Cochin State Forest Tramway - Revision history

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 The '''Cochin State Forest Tramway''' was a {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}}<ref>[http://irfca.org/articles/CochinStateForestTramwayJournal.doc "Journal on the Cochin State Forest Tramway."] (*.doc file) Retrieved on 10 September 2020.</ref><ref name="empire">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/04/stories/2010010455160600.htm
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 ==History==
 ===Inception===
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 ===Tram routes===
 The tramway was divided into three sections: the first started from [[Chalakudy]] and ended at Anapantham, covering a length of 21 miles; the second ran from Kavalai to Pothupara, covering six miles; and the third ran from Komalapara to Chinnar, covering 22.5 miles. The total length of tramway was 49.5 miles (79.5&nbsp;km).<ref name="empire"/>
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 ==External links==
 * http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/38/Cochin.htm
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20110511044446/http://uccollege.edu.in/history/news/cochin-forests-and-the-british/

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Cochin State Forest Tramway
|logo =
|type =
|foundation = 1907
|location_city = [[Chalakudy]]
|location_country = [[India]]
|location =
|locations = 
|key_people = [[Rama Varma XV]]
|area_served = [[Thrissur District]] and [[Palakkad District]]
|industry = [[Railways]]
|products = [[Teak]] and [[Rosewood]]
|services = Light [[Rail transport]]
|revenue = Rs 17.5 lakhs
|operating_income = Rs 2 lakhs
|net_income =
|num_employees =
|parent =
|divisions =
|subsid =
|caption =
|homepage =
|dissolved = 1963
|footnotes =
|intl =
}}

The '''Cochin State Forest Tramway''' was a {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}}<ref>[http://irfca.org/articles/CochinStateForestTramwayJournal.doc "Journal on the Cochin State Forest Tramway."] (*.doc file) Retrieved on 10 September 2020.</ref><ref name="empire">{{cite web
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/04/stories/2010010455160600.htm
|title=Tramway to a trade empire
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120602/http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/04/stories/2010010455160600.htm
|access-date=2020-09-11|url-status=dead
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|date=2010-01-04
|archive-date=17 May 2014
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article1410735.ece
|title=Public to get glimpses of the marvel of erstwhile tramway
|publisher=The New Indian Express
|access-date=2013-03-17}}</ref> [[Narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]] railway line that ran from the [[Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Palakkad District]] to the town of [[Chalakudy]] in [[Thrissur District]] in India. Operating from 1907 to 1963, it served the [[Kingdom of Cochin|State of Cochin]] and brought prosperity by enabling the transport of [[teak]] and [[rosewood]] from the forest into town. These goods could then be exported abroad.<ref name="empire"/>

==History==

===Inception===
[[File:Rama Varma XV of Cochin.JPG|thumb|right|[[Rama Varma XV]] was the brain behind the idea of Cochin State Forest Tramway]]

The idea of a forest tramway was put forward by J.C. Kolhoff, first Conservator of Forests of the city of [[Kochi|Cochin]], and was implemented by V. Alwar Chetty, a forest officer on special duty. British officers Haldwell and Floukes performed the initial survey and route. R.E. Haffield was the first tramway engineer who cleared the forests and laid down the lines. The tramway was built during the rule of [[Rama Varma XV]], [[Maharaja of Cochin]] (1895 to 1914).<ref name="empire"/>[[Governor of Madras]] [[Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill|Sir Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill]], inaugurated its construction on October 3, 1905. The tramway began operating in 1907. On June 26, 1907, the [[Maharaja of Cochin]] passed the Cochin Forest Tramway Act, which provided for the protection and management of the tramway.

===Tram routes===
The tramway was divided into three sections: the first started from [[Chalakudy]] and ended at Anapantham, covering a length of 21 miles; the second ran from Kavalai to Pothupara, covering six miles; and the third ran from Komalapara to Chinnar, covering 22.5 miles. The total length of tramway was 49.5 miles (79.5 km).<ref name="empire"/>

===Machinery===
[[Chalakudy]] used to house the tramway workshop and timber yard. The section had two locomotives to pull the trucks and saloons. The locomotives, rolling stock and machinery for the tramway were supplied by [[Orenstein and Koppel]] of [[Germany]]. P&W MacLennan of the U.K. supplied the bridges and culverts. K.R. Menon was the last tramway engineer. The tramway system had double lines and worked on rollers and cables. Empty wagons were rolled up while loaded wagons were pushed down along the other rails.<ref>Edward Harran: [https://zenodo.org/record/1923056/files/article.pdf "The Cochin Forest Railway.'' In: ''Scientific American," 26 February 1910, p. 184-185.] Retrieved 10 September 2020.</ref>

===Demise===
In 1926, the special finance committee recommended the abolition of the tramway, but was rejected by the Government in 1928. Another special committee was set up in 1950 under the chairmanship of the Chief Conservator of Forests, which recommended discontinuing of the tramway. In 1953, another commission was appointed but given the report that tramway should be revived at any cost. Finally in 1963, after serving 56 years and making modern [[Cochin Port]] a present-day commercial harbour and [[Cochin]] City, the economic hub, the Cochin State Forest Tramway was abolished on the basis of a special finance committee report.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
The staff was absorbed in various departments of Government.

==Legacy==
[[File:Kochi City-sizzling port-W.ISLAND, that's created by Lord Bristow.jpg|thumb|[[Cochin Port]], the cherry in [[Kerala]]'s growth, was constructed from the earnings of the tramway]]

The tramway was an engineering wonder in that period for [[South India]]. The money was used for building ports, bridges, roads, colleges, schools, etc. [[Cochin Port]], a major port on the [[Arabian Sea]] – [[Indian Ocean]] sea-route, was constructed by the earnings from the tramway. [[Willingdon Island]], which was created during construction of [[Cochin Port]], was also bankrolled by tramway revenues.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/38/Cochin.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110511044446/http://uccollege.edu.in/history/news/cochin-forests-and-the-british/
* https://archive.today/20130411143944/http://traveller.outlookindia.com/issuecontent1.aspx?id=150&flag=issuehome

{{Trams in India}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

[[Category:Tram transport in India]]
[[Category:Metre gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Defunct railway companies of India]]
[[Category:Transport in Palakkad district]]
[[Category:Transport in Thrissur]]
[[Category:History of Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Kingdom of Cochin]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1907]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1963]]
[[Category:1963 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1907]]