McLeod's Light Railways

2022-05-26T07:06:29Z

2409:4060:2196:BD01:85A3:2AA6:9D1E:EB3F: robot: import pages using Special:Import

{{short description|Private railway company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = McLeod's Light Railways
| color =
| logo = 
| logo_width =
| image =
| image_width =
| caption = McLeod's Light Railways at Labhpur
| type =
| status =
| locale = [[West Bengal]]
| start =
| end =
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1915–1917
| close =
| owner = McLeod's Light Railways
| operator = McLeod's Light Railways
| character =
| depot = Kalighat, Falta, Burdwan, Katwa, Ahmadpur, Bankura,
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|245.3|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength = {{convert|245.3|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracks =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|2ft6in|lk=on}}
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| speed = NG {{convert|36|kph|mph}}. BG {{convert|100|kph|mph}}
| elevation =
| website =
| map =
| map_state =
}}

'''McLeod's Light Railways (MLR)''' consisted of following four {{RailGauge|2ft6in|lk=on}} [[Narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] lines in [[West Bengal]] in India. The railways were built and owned by McLeod & Company, which was the subsidiary of a London company of managing agents, McLeod Russell & Co. Ltd.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=McLeod%27s_Light_Railways| title = McLeod's Light Railways | access-date = 2009-08-22 }}</ref> On 1 July 1967, the Bankura Damodar Railway was merged with [[South Eastern Railway (India)|South Eastern Railway]].<ref name=BDR1>{{cite web|url=http://www.serailway.gov.in/General/Book_RRB/Bankura_Damodar%20Rly.htm |title=Bankura-Damodar Railway (BDR) |access-date=2009-08-22 |publisher=SE Railway |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050827063735/http://www.serailway.gov.in/General/Book_RRB/Bankura_Damodar%20Rly.htm |archive-date=27 August 2005}}</ref>

== Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway ==
{{See also|Ahmadpur–Katwa line}}
[[File:Katwa to Ahmedpur Narrow gaugue railway 13.jpg|thumb|upright|Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway at Labhpur]]

Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway connecting [[Ahmedpur, Birbhum|Ahmedpur]] and [[Katwa]] in [[West Bengal]] was opened to traffic on 29 September 1917.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/archives/archive.html | title = Emotions pasted – One last run | last = Chakraborty | first = Snehamoy | publisher = The Telegraph, 14 January 2013 | access-date = 2013-01-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180845/https://www.telegraphindia.com/archives/archive.html | archive-date = 1 March 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Ahmadpur-Katwa_Railway | title = Ahmadpur-Katwa Railway | access-date = 2009-08-22 }}</ref> The railway was built in {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge and total length was {{convert|52|km|mi}}.<ref name=Statesman>{{cite news | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=91640&catid=42&year=2004&month=10&day=14&Itemid=66 | title = Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life | access-date = 2011-12-02 | newspaper = [[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]], 14 October 2004 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120614104300/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=91640&catid=42&year=2004&month=10&day=14&Itemid=66 | archive-date = 14 June 2012}}</ref> In 1966, Indian Railways had taken over the operation of this narrow gauge railway from McLeod & Company.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.avoe05.dsl.pipex.com/India%20narrow-gauge%20lines.htm | title = India: narrow-gauge lines in late 2002 and late 2003 | access-date = 2009-08-22 | last = Mortimer | first =Simon }}</ref>

The 52 km long railway section has been converted to {{RailGauge|1676mm|allk=on}} broad gauge. The conversion work started in 2013 and was completed in early 2017.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.avoe05.dsl.pipex.com/India%20narrow-gauge%20lines.htm | title = India: narrow-gauge lines in late 2002 and late 2003 | access-date = 2009-08-22 | last = Mortimer | first =Simon }}</ref> On 24 May 2018, the section was opened to passenger traffic.

== Bankura–Damodar Railway ==
{{See also|Bankura–Masagram line}}
[[File:Bankurha plinthed NG loco.jpg|thumb|upright|Narrow-gauge loco plinthed at [[Bankura]] railway station]]

Bankura–Damodar Railway (also called as Bankura Damodar River Railway) connecting [[Bankura Junction railway station|Bankura]] and [[Raina, Bardhaman|Rainagar]] in [[Bankura district|Bankura]] and [[Bardhaman district|Bardhaman]] districts in now [[West Bengal]] was opened to traffic in sections between 15 December 1916 and 6 June 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Bankura-Damodar_Railway |title=Bankura-Damodar Railway |access-date=2009-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726052755/http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Bankura-Damodar_Railway |archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> The railway was built in {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge and total length was {{convert|97|km}}.<ref name="BDR1"/><ref>Indian railways: glorious 150 years - Page 81 by R. R. Bhandari, India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division - 2005 - McLeod & Co. owned and managed four {{TrackGauge|2 ft 6 in}} gauge lines in Eastern region - (1) Bankura- Rainagar line - 97 km long - opened in 1916-17.</ref> The railway was known as Bankura Damodar Railway, as it used to terminate at Rainagar, which was on banks of [[Damodar River]]. People used to take ferries to cross river to go on other side.

