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Ryam Sugar Factory Railway

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

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

History

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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 Sakri, 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

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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

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Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Current Operator Status Notes Image
779 44657 4-6-0PT 2 ft (610 mm)[4] Baldwin 1916 Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth, Staffordshire.[5] Awaiting restoration[6]
608 45190 4-6-0PT 2 ft (610 mm)[4] Baldwin 1917 Ffestiniog Railway In Service
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

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  1. ^ Ryam Sugar Factory Railway on Fibis.
  2. ^ a b “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. ^ a b c d Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Vol. 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.