INDIA'S FIRST TRAIN -1853

APRIL 18 | 1853  Indias 1st train: When Sahib,Sindh & Sultan blew steam  Indias first passenger train was flagged off on its maiden run between Bori Bunder (later Victoria Terminus,now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) and Thane a distance of 21 miles covered in 57 minutes,at 3.35pm on April 16,1853.Drawn by three engines,Sahib,Sindh and Sultan,the train lurched forward amid fanfare and celebration. TOI exulted: Nothing couldve been more magnificent than the train of 20 enormous carriages with their three stupendous engines,all spick and span new,with the most perfect forms engineering could suggest,and the most beautiful tints taste could impart,occupying a line from first to last on close to four hundred feet.  The inaugural report noted with pride,The 16th of April 1853 was,and would long continue to be one of the most memorable days,if not the most memorable day,in the annals of British India.  This was not the triumph of nation over nation,of race over race,of man over his fellow man.It was the triumph of mind of matter,of patience and perseverance, the report quoted a British official at the inaugural function. Earlier reports and advertisements in the paper had added to the rapidly building excitement over the trains maiden run.An advertisement on April 8,1853 quoted traffic manager Roche saying this to prospective riders.The public are respectfully informed that on Monday,and until further notice,trains will be dispatched daily at the hours and fares named in the annexed table.First class day tickets for the double journey only on the day of issue will be given between Bombay,Tannah and Mahim at three-fourths of the ordinary fare.  TRACK SETTING |  Plans for a rail system in India were first put forward in 1832 and the Madras Presidency got the first experimental railway line. In 1844,governor general Hardinge allowed private entrepreneurs to set up a rail system if they guaranteed an annual return of up to 5% in the initial years.The first passenger train was the product of efforts of Parsi businessman Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy and Nana Shankarsheth,who formed the Indian Railway Association.This eventually merged into the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.Jejeebhoy and Shankarseth were the only two Indian directors in the 10-member board.TNN