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 the South Eastern Railway's Adra railway division.

Railways in Jharia Coalfield
Pradhan Khunta Junction an important railway station on Jharia Coalfield Railways area
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleJharia Coalfield, Jharkhand
Service
Operator(s)Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway
History
Opened1894
Technical
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification1960–61 onwards with 25 kV AC overhead
Route map

km
km
0Up arrow
0Left arrow
Up arrow
50
0
N.S.C Bose Gomoh
Chandrapura
34
17
5
Kochargara
9
Telo
Patrakulhi Colliery
Dugda Halt
30
44
Khario Halt
Dugda Coal Washery
KKC main siding
Dhanbad-Chandrapura
line
39
Khanudih
KKC link siding
Jamuniatanr Halt
27
37
Benidih
Jamuni Halt
24
22
Phulwartanr
Adra-Gomoh line
21
Budora Halt
Tundu Colliery
Jamuniatand
38
18
Tundu Halt
Kharkhari
35
24
Ramakunda Halt
Mucheraidih
32
Malkera–Kharkhari
defunct loop line
Mahuda Junction
30
20
Matari
Murulidih Colliery
17
Sonardih Halt
0Left arrow
15
Nichitpur
Moonidih Colliery
14
Tentulia
Malkera
24
Dhanbad–Chandrapura line
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
4
Bhuli Block Hut
Kusunda–Jharia branch
line (dismantled)
Dhanbad–Jharia line
former diamond crossing
0
Dhanbad
Adra–Gomoh line
5
Dokra Halt
Up arrow
Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line
to New Giridih
(under construction)
 
9
Pradhankhunta Junction
TSBD Colliery
LowerRight arrow
Tata Sijua
20
Kankanee Colliery
Pradhankhunta–Pathardih
line
Layabad
18
14
Rakshitpur
Layabad Coking plant
Dhanbad–Jharia–Pathardih
line (dismantled)
K.S.T. siding
2
Dhansar Halt
Karkend
16
4
Bastakulha Halt
Pootkee Colliery
6
Nayakanali Halt
Bhaga Goods Shed
7
Jharia
Bhaga
10
8
Kujama Halt
Ballihari Colliery
9
Lodna
Jitpur Colliery
10
Bagdigi Halt
11
Barari Bazar Halt
Jamadoba Halt
07
Barari Colliery
C.K. Siding
JBO Washery
22
Sindri Block Hut
Mohalboni
06
14
Patherdih Bazar
Bhowrah
04
16
3
Patherdih Junction
Pathardih Washery
Sudamdih Washery
Chasnalla Colliery
25
Sindri Marshalling Yard
Sudamdih
00
27
Sindri Town
0Down arrow
Sindri FCI siding
km
km
Sources:

[1] [2]

History

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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:

  • Kumardhubi–Gomoh section
  • Pradhankhanta–Pathardih section (15 km), opened in 1913
  • Dhanbad–Phularitand section (21.6 km), opened in 1894 to Katrasgarh and extended to Phularitand in 1924
  • Dhanbad–Pathardih section opened in 1903.[5]

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

Sections

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

  1. DhanbadN.S.C. Bose Gomoh line (part of the Asansol–Gaya section of the Grand Chord)
  2. DhanbadChandrapura line
  3. Dhanbad–Jharia–Pathardih line (now dismantled due to underground fires)
  4. Pradhankhunta–Pathardih–Sindri Town branch line
  5. SudamdihN.S.C Bose Gomoh section of the AdraN.S.C. Bose Gomoh line

Electrification

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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

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  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. ^ a b c "Chapter VII - Communications" (PDF). Dhanbad district administration. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 24 April 2013.