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The building of the Bhor Ghat Railway Incline in western India in the mid-19th century
Ian Kerr (University of Manitoba)
PAPER (pdf)
Abstract:
The successful construction, 1856-1863, of the Bhor Ghat railway incline to carry the southeastern line of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) through the precipitous Western Ghats was one of the most difficult feats of mid-19th century engineering The end result was a pivotal development in the history of Britain?s Indian Empire. The formidable 15 mile incline with a 1 in 37 gradient in its steepest area, and a reversing section to handle the most difficult stretch was preceded by arduous surveys and succeeded by considerable repair work because of landslips and collapsed structures. Indian workers in tens of thousands up to an average daily maximum of 40,000 men, women and children in 1860 and 1861 were required. The death toll (some 25,000) from diseases and accidents was enormous, and the abilities (organizational and technical) and endurance of the supervising engineers were stretched to their utmost.
The almost as difficult Thal Ghat incline was constructed (1858-1865) nearby to carry the northeast line of the GIPR through the same mountain range. A comparison of the building of the Bhor Ghat (fraught with difficulties) and the Thal Ghat (where construction proceeded more smoothly despite a similar physical and medical environment and the same chief engineer) provides an opportunity to examine the social and material variables involved in technology transfer. Why did construction of the Thal incline proceed smoothly while the Bhor incline did not? Proximity makes the question particularly fascinating. If time and space permits some comparisons could be explored in my paper.