Killick Nixon & Company British Era Bombay, 1900 Photo
A 1900 photo of Killick, Nixon & Company in the British Era in Bombay (Mumbai). The Killick, Nixon & Company (KNC), incorporated in 1857, were agents for many British business enterprises. One of them was notably Parry & Co of Madras. This British company operated from South Bombay.
One of their many business interests was exporting cotton in the earlier days. The company had its own private railway- The Central Province Railway or better known as the Shakuntala Railway. This narrow gauge railway operated well into 2017-20, till the Indian Railways took over it.
Privately-owned railways were allowed during the British era. Killick, Nixon & Company, chose to own and operate it to ferry raw cotton from the deep interiors to the port of Bombay, solely for export. The railway had also ferried passengers from Achalpur to Yavatmal, and back till it was taken over in 2017-20. This photo shows the management and staff lined up, probably for the company’s annual photo session.
See post Central Province Railway or Shakuntala Railway – Old Photo.
Read more the KN Company.
Did you know- KNC was influential in bringing about the amalgamation of India’s leading cement companies into a giant cement combine – The Associated Cement Companies Ltd. (ACC)-in whose management it played a leading role through its associated company, Cement Agencies Ltd.
This unique arrangement took place in 1936, where three other leading manufactures – Tatas, Khataus, and Dinshaws- joined hands with KNC to pool their assets and jointly form ACC as a new public company.
From the collection- Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Saraswati” Oleograph., Oldest Vintage Car In Mumbai India – Old Photo 1902., Vintage Photo Cochin State Forest Tramway 1919
