Mohpani Coalfield Tramway
Mohpani Coalfield Tramway
The 'Mohpani Coalfield', also described as the 'Nebudda Coalfield', was one of the four coalfields forming the Pench Kahan Coalfield, located in the Chindwara Distrtict [1]. The coal field was established by the 'Nerbudda Coal and Iron Company' in 1861 and in late 1868 a broad gauge(BG) tramway was constructed linking to the Great Indian Peninsula Railway(GIPR) [2] at Gadarwara station about 20km to the north of the coalfield.
In 1905 the GIPR were working the coalfield and at this time the records show track, locomotives and wagons of both broad gauge(BG) and narrow gauge(NG) [2].
On the first of August 1913 the Great Indian Peninsula Railway(GIPR) bought from the State the State the remains of the ‘Nerbudda Coal and Iron Company’ held in the Tahsil of Gadawara in the District of Narsinghpur in the Central Provinces of India for the price of £40,000. The mines covered 25½ sq. miles. The lease was to last 25 years [3].
The colliery was connected to the (BG)Great Indian Peninsula Railway(GIPR) Gadarwara Station by the 12 miles(19 km) ‘Morpani Branch’ . The 1919 map shows the alignment of the ‘Morpani Branch’ and the branches to the ‘Old Mine and ‘New Mine in the July 1887 mining concession extension(3 square miles/7.8sq km). The map shows the areas of the original mining lease; the Sept 1896 extension (6 sq miles/15.5sq km); and two further extensions in 1902 (16½ sq miles/42.7sq km)[3]
The later history of the coalfield and the equipment is unknown.
References
- ↑ Wikipedia “Pench Kanhan Coalfields” ; Retrieved 9 Mar 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 “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 MP34 page ....
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 British Library ‘Indian Office Records’ L/F/8/17 (1298)” The Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company. Contract with respect to the Working of the Nerbudda Colliery.”