Sahibganj Loop
Encyclopedia
The Sahibganj Loop is a railway line connecting Khana Junction
and Kiul Junction
. Originally a part of the Howrah-Delhi main line
, it was opened to traffic in 1866. With the construction of a shorter railway line for a part of the route, the 410 kilometres (254.8 mi) stretch was assigned a separate identity.
in England.
The East Indian Railway Company
which was formed on 1 June 1845, completed its survey for a railway line from Kolkata, then called Calcutta, to Delhi via Mirzapur in 1846. The company initially became defunct on refusal of government guarantee, which was given in 1949. Thereafter, an agreement was signed between East Indian Railway Company and the East India Company, for the construction and operation of an “experimental” line between Kolkata and Rajmahal, which would later be extended to Delhi via Mirzapur. Construction began in 1851.
On 15 August 1854, the first passenger train in the eastern section was operated up to Hooghly
, 39 kilometres (24.2 mi) away. On 1 February 1855 the first train ran from Hooghly to Raniganj
, 195 kilometres (121.2 mi) from Howrah.The priority accorded to the Raniganj section was because of the assurance of coal transportation.
The Khana Junction-Rajmahal section was complete in October 1859, crossing Ajay River
on the way.
The first train ran from Howrah to Rajmahal via Khana on 4 July 1860.The Loop from Khana Junction to Kiul via Jamalpur, including the Monghyr branch, was ready in February 1862.
From Rajmahal, construction progressed rapidly, moving westward along the banks of the Ganges, reaching Bhagalpur in 1861, Munger in February 1862, and opposite Varanasi (across the Ganges) in December 1862 and then on to Naini on the bank of the Yamuna
. The work included EIR’s first tunnel at Jamalpur and first major bridge
across the Son River
at Arrah.
During 1863-64, work progressed rapidly on the Allahabad-Kanpur-Tundla and Aligarh-Ghaziabad sections. The Yamuna bridge near Delhi was completed in 1864 and EIR established the Delhi terminus. The Yamuna bridge at Allahabad opened on 15 August 1865 and in 1866 Kolkata and Delhi were directly linked. The 1 Dn/ 2 Up Mail started running.
With the completion of the 406 kilometres (252.3 mi) long line connecting Raniganj with Kiul in 1871, a “shorter main line” was in position. Initially, it was called the chord line. However, as it attracted more traffic it was designated the main line and the original line became the Sahibganj loop.
Work on the new 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) long Rampurhat-Dumka-Mander Hill broad gauge line is progressing.
, passing through Jamalpur was under construction. It was felt that communities of gun smiths and other craftsmen in the area handling mechanical engineering jobs could pick up the skills required in a railway workshop. It undertook repairs of wagons, coaches, cranes and tower cars, and locomotives, as well as manufacture of some tower cars, break-down cranes and various kinds of heavy-duty lifting jacks. They also produced their own locomotives, starting with the CA 764 'Lady Curzon' in 1899. It has also produced ticket printers and other ticket machines (slitting, counting, and chopping). With fairly extensive workshop facilities, it was a fairly self-contained .
Khana Junction
Khana Junction is a railway station in Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision of Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-History:During the middle of the nineteenth century, M/s Carr, Tagore & Company transported coal from Narayankuri ghat on the Damodar River to Kolkata, then known as...
and Kiul Junction
Kiul junction
Kiul Junction is one of the major railway junctions in Eastern Railway.-Overview:Kiul is located on the bank of Kiul river in Lakhisarai district of Bihar...
. Originally a part of the Howrah-Delhi main line
Howrah-Delhi main line
The Howrah-Delhi main line is a railway line connecting Delhi and Kolkata cutting across northern India. The railway line was opened to traffic in 1866 with the introduction of the 1 Dn/ 2 Up Mail.The first Rajdhani Express, the most prestigious train of the country, had its maiden run on this...
, it was opened to traffic in 1866. With the construction of a shorter railway line for a part of the route, the 410 kilometres (254.8 mi) stretch was assigned a separate identity.
History
Railway transportation was introduced in India within 30 years of its maiden runStockton and Darlington Railway
The Stockton and Darlington Railway , which opened in 1825, was the world's first publicly subscribed passenger railway. It was 26 miles long, and was built in north-eastern England between Witton Park and Stockton-on-Tees via Darlington, and connected to several collieries near Shildon...
in England.
