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.