But our
journey has just begun. Apart from carefully documenting and unearthing some
very interesting tales of how the rail lines were laid (did you know that Sion
was where the first construction of the Indian railways began?), Aklekar literally takes
a walk on the tracks from Mumbai CST to Thane to spot relics and remains of the
original rail lines. And there are plenty if you care to look. From original
stone buildings, iron brackets, carvings of GIPR (although GIPR officially
became CR in 1951) to platform pillars, fixtures and fittings that bear original
inscriptions of the names of century old factories in the United Kingdom where
they were made, wrought iron floral design brackets to hold name plates
(Byculla station), what looks like- though I must confess I may have seen it myself
but never paused to admire it- the stunning iron booking office with
ornamentally carved iron logos of GIPR (again, Byculla station) and the
original booking office at Matunga (CR) with original wooden brackets, the GIPR
logos and the pitched roof. There are many such relics that Aklekar has taken
pains to look out for and has unearthed all along the CR, WR and Harbour lines.
The book
chronicles stations of the past era that are no longer there; Mazgaon station,
Colaba station (which was once the last station on the BB&CI line…now the
site where Badhwar Railway Colony at Cuffe Parade), Ballard Pier Mole Station
and so on. Did you know that two of India’s oldest trains amongst those that
are still in existence today, ran from Ballard Pier Mole Station? The Frontier Mail (now
the Golden Temple Mail; WR) and Punjab Limited (Punjab Mail; CR).
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