Gujarat: Asia’s First Narrow-Gauge Railway Line Which Opened In 1862 To Soon Become Broad-Gauge 

The 33-km Dabhoi-Miyagam line, India’s first narrow gauge railway stretch which started operations in 1862, is set to be broadened. The decision to broaden it was first announced just weeks after the Railways identified it as one of the five narrow gauge lines that can be preserved to promote heritage tourism.

This week, the Western Railways has written to the Railways Board highlighting that the work of converting this line into broad gauge and linking it to the main line was sanctioned in 2011-12, and that portions of the work have already started.

The line, which was closed on 15 July this year, was designed by a British engineer named A W Ford. When it started operation, coaches were pulled by oxen. However, steam engines were deployed in the year 1863, when Maharaja Khanderao of Baroda State purchased three steam locomotives built by Glasgow-based Neilson and Company.

Apart from this, the other lines which were identified for preservation are the Miyagam-Malsar line, the Charonda-Moti Karal line, the Pratap Nagar-Jambusar line and the Bilmora-Waghi line.

Now a days commercial narrow gauge lines are virtually non-existent, with the their usage being mainly restricted to tourist trails.