View source for Napier Mole Tramway/Railway, Karachi Harbour

'''Napier Mole Tramway/Railway, Karachi Harbour'''

The Napier Mole with a light Tramway, Karachi Harbour was constructed in 1854. The tramway road 3 miles (5km) in length from [[Kiamari]], the landing place for passengers and goods destined for [[Karachi]] or dispatch up-country . The tramway was constructed by the the [[North-Western State Railway]](NWR) <ref name=Gazetteer>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_310.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 15, p. 304; 1908]; Retrieved  23 Aug 2016</ref>.
<br>Further development of the tramway is described on the [[Karachi Tramway|seperate '''Karachi Tramway''' page]]

[[File: Karachi 1893.jpg |thumb|'''Karachi 1893'''. The line running south east from Karachi city to Kiamari  is  the first tramway track, inaugurated in 1894 and became the NWR mainline. The line to the south was the Karachi Tramway, following Kiamari Island, crossing by the ‘bridge’ (shown on map) to the streets of Karachi towship]]

The broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line opened 16 Jun 1889 and became classified as the 'Karachi City to Kiamari (including Napier Mole)' section of the NWR mainline, a length of 3.07 miles(5km) <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n114/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 106, pdf page 114]; Retrieved  23 Aug 2016</ref>

==History==
The small fishing village of Karachi became a trading post when the Talpur Mirs of Sindh built a mud fort here in the 18th century, but the port remained small. It was completely transformed when its harbour was developed by the British after they conquered Sindh in the mid-19th century. A city rapidly grew and the British began several projects in 1854 so that the port took shape. The main navigable channel was dredged and the construction of a mole or causeway joining the main harbour with the rest of the city was undertaken. The Napier Mole Bridge was constructed about five years later <ref>[http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/n/019pho000000425u00008000.html British Library, India Office Records  reference “Photo 425(8) - Napier Mole Bridge to Keamari (Karachi);  photographer –unknown; , c.1900” from  Catalogue note]; Retrieved  23 Aug 2016</ref>

With the connection to the NWR mainline the busy port included the Merewether Pier , called after a former Commissioner in Sind, the foundation stone of which was laid by Lord Ripon in 1880;  with the Erskine Wharf, the James Wharf an oil pier , store, customs house etc  <ref name=Gazetteer/>. The level of activity  can be seen in the photograph c.1900 <ref>[http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/k/019pho000000425u00005000.html British Library Photo Collection "Photo 425(5) - Keamari Wharf, Karachi]; Retrieved  23 Aug 2016</ref>

== References ==
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[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Tramways]]