Golden Temple Mail
Encyclopedia
The Golden Temple Mail, previously known as the Frontier Mail, is one of the oldest running train routes in India
, itself boasting one of the oldest and largest rail networks still in operation today.
In its original form, the Frontier Mail connected Bombay (now Mumbai
) and Peshawar
, in North-West Frontier Province
of the then-undivided India and that's how the name was derived. This train has a mention in Hindi
film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero
and Subhash Chandra Bose
is reported to have traveled in Frontier Mail to Peshawar
in 1944, from there escaping to Kabul
in Afghanistan. After the Partition of India
, the Frontier Mail connected Mumbai and Amritsar
, which is the last city in India on route to Wagah
. In 1996, it was renamed as the Golden Temple Mail (12903UP/12904DN) after the Golden Temple
, one of the holiest shrines in the Sikh religion
.
, Mumbai
and Peshawar
, the latter of which is now situated in the western region of Pakistan
. Before long, the train was able to lay claim to being India's fastest long distance train. In 1930, The Times
of London described it as "one of the most famous express trains within the British Empire." During the autumn months between September and December, the train used to depart from the Ballard Pier Mole
station. This was for the convenience of the British who arrived in India by steamer.
and Amritsar Junction
in about 32 hours and 15 minutes, with 31 intermediate stops. The train consists of nine 2nd class sleeper cars, one AC First Class , two AC 2 tier, two AC 3 tier, one pantry car, two general cars and two luggage cum guard vans.A WCAM2 engine from Valsad shed takes it from Mumbai Central to Vadodara, a Vadodara WAP4 onward to Hazrat Nizamuddin, and a Tughlakabad Diesel to Amritsar. The locomotive link is same in both directions.
Coach Composition
LOCO-LuggCage Van-SLR-2, GEN-2, RMS-1, H1-1, 2AC-2, 3AC-2, PC, SL-9, ;
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, itself boasting one of the oldest and largest rail networks still in operation today.
In its original form, the Frontier Mail connected Bombay (now Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
) and Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, in North-West Frontier Province
North-West Frontier Province
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province and various other names, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the north-west of the country...
of the then-undivided India and that's how the name was derived. This train has a mention in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero
The music score that accompanies the film was composed by A. R. Rahman. The soundtrack features 19 pieces composed by Rahman, including 13 instrumentals and orchestral themes, in addition to 6 further songs, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Performers include the Western Choir Chennai and the Mumbai...
and Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose known by name Netaji was an Indian revolutionary who led an Indian national political and military force against Britain and the Western powers during World War II. Bose was one of the most prominent leaders in the Indian independence movement and is a legendary figure in...
is reported to have traveled in Frontier Mail to Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
in 1944, from there escaping to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
in Afghanistan. After the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, the Frontier Mail connected Mumbai and Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, which is the last city in India on route to Wagah
Wagah
Wagah is the only road border crossing between Pakistan and India , and lies on the Grand Trunk Road between the cities of Lahore, Pakistan and Amritsar, India. Wagah itself is a village through which the controversial Radcliffe Line was drawn. The village was divided by independence in 1947...
. In 1996, it was renamed as the Golden Temple Mail (12903UP/12904DN) after the Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib also Darbar Sahib , also referred to as the Golden Temple, is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab . Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev...
, one of the holiest shrines in the Sikh religion
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
.
History
The Frontier Mail made its debut on 1 September 1928. When it was first introduced, the train ran between Ballard Pier Mole Station, Mumbai and Peshawar. After closing down of Ballard Pier it started operating from ColabaColaba
Colaba is a part of the city of Mumbai, India, and also a Lok Sabha constituency. During Portuguese rule in the 16th century, the island was known as Candil...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, the latter of which is now situated in the western region of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Before long, the train was able to lay claim to being India's fastest long distance train. In 1930, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
of London described it as "one of the most famous express trains within the British Empire." During the autumn months between September and December, the train used to depart from the Ballard Pier Mole
Ballard Pier Mole
Ballard Pier Mole was a former station belonging to the Mumbai Port Trust Railway in the Ballard Pier precinct of South Mumbai. The station used to be the terminating station of the Frontier Mail, now the Golden Temple Mail.-References:*...
station. This was for the convenience of the British who arrived in India by steamer.
Firsts
- The Frontier Mail was the first air conditioned train in the Indian Peninsula, when it got an air-conditioned compartment in 1934.
- The radio facility was provided for the first time in a running train.
Present Status
Today, the Golden Temple Mail runs between Mumbai CentralMumbai Central
Mumbai Central , previously known as Bombay Central, is a major intercity railway station and a commuter station in Mumbai. It was designed by the british architect Claude Batley. It serves as the terminal for several long distance trains operated by Western Railway. The station is located in south...
and Amritsar Junction
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
in about 32 hours and 15 minutes, with 31 intermediate stops. The train consists of nine 2nd class sleeper cars, one AC First Class , two AC 2 tier, two AC 3 tier, one pantry car, two general cars and two luggage cum guard vans.A WCAM2 engine from Valsad shed takes it from Mumbai Central to Vadodara, a Vadodara WAP4 onward to Hazrat Nizamuddin, and a Tughlakabad Diesel to Amritsar. The locomotive link is same in both directions.
Coach Composition
LOCO-LuggCage Van-SLR-2, GEN-2, RMS-1, H1-1, 2AC-2, 3AC-2, PC, SL-9, ;