Cochin State Forest Tramway

The Cochin State Forest Tramway was a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge[1][2][3] cable railway line that ran from the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Palakkad District to the town of Chalakudy in Thrissur District in India. Operating from 1907 to 1963, it served the State of Cochin and brought prosperity by enabling the transport of teak and rosewood from the forest into town. These goods could then be exported abroad.[2]

Cochin State Forest Tramway
Switchback on the main line
Overview
Statusclosed
LocalePalakkad and Thrissur Districts, State of Cochin
Termini
Stations16
Service
TypeTramway
History
Commenced3 October 1905 (1905-10-03)
Opened1907 (1907)
Closed1963 (1963)
Technical
Line length79.5 km (49.4 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Route map


The line in 1944

0½
Chalakudy
Vellikulangara
14½
Muplypuzha
19½
Cherumkayam
Chokkana
19½
Anapandam
400
Cable Car 1
Cable Car 2
Cable Car 3
23½
Thoppathi Kavala
(Kavalai)
1,400
26½
Pothupara
Cable Car 4
Cable Car 5
28⅞
Komalapara
2,500
32½
Myladappan
33½
Orukomban Kutty
36½
Karappara River
41½
Kuriyarkutty
41½
Kuriyarkutty River
44½
Vettukuzhy
47½
Parambikulam
49½
Chinnar
2,000
Legend
narrow gauge railway
cable car
 
Headquarters,
Key people
Rama Varma XV
ProductsTeak and Rosewood
RevenueRs 17.5 lakhs
Rs 2 lakhs

History

Inception

The idea of a forest tramway was put forward by J.C. Kolhoff, first Conservator of Forests of the city of Cochin, and was implemented by V. Alwar Chetty, a forest officer on special duty. British officers Haldwell and Floukes performed the initial survey and route. R.E. Haffield was the first tramway engineer who cleared the forests and laid down the lines. The tramway was built during the rule of Rama Varma XV, Maharaja of Cochin (1895 to 1914).[2] Sir Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill, the Governor of Madras, inaugurated its construction on October 3, 1905. The tramway began operating in 1907. On June 26, 1907, the Maharaja of Cochin passed the Cochin Forest Tramway Act, which provided for the protection and management of the tramway.

Tram routes

The tramway was divided into three sections: the first started from Chalakudy and ended at Anapantham, covering a length of 21 miles; the second ran from Kavalai to Pothupara, covering six miles; and the third ran from Komalapara to Chinnar, covering 22.5 miles. The total length of tramway was 49.5 miles (79.5 km).[2]

Machinery

Chalakudy used to house the tramway workshop and timber yard. The section had two locomotives to pull the trucks and saloons. The locomotives, rolling stock and machinery for the tramway were supplied by Orenstein and Koppel of Germany. P&W MacLennan of the U.K. supplied the bridges and culverts. K.R. Menon was the last tramway engineer. The tramway system had double lines and worked on rollers and cables. Empty wagons were rolled up while loaded wagons were pushed down along the other rails.[4]

Demise

In 1926, the special finance committee recommended the abolition of the tramway, but was rejected by the Government in 1928. Another special committee was set up in 1950 under the chairmanship of the Chief Conservator of Forests, which recommended discontinuing of the tramway. In 1953, another commission was appointed but given the report that tramway should be revived at any cost. Finally in 1963, after serving 56 years and making modern Cochin Port a present-day commercial harbour and Cochin City, the economic hub, the Cochin State Forest Tramway was abolished on the basis of a special finance committee report.[2] The staff was absorbed in various departments of Government.

Legacy

The tramway was an engineering wonder in that period for South India. The money was used for building ports, bridges, roads, colleges, schools, etc. Cochin Port, a major port on the Arabian SeaIndian Ocean sea-route, was constructed by the earnings from the tramway. Willingdon Island, which was created during construction of Cochin Port, was also bankrolled by tramway revenues.[2]


References

  1. "Journal on the Cochin State Forest Tramway." (*.doc file) Retrieved on 10 September 2020.
  2. Prabhakaran, G. (4 January 2010). "Tramway to a trade empire". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  3. "Public to get glimpses of the marvel of erstwhile tramway". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  4. Edward Harran: "The Cochin Forest Railway. In: Scientific American," 26 February 1910, p. 184-185. Retrieved 10 September 2020.

Further reading

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