HISTORICAL PHOTOS OF INDIAN RAILWAYS

A VIPUL M DESAIS PRESENTAION

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Railways were first introduced to India in 1853. By 1947, the year of India's independence, there were 42 rail systems. In 1951 the systems were nationalised as one unit, the Indian Railways, becoming one of the largest networks in the world. Indian Railways operates both long distance and suburban rail systems on a multi-gauge network of broad, metre and narrow gauges. It also owns locomotive and coach production facilities. After seeing these photos I am reminded of good old days when the trains & railway facilities were clean & tidy, one could find a seat/berth easily, no TTes took bribes, trains were timely, accidents were rare & generally everything was hassle free. Journeys were memorable & pleasant. No fear of thefts , drugging, disease, accidents. Now, from coaches down to the stones on tracks everything is unclean, rat infested, foul smelling, fecal stained, overcrowded. The staff is rude & corrupt. beggars, eunuchs, hawkers & ticktless frequent coaches. RPF & TTes are greedy. Trains are late. Fear of accidents prevails. Tracks & sidings have been encroached upon. Thieves & pickpockets rule the coaches. Mafias rule the godowns & grain/coal transportation & catering, & reservation services. Even ammunition & arms are stolen. Wagons are left in darkness for prowlers to steal at will. Railway ministers are political & aloof. Who cares, because they travel by air & AC-i. The trains & stations are specially cleaned for them. So, they they don't see squalor & shit the passengers see & smell daily. Or they don't care because they feel, everyone has a right to earn from the railways. remember the song " Rail Gaddi' by Mangal singh. RAILWAY MINISTER AND THEIR OFFICERS HAVE NO GUTS TO ACT FOR THE COMMON PASSENGER Ashok Kumar

First Great Indian Peninsula Railway EMU

Inauguration of electric traction by the GIPR, 1925

GIPR's Wadi Bunder viaduct, Mumbai, 1925

Poster of the Deccan Queen, 1930

Steam-hauled train ascending the Bhore Ghat, 1929

A view of a train between Bhusaval and Mumbai, 1924

Poona Mail at the then-new Poona station

The Frontier Mail on Old Vasai Creek bridge, Maharashtra

South Indian Railway's electric locomotive with battery tender in 1931

Trial run of a double decker car built by Indian Coach Factory

Three hundred horsepower new diesel Tisco #25, 1936

The notings on the reverse of the photograph says 'Ice for the air conditioned coach of the Frontier Mail -1' Bayana Junction, Rajasthan, 11-9-42

The air conditioned coach of Frontier Mail at Ratlam Junction. The notings on the reverse of the photgraph says 'Ratlam Junction' 11-9-42

This photograph was taken at Chalisgaon, Maharashtra, of the Frontier Mail. Notings on the reverse 'Chalisgaon, 2.9.42

The notings on the reverse says 'Yours Truly watching the passing pageant!', Lakheri, Rajasthan, September 11th, 1942

D1 class 4-4-0 locomotive No. 248. It was known as `Princess May

An earlier locomotive of BBCIR, No. 8 became known as `Palej'. It was an A class 2-4-0T locomotive built by Robert Stephenson & Co in 1881

A metre gauge BBCIR locomotive. No. 98 was a B class 0-4-4 tank locomotive built by Dubs in 1874. Earlier examples were built by Naysmth Wilson

A view of Bombay Central

Another view of Bombay Central.

A view of the Churchgate Station, Mumbai, around 1956

Route controllers at work.

Passengers disembark from narrow gauge train at station in Alipore, Diamond Harbor Road and the canal, Maharashtra. Photo taken in 1944

A train gets ready for departure

Flooded railway tracks in Mumbai, 1935

A view of Pune Station, around 1905

Railway accident on July 7, 1931

Charbagh Railway Station in Lucknow

An early image of Victoria Terminus Station from a postcard sent in 1904

India's longest distance train, the Vivek Express, from Dibrugarh in Assam to Kanyakumari. Its journey takes 83 hours or three and a half days, and it stops at 54 stations in eight states