Railway, then and now

Saturday, 1 November 2014 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The resumption of Yal Devi has created a lot of excitement. The ability to get to Jaffna by train will be welcomed by many since train travel is always preferred especially for long distances. For passengers it’s a more leisurely and more comfortable ride by train. In the early 1950s as undergrads in the Peradeniya campus we always travelled by train to get home after the holidays and to get back. We were never tired of train travel and always made it a pint to observe how two engines were used – one in front and one at the back – from Rambukkana to Kadugannawa. The rear engine gave mor

e power to climb Kadugannawa. That was the era when steam engines were used. (‘Masala vadai’ sold at the Rambukkana station were delicious.) During our school days when we used to come to Ananda from Gampaha, we felt thrilled when we noticed the engine bearing the tag ‘Ananda College’. I think there was a number used for the engine and if I remember right it was 270! There was also an engine for Royal College. Names of British governors were used on engines. Glancing through my collection of publications of yesteryear, I found advertisements inserted by Ceylon Government Railway (CGR) promoting train travel. A full page advertisement in the ‘Ceylon Observer Centenary Supplement’ in 1934, CGR promoted itself as “The Premier Transport Service in the Island – Radiates in all Directions from Colombo to all Parts of the Island”. It was more a fact sheet than an advertisement as we know it today. Giving the capital value as Rs. 226,379,400, the length of lines was 951 miles and the total number of employees was 16,350. Stating that the Railway offered unrivalled facilities for visiting interesting places in the country, it mentioned that “unique and varying scenery can be witnessed throughout.” Up-to-date Passenger compartments and luxurious Sleeping and Dining car were provided. “Travel by train and get to your destination in Safety and Comfort”, the advertisement further said. Concessions were offered for Weekend Tickets. One and half single fares for the double journey between stations 25 miles and over were issued from Thursday to Saturday valid for return till the following Monday. Cheap one day return tickets were available between stations 25 miles and above within the limits Matara-Puttalam-Kandy. These were issued on Wednesdays. Excursion and Pilgrim Tickets were available between stations 25 miles and over during festive seasons, and for pleasure and wedding parties throughout the year. While all children under three years could travel free those between three and 12 were charged half rate. “Send your parcels by train. It is the safest and the most economical means of transport for the most valuable parcel down to the smallest and less valuable package,” the advertisement said. Concessions were given for poultry, perishables, country grown fruits and vegetable and newspapers. Passengers were allowed free baggage up to certain limits: First class passengers 112 lbs., Second class 84 lbs. and Third class 56 lbs. “Travel daily as many times as you like with monthly, quarterly, half yearly and yearly Season Tickets available any time of the year at considerably reduced rates,” the people were told. In a special message, the General Manager of CGR said: “Help the Railway and help yourselves by using the Ceylon Government Railway for all purposes and Conveyance.” Mind you, all these 80 years ago! The theme of an advertisement in the Observer Annual 1939 was “See Beautiful Ceylon by Diesel Electric Trains – The Island’s most modern form of Travel offering Comfort, Cleanliness and Speed”. Announcing an Express Service from Colombo to Galle – a distance of 73 miles in 2½ hours – the advertisement added: “The whole journey is performed through a picturesque Sea Coast interspersed with Coconut plantations.” The readers are free to compare the services then and now.