|-Bitragunta is a village in Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The village got its name when the British found good drinking water and named it "Better-gunta" which later became Bitragunta.
The village is an important stop on the Indian Railways line between Chennai and Vijayawada. It is also the station at the far northern end of North Line of the Chennai Suburban Railway network. The railway has also had an influence on other institutions in the village, including the Railway Institute and two high schools. The village has two panchayats.
The oldest school is the Railway Mixed High School English Medium (RMHS-EM). Under British rule the school building was a catholic church, and the building still retains some elements of its past: the gothic architecture and church bell which is still in use more than 100 years later. Saint Joseph Thambhi of Peddaavutupalli did his service from the church. The church was moved to the Railway Institute and the old church building converted to a school for Anglo Indians as an English Medium School. The old school is still used as a Telugu Medium school.
The Railway Loco shed in Bitragunta is one of the only two Coal locomotive sheds in India with the revolving round house mechanism. (The other one is at Mysore.)
The village is also the location of the largest single Christian graveyard in India.
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Bitragunta is located between Vijayawada and Chennai on the east coast trunk line. The town is in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Nearest major stations is Nellore to the south and Ongole to the north. But a few express trains do halt at Bitragunta today.
Bitragunta’s significance lies in the history of the Steam Era. The abundance of suitable water and availability of plain land enabled the construction of a unique Mechanical Loco Shed. The loco shed was first constructed in the year 1885. A roundhouse with turn-table facility was added in 1934. The roundhouse was known for its architectural value and joined the Mysore roundhouse as one of two spectacular loco sheds in the country. At that time, the loco shed handled 45 steam locomotives and later went on to become one of the biggest in the Indian Railways. Bitragunta was also provided with a major yard and also inter-changing depots for the drivers and guards. The steam shed was logistically important to medium and long distance trains originating from Madras and the ones passing through Vijaywada down south. In those days, experiments were being made with the Pacific locomotives (WP) of the Grand Trunk Express to provide it more mileage in terms of water and coal consumption. The objective was to provide the GT with a non-stop run between Madras and Vijaywada. The WPs were fitted with water scoops, to enable them to take on water while on the run. A water trough was constructed at Bitragunta just for the purpose. The water scoops on the WPs worked well enough. Unfortunately, due to a deteriorated level of the quality of coal, the engine had to be changed at Bitragunta. The coal carried in the locomotive’s tender could not sustain the 420 km long journey, due to the high ash content. Bitragunta had 22 WP locos in its shed then. Later, the shed, under South Central railways held 59 WG and 5 XD locomotives.
Along with the growth of Indian Railways, the marshaling activities at Bitragunta increased manifold. In 1968, a full-fledged marshaling yard with hump facility was established and a wagon-repair depot was added later. The marshaling activities included segregation of wagons and long-distance marshaling orders. The activities continued until 1998. Bitragunta was also a known “railway cantonment”. Predominantly occupied by Anglo Indians, it had 1000 spacious railway quarters built in European style. It also hosted a Western Culture Institute that is standing till today as the legend of those glorious days. The evolution in the mode of traction power from steam to diesel and diesel to electric caused the reduction of shed-activities and finally the steam shed at Bitragunta was closed. The closure of the marshaling yard brought a complete closure to the glory of the railway town. Consequent upon the closure of the steam loco shed in Bitragunta, the infrastructure, other equipment and land have not yet been utilized for any purpose. But Bitragunta still continues as a changing point for all up & down freight trains. Most of the express trains continue to halt here. An ART and MRV are still stationed at Bitragunta. The station still retains vestiges of the glorious past in form of its long platform and old buildings. The remains of the steam shed and the roundhouse can still be seen today. [1]
The main entertainment venue is the Railway Institute, with its reading room, and facilities for billiards (This table manufactured in the year 1835 with Burma teak), caroms, shuttle and chess.
| Bitragunta | |||
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| Next station southbound: Nellore |
North Line, Chennai Suburban | Next station northbound: n/a |
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| Stop number: 37 | KM from start: 210 | ||
| These are the stations of North Line of Chennai Suburban Railway |
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| Chennai Central MMC · Basin Bridge · Korukkupet · Tondiarpet · V.O.C. Nagar · Tiruvottiyur · Wimco Nagar · Kattivakkam · Ennore · Athipattu Pudunagar · Athipattu · Nandiambakkam · Minjur · Anuppampattu · Ponneri · Kavaraipettai · Gummidipundi · Elavur · Arambakkam · Tada · Akkampet · Sullurpeta · Polireddipalem · Doravarichatram · Nayudupeta · Pedapariya · Odur, Andhra Pradesh · Gudur · Nellore · Bitragunta |