India, Republic, 2003 AD., 150 years of Indian railways commemorative, Kolkata mint, 2 Rupees, KM 307.

India, Republic, 150 years of Indian railways commemorative, Kolkata (Calcutta) mint, 2003 AD., (issued on 1.9.2003 for general circulation),
2 Rupees (26 mm / 5,96 g), copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel), 6,00 g. theor. mint weight, mintage ? , medal alignment ↑↑ (0°), 11-sided, plain edge,
Obv.: Railways रेलवे / Bholu, The Guard / 150 Glorious Years - 2003 - 150 गौरवपूर्ण वर्ष , legend "Railways 150 Glorious Years" and "Railway 150 Gouravpurna varsha" in English and Hindi , around elephant Bholu,`The guard´ (symbol of indian railways) holding a signal lamp with his trunk, standing right, date below.
Rev.: भारत INDIA / सत्यमेव जयते / रूपये 2 RUPEES / * , ("Bharat" INDIA / Satyameva Jayate" / "Rupaye" 2 RUPEES) , Ashoka Lion Capital in center, motto "Satyameva Jayate" below ( सत्यमेव जयते; literal "Truth Alone Triumphs"), country name and denomination in Hindi and English.
KM 307 .

unknown mitage, mintmarks:
(no mm.) = Kolkata (Calcutta)
♦ (small diamond) = Mumbai
* (five-pointed star) = Hyderabad
• (circular dot = Noida) (?)

Year / Mint Mark / Details
2003 Calcutta mint, proof issue
2003 Calcutta mint
2003 ♦ Mumbai mint
2003 * Hyderabad mint
2003 ° Noida mint (?)

The history of rail transport in India began in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1849, there was not a single kilometre of railway line in India. Railways were first introduced to India in 1853 from Bombay to Thane. On April 16th, 1853, at 3:35pm, the first train in India left Bombay's Bori Bunder for Thane. This train was with 14 railway carriages and 400 guests. A British engineer, Robert Maitland Brereton, was responsible for the expansion of the railways from 1857 onwards. The Allahabad-Jubbulpore branch line of the East Indian Railway had been opened in June 1867. Brereton was responsible for linking this with the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, resulting in a combined network of 6,400 km (4,000 mi). Hence it became possible to travel directly from Mumbai to Calcutta. This route was officially opened on 7 March 1870 and it was part of the inspiration for French writer Jules Verne's book Around the World in Eighty Days.
On the occasion of Indian Railway's 150th anniversary, a mascot in the form of a cartoon elephant, 'Bholu', dressed in the uniform of a train guard, holding a hand signal lamp with green light, was adopted.