Cutch State Railway

Cutch State Railway (CSR) was an isolated 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway in Cutch State in British India.

The railway was financed by the Maharao Khengarji Bawa of Cutch State. The laying of first rails started in 1900-01, from Tuna to Anjar, which became operational in 1905. The works for lines from Anjar to the then state capital Bhuj started in 1901-02 and completed in 1908. Further addition of 32 miles was done in 1912 from Varsamedi (near Anjar) to Bhachau and further extension of 15 miles up to Kandla port was started in end of 1930 and completed in 1932. The narrow gauge lines of CSR were laid by Mistris of Kutch, of course, services of British Engineers were also employed. The railway was owned, managed and also operated by Cutch State.

In 1940 the railway carried 300,000 passengers, while the main freight traffic was cotton, grain and sugar. The railway used four small 4-4-0 type locomotives, later supplemented by three 25 ton 4-6-0 locomotives. The Maharao owned a petrol railcar designed by Everard Calthrop, which the Maharao Khengarji III used as a shooting car on his hunting expeditions.

The Cutch State Railways continued to operate as separate system (even after independence of India & merger of Princely State of Cutch) till the railway was merged into the Western Railway on 5 November 1951, at which time the total length was 72 miles.

The railway has been connected to Indian railways and is under conversion to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge.

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