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Martin's Light Railways (MLR) consisted of seven
narrow-gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter cur ...
lines in the states of
West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...
,
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
and
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
in India. The railways were built and owned by Martin & Co., which was a British company. Later, it was being operated by Indian government and was permanently shut down in 1980's.


Arrah–Sasaram light railway

The Arrah–Sasaram light railway connecting
Arrah Arrah (also transliterated as Ara) is a city and a municipal corporation in Bhojpur district, India, Bhojpur district (formerly known as Shahabad district) in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the headquarters of Bhojpur district, India, Bhojpur ...
and
Sasaram Sasaram (), also spelled as Shahasaram, is a historical city and a municipal corporation region in the Rohtas district of Bihar state in eastern India. The city served as the capital of the Sur dynasty during Sher Shah Suri's rule over India in ...
in
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
in India was opened in 1914. The railway was built in
narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
and total length was . Due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1978. In 2006–07, the railway was converted to and train services were resumed. The
Broad gauge A broad-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge (the distance between the rails) broader than the used by standard-gauge railways. Broad gauge of , more known as Russian gauge, is the dominant track gauge in former Soviet Union countries ...
railway line is long


Barasat–Basirhat light railway

The Barasat–Basirhat light railway connecting
Barasat Barasat () is a city and a municipality of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of Barasat Sadar subdivision. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (K ...
and
Basirhat Basirhat is a city and a municipal urban region of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Basirhat subdivision. Established on April 1, 1869, Basirhat is one of the oldest municipal board ...
in
West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...
in India was opened in 1914. The railway was built in
narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
and The line was later extended to Hasnabad increasing total length to . But due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1955. In 1962, the long Barasat-Hasnabad section converted to
Broad Gauge A broad-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge (the distance between the rails) broader than the used by standard-gauge railways. Broad gauge of , more known as Russian gauge, is the dominant track gauge in former Soviet Union countries ...
with a new alignment. and train services were resumed. The route is now part of the Kolkata Suburban railway. The old Shyambazar (Belgachia)-Beliaghata Bridge branch line was abandoned. An extension of to Hingalganj was proposed in the Railway Budget of 2011.


Bakhtiarpur–Bihar Sharif light railway

The Bakhtiarpur–Bihar light railway connecting Bakhtiarpur in
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
and
Bihar Sharif Bihar Sharif is the headquarters of Nalanda district and the fifth-largest sub-metropolitan area in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Its name is a combination of two words: ''Bihar'', derived from '' vihara'' (meaning monastery), also the nam ...
in state of
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
in India was opened in 1902. The line was later extended to
Rajgir Rajgir, old name Rajagriha, meaning "The City of Kings," is an ancient city and university town in the Nalanda district of Bihar, India. It was the capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty, the Maurya ...
. The railway was built in
narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
and total length was . It was further extended to
Rajgir Rajgir, old name Rajagriha, meaning "The City of Kings," is an ancient city and university town in the Nalanda district of Bihar, India. It was the capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty, the Maurya ...
. In 1962, the railway was converted to
Broad Gauge A broad-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge (the distance between the rails) broader than the used by standard-gauge railways. Broad gauge of , more known as Russian gauge, is the dominant track gauge in former Soviet Union countries ...
and train services were resumed. New long railway tracks from
Bihar Sharif Bihar Sharif is the headquarters of Nalanda district and the fifth-largest sub-metropolitan area in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Its name is a combination of two words: ''Bihar'', derived from '' vihara'' (meaning monastery), also the nam ...
to
Sheikhpura Sheikhpura is a town and a municipality in Sheikhpura district in the Indian state of Bihar. Sheikhpura is also an administrative headquarter of Sheikhpura district. Postal code PIN code of Sheikhpura post office is 811105. Postal code for ...
,
Bihar Sharif Bihar Sharif is the headquarters of Nalanda district and the fifth-largest sub-metropolitan area in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Its name is a combination of two words: ''Bihar'', derived from '' vihara'' (meaning monastery), also the nam ...
to Daniyawan,
Rajgir Rajgir, old name Rajagriha, meaning "The City of Kings," is an ancient city and university town in the Nalanda district of Bihar, India. It was the capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty, the Maurya ...
to Tillaiya & Islampur to Natesar have been made.


