The grey and white Gothic structure, which alongwith the CST station terminus and the Gateway of India are landmarks in the city, has an interesting history according to a study by Dr A K Arora, a retired motorman.

Nearly one-and-a-half centuries ago, the nascent Bombay Baroda and Central Indian (BB & CI) Railway was established. Overcoming resistance from the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (now the Central Railway), BB & CI began operations in Mumbai in 1863. After three shifts of address in the city and acquiring control of the Rajputana Malwa Railway, the growing BB & CI felt the need for its own building.

The construction of the Victoria Terminus building by arch rival GIPR also spurred on BB & CI's directors. As if to prove apoint, they also hired F W Stevens, the architect who'd just finished designing the VT station building.

The land was provided by the Bombay Government sometime in 1891 and construction began in 1896.

The railway spent a sum of Rs 7.5 lakh, or nearly 7.5 crore in today's value, over the next five years. Kurla and Porbandar stones were used for the intricate carvings in the building. The height of the central tower of the three-storeyed building was 160 feet.

Adorning the new building were statues of the company's first chairman, consulting engineer and agent. These statues were made in England and shipped to India where they were installed in the ground floor of the building.

Coloured marble was used in the construction of the 25-foot wide entrance of the building. The ceiling was made of teak wood with decorated light shades of cream and gold. Each floor had coridoors with office halls and rooms on both sides.

However, disaster struck just six years later when the building was gutted in adevastating fire. When the Prince of Wales visited the city in 1905, the building was lit up using oil lamps and coconut shells. On the night of November 14 when the Prince departed the city, the building was in flames. Fanned by the sea breeze, the first and second floors of the building were charred. Left standing in the smoking skeleton of the building were just the ground floor. The fire damaged property worth Rs 3 lakh.

But this disaster only exemplified the decision making speed of the company. Even as fire brigade was dousing the embers, the directors of the company had ordered repairs to the building.

Stephens was reappointed to reconstruct the building. The offices of the company began functioning two days later. Franctic reconstruction began on 23 November and lasted for around six months until the building rose Phoenix-like from the ashes. It had cost a whopping 7 lakh rupees to rebuild the headquarters. Nearly the same amount it took to build it.

To avoid a repeat of the blaze, fire securityprecautions were taken. Smoking was banned withing the building and notices in English and vernacular languages nailed even in the toilets. A hotline to the fire brigade was provided as were fire sprinklers.