Bhavnagar State Railway
Encyclopedia
Bhavnagar State Railway was a metre gauge
railway line that was started by Bhavnagar State in year 1880.
In November 1878, on the instance of Maharaja Takthasinhji
of Bhavnagar State, the Governor of Bombay Sir Richard Temple sanctioned the extension of meter gauge railway line from Wadhwan
to Bhavnagar
, which was opened on December 18, 1880. Maharaja Takhtasinhji accorded sanction for construction of railway from Bhavnagar to Wadhwan
in the north and Dhoraji
in the west with line from Dhasa
to Dhoraji funded by Gondal State
.
Bhavnagar State thus in 1880 became the first Princely state
in Saurashtra and the third in the country after Baroda
and Hyderabad
to start a railway line of its own.
During 1863, Maharaja Jaswantsinhji received a proposal to start a Narrow Gauge
line like in parts of Gaekwad Railway in Baroda. Maharaja was not inclined, as by that time another company called Ghogha Kathiawad Light Railway Company had been formed and it could be easily joined at Vartej, a mere 10 km away. But nothing materialized.
Meanwhile, the state's proposals to start a Railway from Bhavnagar and Wadhwan were objected to by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway(BB&CI) officials, who feared that such line would take away all their cotton traffic from Surendranagar. Moreover, there was a clause in the Government's guarantee to BB&CI that no competing line will be constructed near 50 miles of their line. Political considerations of the British favored BB&CI.
The famine in 1877 changed all that. The Governor of Bombay, Sir Richard Temple felt the need to use the famine labour in building works of permanent nature. And what better than a new Railway line!! For those doubting the financial returns of the line, Sir Richard Temple said "Think how it will pay in saving life during famine". Not only did the construction provide employment to many and saved them from starvation, in later years also (notably 1899-1900) it was instrumental in distributing tonnes of food and fodder.
To the objection of the BB&CI, Sir Richard Temple pointed out that they were guaranteed against competition of other railways in British Territory only and that Wadhwan
(Kathiawad) was not British territory. This removed one of the major hurdles in the path of railways.
The Bhavnagar-Gondal Railway was a joint venture with funds from both states 1839. Bhavnagar contributed Rs. 86 lakhs and Rs.29 lakhs was Gondal's contribution. The Bhavnagar-Wadhwan line had a length of a 166 km; the Dhola-Dhasa
-Dhoraji
line had a length of 144 km. The work was carried out between 1878 and 1880.
In March 1879, Mr. Alexander Izat was appointed as the Engineer-in-Chief. He was earlier the Chief Engineer of Daund-Manmad line (which had opened in 1878). Mr. R. Proctor Sims who was Bhavnagar's state Engineer had carried out the survey from Bhavnagar to Botad
. The survey from Dhasa
to Dhoraji
was carried out under Mr. Ford who held analogous post in Gondal. An engineer from BB & CI, Mr. Hargreaves did the survey from Botad to Wadhwan
.
The earth-work was commenced as a famine work with all possible haste and finished within an astonishingly short time by May 1880. His Highness requested the Governor of Bombay Sir James Ferguson (who had succeeded Sir Richard Temple in March 1879) to inaugurate the line in December and declare it open for traffic.
On 17 December 1880 His Excellency the Governor, along with his entourage arrived at Bhavnagar by a special steamer from Bombay named May Frere. A large number of guests- European and natives were invited.
On approach of the May Frere at Bhavnagar Bundar, sea port, Colonel Barton the political Agent Major Woodhouse (the Assistant Political Agent) and Diwan Sahib Samaldas went in a steam launch and brought the Governor and his party ashore. His Highness Takhtsinhji
received the Governor at the landing steps and welcomed him. The Governor was then taken to the town and the evening spent in sight seeing and visiting the Gaurishankar Lake.
Early next morning on December 18, 1880 (Saturday), His Excellency drove the last spike of the permanent way at the city station (now Bhavnagar Terminus) in the presence of a large gathering and declared the Railway line from Bhavnagar
to Wadhwan
open. The party then proceeded by a special train to Limdi (about 140 kilometers, slightly short of Wadhwan). The ruler of Limdi, Sir Jaswantsinhji had organized a grand welcome to the party at Limdi station.
