Cutch State Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cutch State Railway also spelled as Kutch State Railway was an isolated Indian narrow gauge railway in Princely State of Cutch.
The railway ran north from the port of Tuna towards Anjar
in the Kutch. The railway was financed by the Maharao
Khengarji Bawa
of Cutch, and the initial section to Anjar
was opened in 1905. At the time Cutch was a princely state
within British India. An extension from Anjar to the state capital of Bhuj
was later made and lines opened in 1908, giving a total length of 36.25 miles. Further lines were later added east of Anjar.
In 1940 the railway carried 300,000 passengers, while the main freight traffic was cotton, grain and sugar. The railway used four small 4-4-0 type locomotives, later supplemented by three 25 ton 4-6-0 locomotives. The Maharao owned a petrol railcar designed by E. R. Calthrop
, which the Maharao
Khengarji III used as a shooting car on his hunting expeditions.
The railway was owned, managed and also operated by Princely State of Cutch. The narrow gauge lines of Cutch State Railway were laid by Mistris of Kutch, of course, services of British Engineers were also employed.
The laying of first rails started in 1900-01, from Tuna to Anjar, which became operational in 1905. The works for lines from Anjar to Bhuj started in 1901-02 and completed in 1908. Bhuj to Naliya works started in 1915 and completed in 1918 and Varsamedi (near Anjar ) to Kandla started in end of 1930 and completed in 1932. All these lines were laid by members of Mistris of Kutch, who were expert in this field in those years.
The Cutch State Railways continued to operate as separate system ( even after independence of India & merger of Princely State of Cutch ) from 15 August 1947 till the railway was merged into the Western Railway
on 5 November 1951, at which time the total length was 72 miles.
The railway ran north from the port of Tuna towards Anjar
Anjar, India
Anjar is a town and a municipality in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The country is dry and sandy, and entirely depends on well irrigation for its water supply. The town is situated nearly 10 miles from the Gulf of Kutch. The town was third time made capital of Kachchh on...
in the Kutch. The railway was financed by the Maharao
Maharao
Maharao is a variation on the Indian royal title Maharaja, also meaning 'Great king' in Hindi. It is composed of Maha- 'great' and the royal title Rao, a variation on Raja.-Salute states :...
Khengarji Bawa
Khengarji III of Kutch
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Sir Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur, GCSI, GCIE, KIH was a progressive and one of the longest ruling, Maharao of the Princely State of Cutch from 1875 to 1942....
of Cutch, and the initial section to Anjar
Anjar, India
Anjar is a town and a municipality in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The country is dry and sandy, and entirely depends on well irrigation for its water supply. The town is situated nearly 10 miles from the Gulf of Kutch. The town was third time made capital of Kachchh on...
was opened in 1905. At the time Cutch was a 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 ...
within British India. An extension from Anjar to the state capital of Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
was later made and lines opened in 1908, giving a total length of 36.25 miles. Further lines were later added east of Anjar.
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...
, which the Maharao
Maharao
Maharao is a variation on the Indian royal title Maharaja, also meaning 'Great king' in Hindi. It is composed of Maha- 'great' and the royal title Rao, a variation on Raja.-Salute states :...
Khengarji III used as a shooting car on his hunting expeditions.
The railway was owned, managed and also operated by Princely State of Cutch. The narrow gauge lines of Cutch State Railway were laid by Mistris of Kutch, of course, services of British Engineers were also employed.
The laying of first rails started in 1900-01, from Tuna to Anjar, which became operational in 1905. The works for lines from Anjar to Bhuj started in 1901-02 and completed in 1908. Bhuj to Naliya works started in 1915 and completed in 1918 and Varsamedi (near Anjar ) to Kandla started in end of 1930 and completed in 1932. All these lines were laid by members of Mistris of Kutch, who were expert in this field in those years.
The Cutch State Railways continued to operate as separate system ( even after independence of India & merger of Princely State of Cutch ) from 15 August 1947 till the railway was merged into the Western Railway
Western Railway (India)
The Western Railway is one of the 16 zones of Indian Railways, and is among the busiest railway networks in India. The major railway routes of Indian Railways which come under Western Railways are: Ratlam - Mumbai Central, Surat - Mumbai, Surat - Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad - Vadodara and Palanpur -...
on 5 November 1951, at which time the total length was 72 miles.