Fatuha–Islampur light railway

The Fatuha–Islampur light railway connecting Fatuha and Islampur in
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
was opened in 1922. The railway was built in
narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
and total length was .Whetham, Bob 1996 ''In Search of the Narrow Gauge''. Sono Nis Press, Victoria BC.Hughes, Hugh 1994 ''Indian Locomotives Pt. 3, Narrow Gauge 1863-1940''. Continental Railway Circle. The railway ran parallel to road for almost its entire route. The line operated three 0-6-2T locomotives constructed by
Manning Wardle Manning Wardle was a steam locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Precursor companies The city of Leeds was one of the earliest centres of locomotive building; Matthew Murray built the first commercially ...
of Leeds.Whetham, Bob 1996 ''In Search of the Narrow Gauge''. Sono Nis Press, Victoria BC.Hughes, Hugh 1994 ''Indian Locomotives Pt. 3, Narrow Gauge 1863-1940''. Continental Railway Circle. Due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1987. Later, the railway was converted to
Broad Gauge A broad-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge (the distance between the rails) broader than the used by standard-gauge railways. Broad gauge of , more known as Russian gauge, is the dominant track gauge in former Soviet Union countries ...
and train services were resumed. Futwah station is now called Fatuha. New long railway tracks from Bihar Sharif to Sheikhpura, Bihar Sharif to Daniyawan, Rajgir to Tillaiya & Islampur to Natesar have been made.


