Time’s tracks

The passenger bonded well, shared their food and chatted happily as the steam engine chugged merrily and along, covering everybody in black soot. There was no air-conditioning, no disposable cups, no fancy tetra packs, no dainty lunch packs.

Katni junction was the change-over station for the next connection to Allahabad. There was only an evening train. So we had to spend a lot of time in the waiting room, which was always clean. The railways’ canteen food tasted yummy, served in clean white plates bearing the railway insignia. At Allahabad, tongas with sturdy horses, waited to take passengers to their destination. Settling our heavy luggage in the tonga, I remember, was a big job, with the restless horses needing to be quietened frequently by the tongawalla.

Today, there are innumerable conveniences available to the rail traveller. But I dearly miss the feeling of togetherness that made up those journeys of yore. How can one forget the ‘train wale aloo’ and the bonhomie that marked those journeys — soot or no soot?