Changes

Finally, following further exchanges, the line was constructed by the of Government of India([[Government of India |GoI]]). The '''Punjab Northern State Railway'''(PNSR) was created in 1870-71 to construct and operate the raiway railway from [[Lahore]] to [[Peshawar]]. The first section of the line was opened in 1876 1873 and [[Lahore]] and [[Peshawar]] were connected in 1883 <ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ETIxCLujm30C&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84&dq=Punjab+Northern+State+Railway&source=bl&ots=TmnrboB2hx&sig=u-ik3bvxMIyhal8VQ13-DPBAY3k&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqqr7viu3NAhUJiRoKHcV8BncQ6AEIXzAJ#v=onepage&q=Punjab%20Northern%20State%20Railway&f=false Google Books "Engines of Change: The Railroads that Made made India" by Ian J. Kerr, page 84] Retrieved on 12 Jul 2016</ref> with the completion of the [[Attock Bridge]] over the river Indus. It was the first railway in India to have been taken under GOI control in 1886.

[[Francis Joseph Edward SpringFile: Punjab Northern State Railway v1.png|thumb| Punjab Northern State Railway]] ==Early History==The railway was deployed from the Indian Imperial Civil Service's engineering section in 1873 first designed as Consulting Engineer for a broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) line, but the survey of the PNSR Government Railway Gauge policy changed and the construction of various parts of that Railway and Bridges. He remained attached to metre gauge([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) was adopted for the PNSR until 1878[[Rail_gauge#Gauge_Question|''see separate page ‘Railway Gauge’ '']].

Several major bridges required construction to complete the PNSR line between from The ‘1871-72 Report on Railways’ <ref>[[Lahore]] and [[Peshawar]https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=tytcAAAAQAAJ&printsec=GBS.PP564g=GBS.RA6-PA12&pg=GBS.RA13-PA36 Google Books ‘Report on Railways 1871-72’ “Punjab Northern State Railway”page 36 pdf 596]; Retrieved 24 June 2018</ref> states:-*<br> “Having been originally designed for the 5' 6"gauge ([[Jhelum BridgeRail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]), over fresh plans and drawings had to be prepared when it was determined to adopt the River Jhelum at Jelum, started in 1871 by the British engineer new metre gauge of 3' 3 3/8" ([[William St. John GalweyRail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]] and opened in 1873 ) *[[Alexandra Bridge]]This led to the suspension of operations for a time, over but during the past year there has been much activity in pushing on the River Chenab between Wazirabad works, and Gujraat Pakistanconsiderable progress has been made. It is estimated approximately that the line will be constructed for 10,000/. a mile. Construction started in 1871; Engineer-in-Charge [[Francis Joseph Edward Spring]] and opened 1876 by Edward VII The expenditure had amounted on the King-Emperor when he was Prince of Wales31st December last to 660,868/.*The bridges over the [[Ravi Bridge|Ravee(Ravi)]], over the River Ravi situated between Sadiq Pura, Lahore and Shahdara Bagh. The construction work on this bridge was started in 1871; Engineer-in-Charge [[Francis Joseph Edward SpringAlexandra Bridge|Chenab]] , and completed in 1876.*[[Attock Jhelum Bridge|Jhelum]]rivers are amongst the most formidable works yet undertaken in India, over in River Indus. Construction started 1880; Chief Engineer was [[Francis Langford O'Callaghan]]; completed 1883and will not be finished so soon as the rest of the line, but the sections between the rivers may possibly be opened this year.”

