9,628
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
1879 and 1880 Railway Conference info added
'''Franklin Prestage'''
Following generaly based on “Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryears” by R R Bhandari, July 2008
<ref>[http://www.irfca.org/articles/eminent-railwaymen.html#prestage “Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryears” by R R Bhandari July 2008, reproduced by IRFCA ''Indian Railways Fan Club''] Retrieved on 21 Apr 2016</ref>
*Early 1870's; '''[[Eastern Bengal Railway]]''' (EBR). Franklin Prestage was Agent for the (EBR). In its original contract of EBR with the Secretary of State for India, this [[Guaranteed Railways|Guaranteed Railway]] company was to open up a rail-line to [[Darjeeling]]. However the [[Government of India]] took a decision to stop expansion of rail-lines by Guaranteed companies in new areas and instead decided to construct and manage rail-lines as [[:Category:State Railways|State Railways]]. [[Northern Bengal State Railway]] (NBR) was formed as a State Railway for construction of rail-lines from the northern bank of Ganges river at Sara and built a metre gauge line unto Siliguri. NBR had no plans to take the rail-line to Darjeeling as the mountain railway was considered a formidable sphere. Where EBR and NBR failed as corporate organisations, Prestage succeeded as an individual entrepreneur.
*1878; Prestage submitted a detailed scheme to the Government of Bengal, which was sanctioned by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Ashely Eden. Despite the fact that the Viceroy Lord Lytton himself was also a share holder, the [[Public Works Department]] of the Indian Government felt that Bengal had exceeded its powers in terms of the concessions granted, and insisted on cancellation of the contract.
*1879, 10 Feb ‘[[Railway Conference]]’, Calcutta. Delegate as Agent for the EBR <ref>British Library ‘India Office Records L/PARL/2/100 “Railways in India for the year 1878-79” by Juland Danvers , Government Director of the Indian Railways’-– presented to both Houses of Parliament’ by HM Command. Extract from Annual Report 1878-79; Para 23 , page 10</ref>
*1880 , 6-13 Jan ‘[[Railway Conference]]’, Calcutta. Delegate as Agent EBR <ref> “Railways in India for the year 1880-81” by Juland Danvers , Government Director of the Indian Railways’-– presented to both Houses of Parliament’ by HM Command. Extract from Annual Report 1880-81; pages 4-5 </ref>.
*1879; '''[[Darjeeling Steam Tramway]] Co.''' was formed by Prestage and a new Contract was drawn up under revised terms and forcing Prestage to settle for a 2ft/610mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) line.
*1881; '''[[Darjeeling-Himalayan_Railway]] Co.''' ( DHR) became the new title of the company and remained effective until the line was taken over by the Indian Government in 1948.
