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P.T. Jyothi Datta

Crowds gathered to watch a steam locomotive engine run to commemorate its 150 years.

NEW DELHI, April 18

THE Indian Railways' (IR) moment of glory, even as it kicked off countrywide celebrations to commemorate its 150 years on the rails, was when Indian Railway recreated the magical `steam-run' of 1853 in Mumbai.

The old steam engine, named Black Beauty, may not have got a 21-gun salute like its predecessor did, about 150 years ago. But if the multitudes of cheering people who thronged the 34- kilometre stretch, from Mumbai to Thane, were any indicator to go by the Indian Railway's "steam run" was certainly one for the history books.

Attempting to recreate the magic of 1853, the two black "fire carriages" or steam engines pulled the vintage train from Boribunder (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) to Thane and the two historic events were a study of contrasts and similarities.

While in both cases, the event was watched by ecstatic crowds, the steam run on Tuesday last comprised two 42-year-old steam engines pulling the 11-coach train. This stood compared to a 14-coach train pulled by three engines.

In flashback, the distance was covered in less than an hour, as against the modern-day run that took seventy minutes.

Only seven coaches on the modern-day vintage train were heritage coaches, all of which were shipped across from the New Delhi-based National Rail Museum.

The Indian Railway's "dream" to recreate history was implemented by the Central Railways and the vintage train's distinguished passenger list on this historic mission included the Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, and dignitaries from the organisation. The 1853 run had the Governor, the "bada sahibs" and the "brown sahibs" on board.

The modern-day steam-run also echoed the historic first time in the number of passengers that were part of the historic event. In both cases, there were 400 passengers, served by traditionally dressed bearers. The heritage coaches, on the re-run mission sought to create the ambience of the past through its wooden coaches and embroidered curtains.

Representing the Railways' transition from the days of yore to the present day, the recent event also comprised four modern coaches as seen in the Shatabdi on the route between New Delhi and Lucknow.

Its salient features included the panoramic windows, the computerised brake system, furnishing materials meeting international standards and, according to Railway officials, the attempt was to roll out more such coaches across the country.

Also part of the historic run was Bolu the elephant guard, the newly acquired mascot of the Indian Railways. Mr Rajesh Agarwal, Director, National Rail Museum, told Business Line that they had also created merchandise on their mascot and the effort would be to get Indian Railways to further touch the lives of Indians by selling the merchandise at outlets on the station, for instance.

And while schedules may have gone awry for other trains on the Mumbai-Thane route during the re-run early this week, commuters seemed to take it in their stride. And "the smoke-belching monster machine" loved every moment of the attention be it the glare from media the world-over to the wondrous adoration from the old and the young alike.

To the drum beats of the jubilant crowds, even as they waved, sang songs or recorded one for posterity on their cameras the steam-engine, having had its day of glory, blew its sign-off whistle and chugged on from Thane, on into history.

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