All of us are
familiar with trains that run on coal, steam or electricity. Much
before the invention of these types of locomotives, rail travel took
place by trains run on animal power.
The train, which was an amalgamation of wagons and carriages was, in
early times, pulled by horses, bullocks, ponies or mules. Most of
what is known about the way these animal powered train services
flourished can be gleaned only from old paintings, old records and
correspondences pertaining to that period. What can be inferred is
that the track on which these trains ran consisted of two distinct
parallel lines, with rails mounted on stone blocks. This arrangement
was perfect for animal traction and coaches moved along smoothly.
The space between the lines was clear and ideal for the animal to
run or trot on. Evidences suggest that the initial coaches might
have been run on the description of stage coaches. With increase in
passenger traffic more improvised coaches were put to use.
The origin of this system in UK and other parts of Europe and USA
can be traced to the use of horses to draw wagons of coal on the
colliery lines. This mode of transportation of goods and passengers
developed before 1825 and continued well into the 1830s. Not much
thrust was given to passenger travel and at times they were
accommodated when there was no coal to be hauled. These initial
trains wereby contractors who paid the necessary tolls. There were
single wagon trains and at times the number went up to as many as 6
coaches. In France, a series of coaches was drawn by two horses. The
train had 4 coaches. Of these, two coaches were the closed in type
and the remaining two double-deckers. Each of the coaches had a
coachman sitting in front. Some of the coaches were fitted with
brakes to control its speed. First class travel was relatively
comfortable with good seats and curtains for privacy. In double
tiered coaches, the lower deck was occupied by the gentry while the
upper deck by the common people. The fare varied in each of these
classes.
In India, though the first railway line run by the great Indian
Peninsula Railway between Bombay and Thane was on steam, there were
plenty of lines that were run with animal power. These lines were
generally the smaller lines or feeder lines used to connect the main
lines run by the two major railway companies-Great Indian Peninsula
Railway and East India Railway Company.
One of the most memorable of such lines run in India was the one
connecting Miyagam-Dhaboi in the State of Baroda, in 1862. The
credit of introducing this line goes to a very effective and pioneer
ruler, Khanderao Gaekwad of Baroda, who understood the importance of
linkages by train. Dabhoi was an important trading center and
Khanderao did not want it catered to by cart roads. To solve this
hurdle the line came into existence.
The train was run on the narrow gauge (2 ft and 6 inches) and is
said to be amongst the pioneer of narrow gauge. The rails were laid
weighing 13 lb and it was built with the help of the Government of
Bombay. Though steam engines were imported it could not be used as
the rail were lighter. This line therefore ran on animal power. Each
train consisted of 4-6 wagons (vehicles). The wagons loaded with
goods were pulled by a pair of bullocks while the passenger trains
were served by bullocks while the passenger trains were served by
bullocks or ponies. This route was run with animal power till 1873
whence it was replaced by steam engines. The animal drawn train had
an eleven year old innings and the speed of the train varied between
2-3 miles per hour.
Other information which can be gathered implies that the coaches
were shaped similar to carriage in trams. Goods were carried an open
wagons resembling platforms. Mixed carriage trains, i.e. those
carrying both goods as well as passengers seemed to have also been
operational.
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