@ghoomja published
4.2.2021
#Quetta #Dara-e-Bolan #railway
درہ بولان ریلوے کی تاریخی حثیت
Dara-e-Bolan is a historically significant route that can be easily reached to reach Quetta and Kandahar. The first proposal to build a railway line in this pass was made in 1857 by the then railway chairman, Mr. William Patrick Andrew. The delegation that went to see Lord Palmerston about this was Andrew's spokesman. Until 1878, it was of great military importance to connect Pishin and Kandahar by rail, and both proposals were under consideration via Harnai and Bolan Pass.
The first railway line was laid in the area in 1879 and it was decided to expand it in 1880. Because the Bolan Pass passes through the Khum mountain ranges at the top and bottom, the surrounding areas were considered suitable for light traffic only. But later, due to heavy rains and landslides in the area, the old railway line was almost destroyed and it was decided to lay a new railway line through Harnai as it was suitable for heavy traffic. The new railway line was completed in about 4 years, and in 1887 the first train passed through the Bolan route, which is still used for travel and trade.
High and rocky cliffs were dug to make way here, at about nine places this railway line crosses the Bolan Pass. During this time, long tunnels add to the enjoyment of the train journey. And it is noteworthy that each of these tunnels has historical significance.
1. Cheese tunnel
It is one of the 25 longest tunnels in the long railway line around the Bolan Pass. It takes about three minutes for the train to pass through at normal speed. It is one mile from Paneer railway station. Its length is 1 12 (2.45 km). Beyond Paneer to Machh, there are many small tunnels, the construction of which is worth seeing. The four tunnels are so skillfully and beautifully designed like binoculars that one can stand outside the tunnel and see the other three in a line.
2. Windy Corner Tunnel
Windy Corner is an English word meaning corner or narrow space. As the road to Bolan Pass becomes very narrow beyond Paneer, the British engineers who built the tunnel named it Wendy Corner Tunnel. It is located next to the Dazan railway station and is about 127 meters long. The next tunnel is called the Cad Cad tunnel, which is 165 meters long. Athir Abdul Qadir Shahwani, a historian from Balochistan, told DW that at one time the water of mountain springs used to flow around this railway line, which offered a view of a beautiful waterfall. But over the past two decades, due to lack of rainfall and drought in Balochistan, the Bolan Pass has dried up in many places, and even these springs have very little water, while some have dried up.
3. Memory tunnel of my gene or love
The tunnel was named after the British woman Marie Jane. According to historical sources, Marie Jane was the spouse of Ogilagan, a British engineer who worked on the Bolan railway project in the late 18th century. Come and stay in the area. And often on the field with her husband. Blasting was used to make way for tunnels in rocky cliffs. One day during the explosion, a flying rock hit Marie Jane, killing her.
Mr. O'Gallaghan and the other engineers who worked with him were shocked by the sudden death, and the tunnel was named after Marie Jane. It is said that there is a tomb of Jane on the mountain above the tunnel, but the traces of time have now erased its traces.
4. Khojak or Kojak tunnel
Khojak was once the fourth largest tunnel in the world, but according to the new rankings, it is ranked eighth. Construction began in 1891, and over a period of about three years, hundreds of engineers and thousands of workers worked day and night to complete the masterpiece tunnel, which also used machines. Oil was brought from 40 miles away by camels to run these machines.
Its length is 3.92 km. It looks straightforward, but there are ups and downs in the middle of it, and as soon as the train arrives at this point, the automatic system
