>Chris the speller at 04:42, 15 April 2021

2021-04-15T04:42:46Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Distinguish|Munnar Monorail}}
{{Infobox public transit
|box_width =
|name = Kundala Valley Railway
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|locale = [[Kerala]]
|transit_type = [[Monorail]] (1902–1908) <br />{{RailGauge|2ft|lk=on}} [[narrow-gauge]] railway (1908–1924)
|lines = 1
|stations =
|chief_executive =
|headquarters = Idukki, [[Munnar]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
|began_operation = {{start date and age|1902}}
|ended_operation = {{start date and age|1924}}
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'''Kundala Valley Railway''' was the first [[monorail]] system in [[India]], later converted to a {{RailGauge|2ft|lk=on}} [[narrow-gauge]] railway, that operated in Kundala Valley, [[Munnar]] of Idukki district in [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130219/jsp/nation/story_16578498.jsp#.UT3OENZgfSg Mumbai gawks as train chugs overhead]. Telegraphindia.com (2013-02-19). Retrieved on 2013-07-29.</ref> The railway line had 35 km length.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Monorail, the British-era engineering marvel, to be back in Munnar|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/jun/20/monorail-the-british-era-engineering-marvel-to-be-back-in-munnar-1992586.html|access-date=2021-01-18|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Monorail (1902–1908) ===
[[File:Mrs. A.W. John on Monorail (1902–1908) 1.jpg|thumb|right|Mrs. A.W. John on the monorail]]
Kundala Valley Railway was built in 1902 and operated between Munnar and [[Top Station]] in the [[Kannan Devan Hills]] of Kerala . This railway was built to transport [[tea]] and other goods. Initially a cart road was cut in 1902,<ref name="Tata, 2006 (V) 1" /> 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 the [[Ewing System]] and had a small wheel placed on the track while a larger wheel rested on the road to balance the monorail. This was similar to the [[Patiala State Monorail Trainways]]. The monorail was pulled by [[Cattle|bullocks]]. Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar to [[Bodinayakkanur]]. Tea chests arriving at Top Station were then transported by an [[Ropeway conveyor|aerial ropeway]] from Top Station {{convert|5|km|0|abbr=on}} down hill to the south to Kottagudi, [[Tamil Nadu]], which popularly became known as "Bottom Station". The tea was shipped {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} by cart to Bodinayakkanur, then by rail to other places in India and by ship to England.<ref name="Tata, 2006 (V) 1">{{cite journal
|title = Sands of Time
|work = Newsletter of Tata Central Archives
|publisher = [[Tata Group|Tata]]
|volume = V
|issue = 1
|date = January 2006
|url = http://www.tatacentralarchives.com/publications/newsletters/VOL-05-ISSUE-1-JAN-2006.pdf
|format = PDF
|pages = 5–6
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317162335/http://www.tatacentralarchives.com/publications/newsletters/VOL-05-ISSUE-1-JAN-2006.pdf
|archive-date = 17 March 2012
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>

=== Narrow-gauge railway (1908–1924) ===
[[File:High range light railway before flooding in 1924. G. S. Gilles, engineer at Munnar Blairgowrie Halt.jpg|thumb|right|The engineer G. S. Gilles at Munnar Blairgowrie Halt]]
In 1908, the monorail was replaced by a {{RailGauge|2ft}} narrow-gauge light railway.<ref name="Tata, 2006 (V) 1" /> Light steam locomotives were used to pull trains to stations at Madupatty and Palaar.

== Closure ==

The [[Great flood of 99]] completely destroyed the Kundala Valley Railway in 1924, and the line was never rebuilt.<ref name="Tata, 2006 (V) 1" />

== Revival efforts ==
In 2019, the [[Kerala Tourism Department]] decided to revive the Kundala Valley Rail in lines of [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] following a preliminary study that was conducted by DTPC Idukki and [[Kannan Devan Hills Plantation]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Munnar to get back the iconic monorail wonder from the British-era|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/munnar-to-get-back-the-iconic-monorail-wonder-from-the-british-era/as69891404.cms|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Times of India Travel}}</ref> In following October there was a high-level meeting of stake holders and officials that suggested [[Public–private partnership|PPP Model]] for implementation.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-06-22|title=Monorail may return to Munnar|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/return-of-the-rail-in-munnar/article28110616.ece|access-date=2021-01-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In Kerala State Budget 2021 [[T. M. Thomas Isaac]] announced that [[Tata Group|Tata]] has agreed to provide land for the revival of rail project as a heritage rail.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 16, 2021|title=Munnar heritage train project gets a boost |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/munnar-heritage-train-project-gets-a-boost/articleshow/80291722.cms|access-date=2021-01-18|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Raman|first=Giji K.|date=2021-01-15|title=Green signal for heritage train hopes|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/green-signal-for-heritage-train-hopes/article33583508.ece|access-date=2021-01-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Remains ==
The Munnar railway station building now houses the regional office of [[Tata Tea]]. The railway tracks have been replaced by a road in front of this building. Aluminium Bridge near Munnar which was once a railway bridge on the line, has since been converted to road traffic.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/Kundala/
|title=Remains of Kundala Valley Railway, Munnar
|publisher=Irfca.org
|access-date=2010-08-11
}}</ref> The [[Top Station]] near [[Munnar]] derived its name from this railway route it was the top most station in the rail route,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-06-22|title=Monorail may return to Munnar|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/return-of-the-rail-in-munnar/article28110616.ece|access-date=2021-01-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Kundala Valley Railway}}

{{Railways in Southern India}}

[[Category:Monorails in India]]
[[Category:2 ft gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Closed railway lines in India]]
[[Category:Defunct railway companies of India]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1924]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kerala]]
[[Category:1924 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Geography of Idukki district]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1902]]

Kundala Valley Railway - Revision history

>Chris the speller at 04:42, 15 April 2021