Railways in Jharia Coalfield

Jharia Coalfield has a series of railway lines covering the region lying between the Grand Chord line on the north and the Damodar river in the south. It consists of five lines of which four are managed by East Central Railway's Dhanbad railway division and one is managed by theSouth Eastern Railway's Adra railway division.

Railways in Jharia Coalfield
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleJharia Coalfield, Jharkhand
Operation
Opened1894
OwnerIndian Railway
Operator(s)Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway
Technical
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad Gauge
Electrification1960-61 onwards with 25 kV AC overhead
Route map

km
km
to Barkakana
0
to Gaya
to Bokaro
0
30
50
 N.S.C Bose Gomoh
Chandrapura
34
17
5
 Kochargara
(from Gomoh)
9
 Telo
(from Gomoh)
Chandrapura TPS
Patrakulhi Colliery
Dugda Coal Washery
30
 Dugda Halt
Dhanabd-Chandrapura
line
44
 Khario Halt
KKC Main Siding
Jamunia River
39
 Khanudih
KKC Link Siding
Jamuniatanr Halt
27
Adra-Gomoh line
Jamuni Halt
24
37
 Benidih
22
 Phulwartanr
21
 Budora Halt
Jamuniatand
38
Tundu Colliery
18
 Tundu Halt
Kharkhari
35
24
 Ramakunda Halt
Malkera-Kharkhari
defunct loop line
Mucheraidih
32
Dhanbad-Chandrapura line
Mahuda Junction
30
20
 Matari
Murulidih Colliery
to Talgaria
0
17
 Sonardih Halt
Moonidih Colliery
14
 Tentulia
Malkera
24
15
 Nichitpur
Malkera-Katrasgarh
defunct colliery line
Katrasgarh
13
Salanpur Colliery
Angarpathra Halt
11
Sijua
10
Dhanbad-Gomoh line
Bansjora
08
Baseria Halt
06
9
 Tetulmari
Kendua Colliery
Kusunda
04
Kusunda-Jharia branch
line (dismantled)
4
 Bhuli Block Hut
Diamond Crossing of
defunct Dhanbad-Jharia line
0
 Dhanbad
Adra-Gomoh line
5
 Dokra Halt
to New Giridih
under construction
9
 Pradhankhunta Junction
TSBD Colliery
to Asansol
Tata Sijua
20
Kankanee Colliery
Layabad
18
Pradhankhunta-Pathardih
line
Dhanbad-Jharia-Pathardih
line (dismantled)
Layabad Coking plant
K.S.T Siding
Karkend
16
2
 Dhansar Halt
Pootkee Colliery
4
 Bastakulha Halt
6
 Nayakanali Halt
Ballihari Colliery
7
 Jharia
Jitpur Colliery
8
 Kujama Halt
Bhaga Goods Shed
9
 Lodna
Bhaga
10
10
 Bagdigi Halt
11
 Barari Bazar Halt
Jamadoba Halt
07
Barari Colliery
14
 Rakshitpur
C.K. Siding
JBO Washery
Patherdih-Rakshitpur loop
under construction
Mohalboni
06
14
 Patherdih Bazar
Bhowrah
04
16
27
 Patherdih Junction
22
 Sindri Block Hut
Pathardih Washery
Sudamdih Washery
Chasnalla Colliery
25
 Sindri Marshalling Yard
Sudamdih
00
30
27
 Sindri Town
to Bhojudih
0
Sindri FCI siding
km
Sources:

[1] [2]

History

It was possible to develop mining in the Jharia Coalfield in the late nineteenth century primarily because of the introduction of railways. East Indian Railway Company extended the Grand Chord to Katrasgarh via Dhanbad in 1894.[3]

The Bengal Nagpur Railway extended its then mainline, the Nagpur-Asansol line, to Netaji SC Bose Gomoh, on EIR’s Grand Chord, in 1907. The Mahuda Junction-Chandrapura branch line was opened in 1913.[4]

The District Gazetteer of Manbhum noted that : "There is a network of railway line in this district passing through colliery area. Grand Chord Line of the Eastern Railway and branch line of South Eastern Railway pass through this district from Gomoh Junction two railway line one of the Eastern Railway and another of the south Eastern Railway branch off, one going to Dehri on Sone (Shahabad) via Barkakana and another from Gomoh to Adra (Purulia district). There are branch lines in both the railway for carrying coal to different places in the country." [5]

EIR had four major sections:
(1) Kumardhubi-Gomoh section,
(2) Pradhankhanta-Pathardih section (15 km), opened in 1913,
(3) Dhanbad-Phularitand section (21.6 km), opened in 1894 to Katrasgarh and extended to Phularitand in 1924,
(4) Dhanbad-Pathardih section opened in 1903.[5]

BNR had one-section from Sudamdih to Gomoh.[5]

Sections

Apart from the numerous branch lines which serve the various collieries in the area, there are 5 major sections:

  1. Dhanbad-N.S.C Bose Gomoh line (part of the Asansol–Gaya section of the Grand Chord)
  2. Dhanbad-Chandrapura line
  3. Dhanbad-Jharia-Pathardih line (now dismantled due to underground fires)
  4. Pradhankhunta-Pathardih-Sindri Town branch line
  5. Sudamdih-N.S.C Bose Gomoh section of the Adra-N.S.C Bose Gomoh line

Electrification

Electrification of the stretch of mainline of this section from Asansol to Netaji SC Bose Gomoh was completed in 1960-61.[6]

Stretches of railway track in the Jharia Coalfield were electrified from time to time. Dhanbad-Kusunda-Tetulmari was electrified in 1961-62. The Santaldih-Pathardih-Sudamdih-Jamadoba sector was electrified in 1965-66. The Bhojudih-Netaji SC Bose Gomoh stretch was electrified in 1985-86. The Netaji SC Bose Gomoh-Chandrapura-Bhandaridah-Rajabera sector was electrified in 1986-87. The Chandrapura-Jamuniatanr-Mahuda sector was electrified in 1986-87. The Tupkadih-Talgoria sector was electrified in 1987-88.[6]

References
  1. "Adra Division Railway Map". South Eastern Railway.
  2. "East Coast Railway System Map" (PDF). East Coast Railway.
  3. E.R., Gee. "History of Coal Mining in India". pages 314-315. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. "Chapter VII - Communications" (PDF). Dhanbad district administration. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
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