Ryam Sugar Factory Railway

The Ryam Sugar Factory Railway was owned and operated by the Ryam Sugar Factory in Bihar, India.

Locomotive No 1 is now fully restored and operational at Statfold Barn Railway in England

History

The Ryam Sugar Factory was incorporated in 1914 as the Tirhut Co-operative Sugar Co Ltd. It was located in a town now known as Raiyam (मैथिली) 15 km north-east of Darbhanga. The factory had two 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway lines operating as a field system, to bring cane into the factory:[1]

  • Line to Mokaddampur, 14 km long, which remained in use until its closure in 1994.[2]
  • Line to SakriStatfold Barn Railway - recently restored locomotive, 10 km long, a station on the 'Darbhanga-Bhaptiahi Branch Line' of the Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR). This line was closed significantly earlier than the other line.[2]

Stationary steam engines

In No. 1 Mill stationary steam engine #2619 (1932) by Mirrlees, Watson was used (single cylinder, 24” x 48”, 273 hp, Corliss valves, cost Rs 16000 new). A Nos 2, 3 and 4 Mills stationary steam engine #2423 (1914) by Mirrlees, Watson was installed (single cylinder, 300 hp, piston valves, cost Rs 15000 new).[3]

Locomotives

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
44657 4-6-0PT 2 ft (610 mm)[4] Baldwin 1916 Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth, Staffordshire.[5] Awaiting restoration[6]
45190 4-6-0PT 2 ft (610 mm)[4] Baldwin 1917 Statfold Barn Railway Awaiting restoration[6]
No 1 1586 0-4-0 2 ft (610 mm)[4] Davenport 1917 Statfold Barn Railway Operational Restored to working order in 2015.
ALPHA 1172 0-6-0PT 2 ft (610 mm)[4] Hudswell Clarke 1922 Statfold Barn Railway Operational Restored to working order in 2016.[7]

References

  1. Ryam Sugar Factory Railway on Fibis.
  2. “Industrial Railways and Locomotives of India and South Asia” compiled by Simon Darvill. Published by ‘The Industrial Railway Society’ 2013. ISBN 978 1 901556 82-7. Available at http://irsshop.co.uk/India. Reference: Entry BR06 page 107-108
  3. Geoffrey Hill: Steam Engines in the Indian Sugar Industry. Downloaded on 20 May 2017.
  4. Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. 17EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2015. ISBN 978 1 901556 88 9.
  5. Little, Lawson (2008). Annual Guide to Narrow Gauge and Miniature Railways in the British Isles and Ireland: 2008. Narrow Gauge Railway Society.
  6. Historic Military Vehicle Forum. Uploaded on 24 July 2013. Downloaded on 20 May 2017.
  7. Statfold Barn Railway (2017). Guilde Book & Stock List Update March 2017. Statfold Barn Railway.
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