Bankura-Damodar Railway
Bankura-Damodar Railway (also called as Bankura Damodar River Railway) connecting Bankura and Rainagar in Bankura and Bardhaman districts in now West Bengal was opened to traffic in sections between 15 December 1916 and 6 June 1917.[8] The railway was built in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge and total length was 97 kilometres (60 mi).[9][2] The railway was known as Bankura Damodar Railway, as it used to terminate at Rainagar, which was on banks of Damodar River. People used to take ferries to cross river to go on other side.
The...
more... standard locomotive for BDR was a powerful 0-6-4T design but during the first world war some 2-6-2T engines were also obtained from Stafford company of Bagnall, same as was ordered for the Egyptian Delta Light Railways (and hence known as the Delta class). The 1953 additions were also of this type. There were two Sentinel locomotives; one (No.8) is now preserved at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi. A steam loco shed at Bankura served the narrow gauge line.[10]
The BDR services were withdrawn in 1995 after it incurred huge losses due to higher maintenance costs, falling passenger numbers as well as falling freight.[11] In 2005, the 120 kilometers long railway section was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge and train services were resumed. Extended part to Mosagram was opened in 2012 to connect Howrah Bardhhaman Chord Line .