Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway
Encyclopedia
Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway (GBSR) was a narrow gauge
and metre gauge
railway line owned by the Princely State of Baroda
, which was ruled by the Gaekwar dynasty.
The first rail tracks were laid during the reign of Sir Khanderao Gaekwad (1828–1870), the Maharaja of Baroda. In 1862, he inaugurated 8 miles (12.9 km) of an NG railway line from Dabhoi
to Miyagam. Oxen were used to haul the train, although in 1863, Nielson & Co. built a locomotive to be operated on the line from Debhoi to Miyagram, as the 6.5 km/m rails were not suited for the regular use of an engine.
The railway track has the distinction of being the first narrow-gauge line to be laid in British India, as well as being the first railway to be owned by any Princely State
of India
.
Later, during the rule of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
, the railway's network was further expanded. In 1873, the Dabhoi-Miyagam line (the first 2'6" line) was re-laid with stronger rails to allow locomotives to be used, rather than oxen. However, locomotives were not regularly used on the line until 1880. During the Maharaja's reign, a large narrow-gauge railway network was set, which extended to Becharaji
and many other places in Baroda State, with Dabhoi as its focal point. The network is still the largest narrow-gauge railway network in the world.
In 1949, the Gaikwad Baroda State Railway was merged with the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.
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 :...
and 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...
railway line owned by the Princely State of Baroda
Baroda State
Baroda State was an Indian princely state in present-day Gujarat, ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until 1947 when it succeed to newly formed, India. With the city of Baroda as its capital, during the British Raj it was part of the Baroda Residency...
, which was ruled by the Gaekwar dynasty.
The first rail tracks were laid during the reign of Sir Khanderao Gaekwad (1828–1870), the Maharaja of Baroda. In 1862, he inaugurated 8 miles (12.9 km) of an NG railway line from Dabhoi
Dabhoi
Dabhoi is a city and a municipality in Vadodara district in the state of Gujarat, India. It was originally known as Darbhavati.- History :...
to Miyagam. Oxen were used to haul the train, although in 1863, Nielson & Co. built a locomotive to be operated on the line from Debhoi to Miyagram, as the 6.5 km/m rails were not suited for the regular use of an engine.
The railway track has the distinction of being the first narrow-gauge line to be laid in British India, as well as being the first railway to be owned by any Princely State
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of India
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...
.
Later, during the rule of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
165454565Sayajirao Gaekwad III was the Maharaja of Baroda State from 1875 to 1939, and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule....
, the railway's network was further expanded. In 1873, the Dabhoi-Miyagam line (the first 2'6" line) was re-laid with stronger rails to allow locomotives to be used, rather than oxen. However, locomotives were not regularly used on the line until 1880. During the Maharaja's reign, a large narrow-gauge railway network was set, which extended to Becharaji
Becharaji
Becharaji or Bahucharaji is a small town and taluka place in Mehsana district of Gujarat in India. It is situated in northern part of Gujarat. It is a very popular religious place of Hindu religion...
and many other places in Baroda State, with Dabhoi as its focal point. The network is still the largest narrow-gauge railway network in the world.
In 1949, the Gaikwad Baroda State Railway was merged with the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.