Indian Railways completes 160 years of service this year. The
Indian Railways has now become the lifeline for transport of both goods and
people. This journey of 160 years had its goods, betters, worse and bests till
date. Looking on to the pace of Indian railways in terms of using technology
these days like the latest introduction of use of wifi facility during travel
in the newly inaugurated Jammu- Banihal rail service, it seems as if railways
have started only a few years ago, but the journey hails its origin way back
since a black-and-white trip down memory lane.
It was trade that boosted the necessity of using a transport
that could take loads of cotton to other parts of the country. This paved way
to starting off as a transport medium for cotton trade through the first tracks
that were laid at Chintadripet in Madras, the first train flagged off was
between Bombay and Thane, in 1853. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the
railways played an important part in our freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi
travelled frequently by train, covering the length and breadth of the country
in a 3rd class compartment. Since then, the railways have become the lifeline
of the nation, operating in 24 states and offering international services to
Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Indian Railways figures among the largest
rail networks in the world, in terms of track length, stations, and in the
number of employees.
The Indian railways became the major transport in
communication between India and newly formed Pakistan as a refugee special
train at Ambala brought people from Pakistan to India. Post partition
evacuation trains were jam-packed with people who would risk their lives
travelling the whole distance sitting on roofs. Unlike today, Indian Railways
of yesteryear's were more animal friendly. They also used elephants to position
the carriages at their designated spot. Earlier, trains were run on coal, and a
continuous supply of it was required. This meant that there were two or more
people at all times filling up the 'smoke-spitter'. However, with electrification
of tracks making headway, a coal engine is hard to come by these days.
Not only said, but the railway travelling has been of a
great importance in the life of Indians. Perhaps this why it has been depicted
on screen also and find a suitable place of its glimpse in the Indian
Movies. The trains were of a great
importance in the Bollywood also remember the movies of yesteryear’s either
started with the puffing train scene or there would be an important scene
picturised in the train, remember the famous dialogue scene in Sholey , the
song of engine drivers picturised in the
engine, or the Shahrukh’s song on the train head. A glimpse of the electrified
trains was featured in the movie ‘Burning train. In any way, the railways have
been a major feature in the life of all Indians traveling their distances in
metros, locals or AC coaches. From steam engines to electrified metro railing,
from main routes to hilly destinations, connecting India from Kashmir to
Kanyakumari, Indian Railways has come through a long journey which needs to
appreciated by each one of us travelling through trains.
