Barsi Light Railway - Construction

Construction

In 1895 the negotiations that began in 1887 were finally successful and Calthrop formed a new company to build the Barsi Light Railway, employing himself as consulting engineer. The railway became a showcase for his ideas. Five 0-8-4T locomotives (with even distribution of axle load) were constructed to Calthrop's specification by Kitson and Company. The goods rolling stock was constructed on common 25 by 7 ft (7.62 by 2.13 m) pressed-steel underframes, reducing tare weight and maximising wagon loads. Calthrop recognised the importance of railways in warfare, and designed the rolling stock to facilitate the movement of troops and equipment. Rolling stock rode on pressed-steel Fox bogies, using the Timmis system of double coiled springs. The line was constructed with rail inclination (then a new idea), which involves tilting the rail a few degrees to make its surface more nearly parallel with that of the rim of the wheels. Inclination is now applied universally to railways.

Prior to shipment of the rolling stock to India, Calthrop and the Leeds Forge Company, manufacturer of the rolling stock, conducted tests on a specially built test track located at Newlay, near Leeds. The line was opened for inspection by railway officials and journalists, and a number of reports were published in the technical railway press.

The Barsi Light Railway opened in 1897, and was extended on a number of occasions until it reached a total length of 202 mi (325 km) in 1927. It is regarded as having revolutionised the narrow-gauge railway system on the Indian subcontinent; the railway was immensely successful, establishing Calthrop as one of the leading figures in the field. Calthrop remained Consulting Engineer until he retired, due to ill health, two years before his death. The Barsi Light Railway continued to be operated as a privately owned railway until 1954, when it was purchased by the Indian government; it continued to operate as a narrow-gauge railway until conversion to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) (Indian gauge) began in the late 1990s as part of Indian Railways' conversion program for all metre gauge and narrow-gauge lines. This is now closed but the remnants are visible all along the route. The new BG line was completed on 19 October 2008 and is largely on a totally new alignment.