Changes

|route= [[Madras]] to [[MangaloreBangalore]]<br>[[Madras]] to [[Raichur]]<br>[[Madras]] to [[Waltair]] ([[Vizagapatam]])<br>[[Jalarpet]] to [[BangaloreMangalore]] (branch)

|timeline4date= 1907|timeline4details= Line acquired by State|timeline5date= 19071908|timeline5details= Line acquired by State[[Jalarpet]] to [[Mangalore]] transferred to [[South Indian Railway]]

|company3=1903

The '''Madras Railway''' was formed in 1845 although its first section of line, from [[Madras]] to [[Arcot]], was not opened to traffic until 1 July 1856. In 1859, its object was given as "the construction and working of a railway from Madras to the western coast at [[Beypore]], with branches to [[Bangalore]] and the [[Neilgherries]]; also of a line from Madras, ''via'' [[Bellary]], to join the line from [[Bombay]] - total, about 820 miles."(1)

Headquartered in Madras, whence its lines radiated, the Madras Railway was built to [[broad guage]]. It was the last [[guaranteed railway]] to fall to Government of India (GoI) ownership (31 December 1907).  In 1908, it the northern portion (ie the north east, north west and [[Bangalore]] branches) was merged with the [[Southern Mahratta Railway]] to form the [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]] (MSMR). The Government southern section of line ([[Jalarpet]] to [[Mangalore]]) became part of the [[South Indian Railway]]. The GoI took over the management of the MSMR on 1 April 1944.  On 14 April 1951, MSMR together with the [[South Indian Railway]] and the [[Mysore State Railway]] became the Southern Railway of Indian Railways.