Pamban Branch Railway
The Pamban Branch Railway was a metre gauge(MG) single line completed in 1914 by the South Indian Railway Company(SIR). [1] The line linked the SIR network in India with the Island of Rameswaram, Ceylon. Also described as the Madura-Pamban Railway in some records.
It involved the construction of the Pamban Viaduct across the submerged reef lying between the mainland of India and the Island of Rameswaram. [2]
Prior to the construction of this line, traffic between India and Ceylon was carried via Tuticorin and Colombo, a route which line, which has necessitated a 12-hours' sea journey. This branch then became the main line, extended to Mandapam, on the mainland of India.
Records
Refer to FIBIS Fact File #4: “Research sources for Indian Railways, 1845-1947” - available from the Fibis shop. This Fact File contains invaluable advice on 'Researching ancestors in the UK records of Indian Railways' with particular reference to the India Office Records (IOR) held at the British Library
An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway [3] gives the following: -
- L/F/8/16/1095 “South Indian Railway Company Limited, Contract as to the construction and working of the Pamban Branch and the Travancore Branch; 1901"
References
- ↑ Wikipedia "Pamban_Bridge"; Retrieved 13 Dec 2015
- ↑ Institution of Civil Engineers "Minutes of the Proceedings" Volume 199, Issue 1915, 01 January 1915 , pages 377 –387; Retrieved 13 Dec 2015
- ↑ “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 26 Jan 2016
