A Textbook Transportation Engineering

When I author joined 'Thomson College of Civil Engineering Roorkee' in 1940, Civil Engineering was the only branch of Engineering as different from Military Engineering. Instructions were imparted not only in civil subjects but also in electrical and mechanical. In fact some of the students from this college entered Mechanical and Electrical branch of Railways through IRSE (Indian Railways Service of Engineers). This college at that time had'an intake of 30 students per annum. 50% of the seats (i.e. 15) were reserved for students from U.P. and remaining 50% for other states.

In course of time quite a number of Engineering colleges were established and the term Civil Engineering got confined to Civil' and other branches of Engineering came into existence.

A number of books on Roads, Railways, Airports, Docks and Hatbours, Bridges, Tunnels, Irrigation, Sanitary Engineering entered the market. The author felt the need of separate treatment on Transportation Engineering as a result of which this present book on Transportation Engineering has been prepared and placed before you. This book covers the basic stream of Railways, Docks and Harbours, Roads and Road Transport, Air Transport and Tunnelling.

I wish to express our sincere thanks and gratitudes to Mr Ravindra Kumar Gupta, Managing Director and to Mr Himanshu Gupta, Director, S. Chand & Company Ltd. for their keen interest, full cooperation and untiring efforts in bringing out the present edition. Suggestions for improvement will be gratefully acknowledged.