Photo: Pinterest  Discovering Railway History on Heritage Walks India’s railway network has a rich history and heritage waiting to be explored. Railway-themed heritage walks are uncovering this legacy through guided tours of hidden gems, old stations, and tunnels. These walks spotlight unique facts and stories to appreciate the railways’ contributions. Hidden Histories  Do you know Mumbai’s iconic Victoria Terminus station was designed by British architect Frederick William Stevens? Shockingly, the UNESCO World Heritage Site borrows Gothic, Hindu, and Islamic architectural styles. Kolkata’s Howrah Bridge uses 26,500 tonnes of steel trusses fabricated in England. These fascinating nuggets of history and engineering trivia are highlighted on railway heritage walks.    Not only that, many walks even traverse forgotten tunnels and routes to highlight railway expansion. The old Yamuna Bridge connecting Delhi and Lahore is a must-see on the Delhi Walk. Experiencing Heritage  Heritage walks are guided by experts who share insider stories and lesser-known facts. You get to discover the vision behind stations, bridges, and workshops on these curated trails. It’s amazing to identify old locomotives, signaling systems, meters, and coaches that built our rail network: spot colonial markers, boundary walls, and milestones along the trail.  You’ll also appreciate how railway lines align with local history. The Chennai Egmore Museum walk shows this beautifully.  Preserving Knowledge For railway enthusiasts, heritage walks are windows into the unique engineering, architectural, and social facets that shaped rail history. They build awareness so that heritage sites are valued and preserved. Many walks even support station restoration to retain our rail heritage.  Whether you’re a train lover or a history buff, railway heritage walks uncover a new side to India’s train journey. Source-

Photo: Pinterest  Capturing the Romance of Steam Trains  Do you remember those iconic images of billowing steam locomotives chugging across bridges and mountains? Vintage railway photography beautifully captures the nostalgia and old-world charm of heritage trains in India. These artful photos transport us back to the golden age of steam railways. Beginnings Railway photography gained popularity in India when trains were first introduced in the 1850s. Photographers documented historic events like the arrival of the first trains in cities across India.  Do you know one of the earliest railway photographs is of the 1854 Mumbai-Thane train inauguration? Shockingly, it was clicked by an unknown Indian photographer, not a British studio. By the late 1800s, publishers like Johnston & Hoffmann commissioned stunning images of trains winding through landscapes. Indians too became avid railway photographers. Artistry and Nostalgia Vintage rail images showcase both the artistic composition and the train’s aesthetics. Dramatic angles, lighting, and black and white tones accentuated the locomotive’s old-world allure. Billowing clouds of steam, intricate engine details, and the scale of bridges created a powerful sense of drama and romance in rail travel.  You’ll be amazed at how iconic these nostalgic images have become as symbols of adventure and progress. Pop Culture Connect Rail photography also popularised trains in Indian pop culture. Iconic calendar art and Bollywood song sequences were shot at heritage rail sites. Remember the evergreen song ‘Rail Gadi Mein Jhoom Barabar‘ with scenes of a classic steam train? Such images kindled the public’s fascination with railways. Captured for posterity, vintage railway photography immortalized the irresistible magic and power of iron horses that popularised train travel in India. Today, vintage rail images are a window into the grand railway heritage of India. They showcase ingenious engineering and design that make train travel aspirational. More importantly, they highlight the romance, excitement, and joy of exploring India’s diverse landscapes by rail. These images continue to inspire us each time we embark on our train journeys across India. As platforms for nostalgia, history, and artistry, vintage railway photographs beautifully freeze the timeless appeal of trains in India.  Source

