Indian Railway system is the country’s biggest nationalized undertaking; it is the largest in Asia and the second largest in the world. The Railways are the largest employers in the country.
1- Origin:
It was Lord Dalhousie who suggested the system of trunk lines connecting the hinterland of Bombay, Bengal and Madras provinces with their principal ports.
2. The First Train:
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On April 16, 1853, the first train ran between Bombay (Mumbai) and Thana, covering a distance of 34 km.
3. The Second Train:
Howrah and Huggley in 1854.
4. Government Take-Over:
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On the advice of the Ackworth °mmittee, the Government took over the management of the bulk of the railways in 1892.
5. Electrification:
The First electrification of Indian Railway was introduced in 1925, when Bombay V.T. to Kurla (Via Harbour Branch), a distance of 16 kms was covered. The first electric train ran from Kalyan to Poona.
6. Yard:
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Largest marshalling yard in India is at Mughal Sarai (U.P.)
7. Platform:
The largest railway platform in India is Kharagpur (W.B.) About 2733 ft. large. I
8. Status:
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The Indian Railways system is the largest in Asia, and the world’s second largest railway system. ii
9. Signalling:
As of today, about 85 percent of the stations have interlocking system of signalling which increases line capacity in addition to providing greater safety, by eliminating human errors and failure.
10. Motive Power:
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As on March, 1984, this consisted of 10211 engines of which 6212 were steam engines, 2805 were diesel engines and 1194 were electric engines.
11. Fairy Queen:
Guinness Certificate for Fairy Queen-the oldest working Steam Locomotive in the world.
12. Longest Railway Tunnel:
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Between Monkey Hill and Khandala (Central Railway)-2100 metres long.
13. No. of trains run (approx.):
11,000 daily.
14. No. of Stations:
7,133
15. Double Engines:
It is proposed to introduce double engines for the major express and passenger trains.
16. Route Length :
64,015 km.(as on 31st March, 2009); Broad Gauge (1.676 mm) – 96,851 km; Metre Gauge (1.000 mm) – 11,676 km: Narrow Gauge (762 & 610 mm)-3072 km. Total route km. -63,327,83,89 running track km. and 109,227 km. of total track length.
17. Third Class :
The third class (III Class) on the Indian Railways was abolished in 1974.
18. Railway Station at the highest altitude: Ghoom on Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway at a height of 7,408 ft.
19. First Railway Terminus:
Bori Bunder (V.T.), Mumbai.
20. Most tunnels on a route :
Kalka-Shimla rail route (102 tunnels).
21. Durnato Express :
The non-stop point to point rail services introduced for the first time in 2009. These trains connected the metros and major state capitals of India and are faster than Rajdhani Express.