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INDIAN RAILWAYS- SOME FASCINATING FACTS

First train journey

This historic journey took place between Bombay and Thane, a distance of 34 kms. On 16^th Apr 1853 at 3.30 PM 400 distinguished guests, boarded the train with 14 railway carriage which were hauled by three locomotives namely Sultan, Sindh and Sahib.

The journey took 57 minutes, with a brief halt just beyond Sion for water.These three locomotives belonged to the batch of eight ordered from the Vulcan Foundry by the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIP) (now Central Railways) in 1852.

First Railway Terminus

The first train was flagged off from Bori Bunder (CST) on 16 Apr 1853.A small wooden structure was the railway terminus of Great India Peninsular Railway.The modest station has now metamorphosed into one of the most magnificent railway stations of the world, and is known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (earlier Victoria Terminus).The modern Victoria Terminus (VT) was constructed in 10 years time between 1878-88 at a cost ofRs 16,35,562.

First Railway Tracks

Railway lines were laid near major canal works and mining areas, before the commencement of railway lines for public use.Light railway lines were laid during the work on Ganges Canal in 1845.Animal power was used for hauling the coaches.

The first regular rails for public use were laid by GIP in 1853, these were imported from England.

First Gauge Lines

In 1862 first narrow gauge line (2 ft 16 inches gauge) was built by Baroda State Railway.Animal power was used to haul the train, although Nielson & Co built a locomotive in 1863 to be operated on the line from Debhoi to Miyagram, as the 6.5 km/m rails were not suited for regular use of engine.

First and only Rack Railway System

Operates between Mettupalayam and Udagmandalam (Ooty), as the gradient is very steep a second pair of cylinders on the locomotives activate a mechanism underneath the engine which engages the toothed rail in the middle of the track giving the engine extra push.

First Railway Bridge

The first railway bridge was built over Thane Creek in 1854.

Longest Railway Bridge

The Dehri-on-Sone Railway Bridge over the Sone near Sasaram, on the Calcutta- Delhi main line.The bridge is 3,064m (10,052 ft) long.It was opened for traffic on Feb 27 1900.

Longest Tunnels

6.5 km long at Karbude near Ratnagiri on Konkan Railway.Believed to be longest in the world.

First Double-Decker Coaches

Bombay-Baroda and Central India Railway (BB&CI) introduced double-deckers in 1862.This is also a world record. The double-decker coaches are used on the Sinhagadh Exp, deployed between Bombay VT and Pune in 1978.

First Platform tickets

The Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway at Lahore were the first to issue platform tickets.

First Ticket Reservation and Travel

Baronet Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy reserved the entire train and travelled from Bombay to Thane and back, accompanied by some members of his family on 17 Apr 1853. Sir Jamsetjee was also one of the first directors of the Great India Peninsula Railway Company.

First Metro

The underground mass rapid system, the metro was first introduced in Calcutta on 24^th Oct 1984. It is ranked among the best metro railways of the world.

First Elevated Railway

The elevated railway was inaugurated in Madras on 15^th Nov 1995. The prestigious project between Madras Beach and Chepauk, known as the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is one of the landmark achievements of Indian Railway.

Longest Passenger Routes

6017/1018 Himsagar Exp between Jammu Tawi and Kanniyakumari covers a distance of 3,738 km (or 3,726km from Jul 1992 when routed via Gudur-Renigunta).

The longest route for daily train is that of the Kerala Exp running daily between New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram covering a distance of 3,054 km.

Smallest Train Route

The Siliguri-Darjeeling mountain train or popularly named as Toy Train, covered a distance of 29 km between Siliguri and Tindharia. It was later on extended upto Darjeeling in 1882. The branch line of the NE Railway between Ankapur and Katra built in 1882 also covers a distance of 29 km.

Longest Train

2417/2418 Prayagraj Exp between New Delhi and Allahabad. It has 24 bogies.

First Superfast Train

Rajdhani Exp, between New Delhi and Howrah, commissioned on 1^st Mar 1969. average speed 130 kmph.

First Fully Air Conditioned Train

Rajdhani Exp, from Bombay to Delhi in 1990.

First Electric Lighting

Jodhpur Railways acquired the J Stones patented design of electric lighting in 1897. The train lighting was very rare during that period even in England.

First Electrification

Bombay-Pune line was first electrified in 1925.

First Electric Train

The first electric train ran between Bombay VT to Kurla on 3 Feb 1925.

Longest Platform

Kharagpur in West Bengal has the longest platform in the World. Length- 833m (2,733 ft).

Railway Station with Longest name

SRIVENKATANARASIMHRAJUWARIPETA, a small junction in Andhra Pradesh.

Railway Station with Shortest name

Ib, in Orrisa.

First Women Engine Driver

Surekha Bhonsle of Bombay. She joined the Indian Railways in 1990.

Some Other Interesting Facts of Indian Railways

• Indian Railway is world’s largest employer with 1,646,704 staff.

• Indian Railway is the second largest railway of the world, and first in Asia.

• A.H. Wheeler and Co launched their Indian Railway Library in 1888.