Photo: Flickr Spine-Chilling Tales from Across India Traveling across India by train, one can’t miss the many spine-tingling stories of railway ghost sightings and paranormal activities. Several stations and trains have chilling urban legends behind them. Read on for some spooky railway ghost stories from around India. The Vanishing Lady in White The beautiful Peshawar Express is haunted by a lady in white who mysteriously vanishes from the train on full moon nights! Do you know sightings have been reported near Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh?  Shockingly, many claim the white lady asks for lifts from strangers before disappearing into thin air. Legend says she is the ghost of a lady killed on her wedding night on that train many years ago. The Dancing Little Girl The deserted Burdwan station in West Bengal always wears a deserted look. But over the years, passengers have reported sighting a young girl in a frock dancing playfully on platform no. 3 in the night. You’ll be amazed to know that cleaners have even found tiny footprints near the platform in the morning. Locals believe the girl fell off a moving train years ago and now haunts the platform. Spooky. The Headless Passenger In hushed tones, passengers talk of a headless man aboard the Mumbai-Goa passenger train, especially during the monsoons. Not only that, people have apparently also witnessed a headless figure walking towards the toilet at night. Urban legend says the ghost is of a man who lost his head when he stuck it out of the door foolishly. Definitely sends chills down one’s spine. Tales of restless spirits, mysterious apparitions, and ghostly sightings have become part of railway folklore across India. Traveling at night, keep an eye out for paranormal activities on the tracks. Source

Photo: Wikipedia  Fairy Queen: Asia’s Oldest Working Steam Locomotive The famous Fairy Queen locomotive holds the record for being the world’s oldest operational steam engine! This national treasure was built in 1855 and runs heritage tours on India’s railways. Steeped in history, the Fairy Queen gives us a glimpse into the romantic era of steam trains in India.  Made in Britain Do you know the Fairy Queen was built by Kitson, Thompson, and Hewitson in Leeds, Britain, way back in 1855? She was shipped to Kolkata and assembled at the historic Howrah Locomotive Works. Shockingly, this tiny loco weighed only 12 tonnes but had immense pulling power. She was put into service hauling mail trains between Howrah and Raniganj in West Bengal. Not only that, she set a speed record in India by sprinting at an unheard of speed of 43 mph during trials. No wonder she was christened the ‘Fairy Queen’. Retirement and Revival By 1900, the Fairy Queen was retired from regular service as newer engines arrived. She languished for decades in a railway shed before being discovered and restored.  In 1997, after extensive renovation, the 142-year old Fairy Queen returned to the tracks! This made her the world’s oldest working steam locomotive.  You’ll be amazed to know she was declared a National Treasure in 2002. The Guinness Book of World Records also certified her as the oldest operational engine. Legacy Railway Tours Today, the Fairy Queen operates heritage railway tours between Delhi, Cantt, and Alwar. Tourists can ride this vintage beauty and relive the grandeur of 19th century train travel. With her gleaming green livery, polished woodwork, and steam whistles, she transports you back in time. Passengers are served high tea on fine china as the Queen chugs along. At 165 years old now, she reminds us of the rich history of Indian Railways. The sprightly Fairy Queen is cherished as the doyenne of our locomotive fleet and the reigning queen of steam engines in Asia. Source

Photo: India Rail Info Ghost Stations: Exploring India’s Lost and Abandoned Rail Sites  India’s vast railway network is dotted with forgotten stations that once bustled with activity. As routes changed over the decades, many stations were abandoned and left to decay into eerie ruins. These ‘ghost stations’ have intriguing stories to uncover for the intrepid explorer. Stations Lost in Time Do you know there are over 200 lost and abandoned stations on India’s railway network? Shockingly, thriving junctions like Brindavan in Bengal and Clutterbuckganj in Madhya Pradesh were simply deserted years ago. Not only that, but an extension of railway lines also left stations like Padapokhari in Bihar cut off from the main network and forgotten. Their isolated ruins stand testimony to changing track routes. You’ll be amazed to find crumbling platforms covered in moss, overgrown tracks, and abandoned station buildings, now only inhabited by bats. It’s like time frozen from the colonial era. Whispers from the Past  Each ghost station has its own intriguing backstory. Take Kayamkulam station in Kerala, abandoned in the 1960s. Local lore says a railway worker haunts the rundown platform at night. Some relic stations were used as shelters by freedom fighters. Batesar, in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly hides a forgotten underground room linked to the 1857 mutiny. Such tales give a sense of mystery to these silent sentinels from our rail history. They seem to whisper forgotten secrets from the past. Preserving Rail Heritage Many now call for the conservation of our lost railway heritage. Stations like Begunkodor in Bengal are being revived through local efforts. Some old lines may also reopen for tourism.  Ghost stations can become portals into history if preserved in small museums or galleries. Visiting them is a haunting reminder of the labor that built our mighty rail network. Though crumbling, India’s lost stations are pieces of our rail history to be treasured. Who knows what stories lie buried on these silent platforms? Source