Bridging the Sutlej at Phillaur - Gateway to the North West
A look at the old and new Sutlej Bridge that connects Calcutta to Lahore.
By Rail Enthusiasts' Society
Author: Vinoo N. Mathur
The Sutlej is an important river of Northern India. It was known to the Greeks as the 'Zaradros' and was called the 'Shatadru' in Sanskrit. It is the easternmost of the five tributaries of the Indus from which 'Punjab' derives its name. It is also the longest of these five rivers. There were three important bridges built on the section over the Beas, Yamuna and Sutlej rivers. The old bridge over the Sutlej was opened in 1870, to provide the final link in the form of a direct railway line between Calcutta and Lahore. The bridge was 4224 ft. long and cost Rs. 3,360,076 in construction.
The new Sutlej BridgeHeritage Directorate, Indian Railways
Above: Sutlej Bridge at the early stages of constructions.
The construction and completion of the Sutlej Bridge was described as a 'work of great magnitude' and caused an extra year to be added to the terms of the contract and delayed an earlier completion of the line.
Girders being erected on the new double line Sutlej bridge, 1909 by Vinoo MathurRail Enthusiasts' Society
In 1907, a survey was sanctioned for doubling of the section between Amritsar and Saharanpur. Initially, it was intended to exclude the Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna bridges from the doubling scheme; however, it was later decided to rebuild these bridges as the original construction was only for a single line.
One line of the new bridge was operational in 1910, while double line started working in 1914.
An electric hauled express train passing over Sutlej bridge by Vinoo MathurRail Enthusiasts' Society
In 2001-02, minor modifications of the girders became necessary for providing vertical clearance to facilitate the electrification of the line.
Work of constructing the piers of the new double line bridge by Vinoo MathurRail Enthusiasts' Society
The second bridge has also completed its life, as prescribed in the codes of the Indian Railways, of a hundred years.
Therefore, in 2006-07, the Research Design & Standards Organisation of the Indian Railways carried out tests to assess the residual life of the girders. It was concluded that the bridge will still be carrying traffic in the second half of the 21st Century.
In the meanwhile, the first Sutlej Bridge, now 148 years old, still stands a mute spectator to the changing times, the dwindling flow in the river below and the rising traffic moving over the younger rail bridge nearby.
Entry to the double line bridge over the Sutlej at Phillaur by Vinoo MathurRail Enthusiasts' Society
An entry to the double line bridge over the Sutlej, at Phillaur.
The girders of the up and down lines, erected in 1908 and 1914, respectively, are still in use.
Author: Vinoo N. Mathur
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