Railway is India's for most old transportation system. People are connected easily in India with this transport system. 3rd March was the day when Howrah - New Delhi Rajdhani Express started its journey for First Time.
Exact 53 years ago Kolkata Rajdhani (as Sealdah-Rajdhani wasn't started then) train no 12301,4.55p.m starts its journey from Howrah towards New Delhi and completed the first ride after reaching there by 10.00a.m next day.
The First Rajdhani Express journey was started on 3rd March,1969.
On that very day this train completed the journey of 1445km within 17 hours. With the passenger comfort and speed this train exposed as India's best train. Guard S O Lavy brings the green flag and then the driver named G L Taucher started the train. 53 year ago with this train India made a history in Indian Railway. At that time every train runs by 60 mile or 96 km but Rajdhani breaks this number with 120km. |
| The First Rajdhani Express Rare Photo(source: internet) |
This train contains only 9 coach earlier. 5 coaches were AC Chair Car and only 1 was 1st Class AC coach. Apart from this there were 2 generator car , 1 dining cum lounge car as well. Though today all coaches are runs fully with modern technology AC Sleeper coach but that time this Rajdhani was runs with Diesel. Now a day total 25couple Rajdhani are going through the India.
Rajdhani always brings the good food quality.
For AC 1st class passengers there were Custard Caramel and for other passengers there were soup must in the list.
Fish Fry and Rosogolla (Bengali Sweet) were compulsory for dinner.
AC 1st class fare was 280rs and for Chair Car the fare was 90rs.
Train halts in Dhanbad, Mughalsarai, Elahabad station. Crew changing point were Gaya and Kanpur. Otherwise there were no commercial stoppage. Tickets were very particular with the points Howrah Dhanbad Mughalsarai and to Delhi only.
At the very earlier there were 2 lounge car. There people can sit on the sofa and read paper or brings food from pantry car. Some time later this lounge car were added to Shantiniketan Express. Then Chair cars were cancelled with the logic that it is difficult to train in night fully in this manner. After that Two Tear and Three Tear were added by 1983 and 1993 for all the passengers.
At that time Rajdhani travels 2 times in a week ,from Howrah on Monday and Friday and from New Delhi on Wednesday and Saturday.
There were system to deliver the evening tea, dinner and breakfast in front on passenger seat. The tickets were too different ,it was like flight tickets with two hard flip paper with one big page. In the cover there were written in English Rajdhani Express with big front and Howrah Bridge and Qutub Minar's picture as well in this.
In the celebration of 50 years Indian Railway celebrates this day specially on 2019.
