View source for Nowshera-Durgai Railway

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|route= [[Nowshera]] to [[Dargai]]
|gauge1= Narrow (2'6") gauge
|gauge1details= 40 miles (1905)
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|presidency= [[Bengal]]
|stations=[[Nowshera]]([[Naushahra]]), Kabul River Right/South Bank, Kabul River Left/North Bank, Rashkai (Mile 9½), Mardan(Mile 14½), Kalapani Flag station(Mile 19½), Takht-i-Bhal(Mile 23½), Porko Dheri Flag station(Mile 27¼), Hathian(Mile 31¼), Sakhakot Flag station(Mile 36¼) and [[Dargai]](Mile 40).
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|system1details= Worked by [[North Western Railway]]
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'''Nowshera-Durgai Railway'''  connected the towns of [[Nowshera]] and [[Dargai]] - '' '''see ‘Spelling Note’ ''' ''

The line from [[Nowshera]]  to [[Dargai]], a length of 40 miles (64km), opened in 1901 and was classified as a military line
<ref name=Admin129>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n137/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 129 (pdf137)]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>.

[[File:Nowshera - Durgai Railway.png|thumb|Nowshera-Durgai Railway]]

The railway was a military, 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])  line that interchanged with the broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]])  [[North Western Railway]](NWR) main line from [[Rawalpindi]] to [[Peshawar]] and towards the Afghan border. 

In 1897-98 a survey was carried out for a narrow gauge ([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])  of a 42 miles(67km) line from [[Nowshera]] to [[Dargai]]. It was reported to meet “the heavy demands for transport during military operations on the frontier, the question of laying down light railways has been under consideration”<ref>[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.208633/page/n34 ‘Summary of the principal measures of the viceroyalty of the Earl of Elgin in the Public Works Department Jan 1894 to Dec 18984 page 21, para 83, pdf34]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>.

The line built from [[Nowshera ]] ran 40 miles(64km) northwards to [[Dargai]] at the foot of the Malakand Pass, the entrance to Chitral on the Afghan Border.  After 2 miles(3.2km) the line met the Kabul River, it crossed this by means of a ‘Boat Bridge’. Only freight trains were permitted to cross, passengers had to detrain and cross by boat. The line crossed two other significant rivers, the Baghiara at ‘Mile 28’ and the Lokhora  at ‘Mile 38’. The line followed the alignment of the old military road and there nine intermediate stations  (''see Table ‘Stations’''). Locomotive watering facilities were at [[Nowshera]], Kabul River Left/North Bank, Mardan and [[Dargai]]. There was a locomotive shed and small workshops at Kabul River Left/North Bank for light repairs, with major repairs being carried out at [[Rawalpindi]]. There were turntables at Kabul River Left/North Bank and [[Dargai]] <ref name =IA02>’Industrial Railways and Locomotives of India and South Asia’ compiled by Simon Darvill. Published by ‘The Industrial Railway Society’ 2013. ISBN 978 1 901556 82-7. Available at  http://irsshop.co.uk/India. Reference:  Entry IA02  page ....</ref>.

The line was taken over by the NWR in 1921, although in 1918 classified under the NWR with the remark “Contract  - Nil - The line is owned and worked by the State” <ref  name=Admin129/>

'' '''Spelling Note''' ''
*'''Nowshera-Durgai''' ''is the spelling we have taken to be the definitive spelling of the railway''. It is the spelling used to identify the railway in the “Imperial Gazetteer of India”, Table IX ‘Railways Worked by each Railway Administration on June 30 1905’ <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V03_451.gif  ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 3, p. 416 ‘Railways Worked by each Railway Administration on June 30,1905’]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>  and in the ‘Administration Report on Railways 19184 <ref  name=Admin129/>.
*'''[[Nowshera]]''' ''is the spelling we have taken to be the definitive spelling of the town''.  It is as given in the 1908 ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1908’ as a “cantonment and town in Peshawar District, North-West Frontier Province” but with the note “See Naushahra”  <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V23_192.gif ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 23, p. f185-6)]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>. This is also the spelling used in the ‘Map of Railways for 1931 <ref name=map1931>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gaz_atlas_1931/fullscreen.html?object=31 ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 26, Atlas 1931 edition, Railway Map-Sectional (1), p. 23." )]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref> 
*'''[[Naushahra]]''' ''we have listed as an alternative spelling of the town'' It is given in the 1908 ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1908’ as a “town and cantonment in the Peshawar District, North-West Frontier Province” and goes on with a full and detailed description <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_423.gif  ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 23, p. 417]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>. It is also the spelling used on the ‘Map of Railways’ for 1909 ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’ <ref name=Map1909> [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gaz_atlas_1909/pager.html?object=29  ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 26, Atlas 1909 edition, Railway Map- Sectional (1), p. 23]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>.
* '''[[Dargai]]''' ''is the spelling we have taken to be the definitive spelling of the town''.  It is the spelling used for the town name in the ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, ‘Map of Railways’ for 1909 <ref name=Map1909/> and Map1931 <ref name=map1931/>. It is also used in the description in the 1908 ‘Imperial Gazetteer’ “the railway from Naushahra to Dargai.....” <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V14_253.gif ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’, v. 14, p. 247]; Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>.

==Further Information==
See '''[[Khyber Railway]]''' for further information concerning the railways on the Afghan frontier
<br>and  '''[[North Western Railway]]''' 

==Historical books online==
*[http://books.northwestern.edu/viewer.html?id=inu:inu-mntb-0006845130-bk ''Nowshera-Dargai Railway'']. Simla : G.C. Press, [1905].  Northwestern University Libraries Digitized Books. [https://search.library.northwestern.edu/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01NWU_ALMA51615778630002441&context=L&vid=NULVNEW&search_scope=NWU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US Catalogue entry] Series: Technical Section papers (India. Railway Board. Technical Section) ; no. 180.

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:State Railways]]
[[Category:Narrow Gauge (NG) Railways]]