Thread by @AlokPatel

This day 20 years ago, in 2002, was the start of Indian Railways' 150th year.

Central Railway had organized a special event to mark the occasion: A steam run!

#Thread #Photos

#IndianRailways @Central_Railway @RailMinIndia

I wanted to be in Mumbai for the event and so planned some other work around the day.

Reached CSMT early that morning thanks to the Vidarbha Express.

Got to report the first-ever sighting of a WDM-2 modified and reclassified as WDM-3A.

A train that is now history.

Spotted the Mumbai - Pune Shatabdi departing from Pune. Low occupancy had whittled the train down to a mere 6 coaches by this time. It was discontinued soon afterward.

I believe the Mumbai-Pune Intercity was later introduced in this slot.

On my way to Dadar from CSMT, spotted one of the older Mumbai locals sporting a board to mark the special day at Byculla.

Then Railway Minister @NitishKumar was in Mumbai for the 150th year celebrations.

He was also going to flag off the first train of its class - a Jan Shatabdi - between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Madgaon.

Another special train was to be flagged off later.

Swanky LHB coaches of that train were parked at Mumbai CSMT Platform 7. Old 'heritage' coaches were also in the consist.

Mumbai had never seen LHB coaches before. Onlookers were wowed by the big windows and modern interiors.

The real stars of the show were somewhere else, getting ready for their big performance.

Parel Workshop.

I managed to sneak into the workshop to check out the action.

Twin WP class steam locomotives, led by No. 7161, were being readied for the special run.

Once the rituals were completed by the ladies, the WPs moved out of the workshop under their own power.

They were to steam all the way to CSMT and be attached to the special train.

We followed the locos as they made their way to CSMT for the main event.

So did many others.

The locos were attached and the train was soon ready.

While the inevitable ceremonies and speechmaking began, I hopped onto another local and headed out to Currey Road to catch the WP-led special run speeding through.

Look at that crowd on a working day.

I took a spot on the loop lines on the eastern side at Currey Road, careful not to get in the way of any trains on the fast line - had had a close shave at Parel earlier.

And waited.

Slowly, a crowd at Currey Rd and on the FOB as people arrived to get a glimpse of the run.

And soon enough, steam locos and the odd-ball combination of the old and the new chugged past us. The WPs whistled all along for the cheering crowd at the station.

The unusual last coach was actually a WDM-2 in disguise. Apparently, to supply air for brakes and backup power.

Boarded another local to chase the train to Thane. But could only catch it well after it had reached its destination.

No dearth of crowds at Thane either.

See the WDM-2 in mufti with the loco pilot peering out. He took the train back to the stabling lines near Sandhurst Rd.

A couple of shots of the train on the way back.

The NR rake had the first set of original LHB coaches as far as I can remember. Mass local production had not started yet.

And so ended what was for me one of the most memorable railfanning days ever.

As the sky went dark, the CSMT building lit up like never before. Got this final photo before heading back to my hotel after an exhilarating day.