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Rare photos: First train in India

Rare photos: First train in India – 173 years of rail journey that began with 400 passengers, 3 engines and 34-km ride.



From steam to speed© Zee News
1853: 34 km in 70 minutes Today: High-speed trains crossing hundreds of km daily India now has one of the worlds largest rail networks What started with a short steam-powered ride has grown into one of the biggest railway systems in the world. Indian Railways now operates thousands of trains daily, carrying millions of passengers across states and regions. (Photo: X/@RailMinIndia)



The first route map

© Zee NewsStart: Bori Bunder Mid-route stops: Byculla, Sion End point: Thane Total distance: 33-34 km The first rail route covered a short distance between Bombay and Thane. It laid the foundation for railway expansion across India in the decades that followed. (Photo: X/@RailMinIndia)


Inside the first coaches

© Zee NewsWooden compartments Simple design compared to modern trains Limited seating comfort The coaches used in 1853 were made of wood and were far simpler than modern day railway coaches. They were basic in design and structure. (Photo: Instagram)



Stops along the way

© Zee NewsFirst halt: Byculla (water refill stop) Second halt: Sion 15-minute stoppages at each station The journey was not nonstop. The train stopped at Byculla after covering around 8 km, where water was filled in the engine. It later stopped at Sion as well. Both stops lasted around 15 minutes each, much longer than todays short station halts. (Photo: Indian Railway Magazine)

Three engines, one journey

© Zee NewsEngines named Sahib, Sindh and Sultan 14 coaches pulled together Steam-powered operation The train was not pulled by one engine but by three steam locomotives working together. Named Sahib, Sindh and Sultan, these engines pulled the 14-coach train along the route. It was an early experiment in railway operation in the country. (Photo: Meta)



A train of firsts

© Zee News14 wooden coaches 400 passengers onboard Operated by Great Indian Peninsula Railway First passenger railway company in India The train was run by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, which operated the countrys first passenger service. Around 400 people travelled on that historic run and became the first railway passengers in India. (Photo: X/Amrit Mahotsav)



The first departure

© Zee NewsDate: 16 April 1853 Time: 3:35 PM Start point: Bori Bunder, Bombay (now Mumbai) Destination: Thane, 33 km away The first passenger train in India left Bori Bunder in the afternoon and reached Thane in about 70 minutes. The historic occasion was honoured with a 21-gun salute. (Photo: X/@RailMinIndia)


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