The standard locomotive for BDR was a powerful {{whyte|0-6-4|T}} design from [[W. G. Bagnall]] of [[Stafford]], but during the First World War some {{whyte|2-6-2|T}} engines were also obtained from Bagnall, same as was ordered for the [[Egyptian Delta Light Railways]] (and hence known as the Delta class). The 1953 additions were also of this type. There were two Sentinel locomotives; one (No.8) is now preserved at the [[National Rail Museum, New Delhi]]. A steam loco shed at Bankura served the narrow gauge line.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rediff.com/travel/1998/jul/03bank.htm| title = Bankura's Iron Horses | access-date = 2009-08-22 | last = Aitken | first =Bill | publisher = Rediff on the NeT Travel }}</ref>

The BDR services were withdrawn in 1995 after it incurred huge losses due to higher maintenance costs, falling passenger numbers as well as falling freight.<ref name=BDR2>{{cite web|url=http://thestatesman.org/page.arcview.php?date=2008-01-23&usrsess=1&clid=23&id=214156 |title=BDR resumes service after 13 yrs |access-date=2009-08-22 |work= The Statesman, 23 January 2008 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2005, the {{convert|120.3|km}} long railway section was converted to {{RailGauge|1676mm|allk=on}} [[Broad Gauge]] and train services were resumed which extended its part to Masagram in 2012, thus making Masagram Junction point of Bankura Damodar Railway & connecting [[Howrah–Bardhaman chord]].

== Bankura–Purulia Railway ==
{{See also|Kharagpur–Bankura–Adra line}}

The Bankura-Purulia Light Railway(BPLR) was a similar proposal to connect [[Bankura Junction railway station|Bankura]] with [[Purulia Junction railway station|Purulia]] via Dhaldanga, Puabagan, Kumidiya, Teghori, Hatgram, Bishpuria, Hura & Hutmura. The plan was to connect Bankura & Purulia belt with a {{convert|84.4|km|mi}} long [[Narrow Gauge]] railway line. From 1916-17 the line was laid from [[Bankura Junction railway station|Bankura]] to Puabagan & from [[Purulia Junction railway station|Purulia]] to Hura. But a catastrophic flood in 1917-18 washed away line from [[Bankura Junction railway station|Bankura]] to Dhaldanga & lack of Passengers prompted McLeod Russell & Co. Ltd. to scrap the route.

== Burdwan–Katwa Railway ==
{{See also|Bardhaman–Katwa line}}

Burdwan–Katwa Railway connecting [[Bardhaman]] (earlier known as Burdwan) and [[Katwa]] in now [[Bardhaman district]], [[West Bengal]] was opened to traffic on 1 December 1915. The railway was built in {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge and total length was {{convert|53|km}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Burdwan-Katwa_Railway | title = Burdwan-Katwa Railway | access-date = 2009-08-22 }}</ref>

The engines chugged along at the maximum speed of 30 km per hour.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=85261&usrsess=1
| title = Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life | access-date = 2009-08-22 | newspaper = [[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]], 14 October 2004}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/articles/manning/bnr.html| title = The Katwa Railways | access-date = 2009-08-22 | last = Manning | first = Ian | work = From Bengal Towards Nagpur | publisher = Indian Railway Fan Club}}</ref>

The 52 km long railway section was converted to {{RailGauge|1676mm|allk=on}} broad gauge.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Burdwan-Katwa_Railway |title = Burdwan-Katwa Railway | publisher=fibis| access-date = 2 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=325258&catid=42 |title=Burdwan bids adieu to vintage narrow gauge trains |last=Siddiqui |first=Kanchan |publisher=The Statesman, 14 April 2010 |access-date=2 May 2013 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Bardhaman-Katwa line after conversion from narrow gauge to electrified broad gauge was opened to the public on 12 January 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.anandabazar.com/district/bardhaman/katwa-burdwan-broad-gauge-trains-started-at-last-1.739229 |title = Baro rail Katwae, jamlo bhidr (Big railway in Katwa, crowd gathers) | work= Bengali |publisher= Ananda Bazar Patrika, 13 January 2018 | access-date = 13 January 2018}}</ref>

