Indian Branch Railway

The Indian Branch Railway (IBR) was formed in 1862 to construct short branches and feeder lines in northern India, with a 20-year subsidy from the Government of India(GoI) but no guarantee.

History

In 1863, the IBR built the Nalhati-Azimganj Railway. The line used a 4ft(1222mm) unique rail gauge. The Azimganj-Nalhati line was taken over by the Government in 1872, as Nalhati State Railway.

In 1866, it began construction of a Metre Gauge(MG)) line between Lucknow-Kanpur, completed the following year. Without a guaranteed return from the Government of India(GoI), the IBR found it impossible to continue and in 1867, secured a new contract from the GoI on terms similar to those on offer in the 1850s i.e. a guaranteed return on capital employed.

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

Unfortunately, there are no IBR staff records held in the India Office Records at the British Library.