Nawab’s royal hobby! There was bedroom and dining in the train itself, it used to stop at the palace itself, a private station was built worth Rs 113 crores.

You must have heard the stories of the grandeur of the Nawabs of India. But you will definitely be surprised to hear this story of Nawab Hameed Ali Khan of Rampur. This Nawab was so royal that he used to call the train right to the door of his palace. Just think! Common people wait for the train at the station, but Nawab Saheb said that the train is for me so why should it not come to my house. After his decision, the train used to come to his doorstep, and it became a symbol of Nawabi chic.

This incident happened in 1925 when it was the era of British Raj and most of the people used to travel in third class. Then Nawab Hameed Ali Khan ordered the Baroda State Railway Builders to prepare a special royal train for him. Then a train with four coaches named The Salon was ready.

Special royal train prepared

Every box looks like a moving palace. Persian carpets, chandeliers, teak carved furniture and golden curtains gave every corner a royal feel. The Nawab had a separate bedroom, dining room, kitchen and entertainment room. There were separate compartments for security guards and servants. The floor of this private railway station of Hamid Ali Khan was covered with marble. When this train moved, it seemed as if a king’s court was roaming around.

private railway station

But the Nawab felt even less than this. They decided that the train would come to the palace. He laid about 40 kilometer long private railway line from Rampur to Milak. Built his own private railway station at the end of the line, which is still considered an example of royal engineering. According to media reports, today’s price of this station is around Rs 113 crore. This station was not an ordinary platform. The marble floors, the lattice carvings on the walls, the royal insignia on the iron pillars, a royal story was hidden in every brick. Whenever the train stopped, trumpets would sound, carpets would be spread and the courtiers would stand in queues and welcome the Nawab.

Donated two coaches of the train to the Government of India

During the partition of 1947, when people were running to save their lives. Then this Nawab used his royal train for the work of humanity. Many families were taken to Pakistan safely by train. Later, out of the four-coach train, two coaches were donated to the Government of India. Indian Railways used those coaches till 1966. Nawab Hameed Ali Khan died in the same year.

After the death of the Nawab, his successor Raza Ali Khan tried to carry on the tradition. But that old shine did not return. Gradually the station became deserted. There was rust on the tracks. The train has become a thing of the past. Today Rampur Palace is famous for its grandeur. The library there is the most valuable private library of India. In which more than 17,000 rare manuscripts have been preserved.

This story tells how high was the passion of the Nawabs. The thought of the train reaching the palace is royal. But showing humanity in division is no less. Today that station is lying vacant. But the glory of the Nawab is alive in history. If you go to Rampur then definitely see this place. Every wall there tells Nawabi stories.