When was the first train run ?

By the word run a train we mean a vehicle with motive power running on metal rails. " The Stockholm and Darlington Railway" (1825) is recognised as the starting of railway age, because they were the first "Railway" to use a steam locomotive and iron rails to haul a load. It was a load of 38 carriages laden with passengers and goods ran between Stockton and Darlington. The railway line was actually commenced in 1821, but it took 4 years to complete construction. Prior to this in 1801 Richard Trevithick made the steam carriage and in 1804 constructed a locomotive to haul a 10-ton load not on the rails but on the roads. For other countries the list is as follows: The core of the pressure for building railways in India came from London in 1840s. For a century thereafter the basic policies and ultimate management of the Indian Railways were issued from London. The British built railways in India in order to intermesh the economies of the two countries. The building of railways in India brought about unintended as well as hoped for consequences in economic, political and military front. The new railways tied the the different parts of India together more closely than ever before. Some mention should be made of the role of Indian businessmen played in the early years. There were Indian merchants , both in Calcutta and Bombay who took an interest in founding of the railways. The most prominent of these was a remarkable Bengali merchant
14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

Prince Dwarkanath Tagore , grandfather of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. Dwarkanath's firm Carr, Tagore & Company, is reported to have offered in 1844, to raise onethird of the capital required for a railway from Calcutta northwest to the coalfields above Burdwan. After Dwarkanath's premature death a few tears later the other Indian businessmen played only a passive role. The conception, promotion and launching of India's railways were all British. ( Daniel Thorner 1955)

The Railway Age dawned in India on 16th. April 1853, when the first train ran from Bombay to Thana, a distance of 21 miles(33.81 Km.) For some years before that the idea of building railways in India had taken concrete shape with the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London. The East India Company had obtained a foothold in India as a trading company, but gradually lost most of its privileges it had enjoyed as an instrument of commerce. It had , however been made responsible for the governance of India under the supervision of a Court of Directors in London. The final authority lay , of course , with the British Cabinet, who acted on the advice of its special Board of \control for Indian Affairs. There was a Governor General at Fort William in Calcutta, having superintending authority over the administration of India. The first proposals for construction of railways in India were presented in 1844 to East India Company in London by, (a) East Indian Railway Company headed by R.McDonald Stephenson, and (b) Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company.
14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

George Stephenson the great British Locomotive inventor was one the first Directors of GIPR and his son Robert Stephenson was appointed as the consulting engineer based at London. Both E.I.R. and G.I.P.R were incorporated in England for the purpose of constructing railway lines in Calcutta and Bombay presidencies respectively. Though GIPR company was formed in 1844. George Stephenson could not see his Locomotives run on Indian soil as he died in 1848. Lord Hardinge was the Governor General of India at this point of time. He considered the proposals from political, military and commercial point of view and thought that Court Of Directors of East India Company should liberally give assistance to private capitalists, willing to make railways in India , without waiting for proof that the construction of railways in India should yield reasonable profit. The Court of Directors in their suggestion that the first attempt should be made on a limited scale due to some difficulties, deliberated as under, 1. Periodical rains and inundations; 2. The continued action of violent winds, and influence of a vertical sun; 3. The ravages of insects and vermin upon timber and earth
14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

work; 4. The destructive effect of spontaneous vegetation of Underwood upon earth and brick work; 5. The unenclosed and unprotected tracts of the country though which railroads would pass; 6. The difficulty and expenses of securing the services of competent and trustworthy engineers.

West : On 16th April, 1853 the first railway on Indian sub-continent ran over a stretch of 21 miles
from Bombay to Thane . The idea of a railway to connect Bombay with Thane, Kalyan and with the

Thal and Bhore Ghats incline first occurred to Mr. George Clark, the Chief Engineer of the Bombay Government, during a visit to Bhandup in 1843.The first Indian train steamed off from Bombay(Bori Bunder) to Thane on 16th. April 1853, at 3:30 P.M. "amidst the loud applause of a vast multitude and to the salute of 21 guns." The train consisting of 14 carriages was hauled by three locomotives named Sultan, Sindh and Sahib with 400 VVIPs The formal inauguration
14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

ceremony was performed on 16th April 1853, when 14 railway carriages carrying about 400 guests left Bori Bunder at 3.35 PM. In the East : The Survey from Calcutta to Delhi was carried out by Mr. Stephenson during 1845-46. The construction of railway line from Howrah to Raniganj was sanctioned only after 3 years. But by the end of 1853 61 kms. of line was ready upto Pandooah. Two historical incidents denied EIR , the first position in history of railways in India.. The Locomotive Engine and the carriages for both the trains of Bombay and Howrah were despatched from England almost at the same time, but the ship carrying the loco for E.I.R. (HMS Goodwin) was misdirected to Australia and the other carrying the carriages for Howrah sank at Sandheads. Otherwise Howrah would have had the legacy of running the first train in India. The Locomotive Engine and the carriages for both the trains of Bombay and Howrah were despatched from England almost at the same time, but the ship carrying the loco for E.I.R. (HMS Goodwin) was misdirected to Australia and carriages for Howrah sank at Sandheads. The other problem faced was that the line was aligned through Chandernagore (Chandannagar) which was a French territory at that time. The settlement of this dispute with french rulers of Chandernagore also took considerable time. The Locomotive reached Calcutta via Australia and a trial run was made on 28th. June 1854. The coaches for the first train was however manufactured by two Calcutta based companies Steward & Company and Seton & Company. Otherwise Howrah would have had the legacy of running the first train in India. The first passenger train steamed out of Howrah station destined for Hooghly, (click) a distance of 24 miles, on 15th August, 1854. Thus the first section of the East Indian Railway was opened to public traffic, inaugurating the beginning of railway transport on the Eastern side of the sub-continent.
14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

