Matheran Steam Railway’s Toy Train, 1907 Postcard
An 1894 rare postcard of the Matheran Steam Railway’s Toy Train. The steam locomotive in the picture is marked No 2 indicating it was one of the earliest steam locomotives on this route. During the colonial era, a fourth (but shorter) hill railway was built to Matheran from Neral. The other three were the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Kalka-Simla Railway, and Niligiris Mountain Railway.
Matheran, a popular hill station for Bombay (Mumbai) residents, is around 100 km away and 120 km from Poona (Pune). The British developed it into a hill station to escape from the oppressing heat of the plains. The Matheran Hill Railway as it is now called, is a 2-foot gauge, 34 km stretch of railway. It takes 2 hours to reach Matheran from Neral at the base. The railway line was constructed by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy, between 1901 and 1907. Click on the image to enlarge the view.
Did you know – Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy, a cotton magnate and philanthropist who started life in abject poverty selling matches on the streets of Bombay.
Past posts – Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Shivaji” Oleograph Print., British Officials On Elephant Back, India, 1890 Photo., Maharaja of Baroda On Elephant Bombay, 1900 Postcard., Apollo Bunder Before The Gateway Of India, 1874 Print.