Howrah–Amta light railway

The Howrah–
Amta Amta is a census town in Amta I CD Block in Uluberia subdivision of Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It's located about 40 km southwest of Kolkata. Geography Amta is located at . Demographics As per 2011 Census of Indi ...
light railway had its origin in an agreement, dated 12 June 1889 between the District Board of Howrah and Messrs. Walsh, Lovett & Co., which was subsequently renewed with Messrs. Martin & Co., and sanctioned by Government notification in the Calcutta Gazette of 27 March 1895. This was one of the Martin lines which was on 2'0" gauge instead of the more common 2'6". The railway connecting
Howrah Howrah (; ; alternatively spelled as Haora) is a city in the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite to its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively ...
and
Amta Amta is a census town in Amta I CD Block in Uluberia subdivision of Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It's located about 40 km southwest of Kolkata. Geography Amta is located at . Demographics As per 2011 Census of Indi ...
in
West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...
was opened up to
Domjur Domjur is a census town in Domjur CD Block of Howrah Sadar subdivision in Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Geography Domjur is located at . It has an average elevation of 11 metres (36 feet). Demographics As per ...
in 1897, and to Amta in 1900. An extension from Bargachhia (Bargachha) Junction to
Antpur Antpur is a village in the Jangipara (community development block), Jangipara community development block of the Srirampore subdivision in the Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is around from Tarakeswar. The nearest railwa ...
was opened in 1903, and a further extension to
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
in 1905. The total length of the railway was . Both the Howrah- Amta and Howrah-Seakhala lines used to start from Howrah NG (Telkal Ghat) Station (near Howrah Rail Museum) on the Hooghly river, running to Dasnagar station. Here they separate, the Howrah-Seakhala & Janai line running North-West along the Benaras Road to Seakhala & Janai in Hooghly district. The Howrah–Amta line runs west, chiefly along the side of the Jagatballavpur Road, and then goes south-west to Amta, with a long branch line to
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
from Bargachhia (Bargachha) Junction. At various times of the narrow gauge operations, the passenger trains started from different places. In the 1943 Indian Bradshaw they were shown as running from Kadamtala with Dasnagar as junction where line bifurcates towards
Amta Amta is a census town in Amta I CD Block in Uluberia subdivision of Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It's located about 40 km southwest of Kolkata. Geography Amta is located at . Demographics As per 2011 Census of Indi ...
/
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
& Seakhala. Martin Rail Company planned to link
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
with Seakhala in 1945 but the 1946 Calcutta Riots put a stop to the plan. Now West Bengal State Highway 15 (Rani Ahilyabai Holkar Road) runs in place of old
Narrow Gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
line connecting
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
with Seakhala. The management decided to close the line from 1 January 1971 and in view of the growing demand of local people for a railway service, the Indian Railways agreed to construct a broad-gauge-way from Howrah to Amta & Champadanga. The railway was converted to
Broad Gauge A broad-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge (the distance between the rails) broader than the used by standard-gauge railways. Broad gauge of , more known as Russian gauge, is the dominant track gauge in former Soviet Union countries ...
in phase starting from 1984 and completing in 2000 with a slightly different alignment. Only the Howrah–Amta long section was rebuilt, while the long branch line from Bargachhia Junction to
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
with extension to
Tarakeswar Tarakeswar is a famous sacred city and a municipality in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Tarakeswar is called "Baba Dham" or "The city of Shiva". It is one of the major tourist and holy place of West Bengal as well as India ...
is under planning since 2001. Work in long line from Bargachhia (Bargachha) Junction to
Tarakeswar Tarakeswar is a famous sacred city and a municipality in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Tarakeswar is called "Baba Dham" or "The city of Shiva". It is one of the major tourist and holy place of West Bengal as well as India ...
via
Antpur Antpur is a village in the Jangipara (community development block), Jangipara community development block of the Srirampore subdivision in the Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is around from Tarakeswar. The nearest railwa ...
&
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
is delayed. There was some construction of a new alignment from Howrah station which utilized the existing route up to Santragachhi Junction and skipped some of the older stations up to Makardaha, while new stations came up on this alignment at Bankra Nayabaz, Baltikuri Junction, Kona, Dansi and Jhaluarber. While some stations from the old line have been retained, some stations on the rebuilt line are at new locations. But the new BG alignment measures the exact as the old NG alignment. This route is now part of
Kolkata Suburban Railway The Kolkata Suburban Railway (colloquially called Kolkata local trains or simply locals) is a suburban rail, suburban and regional rail system serving the Kolkata metropolitan area and its surroundings in West Bengal, India. Its network has 45 ...
. It has been electrified and EMU local trains run between Howrah and Amta. This route now comes under the jurisdiction of the South Eastern Railway.


