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This is the only known trainway in the world in which the load-carrying wheels run on a monorail underneath the carriages. The train was held upright by means of huge wheels running alongside on the road. The Trainway was originally lugged by mules taken from 500 miles and maintained by the Maharaja’s army. But two years later these were replaced by locomotives manufactured by the German firm Orenstein and Koppel at the cost of Rs. 7,000 each. These could haul eight coaches at eight miles per hour.
The Maharaja of Mysore traveled with a whole retinue of servants in a pleasure saloon, which could be lifted and fitted with different undercarriages to travel on rail-tracks of different widths, depending on the route the Maharaja cared to follow. The saloon was made from the finest quality teakwood adorned with the silver crest of the state of Mysore. There were intricate bronze railings on the verandahs. Inside it has wall-to-wall carpeting, a four-poster bed with an eight-inch mattress, velvet upholstered chairs and a folding table. The private saloon of the Nizam of Hyderabad in comparison was a picture of simplicity. Though the Nizam was reputed to be one of the richest men in the world, his saloon was not furnished with even a chair. There used to be a wall-to-wall carpet on which he did his daily prayers, read the Quran and performed other activities. The Nizam’s lucky number was 13, so his saloon was also numbered 13. He only traveled in this coach and none other.
To bring back the luxury of those days of the kings and princes, Indian Railways runs two special luxury trains. The Royal Orient and the Palace On Wheel offer luxurious train journeys, which try to recreate the extravaganza of the bygone princely era in India. These tours give the travelers a glimpse of the beauty of India as seen in its serene lakes, ancient temples, seaside resorts and exotic wild life. The fantastic journey begins at the Delhi Cantonment Railway Station and goes on to the enchanting lands of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The cities covered are Udaipur, Palitana, Somnath, Ahmedpur Mandvi, Sasan Gir and Ahmedabad.
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