On the eve of a Landmark -2 -779

August 17, 2025

ON THE EVE OF A LANDMARK -2

CONTINUATION OF MY PREVIOUS POST

THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY I BELIEVE IS A LANDMARK FIGURE AND IF ONE WERE TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH ONE'S AGE WHICH IN MY CASE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER , IT DOES COME WITH ITS LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES AND SURPRISES .

It might come as a surprise to many as I seem to have left out an Important Part of our Transport System : INDIAN RAILWAYS in my previous post .

This was done on purpose . I am a Railwayman's Son and spent the best part of my Formative years in Railway Colonies in the Eastern Parts of India . My Schooling has been at many different Places .

Kharagpur ; Kolkata ( Calcutta ) , Bhilai . Waltair ( Vishakhapatnam or Vizag ) ; Chakradharpur ; Cuttack ; Khurda Road ; Jharsgooda ; Adra ; Bhubaneshwar ; Puri come to mind in a flash .

Though it was tough getting used to so many locales ; my college studies were at Mumbai and my flair with Languages meant that I was comfortable with HINDI BENGALI TELUGU GUJARATI MARATHI BESIDES THE TAMIL AND ENGLISH : A definite advantage indeed .

I have grown with the Railways in more ways than one .

Howrah Railway Station in Calcutta is one of the largest in the Country with its 22 Platforms .

Kharagpur Railway Station is an important Junction in these parts where Trains Trifurcate towards ; Chennai , Mumbai and Adra . At one time it had the longest Platform in the Country ; two 22 Coach Express Trains could be accommodated one behind the other.

Iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus ( Victoria Terminus ) modelled as a Replica of the Ornate Kings Cross Train Terminus in London . ( I have had occasions to use both the Locations quite a few times )

During the Summer Vacation it was almost a must to travel from Kharagpur to Ravanasamudram which is my Native place Via Chennai ; the Massive Coal Fired Steam Locomotives with their Iconic semi spherical front were a huge attraction and one was left Awe Stricken by its very Size and the noise from the steam making their way out from several points .

The winter vacations had us heading to Mumbai where 4 of my Maternal Uncles and my cousins stayed .The train crossing the Western Ghats from Igatpuri to Kalyan was a most looked forward to event . The Seven Large Tunnels among the many was a special attraction . Sitting by the window ; one could see both the Electric Locomotive and The Guard Van traversing a curve as the train snaked it's way through the Ghats .

First Class : Second Class ; Intermediate Class, Third Class ; AC Coach ; 3 Tier Sleeper ; 2 Tier Sleeper ; Sitting ; Rajhdaani ; Tejas ; Double Decker ; Vande Bharat , Online Booking , IRCTC are all terms which we are all now getting used to .

Indian Railways have come a long way .

By a strange Coincidence ; I am penning or Writing or Blogging this Piece , Sitting in a train from ROUGE HILL( RED IN FRENCH ) to the UNION STATION IN TORONTO TO attend the INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PANAROMA IN DOWN TOWN TORONTO . TO BE WELCOMED IN Tamil at Toronto Grand Union Station was novel and special . MY NEXT PIECE WILL COVER THAT IN DETAIL .