Howrah–Seakhala light railway

The Howrah–Sheakhala light railway had its origin in an agreement, dated 12 June 1889 between the District Board of Howrah and Messrs. Walsh, Lovett & Co., which was subsequently renewed with Messrs. Martin & Co., and sanctioned by Government notification in the Calcutta Gazette of 27 March 1895. Like the Howrah–Amta light railway, this was of 2'0" gauge. The railway connecting
Howrah Howrah (; ; alternatively spelled as Haora) is a city in the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite to its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively ...
and Seakhala in
West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...
was opened in November 1897 and the long
Chanditala Chanditala is a village in Chanditala II community development block of Srirampore subdivision in Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. Demographics As per the 2011 Census of India, Chanditala had a population of 3,984 of wh ...
-Janai Branch Line was opened in 1898. The total length of the railway was . Both the long Howrah- Amta and the long Howrah-Seakhala lines started from Howrah NG (Telkal Ghat) Station (near Howrah rail Museum) on the Hooghly river, running to Dasnagar station. Here they separate, the Howrah-Seakhala line running north-west along the Benaras road to Seakhala in Hooghly district. The Howrah–Amta line runs west, chiefly along the side of the Jagatballabhpur road, and then goes south-west to Amta. In the 1943 Indian Bradshaw they were shown as running from Kadamtala with Dasnagar as junction where line bifurcates towards
Amta Amta is a census town in Amta I CD Block in Uluberia subdivision of Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It's located about 40 km southwest of Kolkata. Geography Amta is located at . Demographics As per 2011 Census of Indi ...
/
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
& Seakhala. Martin Rail Company planned to link
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
with Seakhala in 1945 but the 1946 Calcutta Riots put a stop to the plan. Now West Bengal State Highway 15 (Rani Ahilyabai Holkar Road) runs in place of old
Narrow Gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
line connecting
Champadanga Champadanga is a Town in Tarakeswar (community development block), Tarakeswar CD Block in Chandannagore subdivision of Hooghly District, Hooghly district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Geography Champada ...
with Seakhala. While the Howrah–Amta section was reopened as
Broad Gauge A broad-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge (the distance between the rails) broader than the used by standard-gauge railways. Broad gauge of , more known as Russian gauge, is the dominant track gauge in former Soviet Union countries ...
in 2000, the Howrah-Seakhala light railway was permanently closed. The Old alignment of Howrah-Seakhala light railway is made into a State Highway. In 2009, the then Railway minister proposed restoration of Howrah Seakhala NG line in
Broad Gauge A broad-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge (the distance between the rails) broader than the used by standard-gauge railways. Broad gauge of , more known as Russian gauge, is the dominant track gauge in former Soviet Union countries ...
from Dankuni Junction to Seakhala via
Chanditala Chanditala is a village in Chanditala II community development block of Srirampore subdivision in Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. Demographics As per the 2011 Census of India, Chanditala had a population of 3,984 of wh ...
, Janai, Mosat & Furfura Sharif, covering stretch. But this project is facing land problem, political interference & resistance from Furfura Sharif.


Shahdara–Saharanpur light railway

The Shahdara–Saharanpur light railway connecting Shahdara in Delhi and
Saharanpur Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal corporation (India), municipal corporation in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is also the public administration, administrative headquarters of Saharanpur district. Saharanpur city's name was given after the Sain ...
in
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
was opened to traffic in 1907. The railway was built in
narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
and total length was . Due to increasing losses, the railway was closed in 1970. It was later converted to broad gauge by Indira Gandhi's Government on the strong recommendation of then Congress Member of Parliament
Ram Chandra Vikal Ram Chandra Vikal (8 November 1916 in Nayagaon Basantpur, Gautam Buddha Nagar district – 26 June 2011) was a freedom fighter. He was an agriculture minister and was elected twice as a Member of Parliament as well as a five-time Member of the ...
from Baghpat Lok Sabha. After gauge conversion it was reopened in the late 1970s. Although the broad gauge largely follows the same trackbed and alignment as the erstwhile narrow gauge, there is a deviation near Saharanpur. The long broad gauge line takes off south towards Delhi from Tapri Junction on the main line, while the narrow gauge line did not touch Tapri at all. Tapri Junction is located from
Saharanpur Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal corporation (India), municipal corporation in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is also the public administration, administrative headquarters of Saharanpur district. Saharanpur city's name was given after the Sain ...
. Other than that, all the stations are the same as before.


Classification

The Martin's Light Railways were labeled as Class III railways according to Indian Railway Classification System of 1926. Only the Shahdara–Saharanpur light railway was classified as Class II.


References


External links


List of trains between Barasat and Hasanabad Junction

Trains at Shamli
{{North 24 Parganas topics 2 ft 6 in gauge railways in India 2 ft gauge railways in India Defunct railway companies of India Railway lines opened in 1914 Railway lines opened in 1922 Railway lines closed in 1987 Transport in Kolkata Rail transport in Howrah Transport in Saharanpur Transport in Delhi History of rail transport in West Bengal History of rail transport in Bihar History of rail transport in Uttar Pradesh Indian companies established in 1922 Indian companies disestablished in 1987 Railway companies established in 1914 Railway companies disestablished in 1987