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Photos: Rajdhani, the Railways’ golden girl marks 50 years of service

When the Rajdhani Express had its first run in March 1969, its speed and amenities made it a wonder on wheels. Fifty years on, the journey may not be as luxurious, but it’s still a favourite for many.

Updated on: Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM IST

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1/10

A Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani in motion. In 1960, the Railway Board in India decided to undertake a study to achieve increased speed for its trains. For the past 100 years the maximum speed on broad gauge had been restricted to 96 km/hour. A target of 160 km/h for passenger traffic and 100 km/h for goods traffic with an intermediate stage of 120 km/h for passenger traffic was laid. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

A Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani in motion. In 1960, the Railway Board in India decided to undertake a study to achieve increased speed for its trains. For the past 100 years the maximum speed on broad gauge had been restricted to 96 km/hour. A target of 160 km/h for passenger traffic and 100 km/h for goods traffic with an intermediate stage of 120 km/h for passenger traffic was laid. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

2/10

On March 1, 1969, the Rajdhani Express, the country’s fastest train at the time with a speed of 120km/hr, was flagged off from New Delhi to reach Howrah the next morning. The first journey from Howrah was on March 3. Railways minister Ram Subhag Singh garlanded the train, before flagging it off and it covered the distance in approximately 17 hours, where earlier trains had taken at least 24 hours. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

On March 1, 1969, the Rajdhani Express, the country’s fastest train at the time with a speed of 120km/hr, was flagged off from New Delhi to reach Howrah the next morning. The first journey from Howrah was on March 3. Railways minister Ram Subhag Singh garlanded the train, before flagging it off and it covered the distance in approximately 17 hours, where earlier trains had taken at least 24 hours. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

3/10

Rail historian and enthusiast Shubhabrata Chatterjee (not in pictured) remembers looking at the train in wonder as a child even in the 1980s. With its dark glasses shielding its luxurious interiors from prying eyes, it was a star. The train’s very exclusivity – and speed - had been points against it when it was being planned. All such apprehensions were dispelled after the launch, though. The Rajdhani was a hit. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

Rail historian and enthusiast Shubhabrata Chatterjee (not in pictured) remembers looking at the train in wonder as a child even in the 1980s. With its dark glasses shielding its luxurious interiors from prying eyes, it was a star. The train’s very exclusivity – and speed - had been points against it when it was being planned. All such apprehensions were dispelled after the launch, though. The Rajdhani was a hit. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

4/10

In the early days, coach attendants escorted passengers to their seats, carried luggage either to the seats or to the luggage rooms. Initially, there were just chair cars and sleeper vans and in the sleeper vans, each compartment had a pedal-operated wash basin and a small cupboard. Music and recordings of the news broadcast on AIR played and there was also a lounge for passengers to socialise. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

In the early days, coach attendants escorted passengers to their seats, carried luggage either to the seats or to the luggage rooms. Initially, there were just chair cars and sleeper vans and in the sleeper vans, each compartment had a pedal-operated wash basin and a small cupboard. Music and recordings of the news broadcast on AIR played and there was also a lounge for passengers to socialise. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

5/10

A Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) checks tickets in the train. “Women would dress in their best to travel in the Rajdhani. The men would often wear a tie for the journey,” recalls Debashis Chandra, group general manager (east zone), of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), whose father Ratan Chandra Chandra was the first catering manager of the Howrah Rajdhani. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

A Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) checks tickets in the train. “Women would dress in their best to travel in the Rajdhani. The men would often wear a tie for the journey,” recalls Debashis Chandra, group general manager (east zone), of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), whose father Ratan Chandra Chandra was the first catering manager of the Howrah Rajdhani. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

6/10

The food is what most old-timers remember fondly – starting with tea and snacks to dinner – continental was their speciality – to breakfast the morning after. “My favourite was the breakfast. They always had grilled liver and such things which you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” says former financial commissioner of Indian Railways and a rail enthusiast, Sanjoy Mookerjee. And you would be asked if you needed anything more. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

The food is what most old-timers remember fondly – starting with tea and snacks to dinner – continental was their speciality – to breakfast the morning after. “My favourite was the breakfast. They always had grilled liver and such things which you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” says former financial commissioner of Indian Railways and a rail enthusiast, Sanjoy Mookerjee. And you would be asked if you needed anything more. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

7/10

Age has not managed to slow down the Rajdhani but it has allowed newer entrants in the race to speed ahead. And the ease of flying has taken some of the sheen off this once luxury train. While the two and three-tier sleeper coaches that have replaced the chair-cars over the years, mean more people are able to avail of the facility, it seems to have also made the service more mass. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

Age has not managed to slow down the Rajdhani but it has allowed newer entrants in the race to speed ahead. And the ease of flying has taken some of the sheen off this once luxury train. While the two and three-tier sleeper coaches that have replaced the chair-cars over the years, mean more people are able to avail of the facility, it seems to have also made the service more mass. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

8/10

The wash basins and cupboards in each compartment have disappeared, but there are disposable toilet seat covers. The water cooler has given way to packaged drinking water; there are sachets of tea, coffee, salt, pepper, butter and ketchup on meal trays. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

The wash basins and cupboards in each compartment have disappeared, but there are disposable toilet seat covers. The water cooler has given way to packaged drinking water; there are sachets of tea, coffee, salt, pepper, butter and ketchup on meal trays. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

9/10

Most passengers find the Rajdhani cleaner, safer and feels it offers a more comfortable journey than other trains while mostly maintaining time, which is why it still continues to be a favourite. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

Most passengers find the Rajdhani cleaner, safer and feels it offers a more comfortable journey than other trains while mostly maintaining time, which is why it still continues to be a favourite. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

10/10

Despite all, it enjoys a special bond with railways enthusiasts. On March 3 - members of the Rail Enthusiasts’ Society planned to be at Howrah with banners inspired by the first ticket of the train, to celebrate the Rajdhani’s 50th anniversary. New linen was put out for passengers and the IRCTC ensured that for that day at least passengers feast again on the famed Rajdhani fish fry. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 7:46 PM

Despite all, it enjoys a special bond with railways enthusiasts. On March 3 - members of the Rail Enthusiasts’ Society planned to be at Howrah with banners inspired by the first ticket of the train, to celebrate the Rajdhani’s 50th anniversary. New linen was put out for passengers and the IRCTC ensured that for that day at least passengers feast again on the famed Rajdhani fish fry. (Arijit Sen / HT Photo)

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