Patiala State Monorail Trainways
Encyclopedia
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
from 1907 to 1927.Unusual railways by Mr. J. R. Day and Mr. B. G. Wilson PSMT was the only operational locomotive-hauled railway system built using the 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,...
in the world.Cassell's Railways of the World By Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot, 1924 edition
The Kundala Valley Railway
Kundala Valley Railway
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.-As Monorail from 1902 - 1908:...
pre-dated this, also using the Ewing system between 1902 and 1908, although this only used bullock
Bullock
Bullock may refer to:* Bullock , a castrated male bovine animal of any age: see cattle* Bullock , a young bull...
s for haulage. These were the only instances, until recently, of a monorail train system in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
An engine and a coach of PSMT have been restored, are in running condition and are exhibited in the Indian National Rail Museum, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
History of PSMT
MaharajaMaharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Sir Bhupinder Singh of Patiala got this unique railway system constructed to facilitate movement of people and goods in his state. The chief engineer of this project was Colonel C. W. Bowles
Colonel C. W. Bowles
Colonel C. W. Bowles was a British civil engineer for Patiala State Monorail Trainways commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.Before starting work on Patiala State Monorail Trainways, Colonel C. W. Bowles was appointed by the British as an engineer in the Bengal Nagpur Railway Company...
. Colonel Bowles has earlier successfully used monorail 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,...
(designed by William Thorold
William Thorold
William Thorold was an eminent 19th-century millwright, architect and civil engineer in Norwich, Norfolk.He was born in 1798 in Methwold, Norfolk, the son of a farmer...
) during his stint as engineer during laying of tracks for Bengal Nagpur Railway for transportation of construction materials. Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh made him chief Engineer for the PSMT project. One of the objects of PSMT was to make use of the 560 mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
s being maintained by Patiala State. Apart from mules, bullocks were also used to haul the monorail before introduction of steam engine on route of PSMT.
The only published information about PSMT was in a 1908 edition of Imperial Gazetteer of India in which there was a brief mention. The gazetteer simply stated that "a mono-rail tramway, opened in February, 1907, connects Basi
Basi (disambiguation)
Basi or BASI may refer to:* Basi, a sugar cane wine.* British Association of Snowsport Instructors* BASi , an American life science and pharmaceutical contract research services company....
with the railway at Sirhind". An ordnance map of 1913 also shows a tramway running along west side of road, but does not mention the PSMT by name. Apart from the above, PSMT has not been mentioned in any official documents of that period in India.
Advantage of using Ewing System
The railways based on the Ewing System are basically monorails using a balancing wheel for balancing the train. The main load (almost 95%) is borne by the single rail while the rest is borne by the balancing wheel which runs on the ground. Further, in normal train systems, the rails have to be at almost exact level of other rail, failing which the train may go off the tracks. By using Ewing system, this problem is solved as the balancing wheel does not need exact level to maintain the balance of monorail. In addition the cost of laying tracks also goes down considerably since only one rail is used. Another benefit of using Ewing System was that the balancing wheel could run on existing tarred roads as well as the macadam roads thus further reducing cost to lay down tracks.Using one rail also means that the turning circle is far less than the standard trains. PSMT had to pass through some very congested areas. Since the space need to lay the tracks was less and balancing wheel could run on existing roads, PSMT succeeded in running through the congested urban areas of Patiala. The balancing wheel of PSMT ran on the roads and did not interfere with normal traffic.
PSMT could have been forerunner of mass transit system in urban areas in India. Its model still holds good for introducing mass transit system in congested urban areas where laying of train ortram tracks is not possible due to space constraint.
Routes of PSMT
The total distance covered by PSMT was 50 miles (80 km). PSMT was run on two unconnected lines. One ran 15 miles (24.1 km) (24 km) from Sirhind to Morinda. It was proposed to extend this line to Ropar but since Ropar was connected by a railway line, this idea was abandoned.The other line ran 35 miles (56 km) from Patiala to Sunam
Sunam
Sunam is a city and a municipality in Sangrur district in the Indian state of Punjab. Sunam means the name with a good reputation. This is the birth place of the famous patriot, Shahid Udham Singh who took the revenge of massacre of innocent Indians by the British on April 13 in 1919 in JAHLLIAN...
