Darjeeling Himalayan Railway :: The DHR Timeline

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The DHR Timeline

Adapted from compilation by Richard Wallace and Paul Whittle of DHRS
1858	First record of a proposed railway connection to Darjeeling for a light railway from the Ganges bank opposite Rajmahal (with ferry connection from new East India Railway line on the opposite bank). This was not built.
1878	Franklin Prestage proposes a narrow gauge (2 feet / 610 mm) hill tramway to Darjeeling from the new Northern Bengal Railway terminus at Siliguri. Its purpose is to reduce haulage rates of commodities (such as rice) to Darjeeling and improve the viability of local industries (such as tea production). The Government supports the scheme to reduce road maintenance costs.
1879	Darjeeling Steam Tramway Company commences construction of the rail link to Darjeeling, closely following the existing Hill Cart Road. First 8 locomotives (Class 1 / later Class C) ordered from Sharp Stewart in UK (delivered in 1880).
1880	Lord Lytton (Viceroy of India) visits DHR in March but his special train, hauled by contractor’s locomotive ‘Tiny’, fails short of Tindharia, its destination. In August the line opens to the public between Siliguri (now the Town station) and Kurseong. Larger Class 2 / later Class A locomotives ordered from Sharp Stewart in UK (delivered in 1882/3).
1881	Line extended and opened from Kurseong to Darjeeling in July by Sir Ashley Eden, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. Company renamed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Company.
1882	In the first full year DHR carries 8,000 passengers and 380 tons of freight. To ease the gradients, 4 loops and four zig-zag reverses are constructed between Sukna and Gayabari.
1885	DHR extended from Darjeeling station to bazaar for freight traffic only in June.
1888	The first of the famous ‘B’ Class locomotives ordered from Sharp Stewart (delivered from 1889).
1891	Darjeeling station is enlarged and rebuilt.
1896	Current station and godowns built at Kurseong to replace facilities near Clarendon Hotel
1897	Many homes in Darjeeling and Kurseong damaged by earthquake and tremors. DHR services maintained
1899	On 23rd September a major cyclone devastates the area causing much loss of life. DHR closed for many months.
1905	Traffic on DHR continues to grow with 29,000 passengers and 31,570 tons of freight – bringing increasing numbers of tourists to the region.
1909/10	Growth continues with 174,000 passengers and 47,000 tons of freight. The first bogie carriages enter service, replacing very basic 4-wheel coaches.
1911	The sole Garratt-type of articulated steam loco (built by Beyer Peacock in UK) delivered to DHR
1914	New Tindharia Workshop built (opened in sections over the next year) replacing earlier facilities at Tindharia loco shed. Two larger ‘C’ Class tender locos delivered to operate the forthcoming Kishenganj branch. DHR is now carrying 250,000 passengers and 60,000 tons of freight each year.
1915	Kishenganj branch opened from Siliguri (Panchanai) in May. Teesta Valley branch opened from Siliguri to Gielle Khola (Kalimpong Road) in September. With the continued growth, DHR moves its headquarters from Darjeeling into more spacious accommodation in Kurseong (now the printing works).
1919	Batasia Loop constructed to ease gradient up from Darjeeling to Ghum. The first competitive bus service starts from Siliguri to Darjeeling, making the journey in 1½ hours faster than the train.
1921/22/24	The DHR and Teesta Valley line are used to transport men and equipment for the first attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
1927	Last ‘B’ Class locomotive built and delivered to DHR by North British Locomotive Company in UK.
1930	Despite increasing competition from private cars and buses, DHR continues to prosper with 258,000 passengers and 80,000 tons of freight.
1934	Major earthquake in Bihar shakes all of north east India in January. Many buildings in Darjeeling are heavily damaged and DHR is also badly affected. Temporary reversing station constructed at Batasia so railway can play a vital role in transporting repair materials.
1936	DHR is running 3 through passenger trains per day each way and also local services.
1939-45	The effect of World War II dramatically increases traffic on DHR which plays a vital role in transporting military personnel and supplies to numerous camps around Ghum and Darjeeling. DHR now has 39 working locomotives and Tindharia Workshops, employing almost 400 workers, constructs extra rolling stock – including an ambulance train for wounded soldiers.
1942	Major landslip results in original Loop No. 2 being replaced by new zig-zag reverse.
1943	Last ‘B’ Class locomotive delivered to DHR after transfer from Raipur Forest Tramway. DHR carries 311,000 passengers and 76,000 of freight.
1947	Indian Independence accompanied by Partition and the creation of East and West Pakistan. The direct rail access from Calcutta to Siliguri (for Darjeeling) crosses the new state of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and eventually closes. The old wooden station at Darjeeling is replaced by a modern structure of Indo-Art-Deco style.
1948	Government of India purchases DHR on 20thOctober. The line is absorbed into the Indian Railways organisation.
1949	Kishenganj branch converted to metre-gauge as part of the Assam Rail Link project and opened in December. The direct rail route to Calcutta in diverted this way – albeit with a ferry crossing of the Ganges. Siliguri North (now Siliguri Junction) is opened as the main station in the town.
