The train bears history as the first long-haul service to have chugged into Kerala - the erstwhile Malabar presidency to be precise - in 1867, 14 years after the country's first passenger railroad made it from Bori Bunder to Thane. And, it seems to be having trouble shaking off its legacy, sporting as it continues to do the old, rugged ICF cars, when most other trains have moved on to Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) coaches.
Its services were numbered 1 and 2 (presently 12601 and 12602), running from Royapuram near Chennai to Chaliyam (present-day Beypore). It was named the Mangalore-Madras Mail in 1887 even though the train was extended to Mangalore only after the completion of the Netravati Bridge in 1907.
Travelling back in time
* The Madras-Mangalore Mail started on 01 Jul 1867, running from Royapuram - the first railway station
of South India, opened in 1856 - to Chaliyam.
* It was first christened 01UP/02DOWN Mail and did not get its official name until 1887.
* The train was extended till Mangalore in 1907 after Netravati bridge was constructed.
* It was also moved from Royapuram to Chennai Central when the terminus was constructed in 1907.
* As one of the oldest running trains of South India, it has had steam, diesel and electric locomotives.
Currently, it is hauled by locomotive class WAP 7 on most days.
Tailpiece.
Got up at 5, sent off all the messages, switched on the hymns on the home theatre, lit up the lamp in the puja room and opened up the house for the day.
Walked on the road in front of our house and recited my prayers.
To the SBI and the ICICI banks to get their apps streamlined but achieved only partial success.
Praveen and Asha call on. It was great seeing them!
A quiet evening.
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