Squeaky clean. Instead of the ubiquitous and obnoxious yellow - blacks, you have the stately Victoria carriage.

Jimmy, only the central part of the coach is AC. On both sides you have II Class. The coach says Western Railway which came into existence only in 1951, so this may have been a Pre-Independence coach with the sahibs travelling AC class, and the native servants in III class.

EMUs were introduced in 1928 on BBCI between Colaba and Borivali. This may be a service beyond Borivali either to Bassein Road (Vasai) or Virar, as the Borivali - Virar sector was not electrified till 1936.

Was the Harbor line electrified before the main line?

It was so convenient for the Englishmen to step off the ship which brought them from England, directly onto the train waiting to take them to Delhi, Punjab and the Frontier. Today, this is what Ballard Estate looks like http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=18.9370585&lon=72.8397202&z=16&l=0&m=s&v=9

Notice the catenary of the electrified suburban lines in the background, and the the 30s - 40s dress style of the men. The cabin is no more there today, and the space between the tracks is occupied by the extended PF1. This is the place where the shot was taken http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=18.9737679&lon=72.820116&z=19&l=0&m=s&v=9. Could this be the Frontier Mail as the coaches all seem to be First Class/

Tank locomotives are preferred or suburban duties as they have better visibility when running tender first, which they nearly always do in one direction.

Thanks for the correction - the caption has been updated.

Indeed it is a meter gauge locomotive. BBCIR No. 98 was a B class 0-4-4 tank locomotive built by Dubs in 1874. Earlier examples were built by Naysmth Wilson. The location of this picture could be Ajmer works. However it was not uncommon for Amroli or Dahod to repair locomotives other than broad gauge.

Incidentally, locomotives of this class were also used to work fixed formation short trains(Motor Trains) around Delhi and Agra area.

Taken from south side. PF-1 and 2 under canopy, train on PF-4 and the turnout leads to PF-5, exactly as it is today too!