Rathwa flags off 'ancient' train to mark toy train's centenary

Matheran (Raigad), Maharashtra, Apr 15 (UNI) An ''ancient'' train, flagged off by Minister of State for Railways Narayan Rathwa, chugged to life in pictersque Matheran today to commemorate the centenary celebrations of the Matheran Light Railway.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rathwa said the Matheran-Neral railway is likely to be listed as a heritage site by the UNESCO after submission of the necessary documentation by a UNESCO team which will soon visit the place.

Meanwhile, Mr Rathwa informed that a Central Railway proposal is being considered to start a passenger train between Karjat and Panvel.

However, to a demand put forth by the local civic body to start a goods train between Matheran and Neral, Mr Rathwa said this was not feasible at this juncture. He, however, said an additional coach could be attached to the existing train for the transit of essential commodities.

The Matheran Light Railway, better described as ''toy train'', first chugged to life in 1907 after the two-foot gauge line was laid, work on which had started in 1904.

It was Abdul Hussain, son of business tycoon Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy of Mumbai, who had conceived the idea and had floated a company called 'Matheran Steam Light Tramway' with a share capital of Rs 10 lakh, wholly owned by Pheerbhoy family, for the purpose.

Two steam locomotives built by Orenstein and Koppel of Germany and a Darjeeling locomotive were used on this line when the line was opened in March 1907. The Darjeeling locomotive was withdrawn during 1924-26.

Train services on this section were suspended for 20 months in July 2005 due to unprecedented rain fall, which had damaged the tracks at many points. The service was reopened in March 2007, after repairing the tracks.

UNI