The New Pamban Railway Lift Bridge & Boat Mail Train, 2 Photos 1914
Two rare photographs from 1914 capture the historic inauguration of the Pamban Railway Bridge, India’s first sea bridge. Commissioned during the British era, the bridge featured the iconic Scherzer rolling lift span, officially opened in 1914.
The first image shows the Boat Mail Express Train (also called the Indo-Ceylon Express) making its inaugural run across the brand-new Pamban Bridge. The second photograph records a rare moment of a ship sailing through the open rolling lift section of the bridge — a remarkable engineering feat of its time.
Popularly known as the Pamban Bridge, it was later renamed the Annai Indira Gandhi Bridge. Built across the Palk Strait, this landmark structure connects mainland India to Rameshwaram Island and Dhanushkodi.
The Boat Mail service began in 1914, coinciding with the bridge’s completion. The train originally ran from Egmore Station, Madras (Chennai) to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi, where passengers boarded ships to Talaimannar in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Later, the railway line was extended to Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) as an alternate route, but the journey was longer and less convenient. In 1964, a devastating cyclone struck Dhanushkodi, with massive waves sweeping away the train and tragically killing many passengers. Following this disaster, the railway service was permanently terminated at Rameshwaram.
See also Dhanushkodi.
Did you know – the service existed primarily to ferry Tamil labourers to the Sri Lanka side to work for the tea and plantation estates, since Sri Lanka had a shortage of workers.
From the collection – M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Beautiful Lady (#6)., Life In British India Horseshoe Work – Old Photo 1890., British Restaurant At Pune, Old 1900 Postcard., Rioting In Southern India – Old print 1921.