The party returned by the same train to Bhavnagar in evening in time for a State Bouquet at Neelambaug City Palace. There was fireworks display at night in the city.
The Bhavnagar State Railway along with other State Railways of Kathiawar & Saurashtra was in April, 1948 merged into Saurashtra Railway
by Union of India.
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 that was started by Bhavnagar State in year 1880.
In November 1878, on the instance of Maharaja Takthasinhji
Takhtsinhji
Maharaja Raol Takhtsinhji Jaswantsinhji , was Maharaja of Bhavnagar, a Rajput chief of the Gohel clan, and the ruler of a state in Kathiawar. He succeeded to the throne of Bhavnagar on the death of his father, Jaswantsinhji, in 1870.He attended the Delhi Durbar in 1877 and was granted a personal...
of Bhavnagar State, the Governor of Bombay Sir Richard Temple sanctioned the extension of meter gauge railway line from Wadhwan
Wadhwan
Wadhwan is a city and a municipality in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Demographics: India census, Wadhwan had a population of 61,739. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wadhwan has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of...
to Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
, which was opened on December 18, 1880. Maharaja Takhtasinhji accorded sanction for construction of railway from Bhavnagar to Wadhwan
Wadhwan
Wadhwan is a city and a municipality in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Demographics: India census, Wadhwan had a population of 61,739. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wadhwan has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of...
in the north and Dhoraji
Dhoraji
Dhoraji is a large and flourishing town on the banks of small river Safura, a branch of the river Bhadar. Dhoraji is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:...
in the west with line from Dhasa
Dhasa
Dhasa is a small city and railway junction in Bhavnagar District of Gujarat. Dhasa was one of the first railway junctions to be established in 1880 on Bhavnagar-Gondal State Railway, Metre Gauge line from Dhasa to Dhoraji....
to Dhoraji funded by Gondal State
Gondal State
Gondal State was one of the eight first class princely states of Kathiawar Agency during Bombay Presidency. The center was Gondal, India.-History:...
.
Bhavnagar State thus in 1880 became the first 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 ...
in Saurashtra and the third in the country after 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...
and Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
to start a railway line of its own.
During 1863, Maharaja Jaswantsinhji received a proposal to start a 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 :...
line like in parts of Gaekwad Railway in Baroda. Maharaja was not inclined, as by that time another company called Ghogha Kathiawad Light Railway Company had been formed and it could be easily joined at Vartej, a mere 10 km away. But nothing materialized.
Meanwhile, the state's proposals to start a Railway from Bhavnagar and Wadhwan were objected to by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway(BB&CI) officials, who feared that such line would take away all their cotton traffic from Surendranagar. Moreover, there was a clause in the Government's guarantee to BB&CI that no competing line will be constructed near 50 miles of their line. Political considerations of the British favored BB&CI.
The famine in 1877 changed all that. The Governor of Bombay, Sir Richard Temple felt the need to use the famine labour in building works of permanent nature. And what better than a new Railway line!! For those doubting the financial returns of the line, Sir Richard Temple said "Think how it will pay in saving life during famine". Not only did the construction provide employment to many and saved them from starvation, in later years also (notably 1899-1900) it was instrumental in distributing tonnes of food and fodder.
To the objection of the BB&CI, Sir Richard Temple pointed out that they were guaranteed against competition of other railways in British Territory only and that Wadhwan
Wadhwan
Wadhwan is a city and a municipality in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Demographics: India census, Wadhwan had a population of 61,739. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wadhwan has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of...
(Kathiawad) was not British territory. This removed one of the major hurdles in the path of railways.
The Bhavnagar-Gondal Railway was a joint venture with funds from both states 1839. Bhavnagar contributed Rs. 86 lakhs and Rs.29 lakhs was Gondal's contribution. The Bhavnagar-Wadhwan line had a length of a 166 km; the Dhola-Dhasa
Dhasa
Dhasa is a small city and railway junction in Bhavnagar District of Gujarat. Dhasa was one of the first railway junctions to be established in 1880 on Bhavnagar-Gondal State Railway, Metre Gauge line from Dhasa to Dhoraji....
