Due to its beautiful and ancient architecture and historical
status, Mari Indus Railway Station has a unique location in the entire Mianwali
district. It would not be wrong to say that this city is also the center of
prosperity.
Due to its
beautiful and ancient architecture and historical status, Mari Indus Railway
Station has a unique location in the entire Mianwali district. It would not be
wrong to say that this city is also the center of prosperity.
I have watched the memorable days of railways
closely since my childhood and that is probably why trains and railway stations
are so fascinating to me.
The sound of
the train and its horns also have an appeal. Empty freight cars and deserted
tracks fascinate me. And for people like me, the Mari Indus railway station is
very beautiful.
The old
white building, the beautiful old-fashioned glass doors and windows, the old
wooden benches, the simple platform, the wooden high water tank and the old
railway equipment, all look like they were in the eighties or nineties. Looking
at the long train station.
It is
flanked by hills on both sides and the Indus River at a short distance.
There are different tracks scattered here and
there. Built in 1891, the building is still as charming and attractive today as
it was after some repairs. Many parts of the go station are no longer in use
and have been closed. In many places, train wheels and other equipment have
been left behind.
Earlier only
one train "Attock Passenger" used to come here but now after running
two new trains, the popularity here has increased a bit.
Another
special feature of this station is that it has a combination of wide and narrow
tracks. On one side is a wide gauge track that connects it to Lahore, while on
the other side is a narrow track that connects Mari to Kalabagh, Kamar Mashani,
Isa Khel, Lakki Marwat and beyond Bannu and then to Tank which is now closed. ۔
Its history
is very interesting and instructive.
The story
goes that the British Crown had set up an arms depot for its army at Mari
Indus. The depot provided weapons to forces deployed across the Indus to
protect the western border in western areas such as Bannu, Tank, Kohat and
Waziristan. This depot is still standing with the station.
Weapons were
brought to the Mari Indus through the main wide track, but it was not easy to
build such a system in the west across it, so a narrow track of 2 feet 6 inches
was laid here which went from Mari to Bannu. Bannu was further connected to
Tank by a branch line. Thus a cheap and small railway system came into being
which helped in facilitating the movement of British troops to the border.
These trains
began to be used for military as well as civilian purposes and people began to
travel through them. According to the locals, their speed was so slow that
people would get off them and get back on board with comfortable food and
drink. Locally known as the "Little Rail", it was laid by the
Northwestern Railway in 1913 and taken to Tank Junction in 1916.
The length
of this branch railway line of Pakistan was approximately 122 km which was also
called Mari Indus Railway line. Unfortunately, this track was closed in 1995.
The
slow-moving train, which runs on a two-and-a-half-foot track, was mostly used
for the movement of Pakistani troops. When it entered the railway bridge, the
water flowing down the Indus River and its smoky engine at the top offered an
enchanting view.
The people
of Kalabagh used to watch the train pass with their small children in their
arms. According to locals, Nawab Amir Muhammad Khan and Queen Elizabeth had a
memorable journey on this train. Today, after its closure, the stations of
Kalabagh, Isa Khel, Lakki Marwat and Bannu offer a view of the desolate
wasteland, with nothing but rusty tracks.
From here
you can visit Mianwali, Namal Lake and Chashma Barrage on one side and Issa
Khel and Lakki Marwat on the other side.