Shakuntala Railway
{{Short description|Satesan}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Shakuntala Railway
| logo =
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| logo_alt =
| image =
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| locale = Maharashtra, India
| start = {{rws|Yavatmal}}
| end = {{rws|Achalpur}}
| stations =
| open = 1903
| close = 2016
| reopen = TBA
| owner = Central Provinces Railway Company
| operator = Central Railway
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength_km = 189
| tracklength_km =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|1676mm|lk=on}} (TBA)
{{Track gauge|762mm|lk=on}} (formerly)
| map = {{Shakuntala Railway}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
Shakuntala Railway was a 2 ft 6 in narrow gauge railway line that ran between Achalpur and Yavatmal via Murtizapur. It is to be converted to 1676 mm Broad gauge. It was originally called {{rws|Yavatmal}}–{{rws|Murtizapur Junction}}–{{rws|Achalpur}} railway, before it was renamed after Shakuntala Deshmukh née Jadhav, who was wife of freedom fighter (Indian independence activist) Balwantrao Deshmukh.
History
Killick, Nixon and Company, set up in 1857, created the Central Provinces Railway Company (CPRC) to act as its agents. The company built the 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge line in 1903.{{cite web| url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/british-company-still-gets-royalty-for-shakuntala-railway-9881.html/| title=British Company Still Gets Royalty For Shakuntala Railway| website=IndiaTV| date=15 August 2011}} The company built this narrow-gauge line in 1903 to carry cotton from cotton-rich interior areas of Vidarbha to the Murtizapur Junction on main broad gauge line to Mumbai from where it was shipped to Manchester in England. Murtizapur Junction was the focal point of this railway. In 1920 line from Darwha-Pusad was dismantled. Though, working autonomously, the CPRC was grouped in 1952 under the Central Railways.{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4041983.stm| title=A railway ride into history| publisher=BBC| first=Jaideep| last=Hardikar| date=26 November 2004}} A ZD-steam engine, built in 1921 in Manchester, pulled the train for more than 70 long years after being put in service in 1923. It was withdrawn on 15 April 1994, and replaced by a diesel engine.
In 1944, Shakuntala Jadhav married a Daryapur landlord, Balawantrao Deshmukh, who was also a freedom fighter. Deshmukh family took the newlyweds home by boarding this train. A British railway officer offered them the first-class coach for travel as they were newlyweds. It was a dream come true for Shakuntala, the bride, and years later she narrated this experience to Sudam Deshmukh, an MP, who took efforts to get the railway renamed to Shakuntala Railway.{{cite web | url=https://ddyatra.com/yavatmal-murtizapur-station-shakuntala-railways/#Shakuntala_Railways_at_Yavatmal | title=Yavatmal-Murtizapur Shakuntala Railways Only Train Named After a Citizen » Ddyatra | date=21 October 2022 }}
Conversion to broad gauge
In 2016, Indian Railways announced that the Shakuntala Railway would be converted to {{RailGauge|1676mm|allk=on}} broad gauge.[http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/govt-to-take-over-shakuntala-only-private-railway-line-116102200809_1.html Government to take over Shakuntala, only private railway line, convert to broad gauge] The conversion to broad gauge started in 2020.
See also
References
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Category:2 ft 6 in gauge railways in India