Flash Post 79!

“Button, in the earlier flashpost, I spoke of humans who feel age is just a number when they begin ageing, perhaps!

Here’s a lovely story in first person you must listen to:

I am 90 years old and strongly believe that age is but a number.

I am An Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) or the self-propelled local carriage. The Central Railway just celebrated my birthday with not too much fuss where railway officials spoke of my contribution to Mumbai’s (called Bombay back then) commute service in a press meet. Thank you all for saying such glowing things about me, loving me and taking such good care of me.

I was flagged off in the year 1925 by Sir Leslie Wilson, the then Governor of Mumbai, with just four cars. I served my people commuting from the then Bombay Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai) to Kurla on Harbour Line of the Central Railway. Today, I have added to my repertoire by an additional 11 cars.

The CR, in those days, ran 150 services carrying 2.2 lakh passengers whereas it runs 1,618 services now carrying 41 lakh passengers thereby earning the title of “Mumbai’s Lifeline”.

Some of the motorman who rode me, like Joseph Anthony Pinto and R C Khanna treated me like a living entity and we did our job passionately and honestly carrying passengers of this financial capital back and fro.

Now, at 90, I still feel young and energetic and pace up the lives of millions of Mumbaikars, most much younger than me, who vouch for my speed and unfailing service.”