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India_DRLR_No.17 The 2ft 6in gauge Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR), opened in 1911 and by 1927 had been extended in length to 42 miles (67kms). Two daily passenger trains were run each way, but the prime traffic was marble and stone to the exchange sidings with Indian Railways, at Dehri-in-Sone. The line passed through much land owned by the huge engineering company, Rohtas Industries, who also put traffic and their own locomotives on the DRLR which, however, ran all trains. This resulted in an incredible mixture of ancient and some new machines, which must have been a maintenance nightmare! Nevertheless the DRLR continued to function until it succumbed to competition from road traffic, finally closing on 16th July 1984. Rohtas engine shed: formerly Indian Railways Central Railway No.705, DRLR Class A1 2-8-4T No.17 (Hudswell Clark 1005/1913), was operable but awaiting boiler washout; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_DRLR_No.25 The 2ft 6in gauge Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR), opened in 1911 and by 1927 had been extended in length to 42 miles (67kms). Two daily passenger trains were run each way, but the prime traffic was marble and stone to the exchange sidings with Indian Railways, at Dehri-in-Sone. The line passed through much land owned by the huge engineering company, Rohtas Industries, who also put traffic and their own locomotives on the DRLR which, however, ran all trains. This resulted in an incredible mixture of ancient and some new machines, which must have been a maintenance nightmare! Nevertheless the DRLR continued to function until it succumbed to competition from road traffic, finally closing on 16th July 1984. Also stored at Rohtas shed and unlikely to run again, was DRLR 2-6-2T No.25 (NBL 16059/1904); 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_DRLR_No.28 The 2ft 6in gauge Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR), opened in 1911 and by 1927 had been extended in length to 42 miles (67kms). Two daily passenger trains were run each way, but the prime traffic was marble and stone to the exchange sidings with Indian Railways, at Dehri-in-Sone. The line passed through much land owned by the huge engineering company, Rohtas Industries, who also put traffic and their own locomotives on the DRLR which, however, ran all trains. This resulted in an incredible mixture of ancient and some new machines, which must have been a maintenance nightmare! Nevertheless the DRLR continued to function until it succumbed to competition from road traffic, finally closing on 16th July 1984. Rohtas engine shed: DRLR 2-6-4T No.28 (Hunslet of Leeds; works number unknown) being repaired; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_DRLR_No.6 The 2ft 6in gauge Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR), opened in 1911 and by 1927 had been extended in length to 42 miles (67kms). Two daily passenger trains were run each way, but the prime traffic was marble and stone to the exchange sidings with Indian Railways, at Dehri-in-Sone. The line passed through much land owned by the huge engineering company, Rohtas Industries, who also put traffic and their own locomotives on the DRLR which, however, ran all trains. This resulted in an incredible mixture of ancient and some new machines, which must have been a maintenance nightmare! Nevertheless the DRLR continued to function until it succumbed to competition from road traffic, finally closing on 16th July 1984. Dehri-on-Sone railway station; DLRL 0-6-4T No.6 (AE 1982/1926) hauling a one-van "passenger train" which had arrived with its standard complement of non-fare paying boys and young men; 7.12.1979 Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_DRLR_Nos.2_&_1 The 2ft 6in gauge Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR), opened in 1911 and by 1927 had been extended in length to 42 miles (67kms). Two daily passenger trains were run each way, but the prime traffic was marble and stone to the exchange sidings with Indian Railways, at Dehri-in-Sone. The line passed through much land owned by the huge engineering company, Rohtas Industries, who also put traffic and their own locomotives on the DRLR which, however, ran all trains. This resulted in an incredible mixture of ancient and some new machines, which must have been a maintenance nightmare! Nevertheless the DRLR continued to function until it succumbed to competition from road traffic, finally closing on 16th July 1984. Rohtas engine shed: two locomotives which came to the DRLR in 1951 from the Arrah - Sassaram railway DRLR 0-6-2T Nos.2 & 1 (Kerr Stuart 3120 and 3119/1920) were stored at the rear of the depot; it is certain they never ran again; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_DRLR_Rohtas_Industries_No.2 The 2ft 6in gauge Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR), opened in 1911 and by 1927 had been extended in length to 42 miles (67kms). Two daily passenger trains were run each way, but the prime traffic was marble and stone to the exchange sidings with Indian Railways, at Dehri-in-Sone. The line passed through much land owned by the huge engineering company, Rohtas Industries, who also put traffic and their own locomotives on the DRLR which, however, ran all trains. This resulted in an incredible mixture of ancient and some new machines, which must have been a maintenance nightmare! Nevertheless the DRLR continued to function until it succumbed to competition from road traffic, finally closing on 16th July 1984. Rohtas engine shed: Rohtas Industries (RI) 0-6-2T No.2 (AE 1458/1902) under repair; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_DRLR_no.27 The 2ft 6in gauge Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR), opened in 1911 and by 1927 had been extended in length to 42 miles (67kms). Two daily passenger trains were run each way, but the prime traffic was marble and stone to the exchange sidings with Indian Railways, at Dehri-in-Sone. The line passed through much land owned by the huge engineering company, Rohtas Industries, who also put traffic and their own locomotives on the DRLR which, however, ran all trains. This resulted in an incredible mixture of ancient and some new machines, which must have been a maintenance nightmare! Nevertheless the DRLR continued to function until it succumbed to competition from road traffic, finally closing on 16th July 1984. Rohtas engine shed: ex-Kalka - Simla hill railway (Northern Railway No.536), DRLR Class K 2-6-2T No.27 (NBL 18787/1909), was having its boiler washed out and side tanks cleaned; note the inspection hatches on the side of the tank; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_Industrial_Dehri Rohtas Lt. Rly 76cm shed: While not strictly a pure industrial railway the Dehri Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR) was originally promoted by the Octavius Steel Company, but it carried both passenger and freight traffic. Two gauges were used, 76cm and the Rohtas Industries’ broad gauge. However, on a visit of 8 December 1979, Rohtas Industries was in the midst of a workers’ strike, so the broad gauge system could not be viewed. Here is the busy 76cm gauge engine shed of DRLR featuring a mixture of old and not-so-old motive power. Sadly, the DRLR closed to all traffic in 1984. Colour slide and scan by Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_Industrial_Dehri Rohtas Lt. Rly 76cm 0-6-4T No. 6: Kindly provided by the DRLR for the visiting enthusiasts was a passenger train hauled by DRLR 76cm 0-6-4T No. 6 built by Avonside of Bristol in 1926 – works number 1982. 8 December 1979. Colour slide and scan by Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_Industrial_Dehri Rohtas Lt. Rly 76cm 2-6-2 No.7: Based upon the Indian Railways’ 76cm gauge, Class ZB 2-6-2 DRLR No.7 (HC 1806/1950), simmers on shed, 8 December 1979. Colour slide and scan by Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_Industrial_Dehri Rohtas Lt. Rly 76cm 2-6-2 Nos.17 & 27: Two DRLR locomotives with varied histories. No 17 was a Hudswell Clark 2-8-4T bought from the Indian Railway’s Palgoan – Arvi system in 1959, while No.27, a Kerr Stuart 2-6-2T of Indian Railways Class K, formerly ran on the Kalka – Simla hill railway. 8 December 1979. Colour slide and scan by Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com