The Mysore Railway was a significant component of southern India's transportation network during the princely era, operating under the administration of the Kingdom of Mysore. It played a vital role in connecting the interior regions of the state with the broader Madras Railway system, facilitating trade, travel, and communication. Established in the late 19th century, the Mysore Railway was known for its efficient operations and elegant infrastructure, reflecting the progressive vision of the Wodeyar dynasty.
The former Mysore ruling royal family of the Wodeyars, being great rulers, had a group of efficient administrators,including the Dewans, etc and they were keen to improve the quality of life of their subjects. So they gave due importance to industrialization and modernization of Mysore. They introduced railways in the state not only for the benefits people but also for transport of industrial products, raw materials, etc to neighboring states.. Owned by the Princely state, it was called Mysore State Railways (MSR). One James Davidson Gordon (1835–1889), a British civil servant and administrator served as the Chief Commissioner to Mysore and Coorg from 1878 to 1881 headed the railway project. A few years later the railway project was completed despite the prevalence of famine and other odds that slowed down the proposed Railway Project.
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| Mysore Maharajah's railway saloon starofmysore.com |
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| Mysore Maharajah's railway saloon Rangandatta.com |
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| Mysore Maharajah's special railway saloon.thehindu.com/ |
Among its most notable features was the Maharajah’s private railway saloon coach, a luxurious symbol of royal travel. Designed to meet the refined tastes worthy of him and needs of the Mysore royalty, the coach was fitted with opulent furnishings, polished teak interiors, brass fittings, and even a small kitchen and bathroom. It was almost self-contained for a comfortable rail journey including security.
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| Royal vintage locomotive, Mysore Museum. starofmysore.com |
By the end of October 1878, a sum of seven lakh had been spent on the project, the total cost of of the project was about Rs 60 lakh. The Government of India deferred the repayment of the loan from Mysore state, as the latter was already grappling with the aftermath of famine. In November 1879, as the construction of the Bangalore-Mysore railway line was making little progress Colonel A LeMessurier was appointed as consulting engineer for railway-related work. The timber from Myanmar and pine tree sleepers from Europe and Madras were used for the railway. So there was no compromise on quality of work as expected by the Mysore rulers. A LeMessurier towards the end of his assignment, had trained the native engineers in all aspects of railway and this training in the long run was quite useful. During the time of Dasara in February 1882 the Mysore Bangalore railway line was open to traffic without ang big fanfare.
Built in 1899 at the Bangalore workshop of Mysore State Railway, this saloon was a part of a special three-coach train used by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar of Mysore and his family.
These special coaches often featured intricate carvings and upholstery sourced from local artisans, showcasing Mysorean craftsmanship. The saloon was not merely a mode of travel but also a statement of sovereignty, prestige, and modernity, often used for ceremonial journeys or diplomatic tours.
Today, the Maharajah’s saloon coach is preserved as a heritage artifact, reflecting the fusion of Indian royal elegance with colonial-era railway engineering. It stands as a testament to the luxurious lifestyles of Indian royalty and the transformative role of railways in princely India. The Mysore Railway and its regal coaches remain an enduring legacy of the kingdom’s commitment to modernization and aesthetic excellence.
https://starofmysore.com/sly-move
https://www.deccanherald.com/content/431023/royal-rail-connections.html
