In ancient times, people used to go by bullock-carts and on horseback. It used to take months to reach a far-off place. But nowadays, railways can carry a passenger to his destination within a few hours.
Last year, I decided to go to Simla, a hill-station in Himachal Pradesh, to see my uncle. My uncle owns a chemist shop in Simla. I packed up my luggage and went to the New Delhi Railway Station in a taxi.
I reached the Railway Station half an hour before the start of the train. There was a long queue at the railway booking office. I was able to purchase a ticket for Simla with great difficulty. I engaged a coolie to carry my luggage and went to Platform No. 3. There was a great rush at this platform.
The Kalka Mail arrived at the platform at 9.00 P.M. Before the train could stop, passengers started boarding it. I was lucky to get a seat by the side of a window. The passengers threw their luggage inside the train through the open windows. Many passengers were trying to get in while others were trying to alight through the doors. There was a lot of pushing and jostling. A pickpocket deprived a person of all the money he was carrying in his pocket.
The guard of the train blew the whistle at 9.30 P.M. and waved the green flag. The train started and in a few moments picked up speed. The compartment was packed to suffocation. Some passengers had to sit down on the floor of the compartment. Others occupied the place meant for keeping the luggage. A few passengers could