1950	DHR comes under the management of the Assam Railways zone of Indian Railways. DHR ‘main line’ passenger service diverted to terminate at the new Siliguri Junction station. Teesta Valley branch closes following a major wash-out.
1952	Assam Railways (including DHR) and Oudh &Tirhut Railway regrouped into the North Eastern Railway zone (NER).
1958	The DHR and Assam lines transferred to the newly-created Northeast Frontier Railway zone (NFR).
1962	DHR route realigned between Siliguri Junction and Siliguri Town and roadside running through urban area of Siliguri abandoned. Line extended by approximately 4 miles (6km) from Siliguri Town to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) for freight services.
1964	Passenger service commence on new DHR alignment between Siliguri Junction and NJP to connect with newly-opened broad gauge route to Calcutta. New DHR loco shed opens at NJP to replace that at Siliguri.
1968	Major floods close the line until summer of 1969
1975/80	Extension from Darjeeling station to Bazaar closes (track lifted circa 1984)
1981	New zig-zag reverse constructed immediately north of Chunbhati since regular landslips eroding the earlier formation.
1984	The once important carriage of mail on DHR ceases – beaten by road competition
1988/89	DHR line closed for 18 months due to civil unrest.
1991	Loop No. 1 removed and replaced by plain line
1992	Competition from road haulage and interruption to services in previous years finally ends freight traffic on DHR. Indian Railways prepares to close DHR; To save it, Sherab Tenduf-la (of Windamere Hotel in Darjeeling) sets up DHR Heritage Foundation and organises a series of stakeholder workshops.
1994	Closure plans abandoned
1997	Formation of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society “to promote awareness of, interest in and support for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway”.
1999	DHR granted “World Heritage” status by UNESCO – only the second railway in the World to receive such recognition.
2000	First two diesel locos (Class NDM6) for regular use introduced.
2001	Ghum Museum opened
2002	Conversion of loco 787B burn oil instead of coal. Despite subsequent trials and modifications, the experiment is unsuccessful
2003	DHR route temporarily cut back from NJP to Siliguri Junction as part of metre gauge to broad gauge conversion programme. DHR loco shed at NJP closed and new one constructed at Siliguri Junction. New DHR platform constructed at NJP on site of metre gauge sidings
2004	DHR route between Siliguri Junction and NJP reopens on revised alignment
2005	First of 3 new build of DHR oil-fired steam locos arrives
2006	The historic Elysia Building (former residence of GM/DHR) is rededicated as DHR offices after extensive restoration. Second batch of two Class NDM6 diesel locos transferred from Matheran line. DHR celebrates 125th anniversary with a series of ‘Steam on 3 Gauges’ charter trains at Siliguri Junction.
2007	DHR gets first full-time Director. Testing of new-build, oil-fired steam locos commences but is largely unsuccessful. Loco 1001B eventually rebuilt at Tindharia Workshop (2012) and converted to conventional coal firing. Darjeeling loco shed damaged by landslip (repaired 2009). First batch of fleet of 25 new coaches arrives from Kurduwadi Workshops. Major timetable improvements with addition regular diesel trains and steam tourist trains introduced.
2009	Cyclone hits Darjeeling area and DHR is closed for almost 3 months following many major breaches of the line.
2010	Major landslip at Paglajhora in June; services suspended between Tindharia and Kurseong.
2011	Monsoon rains wreck repair work at Paglajhora. Major landslip at Tindharia severs access to DHR Workshops from both north and south. DHR services only operating Siliguri Junction to Chunbhati and Kurseong to Darjeeling.
2012	Further landslip at Tindhariain June causes collapse of part of the Workshops. One diesel loco, two steam locos and several coaches transferred by road from Siliguri to Kurseong in July to allow for maintenance of stranded rolling stock and introduction / reintroduction of additional trains. Part of Sonada station destroyed by fire in October.
2013	A programme of station rehabilitation starts – with Sukna being the first to be improved.
2014	Line reopened from Kurseong to Mahanadi and, following major reconstruction at Tindharia, from Chunbhati to Gayabari in December.
2015	Whole DHR route from NJP to Darjeeling reopened (February) for the first time since 2010. Death of Sherab Tenduf-la.
2016	Two more Class NDM6 diesel locos transferred from Matheran line. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway revives five 4-wheeled steel freight wagons and put into commercial use.
2017	MOU for CCMP signed between Indian railway and UNESCO at Darjeeling in presence of hon’ble Minister of Railways on 20th January. MOU signed between NFR and M/s HEC, Ranchi for supply of steam loco motive parts in presence of hon’ble Minister of State for Railways on 19th May. All the Stations and Offices DHR remained closed due to agitation in Darjeeling Hill from 12.6.2017 to 26.9.2017. During agitation period miscreant torched GAYABARI, SONADA station
2018	AC Chair Car is introduced in daily Passenger Train between NJP-Darjeeling from 10.04.2018. Vista-dome Type coach is introduced in Joyride from 10.06.2018.
2019	Two days International Exchange Workshop of all three World Heritage Railways had been organized by UNESCO at Darjeeling on 14.05.2019 & 15.05.2019.

Director / DHR
Elysia Place
Kurseong, Dist. Darjeeling
West Bengal, India - 734 203

Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Director / DHR
Camp Office, Siliguri NG LOCO Shed
P.O. Pradhan Nagar
Siliguri Jn, Dist - Darjeeling
West Bengal, India-734003

Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]