Memories of Udupussallawa Railway Track (UPR)

Nanu Oya is the closest railway station to popular tourist city-Nuwera Eliya. If you travel by train to Nuwera Eliya, you have to get down at Nanu Oya and take a bus for next journey. But 70 years ago a train was operated from Nanu Oya to Ragala via Nuwera Eliya. This is my attempt to visit some important places of Nanu Oya-Udupussallawa rail way track (In short term UPR)

A narrow gauge railway line operated from Nanu Oya to Ragala via Nuwera Eliya and Kandapola called Udupussallawa (උඩුපුස්සැල්ලාව) railway track (UPR). Current standard size rail track has a width of 5.5 feet compared to narrow gauge line had 2.5 feet width. Though it is called Udupussallawa Rail way line, it stopped at Ragala. In colonial days all these area was mentioned as Udupussallawa planting district.

Back ground of UPR
By end of 19th century most of railway lines of Sri Lanka were established. Due to the popularity of tea plantation new railway lines were requested by planters. Udupussallawa Planters Association has requested a railway line to the area of Kandapola, Ragala, Udupussallawa, High forest and Nuwera Eliya.
Governor West Ridgeway has played a major role in getting the approval for this rail way line. (He was called Great railway line maker).
They have started the construction of UPR in 1903 and totally opened it for luggage and passengers in 1904.

Characteristics of UPR

1. Total length of this rail way line was 19miles.

2. It started from Nanu Oya and passed Nuwera Eliya (“Heart of Sanatorium”) Kandapola, Brook side and ended at Ragala.

3. It was one of the highest gradient railway line of world at that time, similar to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India. The ascend between Nanu Oya and Nuwera Eliya is about 1000 feet and the distance was 6.5 miles. The gradient (Height/ Distance) was 1:23.87. From Nuwera Eliya to Kandapola was 1:27 and Kandapola to Ragala was 1:24.
Therefore it was identified as one of the steepest railway lines of the world.
And it has some sharpen bends with 80 feet radius.

4. There were two night mails operated from Colombo to Nuwera Eliya per day. Average time to reach Nuwera Eliya from Nanu Oya was 45minutes and to Ragala was 2 hours and 45 minutes. There were separate sleeping berths in night mails for UPR passengers. They had to get into narrow gauge train from Nanu Oya. The maximum speed was 12miles per hour from Nanu Oya onwards.

5. Engines were specially built for Narrow gauge railway lines. They were named as UPR class 1 and made in England

6. Passenger compartments were smaller than standard sizes. Initially there were four passenger compartments and total length was altogether 40feet. First class compartment (called as governor’s saloon) had only 4 seats, second class compartment had only 6 seats and third class had 16seats. These compartments were built in SL later.

7. The main purpose of this railway track was to transport tea, daily needs, wood, cattle, sheep, goats, kerosene oil etc. It was not built for passenger transport.

8. Railway line was built in three stages:
Nanu Oya-Nuwera Eliya
Nuwera Eliya-Kandapola
Kandapola-Ragala

Main railway stations were
Black pool (BPL)-4miles from Nanu Oya
Nuwera Eliya (NEY)-6.5miles
Kandapola (KAP)-12miles
Brookside (BKS)-16.5miles
Ragala (RLA)-19.5miles

There were separate loading platforms to load tea.

Kandapola was the highest railway station of Sri Lanka at that time. (6316feet). Pattipola is situated at 6204feet.

Problems in building and managing UPR
Due to steepness of the railway line government had to spend more money than estimated cost for the railway line. Estate owners requested more money for their lands occupied by railway line. And there was a conflict in building the trek through army camp at Nuwera Eliya (Barrack plains).

Deterioration of UPR

Deterioration of UPR started after 1930. Highways were built between cities of the area and transportation of goods by Lorries were effective than train. New bus service was started from Nuwera Eliya to remote areas. Later it was difficult to bring engine, wagon and compartments for repair to Colombo. And government was not able to invest money to maintain or extend this railway line. Due to steepness and sharp bends railway accidents were common at UPR.
However UPR was functioned till 1948. Last train was operated in this trek on 25th August 1948. It was officially closed and railway lines were removed in 1948.But some railway stations were functioned for delivery of goods received by other stations.

Remains of UPR
Limited number of landmarks were remained now. The land belongs to railway line was taken for building highways and side roads. Illegal constructions were occurred and it is bit difficult to trace old railway track.

Here I didn’t attempt to trace the track of UPR. My aim was to cover some important places of UPR.