== Kalighat–Falta Railway ==
{{See also|Sealdah South lines}}{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Kalighat–Falta Railway
| color =
| logo = 
| logo_width =
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type =
| status =
| locale = [[West Bengal]]
| start =
| end =
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1915–1917
| close =
| owner = McLeod's Light Railways
| operator = McLeod's Light Railways
| character =
| depot = Kalighat, Falta
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|45|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength = {{convert|45|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracks = 1
| gauge = {{Track gauge|2ft6in|lk=on}}
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| speed = NG {{convert|36|kph|mph}}
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Kalighat–Falta Railway|inline=yes|collapse=yes}}
| map_state =
}}

Kalighat–Falta Railway connecting Gholeshapur in [[Behala]] to [[Falta, South 24 Parganas|Falta]] was opened on 28 May 1917 and was extended a further {{convert|0.92|mi|km}} to Kalighat, now Majherhat in [[West Bengal]] on 7 May 1920. The railway was built in {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge and total length was {{convert|27|mi|km}}.<ref name="AK16">{{Cite web |url=http://www.irfca.org/~apub/katwa/index.htm# |title=AK16 Steam Locomotive. |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173516/http://www.irfca.org/~apub/katwa/index.htm# |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The KFR line was the first in India to use three brand new 2-6-2 side tank AK16 locomotives, built in November 1916 by [[W. G. Bagnall]] Ltd. of the Castle Engine Works at Stafford in England. They entered service with KFR in February 1917. The 'AK' in the name stood for 'Ahmedpur-Katwa'. They were also known as the 'Delta Class' engines (since they were originally ordered by the [[Egyptian Delta Light Railways]] but were more successful in India) and they were very successful and a lot many were used in the following years till 1953 when the last order was placed. One of the 1916-built Bagnall locomotives has been preserved by the [[Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust]] at the [[Vale of Rheidol Railway]] in the UK.<ref name=AK16/>

It is a small line—26’2 miles of narrow gauge. A private company was running it at a deficit and according to the agreement entered into with that company by the Central Government, we have been paying a subsidy, on an average, of Rs. 3 71 lakhs, from year to year. Therefore, we decided that it will be better to take over this and dismantle it, if adequate facilities are provided for the public. The West Bengal Government also took up the matter with us and they gave an assurance that they would make all possible efforts; they said that the road services would be sufficiently developed in that area to cope with the normal traffic; That is the position so far as public are concerned<ref name="eparlib.nic.in">https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/56093/1/lsd_01_15_28-03-1957.pdf page 30</ref>

As regards the staff of the Kalighat-Falta Railway, it had been decided by the Government of India to offer fresh employment(during 1952) to such of the staff as are below the age of superannuation and are otherwise found suitable. Detailed instructions in this connection have already issued to the General Managers of the Eastern and the South-Eastern Railways So, on both these points, namely, hardship to the public and unemployment to the staff, we have taken measures so that the public will not be put to inconvenience when this line is eventually dismantled and the staff who have not superannuated will be offered alternative employment.<ref name="eparlib.nic.in"/>

Due to ever-increasing losses, the KFR was closed in 1957.The land where the tracks used to be was used to construct a road, the James Long Sarani, in Behala.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|McLeod's Light Railways}}

* [http://www.rediff.com/travel/1998/jul/03bank.htm A classic travelogue on the McLeod lines]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111003163716/http://www.album.doorersathi.com/thumbnails.php?album=45 Photographs of Katwa-Ahmedpur Narrow Gauge Train]
* [https://archive.today/20131101110638/http://www.banglalive.com/Feature/FeatureDetail/6895/]

{{Railway lines in Eastern India}}
{{Birbhum topics}}
{{Purba Bardhaman topics}}
{{Kolkata topics}}
{{South 24 Parganas topics}}

[[Category:2 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Defunct railway companies of India]]
[[Category:History of rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1916]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1917]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 1957]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 1995]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 2013]]
[[Category:Transport in Purba Bardhaman district]]
[[Category:Transport in Kolkata]]
[[Category:History of Kolkata]]
[[Category:1916 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1967 disestablishments in India]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

McLeod's Light Railways