. The lines were constructed by the firm of Marsland and Price. Today no trace of the tracks or any infrastructure of PSMT remains. However, information about the route was found in a letter by Colonel Bowles to Mr. Ambler. Colonel Bowles described the route of Patiala-Sunam line as starting from goods yard of North Western Railway
North Western Railway
The North Western Railway is one of the sixteen railway zones in India. It is headquartered at Jaipur. It comprises four divisions: Jodhpur and reorganized Bikaner division of the erstwhile Northern Railway and reorganized Jaipur and Ajmer divisions of the erstwhile Western Railway. This zone...
(NWR) at Patiala. The PSMT then crossed the main railway line at a road level crossing nearby. It then went through walled city towards City Mandi and then took a turn north towards cantonment. Then it traveled along the main road to Bhawanigarh
Bhawanigarh
Bhawanigarh is a town and a municipal council in Sangrur district in the state of Punjab, India. The town is also called Dhode, after the clan of its original founders. The town lies 19 kilometres east of Sangrur on the Patiala-Sangrur road. Patiala is 36 kilometres east of Bhawanigarh.-Facts and...
and then Sunam
Sunam
Sunam is a city and a municipality in Sangrur district in the Indian state of Punjab. Sunam means the name with a good reputation. This is the birth place of the famous patriot, Shahid Udham Singh who took the revenge of massacre of innocent Indians by the British on April 13 in 1919 in JAHLLIAN...
.
The steam engine was probably used only on Patiala Sunam Line. In his letter to H. R. Ambler, Col. Bowles wrote that the engines were heavy for 18 lb/yd rail (9 kg/m), thus they were not used on Sirhind - Morinda line. Col. Bowles categorically stated that the steam engine did run between Patiala Station and City Mandi i.e. a distance of about a mile. Heavier rails (about 60 pounds per yard or 30 kg/m) of almost same length was found stored in PSMT Yard along with other dismantled equipments. Thus in all probabilities, the steam engine was used in hauling carriage only between Patiala Station and City Mandi.
Freight and passenger
The route of the PSMT passed through one of the major agricultural areas of Punjab; the area around Patiala was known as the “wheat basket”. The old photographs of the PSMT show it carrying sacks of grain as well as people. Thus, the PSMT was used for both purposes.Steam locomotives
PSMT initially used mules to pull the train. Later four steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s were acquired for pulling the coaches. It is not known whether the engines were used on both lines or only on Patiala Sunam line. These four locomotives were of 0-3-0
0-3-0
-History:This most unusual wheel arrangement was only used for specialised monorails.-Listowel and Ballybunion Railway:The Lartigue Monorail locomotives used on the Listowel and Ballybunion Railway were of 0-3-0 wheel arrangement, although they also required non-load-bearing guide wheels...
configuration and was built by Orenstein & Koppel (O&K) of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1907 at cost of £500 to £600 each. Donald W. Dickens, in his article on the PSMT, described the locomotives as “These were an adaptation of the normal O&K 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
's but had a double flanged driver in the centre of each axle rather than drivers at each end. The right-hand water tank was larger so that some of the weight shifted onto the 39 inches (990.6 mm) diameter balance wheel which was attached beyond the enlarged water tank. The outside cylinders were 5½" × 14".The designer at O&K took advantage of the extra cab space behind the enlarged right-hand water tank and put the fire door on the right side of the fire box rather than at the back as is usually done. These locos were confined to the Patiala - Sunam line.”
The wheel arrangement of the locomotives were 0-3-0. The middle flange less wheel was of 50 centimetre diameter. Other two wheels were double flanged having groove depth of 2.15 centimetre (0.846456692913386 in). The locomotive had wheelbase of 119 centimetre.