1. Starting point at Nanu Oya railway station
Nanu Oya station was expanded in 1903 due to UPR. In 1950 remains of narrow line was converted into standard lines at Nanu Oya. Currently no remains of UPR at Nanu Oya other than this board.

Starting point of UPR at Nanu Oya station

The path of UPR is a concrete road now.

There are remains of number of culverts of railway track. “Ahas Bookuwa” අහස් බෝක්කුව at Kalegala (කැලේගාල) area is one of that. Though I have been there, I couldn’t get a picture of it. It is situated at four way junction at Kalegala.

2. Red bridge / රතු පාලම
This is the remains of Iron Bridge closer to race course of Nuwera Eliya. As it is painted in red, called red bridge. It is situated closer to Nuwera Eliya-Udupussallawa road near race course.

Red bridge was to cross Nanu Oya

Red bridge was to cross Nanu Oya

3. Nuwera Eliya railway station and railway quarters
Nuwera Eliya bus depot is functioned at old railway station. Main office of railway station is used as operating building of the bus depot. Other than roof, all the structures are belongs to initial construction. Platform can be seen behind the station.

Nuwera Eliya old railway station

Nuwera Eliya old railway station

Nuwera Eliya old railway station

Remains of old station

Flat form of the station is functioned as a garage

Old railway quarters can be seen on the other side of the road, in front of the bus depot.
It is used as circuit bungalows.

One of Old railway quarters

4. Stone bridge at Kandapola
Remains of an old bridge is seen at Kandapola area. It was built to cross Uma Ela. As this iron bridge is on stone foundation, it is called stone bridge (ගල් පාලම). There is a by road from Nuwera Eliya-Kandapola road, mentioned as summer hill road. Stone bridge is situated closer to this by road, but can be easily approached by main road.

Stone bridge

Stone bridge

Stone bridge is crossing Uma Ela. Now bridge is surrounded by vegetable plots

How it was built

5. Store at Kandapola Railway Station
Kandapola was the highest railway station of SL (6316feet). Remains of old store at Kandapola station belongs to Kasthuriarachchi transport service. They use it as a garage. This is situated at Kandapola town. Kandapola railway station was situated in front of this store. (Not seeing due to expansion of the road)

Remains of old railway store at Kandapola

Remains of old railway store at Kandapola

Remains of old railway store at Kandapola

Remains of old railway store at Kandapola

Remains of old railway store at Kandapola

Remains of old railway store at Kandapola

6. Brookside railway station and station master’s quarters
Well preserved railway station is seen at Brook Side closer to main road. Currently it is functioned as a wine stores. Brookside station is built on stone pillars. It’s walls were totally made by wood. It is divided into three compartments. Floor is also made by wood, but it was cemented recently.

Brookside station in mist.

Ticket counter and entrance of Brookside station. Now it is functioned as a wine stores.

Inside of Brook side railway station

Inside of Brook side railway station

Inside of Brook side railway station

Side appearance of Brook side station. Note-Nuwera Eliya-Ragala road goes closer to it.

It is placed on stone pillars.

Behind of the station

Station master’s quarters is seen opposite to the station. Though it is well preserved seems abounded. Stores of Brookside is also situated closer to the station.

Station master’s quarters.

A tomb situated closer to railway line and main road. This is not related to the history of railway. But it was built even before railway line is established.

Here it is mentioned 1897 Perattasi 23. “IN MEMORY OF PERIA ANNEN KANAKA PULLE”. It was built even before railway line is established.

7. Railway turn at Ragala

As railway line ends at Ragala, end turn is situated about 100m away from Ragala station. It is situated at beginning of Udupussallawa road and above the filling station. The wall with bricks behind the filling station is the evident of this railway end. There is an old tap as well.

These bricks belong to old railway turn at Ragala. This premises is occupied by business places. Old tap is circled

Railway end at Ragala

I was not able to find the place where Ragala station is situated. When I asked from people they have shown a building where old CTB bus stop is situated. Don’t know it has some relation to railway line. But it also has some railway parts.

The place I was shown by people as old railway station. It looks like bus stand. But now abounded.

The place I was shown by people as old railway station.

The place I was shown by people as old railway station.

There are number of culverts (බෝක්කු) of describe at book would come across in this trek. But I didn’t try to trace them.

Few interesting old pictures

Udupussallawa railway near Kandapola. This is at 6km post of Nuwera Eliya –Kandapola road. Picture was taken from The book of Ceylon.

Kandapola Railway Station. Picture was taken from The book of Ceylon.

Thanks for reading