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Gauge Question section updated with references
==Gauge Question==
Over the years there were various views, proposals and recommendations regarding the choice of Rail Gauge throughout India. ===History===The following is mainly extracted from the [[1870-71_Report_on_Railways#Rail_Gauge._Paragraphs_11-14.3B_Pages_4-6|'''1870-71 Report on Railways’''' ''transcribed by Fibis see separate page]]'' with the relevant Paragraphs as referenced '''1859'''The content Broad Gauge of this sub5 feet 6 inches was fixed upon when Indian railways were first commenced in the year 1859. Lord Dalhousie (founder of the [[Public Works Department]]) was in favour of 6 feet; but after much consideration 5 feet 6 inches was decided upon as preferable <ref name=report11> [[1870-71_Report_on_Railways#Rail_Gauge._Paragraphs_11-14.3B_Pages_4-6|‘1870-heading is under construction71 Report on Railways’ para.11 '' transcribed by Fibis see separate page'']]</ref>. '''1862-66''' The introduction of a lighter system of railways into India was more than once proposed. Colonel Henry Yule R.E., C.B. with the [[Indian Branch Railway|Indian Branch Railway Company ]] constructed two short lines of lighter construction (the [[Nalhati-Azimganj Railway]] and the [[Cawnpore-Lucknow-Fyzabad Railway]]) both with James E Wilson being their engineer <brref name=report11/>. '''1869''' The recommendation that a much narrower gauge than 5 feet 6 inches should be applied to future lines of railway in India was made by the Viceroy Lord Mayo with the chief ground upon being that of economy. He and the members of his Council considered that the railway system of India was really in its infancy and that such saving could be most satisfactorily secured by adopting a narrow gauge. The Government established of India regarded 3 feet 6 inches as the maximum that should be used but begged that this point should be determined in England <ref name=report11/>. '''1870''' “Gauge Committee” formed, consisting of Colonel R. Strachey, R. E., C.S.I., Colonel C. H. Dickens, R.A., C. S. l., Mr. John Fowler, C.E., and Mr. A. M. Rendel, Consulting Engineer to the East Indian Railway Company, was accordingly appointed "to consider the precise gauge and general character for an average narrow gauge line of railway in India." The Gauge Committeeresult of their investigations and deliberations was given in two reports, one containing the conclusions at which all the members of the committee, excepting Mr. Fowler, had arrived, the other expressing that gentleman's opinion alone. All, including Mr. Fowler, were in Favour on the ground of economy, of introducing a narrower gauge into India than the present standard of 5 feet 6 inches in districts where a break of gauge would not be productive of serious inconvenience, but they differed as to what that gauge should be. Colonel Strachey, Colonel Dickens, and Mr. Rendel recommended 2 feet 9 inches; Mr. Fowler, 3 feet 6 inches. <ref name=report12> [[1870-71_Report_on_Railways#Rail_Gauge._Paragraphs_11-14.3B_Pages_4-6|‘1870-71 Report on Railways’ para.12 ''transcribed by Fibis see separate page'']]</ref>. '''1870''' Lord Mayo engaged an American engineer to advise him. It was decided that less productive areas such as Rajputana and the Punjab should be opened up by narrower gauge railways, which would be more suited than the broad gauge to handle the limited traffic expected. Mayo himself decided which of the narrow gauges should be adopted. Narrow-gauge enthusiasts were divided between supporters of a 3ft 6in gauge, which had been chosen for lines in other British territories, and 2ft 9in, which was cheaper and quite adequate for the expected traffic. Mayo rejected 2ft 9in because this gauge was untried elsewhere, and because cavalry horses could not travel two abreast on a 2ft 9in gauge vehicle. He compromised by favouring 3ft 3in. But as he was at that time planning to introduce the metric system into India, he decided that metre gauge was preferable. Hence the 3 feet 3⅜ inches in 1869 choice; but 80 more years were to pass before the metric system was introduced generally <ref name=westwood> Railways of India by J. N. Westwood. 1974. David and Charles London quoted with permission</ref> '''1871 January''' The orders of the [[Government of India]] were issued to examine adopt the decision metre or 3 feet 3⅜ inches gauge ([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) on all new railway constructions <ref>[https://ia600904.us.archive.org/7/items/DevelopmentOfIndianRailways/Development%20of%20Indian%20Railways.pdf ‘Break of Gauge’ extracted from “Development Of Indian Railways” by Nalinaksha Sanyal, University of Calcutta, Calcutta. Publication date 1930. Chapter vii, pages 91, pdf 106 citing Despatch, dated 10th January 1871]; Retrieved 20 Mar 2020</ref>. '''1871-74''' A battle of the gauges began almost immediately. Some of the railways intended to allow be built on the metre gauge had a strategic significance, especially the Indus valley and Peshawar lines . The Commander-in-Chief objected that this would mean time-consuming transhipment of troops and stores en route to be constructedand 1870 opposing views any possible emergency on the NW frontier. Later he agreed that a metre-gauge line was better, from the military point of view, than no line at all. When objections were put forward raised, however, in the House of Commons to this gauge policy, the C-in-C reverted to his original opposition and demanded broad-gauge tracks for these lines <ref name=westwood/>. <br>The implications of the consequential break of gauges is clearly examined in the chapter ‘Break of Gauge’ in a 1930 work ‘Development Of Indian Railways’ by Nalinaksha Sanyal available as a on-line pdf<ref>[https://ia600904.us.archive.org/7/items/DevelopmentOfIndianRailways/Development%20of%20Indian%20Railways.pdf ‘Break of Gauge’ extracted from ‘Development Of Indian Railways’ by Nalinaksha Sanyal, University of Calcutta, Calcutta. Publication date 1930. Chapter vii, pdf version pdf 103-111 ]; Retrieved 20 Mar 2020</ref>, and as a text version <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/DevelopmentOfIndianRailways/Development%20of%20Indian%20Railways_djvu.txt ‘Break of Gauge’ extracted from ‘Development Of Indian Railways’ by Nalinaksha Sanyal, University of Calcutta, Calcutta. Publication date 1930. Chapter vii, text version pages 88-96]; Retrieved 20 Mar 2020</ref>. '''1879 January''' Governmentrescinded its previous order and on various grounds of economy, military considerations and convenience of working decided to construct the whole of the Rajputana-Malwa line on the metre gauge. The decision however was to revert to the 5 feet 6 inches broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) for all new constructions<ref>[https://ia600904.us.archive.org/7/items/DevelopmentOfIndianRailways/Development%20of%20Indian%20Railways.pdf ‘Break of Gauge’ extracted from “Development Of Indian Railways” by Nalinaksha Sanyal, University of Calcutta, Calcutta. Publication date 1930. Chapter vii, pages 91, pdf 106 citing Despatch No. 24 Railway, dated 24th Januaiy 1879]; Retrieved 20 Mar 2020</ref>.
==Project Unigauge==
Starting about 1980, Indian Railways resolved to convert its legacy of metre and narrow gauge lines to broad gauge standards. This project is ongoing.
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Railways]]
