Barsi Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Barsi Light Railway was a 202 miles (325.1 km)-long, 2 in 6 in (762 mm)-gauge railway in western India
. It was the brainchild of British
engineer Everard Calthrop
, and regarded as having revolutionised narrow gauge
railway construction in India.
religious centre of Nasik with the railway, and a 21 miles (33.8 km) branch line to the town of Barsi. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway approved both schemes, and Calthrop undertook a survey of both lines. In 1887 he registered the Indian Railways Feeder Lines Company in London
to promote the construction of feeders to the railway, and began negotiations with the Indian government to build the Barsi Light Railway. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway suggested that he either return to his duties as a locomotive inspector, or resign (with its support) to further promote branch lines. His health was failing, and in 1889 Calthrop resigned from the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Working as a consultant, he then supervised construction of the 2 in 6 in (762 mm)-gauge horse-powered Nasik Tramway using his previous survey.
During his time in India, Calthrop developed his ideas on the construction of narrow-gauge railways. He surmised that the axle load
on the axle
s of all rolling stock
(including locomotives) could be equal, allowing maximum loading of goods wagons. He settled on a load of 5 tons per axle, which was light enough to allow railway lines to be built with 30-pounds-per-yard (15 kg/m) rail. Further, he argued that using a track gauge
of 2 in 6 in (762 mm) was the best compromise between economy of construction and carrying capacity.
and maximising wagon loads. Calthrop recognised the importance of railways in warfare, and designed the rolling stock to facilitate the movement of troops and equipment. Rolling stock rode on pressed-steel Fox bogie
s, using the Timmis system of double coiled springs
. The line was constructed with rail inclination (then a new idea), which involves tilting the rail a few degrees to make its surface more nearly parallel with that of the rim of the wheel
s. Inclination is now applied universally to railways.
Prior to shipment of the rolling stock to India, Calthrop and the Leeds Forge Company
, manufacturer of the rolling stock, conducted tests on a specially built test track located at Newlay, near Leeds
. The line was opened for inspection by railway officials and journalists, and a number of reports were published in the technical railway press.
The Barsi Light Railway opened in 1897, and was extended on a number of occasions until it reached a total length of 202 mi (325 km) in 1927. It is regarded as having revolutionised the narrow-gauge railway system on the Indian subcontinent; the railway was immensely successful, establishing Calthrop as one of the leading figures in the field. Calthrop remained Consulting Engineer until he retired, due to ill health, two years before his death. The Barsi Light Railway continued to be operated as a privately owned railway until 1954, when it was purchased by the Indian government; it continued to operate as a narrow-gauge railway until conversion to (Indian gauge
) began in the late 1990s as part of Indian Railways
' conversion program
for all metre gauge
and narrow-gauge lines. Marshall, Lawrence C., 2001 Indian Narrow Gauge Steam Remembered Plateway Press, East Harling
This is now closed but the remnants are visible all along the route. The new BG line was completed on 19 October 2008 and is largely on a totally new alignment.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It was the brainchild of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
engineer Everard Calthrop
Everard Calthrop
Everard Richard Calthrop was a British railway engineer and inventor. Calthrop was a notable promoter and builder of narrow gauge railways, especially of gauge, and was especially prominent in India. His most notable achievement was the Barsi Light Railway; however he is best known in his home...
, and regarded as having revolutionised narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
railway construction in India.
History
Calthrop worked as a locomotive inspector for the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, and in 1886 requested leave to investigate proposals for independent branch lines. He identified two schemes of particular interest – a 5 miles (8 km) tramway connecting the HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religious centre of Nasik with the railway, and a 21 miles (33.8 km) branch line to the town of Barsi. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway approved both schemes, and Calthrop undertook a survey of both lines. In 1887 he registered the Indian Railways Feeder Lines Company in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to promote the construction of feeders to the railway, and began negotiations with the Indian government to build the Barsi Light Railway. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway suggested that he either return to his duties as a locomotive inspector, or resign (with its support) to further promote branch lines. His health was failing, and in 1889 Calthrop resigned from the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Working as a consultant, he then supervised construction of the 2 in 6 in (762 mm)-gauge horse-powered Nasik Tramway using his previous survey.
During his time in India, Calthrop developed his ideas on the construction of narrow-gauge railways. He surmised that the axle load
Axle load
The axle load of a wheeled vehicle is the total weight felt by the roadway for all wheels connected to a given axle. Viewed another way, it is the fraction of total vehicle weight resting on a given axle...
on the axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
s of all rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
(including locomotives) could be equal, allowing maximum loading of goods wagons. He settled on a load of 5 tons per axle, which was light enough to allow railway lines to be built with 30-pounds-per-yard (15 kg/m) rail. Further, he argued that using a track gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
of 2 in 6 in (762 mm) was the best compromise between economy of construction and carrying capacity.
Construction
In 1895 the negotiations that began in 1887 were finally successful and Calthrop formed a new company to build the Barsi Light Railway, employing himself as consulting engineer. The railway became a showcase for his ideas. Five 0-8-4T locomotives (with even distribution of axle load) were constructed to Calthrop's specification by Kitson and Company. The goods rolling stock was constructed on common 25 by pressed-steel underframes, reducing tare weightTare weight
Tare , from the Middle French word tare "wastage in goods, deficiency, imperfection" , from Italian tara, from Arabic tarah, lit. "thing deducted or rejected," from taraha "to reject" weight, sometimes called unladen weight, is the weight of an empty vehicle or container...
and maximising wagon loads. Calthrop recognised the importance of railways in warfare, and designed the rolling stock to facilitate the movement of troops and equipment. Rolling stock rode on pressed-steel Fox bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s, using the Timmis system of double coiled springs
Coil spring
A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces...
. The line was constructed with rail inclination (then a new idea), which involves tilting the rail a few degrees to make its surface more nearly parallel with that of the rim of the wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
s. Inclination is now applied universally to railways.
Prior to shipment of the rolling stock to India, Calthrop and the Leeds Forge Company
Leeds Forge Company
The Leeds Forge Company manufactured corrugated furnaces for marine boilers and later, pressed steel railway vehicles, in Leeds, England.- Early history :The company was founded by Samson Fox, who was born in Bradford in 1838...
, manufacturer of the rolling stock, conducted tests on a specially built test track located at Newlay, near Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. The line was opened for inspection by railway officials and journalists, and a number of reports were published in the technical railway press.
The Barsi Light Railway opened in 1897, and was extended on a number of occasions until it reached a total length of 202 mi (325 km) in 1927. It is regarded as having revolutionised the narrow-gauge railway system on the Indian subcontinent; the railway was immensely successful, establishing Calthrop as one of the leading figures in the field. Calthrop remained Consulting Engineer until he retired, due to ill health, two years before his death. The Barsi Light Railway continued to be operated as a privately owned railway until 1954, when it was purchased by the Indian government; it continued to operate as a narrow-gauge railway until conversion to (Indian gauge
Indian gauge
Indian gauge is a track gauge commonly used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Argentina and Chile. It is also the gauge that is used on BART , in northern California.- Scotland :...
) began in the late 1990s as part of Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
' conversion program
Project Unigauge
Project Unigauge is an ongoing exercise by Indian Railways to standardise most of the rail gauges in India at 1676 mm broad gauge....
for all metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
and narrow-gauge lines. Marshall, Lawrence C., 2001 Indian Narrow Gauge Steam Remembered Plateway Press, East Harling
This is now closed but the remnants are visible all along the route. The new BG line was completed on 19 October 2008 and is largely on a totally new alignment.