Indian Railway Provides You a Glimpse into the Past
Indian Railway is a part of history of India serving people for more than 160 years. Some old trains are still in
service , while others have faded away. There are some trains which are as old as 100 years and still in running condition. They are painted and kept well maintained, so people can have a look at those trains and wander off into the past.
Earlier, trains used to run by steam engines, which produced a lot of smoke and dust, since the steam was produced by burning coal. Now diesel and electric engines are used to pull trains. However in Nilgiris, steam engines are used with a view to promote tourism. In some places like Ooty, Darjeeling and Shimla, you can see toy trains run by steam engines, which give you a view of the exotic and breathtaking scenery of the hill side.
Among the famous locomotives, Fairy Queen is the oldest locomotive rendering service today, but it is run only on special occasions. Palace on Wheels is a luxury train, which is often pulled by steam engine, to promote tourism in Rajasthan. The facilities offered in the train are comparable to any five-star hotels. The charges are also very high.
Indian Railways has undergone various reforms and changes to make itself more customer-friendly than before. The online booking introduced by IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railway has made booking of tickets quite easy. Apart for these, the comforts and safety of passengers is of prime importance to the railway.
