Poona Race Train, 1900s. This was the fastest (seasonal) train service between Mumbai (then Bombay) and Pune (then Poona) prior to electrification and before the arrival of Deccan Queen. In 1901, it used to cover the 192 Km distance in under 3.5 hours and that included three locomotive changes and the reversal at Bhore Ghat. The next fastest regular train, the Poona Mail used to take close to six hours to cover the distance.

Original text: "... saloons with private state-rooms and a cloakroom for hand luggage, a parlor car with smoking room and cafe, and a large dining car on twelve wheels. A small store van with a guard's compartment brings up the rear. The train is vestibuled throughout and is electrically lighted and has punkah fans in all compartments. It has been specially designed by Mr A M Bell, the car superintendent for the comfort of daily visitors between the two cities during the season, but when not required on this service, two well-appointed sleeping cars will replace the two day cars, and the train then forms what is practically a touring hotel or club. The drawback to pleasure seekers in India has been the lack of good hotel accommodation, and the enterprising management of the G.I.P. are providing this train to remove the difficulty."

"Railway and locomotive engineering : a practical journal of railway motive power and rolling stock" (1900s) Scan from the Internet Archive of Book Images.