==Line Opening==* [[Lahore]] via [[Lala Musa]] to [[Jhelum]] Section. This first section of 103 miles(165km) of the PNSR opened in stages from Sept 1873 <ref name=Admin106>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n114/mode/1up " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 106, pdf page 115]; Retrieved 18 Dec 2017</ref> to Sept 1876 <ref>British Library ‘India Office Records’ IOR/V/24/3590 ; "Public Works Department: Railways, 1876-79" which contains “Punjab State Railway Administration report of the Construction of the Railway from its commencement to the end of the Financial year 1878-79 (31st March 1879).” Page 6, para 27</ref> as a metre gauge ([[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]]) line in accordance with Government Railway Gauge policy at the time [[Rail_gauge#Gauge_Question|(''See separate page ‘Railway Gauge’ '')]]. This policy was reversed in Jan 1874 and the conversion of this section to broad gauge([[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]]) was completed in 1878 <ref name= Admin106/>. During the conversion this remained an ‘open line’ whilst the earthworks and bridgework were undertaken to permit the wider gauge <ref name =reports> IOR/V/24/3590 ‘1876-77 and 1877-78 Annual Progress Reports</ref>*[[Jhelum]] to [[Rawalpindi]] Section. This section of the PNSR opened as a [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] line in 1880 with a length of 70½ miles(113km), using temporary diversions allowing 1 in 50 gradients. Later from 1888 to 1897 a series of realignments improved the gradient to 1 in 100, giving a line length of 76¾ miles(121km)*[[Rawalpindi]] to [[Peshawar]] Section . The surveys for this extension commenced in 1876-77 with three plans and estimates submitted as far as [[Attock]]. The final section to [[Peshawar]] was submitted in 1877-78. The first section from [[Rawalpindi]] opened in 1881 and extended in stages to reach [[Peshawar]] in 1883 <ref name=Admin>[https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n115/mode/1up “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 106(pdf115)]; Retrieved 18 Nov 2018</ref>.  ==Bridge Constructions==Several major bridges required construction to complete the PNSR line between from [[Lahore]] and [[Peshawar]] (''See separate pages for details'' ):-*[[Ravi Bridge]]''(marked R on map)'', over the River Ravi situated between Sadiq Pura, Lahore and Shahdara Bagh. The construction work on this bridge was started in 1871 to [[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]] designs , opened 12 Apr 1875 and remained open during the [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] conversion, which required bridge strengthening. The [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] line opened 6 Oct 1878 between [[Lahore]) and [[Jhelum]]. * [[Alexandra Bridge|Chenab/Alexandra Bridge]]''(marked C on map)'', over the River Chenab between Wazirabad and Gujrat . Construction started in 1871 as [[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]] and opened 22 Jan 1876 by Edward VII the King-Emperor when he was Prince of Wales. Converted to [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] , which required alterations to the longitudinal bearers and opened 6 Oct 1878 between [[Lahore]) and [[Jhelum]].*[[Jhelum Bridge]]''(marked J on map)'', over the River Jhelum , started in 1871 and opened 14 Sep 1876 taking the [[Rail_gauge_#Metre_Gauge|MG]] line to [[Jhelum]]. Converted to [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] , which required alterations and opened 6 Oct 1878 between [[Lahore]) and [[Jhelum]].*[[Attock Bridge]]''(marked A on map)'', over the River Indus between Attock and Khairabad. The construction started in 1880 and completed in 1883 Minor Bridges mentioned in the 1876-77 Report <ref name =reports/>:- Chikori Bridge, which had to be rebuilt; Chumb Bridge, 5 openings of 37' 6' girder; Dekh Bridge, 3 openings of 37' 6' girder; Ghilanwala Bridge, 4 openings.The 1877-78 Report refers to the Bagh Butcha Bridge and the Chikori Nullah Bridge with the problems of conversion to the [[Rail_gauge#Broad_Gauge|BG]] specification.The 1878-79 Report details the Jhelum to Rawlpindi Section with bridges over the large rivers Dina, Bukrala, Sohawa, Bishendorh, Bykhan and Sohan. ==Branch Line==*[[Lala Musa -Mayo Salt Mines Railway|'''Lala Musa -Mayo Salt Mines Railway''' - ''see separate page'']]. Branch line, metre gauge. In August 1878 orders were received to proceed with the works of this line on a project prepared in the year 1872. <ref> 1878-79 Report Para 43</ref> ==Later History==With others, the Punjab Northern State Railway was merged with the [[Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway]] in 1886 to form the '''North‘North-Western State Railway''' Railway’ (later becoming the ''' [[North Western Railway]]''').

An on-line search of the [[India The British Library ‘India Office Records]] (Records’ IOR) records held at the [[British Library]] relating to this railway <ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 27 Apr 2016</ref>gives the following:-*R/V/24/3590; "Public Works Department: Railways" which includes "Administration report Annual Progress Reports on the construction of the Punjab Northern State Railway, 1877/78 1876-1879” has been downloaded by FIBIS and 1878/79”provides full detailed information.