On 16 April 1853 the first passenger rail opened in India from Bori Bunder, Bombay to Thane. Covering 34 kms, the train had 14 coaches and was hauled by three locomotives, Sahib, Sindh and Sultan. The fares for first, second and third class coaches were Rs 2 and 10 annas, Re 1 and 1 anna, and 5 annas, respectively.’
India’s first railway engine, built by Vulcon Foundary in England, which arrived in Mumbai, was named “Falkland” after lord Falkland, the Governor.
The idea of laying railway line between Mumbai & Thane and thereafter upto Kalyan and Bhor Ghat was conceived by George Clark in 1843. He was the Chief Engineer of the Government of Mumbai. Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, Nana Shankarseth were the part of the committee and gave concrete shape to the plan.Mumbai had the distinction of flagging off Asia’s first railway train. It led to the development of rail links with the rest of the country and made the city the hub of the nation’s commercial life. At Sion, the train made a 15 minutes halt for watering the engines and oiling the new wheels. It finally arrived at Thane which stretched for 24 miles, after 55 minutes, travelling at a speed of 35 mph, to a great welcome from the crowds gathered there. While returning from Thane to Bori Bunder it took only 40 minutes and reached by 7 p.m.The fares from Mumbai to Thane in 1853 were Re. 2 and annas 10 for the first class, Re. 1 and anna 1 for the second class and annas 5 and 3 pice for the third class. Third class fare was about 3 pies per mile.
The project was implemented in the collaboration with Great Indian Peninsula (GIP) Railway Company in England and the East India Company.
Nana Shankarseth, Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy and other prominent local leaders were included in the planning committee.10,000 men worked on the project and 10,000 pounds had spent to lay the railway line. Public holiday was announced and hundreds of people gathered for the inauguration. Mumbai-Thane railway route train carried 4,50,000 passengers in first year without any accident. Four trains ferried to and fro daily.
Credit : Memumbai
Picture Credit : Google
