Madras Central Railway Station, 1873 Print
This is an antique print from the Illustrated London News newspaper of 11th Oct. 1873. Titled “Terminus of The Madras Railway”, it measures 11 x 8 inch. The Station opened in 1873, work went on till 1878. By 1900 the building was ready and hasn’t changed too much till today. Except for a few cosmetic changes to the central clock tower. Popularly known by its earlier name- Madras Central Railway Station.
It is now an iconic landmark of Chennai city, and maybe the whole of South India. It initially started with 4 platforms, today they spread it into an astounding 17 platforms. The terminus was Designed by George Hardinge, a British architect in both Gothic and Romanesque style architecture. Another British architect Robert Chisholm added the famous clock tower to the building that solemnly watches the world go by. Chisholm had pioneered the Indo-Saracenic style architecture.
One of them is the General Post Office building at Parry’s Corner. Complete with its twin towers and Kerala style caps. The caps, unfortunately, blew off in a storm in the 1940s. Click on the photo for better view
See my post Madras Central Railway Station – Rare Advertisement 1940. See post General Post Office Building In Chennai – Old Photo 1890
Did you know- the Central Station has a younger sibling, the “Chennai Egmore station” that was opened in 1905.
From the collection-1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#17)., WWI German Cruiser Emden’s Sea Route Map 1914., 1911 Delhi Durbar & Begum of Bhopal – Old Postcard., Types of Indian Native Character – Old Pictorial Book 1910