We
all know that First Train in India ran on April 16, 1853 from Bombay to Thane
under Great Indian Peninsular Railway, but not many know about the fact that
the First Train of India was destined to start from Howrah to Hooghly under
East Indian Railway since the 24 Miles (38 KMs) long Rly Track from Howrah to
Hooghly was ready before April, 1853, but it did not happen due to two
incidences. Incidence no. 1: HMS Goodwin - the Ship carrying the first Model of
the carriages, got sunk at Sandhead of the Hooghly River and Incidence no. 2
was that, the Ship carrying the first Locomotive went to Australia by mistake
and finally reached Calcutta in 1854. Finally, the carriages were made by John
Hudson, a Locomotive Engineer with East Indian Railway (EIR) at Two Coach
Building factories at Calcutta viz. Steward and Co. and Seton and Co. There was
also another factor – Serampore to Hooghly being under French area, there arose
some disputes between East India Company and French East Indian Company about
passing of the Rly track to French area, and it took time to get this settled.
First
Train from Howrah to Hooghly made its Journey on Aug 15, 1854, although the
Track from Howrah to Pandua (38 Miles) was ready by the end of 1853.The track
to Pandua was thrown open on September 01, 1854 and up to Ranigunge on February
03, 1855.
Applications
were invited for riding this first train and 3000 applications were received,
out of which only few hundred were taken. The train started from Howrah at
08-30 AM and took 91 minutes to reach Hooghly. It consisted of 03 First Class
Coaches, 02 Second Class Coaches and 03 Trucks for the Third class passengers.
The 1st Class and 2nd Class Fares were Rupees Three and
07 Anas respectively.