The East Indian Railway Company
East Indian Railway Company
The East Indian Railway Company, later known as the East Indian Railway , introduced railways to eastern and northern India, while the Companies such as the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, South Indian Railway, Central India Railway and the North-Western Railway operated in other parts of India...
which was formed on 1 June 1845, completed its survey for a railway line from Kolkata, then called Calcutta, to Delhi via Mirzapur in 1846. The company initially became defunct on refusal of government guarantee, which was given in 1949. Thereafter, an agreement was signed between East Indian Railway Company and the East India Company, for the construction and operation of an “experimental” line between Kolkata and Rajmahal, which would later be extended to Delhi via Mirzapur. Construction began in 1851.
On 15 August 1854, the first passenger train in the eastern section was operated up to Hooghly
Hugli-Chuchura
Hugli-Chuchura is a city in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies on the Hooghly River, 35 km north of Kolkata . It is located in the district of Hugli and is home to the district headquarters. Chuchura houses the Commissioner of the Burdwan Range...
, 39 kilometres (24.2 mi) away. On 1 February 1855 the first train ran from Hooghly to Raniganj
Raniganj
Raniganj is a city and a municipality in Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:Raniganj is located at . It has an average elevation of 91 metres ....
, 195 kilometres (121.2 mi) from Howrah.The priority accorded to the Raniganj section was because of the assurance of coal transportation.
The Khana Junction-Rajmahal section was complete in October 1859, crossing Ajay River
Ajay River
The Ajay River is a major river in Jharkhand and West Bengal. The word “Ajay” means “not conquered”.-Geography:The Ajay River originates on a small hill about 300 metres high, south west of Munger in Bihar. It then flows through Jharkhand and enters West Bengal at Simjuri, near Chittaranjan...
on the way.
The first train ran from Howrah to Rajmahal via Khana on 4 July 1860.The Loop from Khana Junction to Kiul via Jamalpur, including the Monghyr branch, was ready in February 1862.
From Rajmahal, construction progressed rapidly, moving westward along the banks of the Ganges, reaching Bhagalpur in 1861, Munger in February 1862, and opposite Varanasi (across the Ganges) in December 1862 and then on to Naini on the bank of the Yamuna
Yamuna
The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
. The work included EIR’s first tunnel at Jamalpur and first major bridge
Koilwar bridge
Koilwar Bridge, now named Abdul Bari Bridge, at Koilwar spans the River Sone. The bridge has been named after Professor Abdul Bari.The Koilwar Bridge is amongst the older of the longer bridges in this subcontinent. Although construction started in 1856, it was disrupted by uprisings in 1857 and...
across the Son River
Son River
Son River of central India is the largest of the Ganges' southern tributaries. A British 1850s diary shows that the river was written in English as Soane.-Course:...
at Arrah.
During 1863-64, work progressed rapidly on the Allahabad-Kanpur-Tundla and Aligarh-Ghaziabad sections. The Yamuna bridge near Delhi was completed in 1864 and EIR established the Delhi terminus. The Yamuna bridge at Allahabad opened on 15 August 1865 and in 1866 Kolkata and Delhi were directly linked. The 1 Dn/ 2 Up Mail started running.
With the completion of the 406 kilometres (252.3 mi) long line connecting Raniganj with Kiul in 1871, a “shorter main line” was in position. Initially, it was called the chord line. However, as it attracted more traffic it was designated the main line and the original line became the Sahibganj loop.
Developments
Large portions of the Sahibganj Loop are still having single track. Twenty-one pairs of trains ply on the single track between Bhagalpur and Sahibganj. Work for doubling the 111 kilometres (69 mi) stretch started in 2010.Work on the new 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) long Rampurhat-Dumka-Mander Hill broad gauge line is progressing.
Jamalpur Workshop
Jamalpur Workshop, the first full-fledged railway workshop facility in India, was opened on 8 February 1862, at a time when the Howrah-Delhi main lineHowrah-Delhi main line
The Howrah-Delhi main line is a railway line connecting Delhi and Kolkata cutting across northern India. The railway line was opened to traffic in 1866 with the introduction of the 1 Dn/ 2 Up Mail.The first Rajdhani Express, the most prestigious train of the country, had its maiden run on this...
, passing through Jamalpur was under construction. It was felt that communities of gun smiths and other craftsmen in the area handling mechanical engineering jobs could pick up the skills required in a railway workshop. It undertook repairs of wagons, coaches, cranes and tower cars, and locomotives, as well as manufacture of some tower cars, break-down cranes and various kinds of heavy-duty lifting jacks. They also produced their own locomotives, starting with the CA 764 'Lady Curzon' in 1899. It has also produced ticket printers and other ticket machines (slitting, counting, and chopping). With fairly extensive workshop facilities, it was a fairly self-contained .