The Indian Railway Centenary Day celebrations were held on April 16, 1953 in the Railway Exhibition grounds at New Delhi. Mr. Lal
Bahadur Shastri, Minister for Transport & Railways; Mr. 0. V. Alaggesan,
Deputy Minister; Mr. Shah Nawaz, Parliamentary Secretary; Members of the
Railway Board and senior railway officials received Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the
Vice-President, at the New Delhi ceremonial platform. Dr. Radhakrishnan
deputised for Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President, who was indisposed. After
inspecting the guard of honour provided by the Northern Railway, he was
conducted to the special train arranged to take the party to the exhibition
grounds, where a large audience including Cabinet Ministers, diplomats, and
senior officials awaited.
The novel
plan for the introduction of a rail system, transformed the whole history of
India. This innovative plan was first proposed in 1832; however no auxiliary
actions were taken for over a decade. In the year 1844, private entrepreneurs
were allowed to launch a rail system by Lord Hardinge, who was the
Governor-General of India. By the year 1845, two companies were formed and the
East India Company was requested to support them in the matter.
The credit from the UK investors led to the hasty construction of a rail system over the next few years. On 22nd Dec' 1851, the first train came on the track to carry the construction material at Roorkee in India. With a passage of one and a half years, the first passenger train service was introduced between Bori Bunder, Bombay and Thana on the providential date 16th Apr' 1853. This train with 14 railway carriages, 3 locomotives Sindh, Sultan and Sahib, and 400 guests left Bombay at 15:35 hours. This was India's first rail run. The train left Bori Bunder for Thane with a 21-gun salute and the Governor's band to see it off. The journey took an hour and fifteen minutes. Vulcan Foundry, England manufactured the locomotives used on this run. This rail track covered a distance of 34 kms (21 miles). Ever since its origin, the rail service in India never turned back.
The credit from the UK investors led to the hasty construction of a rail system over the next few years. On 22nd Dec' 1851, the first train came on the track to carry the construction material at Roorkee in India. With a passage of one and a half years, the first passenger train service was introduced between Bori Bunder, Bombay and Thana on the providential date 16th Apr' 1853. This train with 14 railway carriages, 3 locomotives Sindh, Sultan and Sahib, and 400 guests left Bombay at 15:35 hours. This was India's first rail run. The train left Bori Bunder for Thane with a 21-gun salute and the Governor's band to see it off. The journey took an hour and fifteen minutes. Vulcan Foundry, England manufactured the locomotives used on this run. This rail track covered a distance of 34 kms (21 miles). Ever since its origin, the rail service in India never turned back.
And hence,
a special postage stamp was issued on 16th April
1953 to
commemorate the Centenary of the Indian
Railways.
Unfortunately, no official FDC was issued for 2 anna stamp of Indian Railway Centenary. However, official cancellation on 16-04-1953 was given and marked on Plain or Private covers in red, black or violet ink.
Unfortunately, no official FDC was issued for 2 anna stamp of Indian Railway Centenary. However, official cancellation on 16-04-1953 was given and marked on Plain or Private covers in red, black or violet ink.
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ReplyDeleteI have a FDC with the 2 trains in green separated by a red inscribed shield and B.OorQ?.S Production underneath. It looks quite official! The stamp has a red official postmark - bombay-30. Maybe valuable?
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