Rolling stock
- Wagons were normally 8 feet long by 6 feet wide (2.4 by 1.8 m), with two 8 inches (203.2 mm) diameter rail wheels. The coaches were supported by a road wheel of 98 cm diameter, set at 7 feet (2.1 m) from the rail.
- The passenger coaches on the Sirhind Line were open-sided wagons with knifeboard seating.
- In 1908 there was a total of 75 goods wagons and 15 passenger coaches.
- According to Col. Bowles, there were a few 30 feet (9.1 m) long goods wagons, having two road wheels. Some of these wagons were also converted for use as passenger coaches by having transverse benches fitted in them.
Details about PSMT track
The track of PSMT was constructed by firm named Marsland and Price, who were based in Bombay. The track was 18 pound per yard (9 kg/m) rail clipped to iron sleepers 10 in by 8 in by ½ in (250×200×50 mm).On the Patiala - Sunam line, wooden sleepers 15 by 3 by 4 4 inches (380×75×100 mm) were initially used but were later replaced with iron sleepers due to termite
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
infestation.
Passengers, fares and cargo
The only account of operational details of PSMT is found in papers of Colonel Bowles. According to a memorandum dated October 2, 1908, found amongst Colonel Bowles papers, PSMT carried 20,000 passengers in a month on Sirhand - Morinda line. There are no details of the quantity of goods carried.The fare is stated to be 1½ annas for the entire route. The rate for carrying goods is mentioned to be 1 anna per maund (80 lb).
There is no account available for fares or number of passenger or quantity of goods carried on Patiala - Sunam line.
End of PSMT
Around 1912, with the advent of automobileAutomobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s and improved roads, PSMT began losing favour with people. Ultimately PSMT was closed on 1 October 1927. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh expired in 1938 and Col. Bowles, who was in England, on leave, did not have the heart to return back. Thus, PSMT and all its records, photographs, etc., were left uncared for, in Patiala. Further, at that period, since there was no interest in Patiala for the PSMT, the documents, photographs etc. related to PSMT was not preserved and thus what could have been valuable source of information on this unique monorail was lost forever.
Technical experiments in PSMT
Experiment using internal combustion engineColnel Bowles also experimented with a petrol driven locomotive on Sirhind section. Mr. Donald W. Dicken's article carries a picture captioned "Motor Engine Trial On Patiala State Monorailway". This picture shows four loaded vehicles being pulled by an "Ordinary Motor Car Engine". This experiment was supposedly carried out in 1930. This experiment was exception to animal power or steam power used to pull PSMT. This would be first locally built internal combustion engine locomotive in Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
.
Experiment using electric motor
There is a strong possibility that an experiment to run PSMT by using electric motors was carried out. In a BBC's documentary film on Indian Railways, Mike Satow showed the remains of PSMT lying in the PSMT railway yard. In one of the scenes showing undercarriage of PSMT, an electric motor attached to wheel is seen. However, no documentary or photographic evidence exists of such experiment.
Discovery of PSMT
PSMT was forgotten even in Patiala, until its remains were discovered in a Public Work Department (PWD) shed by Mike Shatow in 1962. PSMT had not been a much publicised railway system. It had been briefly been mentioned in an article by H. A. Robinson in 1936. Thereafter John Day and Brian Wilson mentioned PSMT in detail in their book Unusual railways in 1957. Day got in touch with Colonel Bowles, who provided him some information and photographs of PSMT. Based on these information, Day wrote another article that appeared in Railway World magazine in 1962. Mike Satow took it upon himself to find the remains of PSMT and discovered the same in a PWD shed in Patiala in 1962. This article was read by H R Ambler, who did further research and wrote an article - "An Indian “Might-Have-Been”", which was published in February 1969 issue of The Railway Magazine. Ultimately, due to the effort of Mike Satow and others, One PSMT locomotive (Number PSMT - 4) was restored along with Chief Engineer's private inspection car (this coach was rebuilt on original frame as a normal passenger coach). Both of these are on display at the Indian National Railway Museum, New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. No information is available about rest of the engine or coaches.