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Nowshera-Durgai Railway

2,579 bytes added, 14:20, 5 May 2019
1897-98 Info added; Khyber link added; Town spellings corrected and links; 1909 Map;
|image=
|caption=
|route= [[NaushahraNowshera]](Nowshera) to [[Dargai]][Durgai)
|gauge1= Narrow (2'6") gauge
|gauge1details= 40 miles (1905)
|timeline5details=
|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).
|system1date=
|system1details= Worked by [[North Western Railway]]
}}
'''Nowshera-Durgai Railway''' connected the towns of [[NaushahraNowshera]] and [[Dargai]] - '' '''see ‘Spelling NoteNote’ ''' ''
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]]) the [[North Western Railway]](NWR) main line from [[Rawalpindi]] to [[Peshawar]] and the [[Khyber Pass]]. The line from [[NaushahraNowshera]] 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 Dec 2017May 2019</ref>.
The military line built from [[Naushahra]](File:Nowshera) ran 40 miles(64km) northwards to [[Dargai]][- Durgai) at the foot of the Malakand Pass, the entrance to Chitral on the Afghan BorderRailway. 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 (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 [[Naushahra]](png|thumb|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-Durgai Railway]]. 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 railway was taken over by the NWR in 1921a military, although in 1918 classified under 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 with the remark “Contract – Nil - The ) main line is owned from [[Rawalpindi]] to [[Peshawar]] and worked by towards the State” <ref name=Admin129/>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’'''Spelling Note''' ''*). Locomotive watering facilities were at [[Nowshera – Durgai Railway is used to identify the railway*Naushahra ]], 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 is used to identify the towns ]] <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>.
*Nowshera and Durgai are spellings used The line was taken over by the NWR in the “Imperial Gazetteer of India”1921, Table IX ‘Railways Worked by each Railway Administration on June 30 1905’ and although in 1918 classified under the NWR with the “Administration Report on Railways 1918” <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 remark “Contract - Nil - The line is owned and worked by each Railway Administration on June 30,1905]; Retrieved 1 Dec 2017</ref> the State” <ref name=Admin129/>
'' '''Spelling Note''' ''*Naushahra and Dargai are '''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. 185f185-6 )]; 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_V23_192I34_V18_423.gif “Imperial ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India”India’, v. 23, p. 185417]; 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-6Sectional (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 Dec 2017May 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==
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