Kundala Valley Railway
Encyclopedia
Kundala Valley Railway was a privately owned monorail, later converted to narrow gauge railway that operated between 1902 till 1924 in Kundala Valley, near Munnar
, Kerala
when it was destroyed completely by floods.
. This railway was built to transport tea
. Initially a cart road was cut in 1902, then later replaced by a monorail goods carriage system along the road leading from Munnar to Top Station for the purpose of transporting tea and other products from Munnar and Madupatty to Top Station. This monorail was based on Ewing System
and had a small wheel placed on track while a larger wheel rested on the road to balance the monorail. This was similar to Patiala State Monorail Trainways
. The monorail was pulled by bullocks
. Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodinayakkanur
. Tea chests arriving at Top Station from the Kundala Valley were then transported by an aerial ropeway from Top Station 5 km (3 mi) down hill to the south to Kottagudi, Tamilnadu, which popularly became known as "Bottom Station". The tea was shipped 15 km (9 mi) by cart to Bodinayakkanur, then by rail to other places in India and ship to England.
A bridge, called Aluminium Bridge, existing near Munnar was once upon a time a railway bridge, later converted to road bridge.
Several remains of wheels, tracks, sleepers, stations, signboards, etc. exist at several part of Munnar and Kunadala Valley, notably at Top Station.
Munnar
Munnar is one of the most popular hill station in Kerala and in southern India. Munnar is located on the Western Ghats, situated in the Idukki district....
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
when it was destroyed completely by floods.
As Monorail from 1902 - 1908
Kundala Valley Railway was built in 1902 and operated between Munnar and Top StationTop Station
Top Station is tourist destination which falls along the border of the state of Tamil Nadu. The region is part of constituency of bodi Theni district in Tamil Nadu....
. This railway was built to transport tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
. Initially a cart road was cut in 1902, then later replaced by a monorail goods carriage system along the road leading from Munnar to Top Station for the purpose of transporting tea and other products from Munnar and Madupatty to Top Station. This monorail was based on Ewing System
Ewing System
The Ewing System was a system for balancing monorails developed by British inventor W. J. Ewing in the last part of the 19th century. The Ewing System places wheels of the train on that a single steel rail. The system had been proposed in 1868 by William Thorold, a civil engineer from Norwich,...
and had a small wheel placed on track while a larger wheel rested on the road to balance the monorail. This was similar to Patiala State Monorail Trainways
Patiala State Monorail Trainways
Patiala State Monorail Trainways was a unique rail guided, partially road-borne railways system running in Patiala in the State of Punjab from 1907 to 1927.Unusual railways by Mr. J. R. Day and Mr. B. G...
. The monorail was pulled by bullocks
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to Bodinayakkanur
Bodinayakkanur
Bodinayakanur is a city and a municipality in Theni district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Demographics:...
. Tea chests arriving at Top Station from the Kundala Valley were then transported by an aerial ropeway from Top Station 5 km (3 mi) down hill to the south to Kottagudi, Tamilnadu, which popularly became known as "Bottom Station". The tea was shipped 15 km (9 mi) by cart to Bodinayakkanur, then by rail to other places in India and ship to England.
As Narrow Gauge Railway from 1908 - 1924
In 1908 the monorail was replaced by a 24 inch gauge light railway. The railway en route had stations at Madupatty and Palaar. The railway was pulled by light steam locomotives. This railway was completely destroyed by a flood in 1924 and was never rebuilt. This a defunct railway now with few remains scattered throughout Munnar and Kundala Valley.Remains of Kundala Valley Railway.
This building, now housing regional office of Tata Tea Ltd was Munnar Railway Station of Kundala Valley Railway. The railway tracks have been replaced by a road in front of this building.A bridge, called Aluminium Bridge, existing near Munnar was once upon a time a railway bridge, later converted to road bridge.
Several remains of wheels, tracks, sleepers, stations, signboards, etc. exist at several part of Munnar and Kunadala Valley, notably at Top Station.