Jamalpur, the first Railway Workshop of India

The Line Shaft System was used to power Turning Machines, and a Steam Powerhouse at Jamalpur generated electricity for the Workshop.

The Iron Foundry or Cast Iron Foundry at Jamalpur Railway Workshop.

The foundry catered to the need for Iron Castings or Cast Iron castings. Later, the Workshop became a major producer of Cast Iron Brake Blocks for the Indian Railways, until gradually, Cast Iron Brake Blocks were replaced by those made of Composite Materials.

The casting section generally used sand casting and metal moulds. Moulds were set on the ground and molten metals from the Cupola Furnace were carried in ladles.

Till early in the 21st century, the system of casting brake blocks was mostly manual. With introduction of composite brake blocks, iron casting was discontinued.

Still preserved in good condition, the Steel Rolling Mill at the Jamalpur Railway Workshop is said to be the first in Asia.

The Jamalpur Technical Institute was established in 1897, for training of Workshop Officials.

In this photo: the 1897 Visit of His Excellency The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine to the East Indian Railway Workshop at Jamalpur, Bihar.

A rare photo of the Mechanics Institute at Jamalpur, from 1897.

A special train, colloquially known as the 'Cooliee Gaddi' was run to take workmen to and from the Jamalpur Workshop. Its timings matched those of the Workshop.

This rare photo is from 1897.

The Locomotive Superintendent's Residence, at Jamalpur (1897).