Kollam–Sengottai branch line

Kollam–Sengottai branch line
Meter Gauge Train passing through Thirteen- Arch Railway Bridge
Overview
Type	Express train Passenger train
Status	Partly Operational
Locale	Tamil Nadu Kerala
Termini	Kollam Junction Sengottai
Stations	17
Services	8
Website	www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Operation
Opened	26 November 1904; 112 years ago (1904-11-26)
Owner	Indian Railways
Operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Depot(s)	Kollam Ernakulam Golden Rock
Technical
Line length	88.7 km (55.1 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (Kollam Junction – Punalur section)
Old gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Loading gauge	4,725 mm × 3,660 mm (15 ft 6.0 in × 12 ft 0.1 in) (BG)
Operating speed	31 km/h (19 mph)
Route number	63
Route map km to Trivandrum Central 0 Kollam Junction to Kayamkulam Junction TVC MDU limits 6 Kilikollur 8 Chandanattop Halt 13 Kundara 15 Kundara East 19 Ezhukone 25 Kottarakara 30 Kuri 37 Auvaneeswarem 45 Punalur Kallada River 55 Edamann 63 Ottakkal 66 Thenmala 13 arch bridge Achankoil River 70 Kazhuthurutty 77 Edapalayam 79 Aryankavu Kerala Tamil Nadu 87 Bhagavathipuram 93 Sengottai 102 Tenkasi Junction to Virudhunagar Junction to Tirunelveli Junction This diagram:

The Kollam–Sengottai branch line (formerly known as Quilon–Shencottah or Quilon–Chenkotta line) is a railway line in South India which connects Kollam Junction in Kerala state and Sengottai (also spelled Shenkottai, Chengottai, Chenkottai, Senkottai) in Tamil Nadu. The Quilon–Shencottah railway line was the first railway line in the erstwhile Travancore state and is more than a century old. The Kollam–Sengottai section is part of the Kollam–Chennai meter gauge rail route commissioned by the British in 1904. The line has been partially converted to broad gauge. Currently, the railway line is operational from Kollam Junction to Edamann.

The Kollam-Sengottai metre gauge line was conceived and implemented by Maharajah Uthram Thirunal of Travancore. The railway line was built jointly by South Indian Railway Company, Travancore State and the Madras Presidency. After a survey in 1888, work started in 1900 and was completed by 1902. The first goods train travelled on this route in 1902 while the first passenger train began its run in 1904. Meter gauge services were inaugurated on 1 July 1904 with the first passenger train flagged off from Kollam by Maharajah Moolam Thirunal of Travancore with a 21-gun salute. The railway line was constructed by the British in the foothills of the Western Ghats to transport forest products, spices and cashews from Kollam to Chennai, their southern headquarters.