Zhob Valley Railway
{{Short description|Railway line in Pakistan}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 350px
| name = Zhob Valley Railway
{{Nastaliq|ژوب وادی ریلوے}}
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| status = Closed
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| start = Bostan Junction
| end = Zhob
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| open = {{Start date|1929}}
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| close = {{End date|1986}}
| owner = Pakistan Railways
| operator = Pakistan Railways
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| linelength = {{convert|298|km|mi|abbr=on}}
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| gauge = {{RailGauge|762mm|lk=on}}
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The Zhob Valley Railway ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|ژوب وادی ریلوے}}}}) was one of several branch lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. The line began at Bostan Junction and ended at Zhob.{{cite web|title=Off-track railways|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1204766|publisher=Dawn|access-date=21 May 2017}} The total length of this railway line is {{convert|298|km|mi|sp=us}} with 14 railway stations. Upon competition, the {{RailGauge|762mm|lk=on}} railway became the longest narrow gauge system in the region.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110829045812/http://sajshirazi.blogspot.com/2011/03/breakfast-at-kan-mehtarzai.html "Breakfast at Kan Mehtarzai" by Salman Rashid 28 April 2011]; Retrieved 14 Dec 2015
History
The Zhob Valley Railway was built in two sections between 1916 and 1920. The first section was built from Bostan Junction to Muslimbagh during World War I by the Balochistan Chrome Ore Company and opened in 1916. Muslimbagh had and abundance of Chromite and was transported by the railway to munitions production factories in the British Empire.[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 71 Apr 2016 The second section was built by the North Western State Railway as an extension from Muslimbagh to Fort Sandeman (now Zhob). Work began in 1920 and reached Qila Saifullah in 1927 and Zhob in 1930. The intent to extend the railway from Zhob to Bannu, but never materialized.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130122144541/http://pakistaniat.com/2008/06/05/zhob-valley-railway-zvr-of-pakistan/ "All Things Pakistan" /Zhob Valley Railway (ZVR) of Pakistan by Owais Mughal, June 5, 2008]; Retrieved 14 Dec 2015 At 2224 meters above the sea, Kan Mehtarzai railway station would become one of the highest narrow gauge railway stations in the world. During winter months, the line could be buried by snow.
=Closure=
The line was closed down in 1991 after successive operational losses and was later dismantled completely. Tracks coaches and other rolling stock remain at Bostan Junction with a depot and turntable as seen on Google Earth in 2023.
=Revival=
The line is proposed to be rebuilt as a {{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}} broad gauge line under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as part of a new railway link between Kotla Jam and Quetta.{{cite web|title=Zhob-Bostan rail track to be restored under CPEC|url=http://dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/19-Apr-16/zhob-bostan-rail-track-to-be-restored-under-cpec|publisher=Daily Times}}
Stations
References
=Notes=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{Wallace-HRIS |chapter=Chapter 1: The Zhob Valley Railway |pages=15–34}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b747693?urlappend=%3Bseq=112 Zhob Valley Railway Survey] c early 1890s, page 98 Some Rambles of a Sapper by Brigr-Genl. Herbert Henry Austin. 1928 Hathi Trust Digital Library
- L/PS/11/168, P 994/1920; “P 994/1920 Baluchistan: communications in the Zhob valley; proposal for a broad-gauge railway from Hindubagh to Fort Sandeman”; 1 Sep 1919-23 Mar 1920
{{Zhob Valley Railway}}
{{Railway lines in Pakistan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhob Valley Railway}}
Category:Closed railway lines in Pakistan
Category:Railway lines opened in 1929
Category:2 ft 6 in gauge railways in Pakistan