The Scene at Railway Station
Essay No. 01
My father along with my elder sister were going to Kanpur the other day to attend the marriage party of my cousin. I went to the railway station to see them off. It was a pleasing sight at the railway station.
Many taxis, cars, scooters, rickshaws, and tongas were parked outside the waiting hall. The waiting hall was full of passengers. There was a long queue of people at the booking window. People were buying their tickets one by one. The coolies were busy. They were carrying the luggage of the people to the platform or from platform to outside. My father bought a platform ticket for me. He hired a coolie to carry our luggage. We reached at the platform from where the train was to depart.
The railway platform was full of people. Rich and poor, young and old, women and children were seen thereof all hues. Everyone was waiting for the train to come. The railway stalls were doing brisk business. Cold drinks, tea, coffee, snacks, etc. were available everywhere. The coolies were carrying huge luggage of the passengers. Some were looking for the tickets. The police personnel was seen quite on alert. Frequently there were announcements about the timings of the trains, incoming and outgoing. There was a high danger of luggage being taken away or pockets being picked. Everybody stood guard to their belongings. Everybody was restless but some had occupied benches and places and were sleeping comfortably evidently waiting for the late trains. There were some scenes of painful partings of parents seeing off their children going for distant destinations and some eager to meet their nears and dears arriving after a long time. The waiting at the Railway Station seemed to pass off very fast while looking at all these things.
Soon there was a signal of the arrival of the train. There was a lot of commotion. Everybody began to move, catching hold of his luggage and making way towards their respective compartments. Some began to negotiate with the TTEs to confirm their unconfirmed seats. Most of them seemed dejected. In no time the whole crowd seemed to dwindle away leaving the whole platform almost deserted. I said goodbye to my father and sister and the train moved. Everyone around was seen waving hands for their departing nears and dears. It was really a sight to see. I also came out and headed towards my home.
Essay No. 02
The Scene at a Railway Station
A railway station in India is a very busy place. It is a center of great activity. The parking place, the huge entrance, and all the platforms are full of people. Men, women, and children of all ages, colours, religions, and states can be seen here, walking, running, standing, sitting, talking, or looking harassed. They are either waiting to board a train or are alighting from one, or they have either seen off somebody or are about to do so. Some have come to buy tickets and some to cancel their reservations.
Red-coated porters move around, balancing luggage on their heads and haggling with the passengers. To add to the confusion vendors, walk up and down shouting loudly, trying to sell all kinds of things — locks with chains, books and magazines, cheap ornaments, sweets and savories, and, of course, tea which at railway stations is quite welcome.
However, as soon as the train’s whistle is heard, everyone starts moving. When the train screeches to a halt, there is complete chaos as passengers rush to get into their various compartments.
Being at a railway station is great fun and a really good experience as we meet all kinds of people and learn a few things.
Essay No. 03
The scene at the Railway Platform
A railway platform is a place full of excitement and attention-catching. Here we come across all kinds of people—the rich and the poor, the educated, the illiterate, the young and the old-all waiting for the train.
On the railway station, we can see people running to and fro from one platform to another or checking up the arrival or departure of the trains while some can be seen at the ticket counters, bookstalls, or at the eatable joints. There is always a large crowd on the platform, and the people can be seen reading newspapers or studying train schedules or maps. A few can be seen pacing up and down the platform. At some places, one can hear the cries of the children, while some can be seen troubling their parents. One can also see ladies, children, and men sitting on their luggage due to the lack of seats.
Sometimes certain passengers can be seen quarreling with coolies over the charges while passengers can also be seen cracking jokes to pass their time.
When the train is departing passengers can be seen jostling and elbowing each other to board the train. At the same time, passengers can be seen sipping tea at tea stalls or buying magazines. While some children cling to their parents in the rush and some try to locate their kith and kin.
After short intervals, the announcements from the loudspeaker about the train schedule for arrival or departure can be heard, which diverts the passenger’s attention from their activities.
Indeed with so many characters and activities, the railway platform appears like a colorful stage.
Essay No. 04
The scene at the Railway Station
A railway station is a place where trains come and go for different stations. The trains alight and take up passengers from this spot. The normal station in a township is situated at a focal point covering five to ten villages or a few nearby townships.
A few rooms a verandah on both sides-a gate entry and platforms on the edges of the railway track. The bridge helps to cross the lines and toilets on the last corner. These are some of the infrastructures constructed by railway authorities. The important compartments are the railway booking office, cloakroom, station master’s office, signal room, ticket collector’s room, and waiting rooms for upper classes. The entry platform has tea stalls, bookstalls, and a few shops for cold drinks, fruits, and children’s toys. Some push-carriages are moving hurriedly on the platforms. Many vendors are sailing different eatables like bread pakoras, biscuits, packaged foods, and other things.
Then the scene turns over as the assistant station master receives a signal for train arrival. A helper in a dark blue shirt rings the bell. This changes the scene. The eatable carrier vendors start moving toward their point to sell products. In the same way, station porters in red shirts stand on the door points of the coaches. The train steams in and incoming passengers block the passage and passengers, who are to alight, find it difficult to alight. Goods is handed over through windows. There is cracking noise of vendors and the compartment children, who are struggling for going out. The tussle continues and then some travellers move to have a stroll on the platform. They find it difficult and, thus sit back on their seats and try to get eatables on the seat itself.
The train waits for the next train which is arriving from the opposite side. Group vendors curtail some of them by shifting to the other platform. They perhaps assess that the remaining few customers can be looked after by a few fix shops or big trolley vendors. Red-shirt coolies also shift their waiting spot to the next train.
The train arrives on the next track with the same scene. The rush is more there. It seems some political leader is arriving by train. The train enters, waits for a few minutes, and steams off. As the outgoing train crosses the outer signal, this train also reports departure and packs out for its destination.
Railways are one of the biggest state-owned establishments in India. It provides employment to millions of Indians. It is expanding day by day but the style of those middle-class stations remains the same. They present the same scenes every day and every moment as the train steams in and steams out. Let us wait till the scene at the railway station changes presenting a new shape for passengers and travellers.
