Indian Railways is the second largest rail network in Asia. It has been the main mode of transport in India for more than 160 years. So let us know which trains ran before independence and how many trains are still running on the track.
New Delhi, The history of railways in India is more than 160 years old. Indian Railways has redefined the country since independence. India ranks fourth in the world with a rail network of 1.2 lakh km.
The first train of our country was the Red Hill Railway, which ran 25 km from Red Hills to Chintadripet bridge in 1837. Sir Arthur Cotton is credited with building this train, which was mainly used to transport granite.
India's first passenger train ran in 1847 when the East India Company and the Great Peninsula Railway together built a 56 km long track from Bombay to Thane. On 16 April 1853, a passenger train ran from Bori Bunder (Bombay) to Thane for 34 km.
In the early days British-Indian railway companies spread railway lines everywhere with the latest locomotives and equipment and invested heavily in India. It is said that in those days the facilities available in the trains of India were even better than in England.
Despite major changes in geography, history and society after partition, these trains remained a part of the nation and continued to discharge their duties. Today we will know about some such trains which are still a part of Indian Railways and which are still running on the tracks carrying the memories of British era. Punjab Mail (1 June 1912)
Punjab Mail is one of the oldest and long distance trains of Indian Railways. Earlier it was known as Punjab Limited. This year on June 1, 2022, this train has completed 110 years. This train, which started before independence, is running even today, the only difference is that earlier it used to go from Bombay to Peshawar (now in Pakistan).
Before partition, this train had the credit of being the fastest train in British India. The Punjab Limited route ran on GIP tracks for a large part, and passed through Itarsi, Agra, Delhi, Amritsar and Lahore before terminating at Peshawar Cantonment. Punjab Mail currently falls in Central Railway zone and runs between Mumbai and Firozpur.
Frontier Mail (1 September 1928)
Frontier Mail has also seen undivided India. This train was started almost 16 years after the running of Punjab Mail. This train ran for the first time on September 1, 1928. It started operations from Mumbai to Peshawar via Colaba soon after the closure of Ballard Pier.
In 1930, The Times of London described it as one of the most famous express trains running in the British Empire. After independence it used to go only from Bombay to Amritsar via Delhi. Frontier Mail was formally renamed 'Golden Temple Express' in September 1996. Air conditioners were installed in this train in the year 1934 and it became India's first air conditioned bogie train.
Grand Trunk Express (1 April 1929)
GT Express or Grand Trunk Express is also one of the oldest trains in India. Soon after the construction of the Kazipet-Balharshah section, 'GT' was started, which was the last link of the Delhi-Madras route. Initially it ran from Peshawar to Mangalore and its entire journey took about 104 hours. It was one of the longest railways in the country. Later this service was extended to Lahore- Mettupalayam. It got its present route in 1930, running between Delhi and Madras.
Bombay Poona Mail (21 April 1863)
The Bombay–Puna Mail was a luxurious train operated by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway on the Mumbai–Pune section. It ran for the first time in 1869. This was the first intercity train started between Mumbai and Pune. This train, in association with Deccan Queen Express, served Mumbai-Pune passengers for many years. It is believed that this train was one of the finest trains of the British Empire, carrying the Royal Mail.
Kalka Mail (1 January 1866)
Kalka Mail is also the oldest running train in the history of Indian Railways. This train has completed 156 years this year. The train was derailed in 1866 as "East Indian Railway Mail" with 01 Up and 02 Down number plates.
These historic trains are part of the history of our country. A large number of refugees traveled in these trains during Partition. These trains have also felt the pain and agony that was there during the partition of the country. But running on the track of time, he performed his duty without getting tired and served the passengers. It becomes our duty to travel in the above mentioned trains and keep proud on the rich history of Indian Railways. Indian Railways JourneyFor the first time in the country, on December 22, 1851, the railway ran on the track. The first passenger train ran between Mumbai and Thane on 16 April 1853. The Indian Railways Act was passed in the year 1890. Indian Railways was nationalized in the year 1950. Starting with the zonal system with six zones in the year 1952, at present there are 17 zones. Indian Railways is considered to be one of the longest and busiest networks in the world. More than six billion passengers travel by rail every year. The Fairy Queen is the oldest engine in the world, which still runs. Reservation through internet started in the year 2004. In the year 2007, a comprehensive general train inquiry service was started across the country through telephone number 139.
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HISTORY