Martin's Light Railways

Martin's Light Railways
Overview
Locale West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
Operation
Opened 1897-1927
Owner Martin's Light Railways
Operator(s) Martin's Light Railways
Technical
Line length 388 mi (624 km)
Track gauge 2 ft 6 in (762 mm)

Martin's Light Railways (MLR) consisted of the following seven 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge lines in the states of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India. The railways were built and owned by Martin & Co., which was a British company.[1]

Arrah–Sasaram Light Railway

The Arrah–Sasaram Light Railway connecting Arrah and Sasaram in Bihar in India was opened in 1914. The railway was built in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge and total length was 69 miles (111 km).[2][3]

Due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1978. In 2006-07, the railway was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) and train services were resumed.[4]

Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway

Barasat–Basirhat Railway
0 km Barasat
3 km Kazipara Barasat
6 km Karea Kadambagachhi
10 km Bahira Kalibari
12 km Sondalia
15 km Beliaghata Road
18 km Lebutala
20 km Bhasila
24 km Harua Road
27 km Kankra Mirzanagar
31 km Malatipur
33 km Ghovarash Ghona
36 km Champapukur
41 km Bhyabla Halt
42 km Basirhat
45 km Matania Anantpur
47 km Madhyampur
48 km Nimdanri
51 km Taki Road
53 km Hasnabad Junction

The Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway connecting Barasat and Basirhat in West Bengal in India was opened in 1914. The railway was built in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge and total length was 69 miles (111 km).[2] The line was later extended to Hasnabad.

Due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1955.[5] In 1962, the railway was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) and train services were resumed.[6] Later on, this route was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge. The route is now part of Kolkata Suburban railway.

Bukhtiarpur–Bihar Light Railway

The Bukhtiarpur–Bihar Light Railway connecting Bakhtiarpur in Bihar and Bihar Sharif in state of Bihar in India was opened in 1902. The line was later extended to Rajgir. The railway was built in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge and total length was 33 miles (53 km).[7]

In 1962, the railway was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge and train services were resumed.[8]

Futwah–Islampur Light Railway

The Futwah–Islampur Light Railway connecting Futwah and Islampur in Bihar was opened in 1922. The railway was built in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge and total length was 40 miles (64 km). [9][10] The railway ran parallel to road for almost its entire route.

The line operated three 0-6-2T locomotives constructed by Manning Wardle of Leeds.[9][10]

Due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1987. Later, the railway was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge and train services were resumed.

Howrah–Amta Light Railway

The Waiting Room of Chamrail station, now used by the Chamrail Athletic Club, Howrah. Sep. 2013.

The Howrah–Amta Light Railway had its origin in an agreement, dated 12 June 1889 between the District Board of Howrah and Messrs. Walsh, Lovett & Co., which was subsequently renewed with Messrs. Martin & Co., and sanctioned by Government notification in the Calcutta Gazette of 27 March 1895.[11] The railway connecting Howrah and Amta in West Bengal was opened up to Domjur in 1897, and to Amta in 1898. An extension from Bargachhia (Bargechhe) Junction to Antpur was opened in 1904, and a further extension to Champadanga in 1908. The total length of the railway was 42 miles (68 km). Both the Howrah- Amta and Howrah-Sehakhala lines start from Telkalghat on the Hooghly river, running to Kadamtala station. Here they separate, the Howrah-Sheakhalla line running north-west along the Benares road to Shiakhala in Hooghly district. The Howrah-Amta line runs west, chiefly along the side of the Jagatballabhpur road, and then goes south-west to Amta.[11]

The railway was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge in phase starting from 1984 and completing in 2016. The route is now part of Kolkata Suburban Railway.[12][13][14]

Howrah-Sheakhalla Light Railway

The Howrah-Sheakhalla Light Railway had its origin in an agreement, dated 12 June 1889 between the District Board of Howrah and Messrs. Walsh, Lovett & Co., which was subsequently renewed with Messrs. Martin & Co., and sanctioned by Government notification in the Calcutta Gazette of 27 March 1895.[11] The railway connecting Howrah and Sheakhalla in West Bengal was opened in November 1897 and the Chanditala-Janai Branch Line was opened in 1898. The total length of the railway was 42 miles (68 km). Both the Howrah- Amta and Howrah-Shiakhala lines start from Telkalghat on the Hooghly river, running to Kadamtala station. Here they separate, the Howrah-Sheakhalla line running north-west along the Benares road to Shiakhala in Hooghly district. The Howrah-Amta line runs west, chiefly along the side of the Jagatballabhpur road, and then goes south-west to Amta.[11]

The railway was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge and reopened in 1990s. The route is now part of Kolkata Suburban Railway.[11]

Shahdara-Saharanpur Light Railway

The Shahdara-Saharanpur Light Railway connecting Shahdara in Delhi and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh was opened to traffic in 1907. The railway was built in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge and total length was 93 miles (150 km).[15][16][17][18]

Due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1970. It was later converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge and repopened in the late 1970s.[19][20][17] Although the broad gauge largely follows the same trackbed and alignment as the erstwhile narrow gauge, there is a minor deviation near Saharanpur. The broad gauge line takes off south towards Delhi from Tapri on the main line, while the narrow gauge line did not touch Tapri at all. Other than that, the stations are the same as before.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Non-IR Railways". IRFCA. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  2. 1 2 R.P.Saxena. "Indian Railway History timeline". Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  3. ↑ "Non-IR Railways in India". IRFCA. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
  4. ↑ "Speech of Shri Lalu Prasad Introducing the Railway Budget 2006-07 On 24th February 2006". New lines. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
  5. ↑ "The Chronology of Railway development in Eastern Indian". railindia. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  6. ↑ "Non-IR Railways in India". IRFCA. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  7. ↑ [IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Non-IR Railways
  8. ↑ consultant
  9. 1 2 Whetham, Bob 1996 In Search of the Narrow Gauge. Sono Nis Press, Victoria BC.
  10. 1 2 Hughes, Hugh 1994 Indian Locomotives Pt. 3, Narrow Gauge 1863-1940. Continental Railway Circle.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Howrah District (1909)". IRFCA. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  12. ↑ "Howrah-Amta BG line section inaugurated". The Hindu Business Line, 24 July 2000. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  13. ↑ "Lalu remote-launches 2 S-E Rly projects". The Hindu Business Line, 1 January 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  14. ↑ "RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2689 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2006". Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  15. ↑ "Shahdara-Saharanpur Light Railway". fibis. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Shahdara-Saharanpur Light Railway". fibis. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 R. Sivaramakrishnan. "Shahdara-Saharanpur Light Railway". IRFCA. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "IR History Part V (1970-1995)". IRFCA. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "IR History Part V (1970-1995)". IRFCA. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "Speech of Shri Lalit Narayan Mishra introducing the Railway Budget for 1973-74, on 20th February 1973" (PDF). Light Railways. Indian Railways. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
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