Archive · 29 Oct 2025
Indian Nawab Built Rs 113 Crore Private Railway Station Inside Palace
Imagine a king who loved trains so much he built his own train station right inside his giant palace!
Nawab Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur, India, did just that.
He didn't just build a station nearby; he built it inside his home so trains could come right to his door.
He even had a special royal train called 'The Saloon' with bedrooms, a dining room, and fancy decorations, like a moving palace.
This special train and station were super expensive, costing a lot of money even back then.
After the Nawab passed away, his special train and station were no longer used because it was too hard to keep them going.
It’s a story about a time when wealthy rulers could build amazing things just for themselves.
Nawab Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur commissioned a private railway station and a 40-kilometer line connecting to the mainline directly to his palace.
The private railway station and train, built in 1925, are now valued at an estimated Rs 113 crore.
The Nawab's royal train, 'The Saloon', featured luxurious amenities such as a bedroom, dining room, kitchen, and recreational area.
Following India's Partition in 1947, the Nawab used his personal train to help transport families safely.
After the Nawab's death in 1966 and the cessation of government funding for ex-royals, the private railway operations declined and eventually ceased.
- Who
- Nawab Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur
- What
- Commissioned a private railway line and station inside his palace, featuring a luxurious royal train named 'The Saloon'.
- When
- Railway line and station built in 1925; train used until 1966.
- Where
- Rampur Palace, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- To facilitate personal travel and demonstrate his immense wealth and taste for opulence.
Nawab's Vision
Decline After Nawab
Maintenance and Operation
Nawab's Vision
Nawab Hamid Ali Khan commissioned a private railway line and station, demonstrating unparalleled wealth and foresight, with a royal train featuring luxurious amenities.
Decline After Nawab
After the Nawab's death, his successor could not maintain the grandeur, and the termination of the privy purse led to the decline and eventual disuse of the private station and railway.
Legacy
Nawab's Vision
The private railway station is a brilliant illustration of India's regal peculiarities, showcasing creativity and excess with a train that represented strength and elegance.
Decline After Nawab
The once vibrant royal station became quiet by the end of the 1960s, with corroded rails and accumulating dirt, signaling the end of an era.
- Nawab
- Hamid Ali Khan
- Palace
- Rampur Palace
- Private Railway Station Value
- Rs 113 crore
- Railway Line Length
- 40 kilometers
- Line Connection
- Milak and Rampur
- Royal Train Name
- The Saloon
- Train Commissioned
- 1925
- Private Library Collection
- Over 17,000 rare manuscripts