Journey Through Time: The Evolution of Indian Railways
April 16, 1853 – A Historic Milestone
On April 16, 1853, India witnessed a transformative moment in transportation history as the first passenger train ran between Bori Bunder (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai) and Thane, covering a distance of 34 kilometers. The train, comprising 14 carriages and carrying over 400 passengers, was powered by three steam locomotives named Sahib, Sultan, and Sindh. This marked the beginning of India’s rich and expansive railway journey.
Laying the Tracks: The Beginning of Rail in India
The foundation for this historic event was laid on August 21, 1847, when James John Berkely, Chief Resident Engineer appointed by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway in collaboration with the East India Company, began work on the country’s first railway line. Though constructed earlier, the line officially opened for passenger service in 1853.
India’s First Railway Station: Bori Bunder to CSMT
The original terminus for the first train, Bori Bunder, eventually evolved into Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of India’s railway heritage. Reconstructed in 1887 and renamed Victoria Terminus, it was rechristened Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in 1996, and later CSMT in 2017 to honor the Maratha warrior king.
The First Locomotive Made in India
In 1895, a significant achievement in self-reliance was marked when the Ajmer workshop of the Rajputana Malwa Railway manufactured the first Indian-built steam locomotive, No. F-734.
A Simple Letter that Changed Rail Travel: Introduction of Toilets
Until the early 20th century, trains lacked basic sanitation facilities. This changed after Okhil Chandra Sen, a passenger, wrote a heartfelt letter to the Sahibganj Divisional Office in West Bengal on July 2, 1909, requesting toilets in train coaches. His plea highlighted the urgent need for amenities during long-distance travel, leading to the introduction of toilets on Indian trains later that year—over five decades after passenger services began.