The below text is from an article that was published in The Times of India on 29th November 1864, on pg no.3. It detailed the occurrences of the momentous day of the 28th instant, and gave several amusing details too! Enjoy a read into the past...
OPENING OF THE B.B. AND C. I. RAILWAY.
THE Surat and Bombay branch of the "Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway" was opened yesterday morning. The only ceremony attending the event the smashing of a was bottle of wine on the engine by the Traffic Manager before starting. A feeble cheer was raised at the moment, but it was quickly drowned by the whistle and pant of the iron-horse as he snorted for his race. The train consisted of thirty carriages, principally second and third class; the latter were especially well filled, but there were very few passengers in the first class. The station was crowded by natives and of all ranks with a few Europeans. The Grant Road Station has already put the Boree Bunder in the shade; its accommodations for all classes being in every respect better and much more extensive than the latter. The booking office for first and second class passengers is at the Bellasis Road end, and that for the third class at the Falkland Road, and there being the whole of that length of platform ,nearly as wide as that of the Boree Bunder station, between them. A good portion of this is already covered in and the remainder will soon be covered. Each end has its appropriate rooms and offices; and altogether there seems little more to be desired in the way of accommodation. An improvement in the third class carriages on this line is also worth noticing. A second story has been added to some of of them and is, it is said, to be added to all, consisting of a double row of seats with a space behind where the passengers can lie at length if they choose; an arrangement which will add greatly to the comfort of those who never travel in any other class of carriage, and whose comfort has been too much neglected hitherto. Besides this, there is another valuable improvement made in the same carriages, and this we are glad to see has been added to all; that is, a sloping shade or weather-board over the opening at the side which will keep out most of the sun and rain without at all interfering with the ventilation. It is to be hoped that the line which has started with so evident a determination to deserve public patronage, will not obtain such a notority [sic] for "spills" as its older neighbour. It is a pity that both lines do not run in the same direction, as in that ease there might be good ground for hope that the universal reformer, competition, would work great in the railway system in this portion of Her Majesty's dominion.
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