From 15th August 1854, the company ran regular services, morning and evening, between Howrah and Hugli with stops at Bally, Srerampore and Chandannagar. The fare ranged from Rs.3 by first class to 7 annas by third class. The main booking office was on the Calcutta bank, at the Armenian Ghat, and the fare covered the ferry to the station. At the Howrah end, the station consisted of a tin shed and a single line flanked by narrow platforms, somewhat to the south of the present station building constructed between 1901 and 1906. In the South the first line was opened on Ist July, 1856 by the Madras Railway Company. It ran between Veyasarpandy and Walajah Road (Arcot), a distance of 63 miles. the first line was opened on Ist July, 1856 by the Madras Railway Company. It ran between Veyasarpandy and Walajah Road (Arcot), a distance of 63 miles. In the North a length of 119 miles of line was laid from Allahabad to Kanpur on 3rd March 1859. The first section from Hathras Road to Mathura Cantonment was opened to traffic on 19th October, 1875. The first locomotive built in India : The F-734 built in 1895 by the Ajmer workshop of the Rajputana Malwa Railway. Earlier some locomotives were assembled using spares supplied with fully assembled locomotives which were imported. This locomotive with outside connecting and side rods was used on Rajputana Malwa & Bombay Baroda & Central India Railway systems. These were the small beginnings which is due course developed into a network of railway lines all over the country. By 1880 the Indian Railway system had a route mileage of about 9000 miles. ( Source : Old Eastern Railway Magazines of 1953)
14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

Here are some of the many commemorative postage issued in India for different occasions of Indian Railways. ndian Railways operates 8,702 passenger trains and transports around five billion annually across twenty-seven states aThe passenger division is the most preferred form of long distance transport in most of the country. In South India and North-East India however, buses are the preferred mode of transport for medium to long distance transport. A standard passenger train consists of eighteen coaches, but some popular trains can have up to twenty-four coaches. Coaches are designed to accommodate anywhere from eighteen to seventy-two passengers, but may actually accommodate many more during the holiday seasons and on busy routes. The coaches in use are vestibules, but some of these may be dummied on some trains for operational reasons. Freight trains use a large variety of wagons. Each coach has different accommodation class; the most popular being the sleeper class. Up to nine of these type coaches are usually coupled. Air conditioned coaches are also attached, and a standard train may have between three to five air-conditioned coaches. Overcrowding is the most widely faced problem with Indian Railways. In the holiday seasons or on long weekends, trains are usually packed more then their prescribed limit. Ticket-less travel which results in large losses for the IR is also an additional problem faced.

Suburban Rail
Many cities have their own dedicated suburban networks to cater to commuters. Currently, suburban networks operate in Mumbai
14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

(Bombay), Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Delhi, Hyderabad and Pune. Hyderabad and Pune do not have dedicated suburban tracks but share the tracks with long distance trains. New Delhi and Kolkata have their own metro networks namely the New Delhi Metro and the Kolkata metro respectively. Suburban trains that handle commuter traffic are usually fifteen coaches, with an electric multiple unit (EMU) at each end. The rakes in Mumbai run on direct current, while those elsewhere use alternating current. A standard coach is designed to accommodate ninety-six sitting passengers, but the actual number of passengers can easily double or triple with standees during rush hour. Mumbai's rail transport is jointly managed by the Central and Western Railways. It has three lines, one managed by the WR and other two managed by the Central Railway. The Kolkata metro has the administrative status of a zonal railway, though it does not come under the seventeen railway zones.

Freight
IR carry a huge variety of goods ranging from mineral ores, agricultural produce, petroleum, milk and vehicles. Ports and major urban areas have their own dedicated freight lines and yards. Many important freight stops have dedicated platforms and independent lines. Indian Railways makes 70% of its revenues and most of its profits from the freight sector, and uses these profits to cross-subsidise the loss-making passenger sector. However, competition from trucks which offer cheaper rates has seen a decrease in freight traffic in recent years. Since the 1990s, Indian Railways has switched from small consignments to larger container movement which has helped speed up its operations. Most of its freight earnings come from such rakes carrying bulk goods such as coal ,cement, foodgrains and iron ore

14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur

Indian Railways also transports vehicles over long distances. Trucks that carry goods to a particular location are hauled back by trains saving the trucking company on unnecessary fuel expenses. Refrigerated vans are also available in many areas. The "Green Van" is a special type used to transport fresh food and vegetables. Recently Indian Railways introduced the special 'Container Rajdhani' or CONRAJ, for high priority freight. The highest speed notched up for a freight train is 100 km/h (62 mph) for a 4,700 ton load. About Indian Railways | History of Indian Railways | Services in Indian Railways | Organisational Structure | Achivements and Notable Trains | Map in Indian Railways nd three union territories (Delhi, Pondicherry and Chandigarh). Sikkim is the only state not connected.

14.04.1951 Southern Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

Madras Railway South Marhatta Railway South Indian Railway Mysore Railway

05-11-1951 Central Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

GIPR Nizam Scindia Dholpur

05-11-1951

Western Railway

1. 2. 3. 4.

BB&CI (Bombay Baroda & Central Indian) Sourashtra Rajasthan Jaipur

14.04.1952 Northern Railway

1. Eastern Punjab 2. Jodhpur