Bombay Backbay railway station
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Bombay Backbay station was a railway station of the erstwhile BB&CI Railway(today's Western Railway), located in Bombay Backbay in Mumbai. It was notably the starting point of the first regular local train service of the BB&CI Railway, that started on 12th April 1867, between the Station and Viraur (today, Virar).[1]
Bombay Backbay Station | ||
|---|---|---|
| Owned by | Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway | |
| Line(s) | Western Line | |
| Construction | ||
| Structure type | Standard on-ground station | |
| History | ||
| Opened | 1866 | |
| Closed | 1869/70 (likely) | |
| Services | ||
|
No service demolished
| ||
| Location | ||
In the 1860s, after the BB&CIR line entered Bombay from Gujarat, Grant Rd became the first terminus of the line. A service started on 28th November 1864 between Grant Rd and Ahmadabad. The next major milestone would be the beginning of a local service between Grant Rd, and Bassein Road (now, Vasai Rd) on 1 November 1865. There were reportedly two, 2 coached trains, running between Bassein Rd and Grant Rd.[2]
At about the same time, the Bombay Backbay Reclamation Scheme was under progress to 'reclaim the Backbay'. This was a necessary step, partly as a requirement to extend the line from Grant Rd southward, along the proposed extension route. A station finally opened in 1866, named the Bombay Backbay Station. Soon after, three suburban trains started with this station. The station primarily functioned as a place to run ballast trains from, that carried the materials for the land reclamation.[3]
On 12 April 1867, a regular suburban service finally started, consisting of a four coached in each direction. The train had First, Second, and Third class compartments, with an exclusive coach for women in the second class, and a separate smoking room.[4] The stations on this route were- Backbay, Grant Rd, Dadur, Mahim, Bandora (now, Bandra), Santacruz, Andaru (now, Andheri), Pahadee (now, Goregaon), Berewla (now, Borivali), Panjoo (Near or at Panju Island), Bassein Rd (now, Vasai Rd), Nial (now, Nallasopara) and Viraur (now, Virar).
The terminus was later shifted further south by about 1870, to a place along the road to the erstwhile Church gate of the Fort in Bombay. It was named the Churchgate station.
The station, was demolished, but the location of it was probably somewhere between today's Churchgate station and Marine Lines.
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ https://wr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1392817679390-article1.pdf
- ↑ "Western Railways completes 150 years". Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ↑ Aklekar, Rajendra B. Halt Station India : The Dramatic Tale of the Nation's First Rail Lines. Rupa Publications. p. 179. ISBN 978-81-291-3497-4.
- ↑ admin. "12th April 1867 – First Local Train Service of Western Railway | MeMumbai". Retrieved 2023-07-15.
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