The CR had in 2020 decided to display the coach at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) open-air heritage gully museum as a matter of pride and as a fitting reply to terrorism, but the museum (heritage gully) itself was shut down recently
Coach No. 864-A, which was seen near the Kalwa car shed on Wednesday. Pic/Rajendra B Aklekar
The last remaining train coach that was blown in the 11/7 Mumbai train blasts in 2006 — 864-A — restored and used on the Trans-Harbour Line of Central Railway (CR) till 2020, is awaiting its fate at the Kalwa car shed.
The CR had in 2020 decided to display the coach at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) open-air heritage gully museum as a matter of pride and as a fitting reply to terrorism, but the museum (heritage gully) itself was shut down recently. Terrorism memorials are a common phenomenon across the world to pay homage to the departed and take ahead the war against terror.
The coach, damaged in the Matunga Road blast, completed its codal life and finally retired from service in 2020. It was used as the CSMT-end first class coach with a few general compartments in it, too, till the end. mid-day has regularly been reporting about the coach. “No decision has been taken on the coach yet,” said Dr Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer, CR.
About the coach
Coach 864-A was the damaged bogey of the 12-car 5.57 pm Churchgate-Virar local that was torn apart at Matunga Road station on July 11, 2006. Of the seven blast-affected rail coaches, five had been restored within one year at a cost of R1 crore-R1.2 crore, but were gradually phased out over the years.
Two coaches had been immediately “condemned” as they were beyond repair. 864-A had been originally made by Jessop & Company, Kolkata, and all the material required for restoration had been sourced from the company. In 2006, after it was restored, 864-A, along with four other coaches, underwent extensive tests before it was declared fit to run.
After restoration of the coaches, the train was transferred to Central Railway as a part of an exchange programme while upgrading the Mumbai rail electric network from the old direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). After that, 864-A ran on CR’s main line for some time before being transferred to the trans-harbour line.
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