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Coll 28/12 ’Persia; Railways; Trans-Persian Railway’ [‎17r] (33/143)

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The record is made up of 1 file (70 folios). It was created in 16 Jun 1931-18 Nov 1940. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
6025
August 30, 1^937.
W. 3 7
Section 1.
[E 5064/85/34] Copy No. 33
Mr. Seymour to Mr. Eden.—(Received Auoust 30.)
(No. 312.)
Sir, Tehran, August 14, 1937.
IN my despatch No. 71 of the 26th February last I had the honour to report
the official inauguration of the northern section of the Trans-Iranian Railway.
A regular daily service between Tehran and Bander Shah started on the 5th June
last.
2. From a reliable source I now hear that the daily passenger service has
been discontinued owing to the shortage of workable engines, only about four now
being available. Careless handling and lack of essential spare parts, coupled
with inefficient repair shops, are responsible for the present situation, and have
reduced the regular service to an occasional train mainly for the transport of
rails for the section between Tehran and Qum.
3. From the same source I understand that twenty second-hand engines were
recently purchased in Vienna for immediate and urgent despatch to the northern
section. The Soviet Union having refused transit through the Caucasus, the
engines have to be taken to pieces and shipped to Bander Shapour on the Persian
Gulf, and thence transported to Bander Shah for assembly. By the time they
arrive and are ready for work, service on that section is likely to be in a chaotic
state.
4. It was further reported that the arrangement for the supply by
Ferrostahl of sixty locomotives and 1,000 waggons has fallen through owing to
the Germans now demanding higher payments. The Danes hope to obtain an
order for some thirty out of the 1,000 waggons, and it is thought that the balance
of the requirements may be supplied by Skoda and another German group.
5. I am sending a copy of this despatch to the Secretary to the Government
of India in the External Affairs Department.
I have, &c.
H. J. SEYMOUR.
[89 gg—1]
t

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Content

Reports submitted by British officials in Persia [Iran], along with newspaper cuttings from the British press, relating to construction work on the Trans-Persian Railway, intended to run from Bandar Shah [Bandar-e Torkaman] in the north of the country, to Bandar Shapur [Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni] at the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The papers focus on foreign and British investments and activity in the construction of the railway:

  • Completion of construction of the line between Bandar Shah [Bandar-e Torkoman] and Aliabad by a German syndicate in 1931, and its handing over to the Persian Government.
  • The appointment in 1933 of a Danish-Swedish syndicate, Kampsax Aktieselskab , to undertake construction of the remaining north and south section of the Trans-Persian Railway.
  • The purchase of British locomotives, manufactured by Beyer, Peacock & Co. by the Persian State Railway.
  • Suspension of construction work on the southern section of the line in 1934, due to a lack of funds.
  • Actions of the Persian Government to fund railway construction, including the French text of a supplementary budget law for the Iranian year 1314 (equivalent to the Gregorian year 1935) on folio 27.
  • The opening of the Trans-Persian Railway (now referred to as the Trans-Iranian Railway) in 1938.
  • A report from the Secretary to the Government of India, External Affairs Department (Lieutenant-Colonel William Rupert Hay), dated 29 May 1940, referring to the line’s strategic significance in wartime (ff 4-5).

The majority of the file’s correspondence is sent from the British Legation at Tehran (Hughe Montgomery Knatchbull-Hugessen; Nevile Montagu Butler; Horace James Seymour).

Extent and format
1 file (70 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 71; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-70; these numbers are also written in pencil and circled, but are crossed through.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 28/12 ’Persia; Railways; Trans-Persian Railway’ [‎17r] (33/143), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3409, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044300084.0x000024> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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