GBSR – Gaekwars Baroda State Railways

Dabhoi, Railway, Vadodara-Baroda By 2 Comments

The ‘Gaekwar’s Baroda State Railway (GBSR)’ was the first narrow-gauge railway line in India. Owned by the princely state of Baroda, it was the first railway built & operated by a native Prince.

Railway in Baroda:

The first rail tracks were laid during the reign of Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwar, & the 20-mile railway line from Dabhoi to Miyagam was opened in 1862. Initially, oxen(s) were used to haul the train as rails were not suited for the regular use of a steam locomotive.

In 1873 the Dabhoi-Miyagam line was re-laid with stronger rails to allow locomotives to be used. Over the years Dabhoi became the focal point of a rail network that extended to Chandod, Jambusar, ChhotaUdepur, Timba etc. Dabhoi was one of the Biggest Narrow Gauge Junctions of the World & had a Huge Narrow Gauge steam Shed. GBSR also built other narrow gauge lines starting from Petlad.

A Second Narrow Gauge division in Navsari was set up by GBSR with two isolated lines, from Kosamba to Umarpada & Billimora to Waghai. These narrow gauge lies were initially operated by BB&CI but from 1921, GBSR took over the Working.

The ‘Bodeli Chhotaudepur Railway’ was the joint property of the Baroda & ChhotaUdepur Durbars. The 36.48 km line cost over a million rupees to build, the expenses being shared in equal proportion by both Durbars. The line was opened to traffic on February 1, 1917, & was initially maintained by the BB&CI until the GBSR took over its operation.

Dabhoi – The First Narrow Gauge Junction in India

The town of Dabhoi, located 30km(s) from the capital at Baroda, was one of the most important towns in Baroda State. As stated above, it was the Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad’s (1856 –  1870) pioneering effort in taking up the laying of a Narrow Gauge line (2 feet 6 inches), the first effort of its kind made by any Native State, not just in India but in the entire British Dominion, that brought Baroda State & the town of Dabhoi, onto the Railway map of the World.

This initiative marked the beginning of the Narrow Gauge system in India. The proposal initiated in 1860 was originally made to connect Dabhoi with Etola & later on Vadodara City. A survey of the same was also initiated. Ultimately however, it was Dabhoi – Miyagam line, a section of 32.30km(s) that was first constructed.

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The story of GBSR:

Bombay, Baroda and Central India (BB&CI) railway company were incorporated by an Act of Parliament in July 1855 & it entered into an agreement with East India company in November 1855 for Railway construction.

Maharaja Ganpat Rao Gaekwad (1847-1856) granted land and permission to BB&CI to construct Railway in his territory.

In 1855, a survey was made by BB&CI of linking Miagam with Dabhoi as a part of a survey of linking Indore with Bombay.

The first letter was written on 23rd March 1860 to lay a line connecting Dabhoi with the Broad Gauge network.

BB&CI linked Baroda on 9th January 1861 when first train reached Goya Gate amidst great fanfare.

In 1862, a narrow-gauge line of the gauge of 2 feet 6 inched with 13 lbs rail was made to connect Dabhoi with Miagam, a distance of 20 miles. Rails turned out to be too light for steam engines and bullocks were used for hauling the train.

By 1862, the GBSR constructed and owned first Narrow Gauge line of lndia.

8th April 1873 is a red-letter day in the annals of Indian Narrow Gauge history when the first-time steam engine pulled a Narrow Gauge train from Miagam to Dabhoi.

By 1879, Chandod, a holy place was linked, followed by Bahadarpur on 17th September 1879, and Vishwamitri in January 1881.

In March 1919, Goyagate Workshop was founded.

1920-21 Railway staff colony works started near the Goya Gate Railway Sation.

On 1st October 1921 Gaekwad Baroda State Railway (GBSR) took over operation and maintenance of the Narrow Gauge system.

By July 1922, 378.97 miles of open lines, which included 341.95 miles of Narrow Gauge and 37.02 miles of Meter Gauge of Okhamandal came under the direct purview of GBSR.

The branch of Railway Institute was opened in the city in 1930-31.

By 1940 the Baroda State owned 723 miles (excluding sidings), out of which, 663.96 miles was run by GBSR. it included 355.73 miles of Narrow Gauge and 308.23 miles Meter Gauge.

GBSR merged with BB&CI in 1949 with the merger of Baroda State.

On 5th November 1951, Western Railway was inaugurated. It was created with the merger of BB&CI with Saurashtra, Rajputana and Jaipur railways.

With the introduction of the Divisional system, the Baroda Division was inaugurated on 15th August 1956. Its office was located in the same building of headquarter of GBSR since 1st October 1921.

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Even today the Baroda carries forward the legacy of GBSR by housing one of the largest locomotive sheds of the Western Railways and the only Railway Staff College in entire India.

 

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2 Comments

  1. LYNETTE MENDES says:

    I was born in the Jamnabhi Hospital, Baroda, was a Baroda State subject. I grew up in the Railway Quarters in Goya Gate where my father Mr. W.T.Waters was first taken as the loco Foreman of the Railway Workshops, GBS Rly. I have very happy memories of our beautiful State and now, in my old age
    I enjoy the memories of that beautiful State. As I grew older I would ride my bike all over, past the Lakshimi Vilas Palace…and see the Cheetahs being taken for a walk, the University, my Dad designed the little Rly which was ordered for the Yuvraj…we were often permitted to visit the Makapura Palace, so beautiful too. We lived in the Railway Quarters and the last house was No.14….I would love to have some photos of those Railway Quarters and other interesting places. I loved visiting the Museum and Library too. I would like to know if there is a book about Baroda and where I could get it. With best wishes,

    Yours sincerely,

    Lynette (Waters) Mendes

  2. Prakash says:

    Very nice foot prints to transition from dream to reality for vision realization of Gaekwad Dynasty worldwide

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