The Hindu : History back on the rails

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 17, 2002

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History back on the rails

The Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, triggers the nostalgic whistle of a steam locomotive that commenced the journey from `Bori Bunder' in Mumbai on Tuesday to commemorate the first train journey in India 150 years ago. To his right is the mascot guard, Bholu. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

MUMBAI APRIL 16. History walked 150 years back in time as an old steam engine left the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus here today, with 400 passengers waving out to the teeming crowd, and the train recreating its maiden run from the erstwhile `Bori Bunder' to `Tannah', now known as Thane on April 16, 1853.

To commemorate the 150th year of Indian Railways, the iron horse, driven by an 80 year-old retired steam engine driver, chugged out of the station, puffing with pride and the leitmotif whistle, carrying with it an old world charm when the steam symbolised the rapid strides taken by science.

On board the train were a host of dignitaries, including the Maharashtra Governor, P.C. Alexander, the Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Deputy Chief Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal and the Union Ministers, Nitish Kumar, Pramod Mahajan, Ram Naik, Digvijay Singh, Raj Gopal, Jayawanti Mehta and the Mayor of Mumbai, Mahadev Deole.

The train left the terminus at 3.35 p.m. after the customary green flag was waved off amid cheers and applause.

The seven ivory-and-cinnamon coaches, smelling of the same wet polish as they did over a century and half ago, succeeded in taking the selected passengers to a trip down memory lane with its redesigned interiors created to capture the magic and ambience of the days of yore.

Bright floral curtains used to block out the harsh sun, toilets with showers and bathtubs, the spotlessly painted interiors, the luxurious upholstery, and finely carved wooden interiors succeeded in taking the passengers back in time when the railway was the only fastest means of transport.

The coaches, drawn from different trains, were redesigned to match the ambience of the original coaches, drawing extensively from minute research and historical accounts of train journeys and journals.

One of the coaches, with its huge glass chandeliers and beautiful lamps lined across the interiors, evoked a glimmer of excitement among all those present, leaving them mesmerised by its magical charms.

A 1953-built coach with its thick gold coloured curtains and the three German made coaches with plush seats evoked a sense of awe when trains were cleaner and more hygienic to travel and were airy with more leg space.

However, it was the dining car that was the cynosure of all eyes with its neat row of plush seats, interspersed with wooden folding tables topped with vintage ashtrays — akin to an old Hollywood movie.

Nearly 100 workers toiled day and night at the Central Railway Carriage and Wagon workshop at Matunga in central Mumbai to put together the piece of history, Railway sources said.

The carpeted coaches of standard 22-metre size have light switches made of brass, fan regulators made of old steel with a small level to adjust the speed of the fan and period furniture like the desks, old clocks, and old GIP wooden chairs with cane seatings.

It was back on April 18, 1853 the Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce, by which name the Times of India was then known, carried a poem under an apt title "The opening of the Bombay Railway" — "Hissing steam, amid the breathless clouds, The sight of wonder, in whose grasp appears..."

The historic train had three locomotives — Sindh, Saheb and Sultan — with 14 coaches and was set in motion at 3.35 p.m., taking 57 minutes to reach its destination. However, unfortunately the then Governor had failed to turn up for the historic occasion though the event had attracted scores of Britishers and curious Indians to have look at the James Watt invention.

Interestingly, the fares of the first train from Bori Bunder (CSTC) to Thane for the third class was five annas and three paisa while that for the second class was one rupee, one anna and six paise.

The first class fare was then a princely sum of Rs. two and 10 annas.

Now, 150 years down the line, the Indian Railways has tracked miles since that eventful day covering a network of 63,000 km with about 12,000 trains on its regular schedules upholding the popular sobriquet of being the lifeline of the country. — PTI

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History back on the rails