-Dhoraji
Dhoraji
Dhoraji is a large and flourishing town on the banks of small river Safura, a branch of the river Bhadar. Dhoraji is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:...
line had a length of 144 km. The work was carried out between 1878 and 1880.
In March 1879, Mr. Alexander Izat was appointed as the Engineer-in-Chief. He was earlier the Chief Engineer of Daund-Manmad line (which had opened in 1878). Mr. R. Proctor Sims who was Bhavnagar's state Engineer had carried out the survey from Bhavnagar to Botad
Botad
Botad is a city and a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the state of Gujarat, Republic of India.-About:Botad is one of the fastest growing in Gujarat with a modest voter population of more than 2 lakh...
. The survey from Dhasa
Dhasa
Dhasa is a small city and railway junction in Bhavnagar District of Gujarat. Dhasa was one of the first railway junctions to be established in 1880 on Bhavnagar-Gondal State Railway, Metre Gauge line from Dhasa to Dhoraji....
to Dhoraji
Dhoraji
Dhoraji is a large and flourishing town on the banks of small river Safura, a branch of the river Bhadar. Dhoraji is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:...
was carried out under Mr. Ford who held analogous post in Gondal. An engineer from BB & CI, Mr. Hargreaves did the survey from Botad to Wadhwan
Wadhwan
Wadhwan is a city and a municipality in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Demographics: India census, Wadhwan had a population of 61,739. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wadhwan has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of...
.
The earth-work was commenced as a famine work with all possible haste and finished within an astonishingly short time by May 1880. His Highness requested the Governor of Bombay Sir James Ferguson (who had succeeded Sir Richard Temple in March 1879) to inaugurate the line in December and declare it open for traffic.
On 17 December 1880 His Excellency the Governor, along with his entourage arrived at Bhavnagar by a special steamer from Bombay named May Frere. A large number of guests- European and natives were invited.
On approach of the May Frere at Bhavnagar Bundar, sea port, Colonel Barton the political Agent Major Woodhouse (the Assistant Political Agent) and Diwan Sahib Samaldas went in a steam launch and brought the Governor and his party ashore. His Highness Takhtsinhji
Takhtsinhji
Maharaja Raol Takhtsinhji Jaswantsinhji , was Maharaja of Bhavnagar, a Rajput chief of the Gohel clan, and the ruler of a state in Kathiawar. He succeeded to the throne of Bhavnagar on the death of his father, Jaswantsinhji, in 1870.He attended the Delhi Durbar in 1877 and was granted a personal...
received the Governor at the landing steps and welcomed him. The Governor was then taken to the town and the evening spent in sight seeing and visiting the Gaurishankar Lake.
Early next morning on December 18, 1880 (Saturday), His Excellency drove the last spike of the permanent way at the city station (now Bhavnagar Terminus) in the presence of a large gathering and declared the Railway line from Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
to Wadhwan
Wadhwan
Wadhwan is a city and a municipality in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Demographics: India census, Wadhwan had a population of 61,739. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wadhwan has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of...
open. The party then proceeded by a special train to Limdi (about 140 kilometers, slightly short of Wadhwan). The ruler of Limdi, Sir Jaswantsinhji had organized a grand welcome to the party at Limdi station.
The party returned by the same train to Bhavnagar in evening in time for a State Bouquet at Neelambaug City Palace. There was fireworks display at night in the city.
The Bhavnagar State Railway along with other State Railways of Kathiawar & Saurashtra was in April, 1948 merged into Saurashtra Railway
Saurashtra Railway
Saurashtra Railway came into being in April, 1948 with the amalgamation of state railways like Bhavnagar State Railway, Gondal Railway, Porbandar Railway, Jamnagar & Dwarka Railway, Morvi Railway, Dhrangadhra Railway, Okhamandal Railway, Junagadh State Railway, Baria Light Railway, Rajpipla...
by Union of India.