850s i.e. a guaranteed return on capital employed. following:-''
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]]
Complete rewrite with Links References, etc
The '''Indian Branch RailwayCompany ''' (IBR) was formed in 1862 on 21 Dec 1863 <ref name=martin>[http://www.oldmartiniansassociation.co.uk/documents/OudhandRohilkandRly.pdf Old Martinian Association “Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway”"]; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016</ref> to construct short branches and feeder lines in northern India, with a 20-year subsidy from the Government of India([[Government of India |GoI]]) but no guarantee<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Branch_Railway_Company Wikipedia “Indian Branch Railway Company”]; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016</ref>. Around 1872 the IBR was absorbed into the '''[[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]]'''(O&RR).
== History ==
The [[Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]] had been completed by Indian Branch Railway by Dec 1863. The line used a 4ft(1222mm) [[Rail_gauge_#4 foot Gauge|uniq[ue rail gauge]]. The [[Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]] was finally taken over by the Government in 1872, and by this time named as the '''[[Nalhati State Railway]]''' <ref name=martin/>.
The Cawnpore-Fyzabad Railway project had began in 1862 by IBR and an engineer examined the proposed line from [[Cawnpore]] to Fyzabad <ref name=Mukher>[https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Pictorial_Lucknow.html?id=7RCe2E5ch80C&redir_esc=y Google Books “The Pictorial Lucknow” by P. C. Mukherji, pages 81-82. First published Lucknow 1883, reprinted by AES New Delhi 2003]; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016</ref>. Construction of the Metre Gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]])) line progressed very slowly; and the, 42 miles (67km) long, was opened on 23 Apr 1867. This became the ‘Cawnpore Branch’ of the [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR), this line was later converted to Broad Gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) as part of the O&RR network <ref name=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n139/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 132, pdf page 139]; Retrieved 2 Sept 2016</ref>.
In 1866, Without a guaranteed return from the Government of India([[Government of India |GoI]]), the IBR found it impossible to continue and in 1867, secured a new contract from the [[Government of India |GoI]] on terms similar to those on offer in the 1850s i.e. a guaranteed return on capital employed.
The contract between the Secretary of State and the IBR Company in August 1867 specified ‘for the construction and working of a light system of 36lbs rails at slow speed – 15 miles per hour, in North West Provinces and Oudh. The original lines proposed were from Lucknow to Byramghat, via Dilserai, and from Dilserai via Shahgunj and Jounpore to Benares, with a branch from Shahgunj to Fyzabad’ <ref name=Mukher/>.
The Benares-Shahganj-Bilwal-Malipur-Akbarpur-Fyzabad-Bara Banki- Lucknow, a length of 199 miles(319km), was opened from 1872 and completed 1874 and became the ‘Benares-Lucknow Loop’ of the [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]](O&RR) <ref name=Admin/>. ''This clearly was originally under construction by IBR when absorbed into O&RR.'' It is not clear if this line was first constructed as a Metre Gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]])) but certainly was operated by O&RR as part of its Broad Gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) network. Around 1872 the IBR was absorbed into the '''[[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]]'''(O&RR). The O&RR being merged into the [[East Indian Railway]] (EIR) in 1925.
== Records ==
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 Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 23 Jan 2016</ref>
gives the following: -
*'''L/F/8/11/875 ''' “Indian Branch Railway Company Limited, Duplicate contract ; 1867”*'''L/PWD/2/168-170 ''' “Home and Overseas Correspondence of the Indian Branch Railway Company; 1862-1867”''(not catalogued)''
==Personnel==
