Richardson & Cruddas and the Colonial Water Tank at Kasur Railway Station

I’ve always been drawn to forgotten places — the ones where time lingers in the walls, where rusted bolts and fading paint still whisper stories of past. That curiosity recently led me to Kasur Railway Station, built in 1906 during British India, a place that still holds firm despite the passage of 118 years. The strength and durability of its colonial-era structures stand as a remarkable example to the engineering standards of that time, built not just to serve, but to endure.

As I explored the station, my eyes caught an overhead cast iron water tank, rising above the platforms like a relic from another age. Weathered but resilient, it instantly sparked my curiosity. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a barely legible but still proud inscription on its side:
"Richardson and Cruddas – Makers – Bombay.

Richardson & Cruddas was established in 1858 in Bombay (now Mumbai). It quickly rose to prominence as one of the premier engineering and fabrication firms under British colonial rule. The company specialized in heavy iron and steel structures — water tanks, railway bridges, turntables, and machinery — and played a foundational role in building the infrastructure that powered the expanding railway networks of British India.

These overhead water tanks, like the one I spotted at Kasur, were vital during the steam engine era. Strategically placed at major railway stations, they provided the water needed for locomotives to operate. Their robust construction and industrial design were not only functional but have proven incredibly durable — many, including this one in Kasur, still stand today even though their use has long since faded.

After the Partition of 1947, Richardson & Cruddas continued its operations in independent India. Unlike many other British-era companies that vanished or were absorbed, Richardson & Cruddas adapted to the changing political and industrial landscape. It remained a key player in India’s infrastructure development, expanding its range of services to include steel structures for power plants, refineries, ports, and public works.

In the post-independence decades, especially during the nation-building period of the 1950s and 60s, the company thrived. However, by the 1990s, amid growing liberalization and competition, its dominance began to wane. Today, while its industrial might has diminished, its name still resonates in engineering circles, and its ironwork continues to quietly survive in places like Kasur, Delhi, Lahore, and Mumbai — relics of a shared past.