Nilgiri [i.e. Nilagiri] Railway

Philip Boesinger was active in Coonoor around 1897. It is not known whether he was a professional or amateur photographer.

A leather bound album, with 26 pages, measuring 335 x 460 mm, with black and white photographs relating to the construction of the Nilgiri (or Nilagiri) Railway. The photographs were taken by Philip Boesinger of Coonor. The photographs are mounted on boards which are taped into the binding. The collection belonged to the family of Mrs Sue Prideaux, which had tea-planting connections in India.

The Nilgiri Railway is part of the larger, South Indian Railway line which extends from Madras to Bangalore. The Nilgiri extends East from Coonoor Station to Mettapolian Station in the West and is renowned for its steep gradients. J.N. Westwood comments: 'Technically, the most interesting of the hill railways is the Nilgiri Railway, an isolated mg connection between the bg railhead at Mettupaliyam and the hill resort of Ootacamund (i.e. Udagamandalam). There are 1 in 25 adhesion grades, and even steeper stretches where the Abt rack system is used' (Westwood 1974).

Presented by Mrs Sue Prideaux in December 1993.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library, Nilgiri [i.e. Nilagiri] Railway, Y3022TTTT

For general information about the Nilgiri Railway see: Westwood, John Norton (1974), 'Railways of India', Newton Abbot; North Pomfret, Vt.: David and Charles.

Indexed

This collection level description was entered by SG using information from the original typescript catalogue.

An identical set of photographs is held in the India Office Library, reference B 83/1.