Who Constructed the Narrow Gauge Railway in India?

The Indian railway is one of the largest railway networks in the world. Out of all the gauges of railways, construction on narrow gauge was very important both for the economy and for mobility, as it made the connection to remote and hilly regions much easier. But who were the visionaries behind the making of Indian narrow-gauge railways? This post will explore the history behind the construction of narrow-gauge railways, the key people and organisations involved, and the impact they had on the overall transportation system in India.

What is Narrow Gauge?

Now, before we begin to explore its Indian origins, let's quickly understand what a narrow-gauge railway is? A narrow-gauge railway is a railroad that has narrower track gauge than standard gauge (1,435 mm). In India the more used narrow-gauge measures were 610 mm (2 ft), 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) and 1,000 mm (meter gauge). Also, these railways were mainly built to cross difficult terrain like hilly and forested areas where wider gauges would be difficult and prohibitively costly.

How India was The Land Of To Narrow-Gauge Railways

Narrow gauge railways were built in India by numerous individuals, railway companies, and authorities. These technology have paved the way for widespread connectivity in remote and hilly areas.

British Colonial Government

The British were the first to make railways in India, in the earliest sense to promote trade, better administrative control and military mobility. Standard-gauge and meter-gauge railways became the norm in major corridors; however, for certain terrains, the British administration discovered that narrow-gauge railways were cheaper to establish. They are developed mainly in regions where laying down narrow-gauge railways was a challenge economically and geographically.

Private Companies of Indian Princely States

Most of the narrow-gauge lines were built by princely states and private companies. The princely states of Gwalior, Baroda, Hyderabad, etc also realized the benefits of rail connectivity and built narrow-gauge lines.

Gwalior Light Railway (Maharaja of Gwalior): One of the oldest and most popular narrow-gauge railways was constructed with the assistance of Maharaja of Gwalior and connected Gwalior with Shivpuri, Sheopur and other towns.

Gaekwar’s Baroda State Railway (GBSR): A narrow-gauge railway commissioned by the Gaekwar of Baroda to improve mobility in the Baroda State, furthering economic and social development.

Nizam Railways: The Nizam of Hyderabad invested in narrow-gauge railways to improve connectivity in and around the princely state.

British and Indian Engineers

British government and princely states extended financial support and many British and Indian engineers were instrumental in building the narrow-gauge railways. They grappled with technical challenges, including rugged landscapes, river crossings, and forested regions.

Sir Arthur Cotton: Sir Arthur Cotton was known for his irrigation and hill railway works and introduced the concept of narrow-gauge railways in hilly terrains.

Frederick Walter Simms: He contributed immensely to surveying and planning railway lines in colonial India.

Indian Railway Engineers: While not as well-known, many Indian engineers played a crucial role in building and maintaining narrow-gauge railways, helping them to thrive.

Some of the famous narrow gauge railways in India 

Multiple narrow-gauge rail lines were constructed in India, each for a particular reason. Some of these railways have also been designated as heritage railways due to their historical and cultural importance.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881)

One of India’s most renowned narrow-gauge railways, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), was built to link the tea-growing hills of Darjeeling with Siliguri. Constructed by Franklin Prestage, an engineer with the Eastern Bengal Railway, the DHR has since been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kalka-Shimla Railway (1903)

The Kalka-Shimla Railway was built by the British to reach the summer capital, Shimla. The scenic beauty of this route, which is a blend of tunnels and bridges is beautifully spread out, making it one of the most picturesque railway routes in India.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway (1908)

This narrow-gauge railway from Mettupalayam to Ooty was built by the British in Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, renowned for its steep gradients and picturesque scenery is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Matheran Hill Railway (1907)

The Matheran Hill railway is a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) narrow gauge railway that runs between Neral and Matheran, a hill station in the Maharashtra state of India, built by Abdul Hussein Adamjee Peerbhoy. An infamous zig-zag ragad system is also part of this railway, which consists of beautiful views.

India's Narrow-Gauge Railways And Its Contribution

They contributed to the welfare of the Indian economy and society. Its key contributions include some of the following:

Enhanced Connectivity: The narrow-gauge railways opened up access to remote and hilly areas, allowing for the transportation of people and goods.

Economic Development: These railways allowed the movement of agricultural produce, minerals, and forest products, contributing to the local economy.

Tourism Development: Many of the narrow-gauge deteriorated into popular tourist attractions like those in Darjeeling, Shimla, and Matheran.

Cultural Note: The heritage narrow-gauge railways are part of India’s colonial past and development.

The Decline and the Conservation of Narrow What Light Rail?

In fact, working towards expansion with the latest railway technology to provide higher cargo capacity transport, many of the narrow-gauge railways have been converted to broad-gauge or meter-gauge under the Indian Railways’ Project Unigauge. Yet, a few narrow-gauge lines from antiquity have been kept as heritage railways.

The Indian government and UNESCO have done a lot towards preserving iconic narrow-gauge railways because of their significant historical, cultural and tourism value. Visitors can still enjoy the quaintness of these old rail lines today from adventurous rail/road enthusiasts.

Conclusion

The process to establish narrow-gauge railways across India stands testimony to British enthusiasm, princely zeal, private sector enterprise and engineering prowess. Its establishment laid the foundation for the transportation infrastructure in india, connecting provincial urban areas and advancing the economic and social development of the country. Although many have since been retired, their legacy lives on with preserved heritage railways that draw tourists and rail enthusiasts from all around the globe.

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