South Eastern Railway zone

The South Eastern Railway (abbreviated SER) is one of the 19 railway zones in India. It is headquartered at Garden Reach, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It comprises Adra railway division, Chakradharpur railway division, Kharagpur railway division and Ranchi railway division.

History

thumb|Logo of South Eastern Railway

thumb|Stations of the South Eastern Railway when the South Eastern Railway was created

thumb|Headquarters of South Eastern Railway

Predecessor

The Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR) Company was incorporated in 1887 and continued to be called by that name until 14 April 1952, when it was amalgamated with the East Indian Railway to form one of six newly carved zones of the Indian Railways: the Eastern Railway.

Re-organisation

On August 1, 1955, the erstwhile Bengal Nagpur Railway portion was separated and a new zone, the South Eastern Railway, came into existence. The South Eastern Railway has electric multiple unit sheds in Tikiapara (near Howrah), Kharagpur and Panskura. Electric locomotive sheds are in Santragachi (near Howrah), Tatanagar, Bokaro Steel City, Kharagpur and Bondamunda (near Rourkela). Diesel locomotive sheds are located in Kharagpur, Bokaro Steel City, and Bondamunda. The coach maintenance yards of this zone are located in Santragachi (near Howrah), Hatia (near Ranchi) and Tatanagar. The South Eastern Railway has a major workshop located in Kharagpur, and one Engineering Workshop is located in Sini under the Chakradharpur division, and also a Diesel loco shed in Bondamunda (near Rourkela).

Administration

The administrative head of South Eastern Railway is Shri Anil Kumar Jain, who is the present General Manager of SER. The South Eastern Railway caters to the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. SER also runs regular electric multiple units (EMU and MEMU) services to areas adjacent to Kolkata, from Howrah to Kharagpur, Amta, Medinipur, Adra, Tatanagar, Balasore, Rourkela and Santragachi to Shalimar. It also handles major freight traffic to Kolkata and Haldia.

Headquarters

The headquarters of SER is located in Garden Reach in south Kolkata. The main office is housed in a spectacular building constructed in 1909. It has a brick red finish and follows the Indo-Saracenic architecture, complete with slender pillars, turrets and a huge central dome. The complex is spread across a large area complete with beautiful gardens. It houses a hospital and the BNR sports club. The residence of the General Manager (GM) of the SER is also located inside the complex. It is a colonial building dating back to 1846 and is inspired by the Temple of Winds in Athens, Greece. The milk white two-storied building with pillars and pediments once served as a residence of the last Nawab of Oudh, Wajid Ali Shah. During his short stay the Nawab the house came to be known as Pari Khana, literally meaning the house of the fairies. It The nawab was entertained by musicians, poets and dancers. The complex also houses several other buildings of historical importance and include Bungalow 12, which once served as the residence of the famous Indologist William Jones. Apart from buildings the complex also houses a vintage steam engine, a restored ball signal and a plaque of 978 Balloon Squadron, RAF.

Divisions

Adra railway division
Kharagpur railway division
Chakradharpur railway division
Ranchi railway division

Gallery

File:Howrah Mumbai Mail.jpg|Howrah - Mumbai Mail

File:Coromandel Express with WAP-4 Loco at Nalpur.jpg|Coromandel Express

File:East Coast Express hauled by LGD shed WAP-4.JPG|East Coast Express

File: Yesvantpur-Howrah Express with a WAP-4 loco at Marripalem 02.jpg|SMVT Bengaluru - Howrah Superfast Express

File:A View of Anakapalle Train station.jpg|Howrah – Chennai Mail

File:12221 Pune Howrah Duronto Express - AC 3 tier coach.jpg|Howrah - Pune Duronto

File:Titlgarh (TIG) bound 12871 (Howrah-Titlagarh) Ispat Express 01.jpg|Ispat Express

File:Howrah bound Amaravati Express at Vizianagaram.jpg|Amaravati Express

File:BNR House.jpg|BNR House, residence of the GM of SER

File:India Rail Lines 1955.jpg|Major routes of the Indian rail system in 1955

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Loco sheds

Electric Loco Shed, Tatanagar
Electric Loco Shed, Bokaro Steel City
Electric Loco Shed, Santragachi
Electric Loco Shed, Rourkela
Electric Loco Shed, Bondamunda
Electric Loco Shed, Kharagpur
Electric Loco Shed, Ispatnagar, Bokaro Steel City
Diesel Loco Shed, Bondamunda