The Darjeeling Railway
1800: The Darjeeling Steam Tramway (DST) begins operations on Siliguri-Darjeeling section.
1881: DST becomes Darjeeling Himalayan Railays (DHR).
1915: DHR opens two new branches to Kishengunj and Teesta Valley
1948: DHR is taken over by the State and it became a world heritage site on December 2, 1999.
May 2000: Diesel hauling of DHR inaugurated.
Running the Railways
1849: Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) incorporated. A `guarantee system` that assured 5 per cent returns to all British railway companies in India established.
1853: Railways begin in India with private funds and government support.
1868: Calcutta and South Eastern (CSER) suffers flood losses, transfers all lines to government in return for capital costs, becoming the first state owned railways.
1882: Almost 75 railway operations, owned by the private sector and princely states and a variety of track gauges. Post of Director General of Railways (DGR) is created in the Central Public Works Dept (CPD) to coordinate the network.
1889: States takes over Nizam Railways.
1900: GIPR taken over by state.
1901: Based on the recommendations of Sir Thomas Robertson Committee, a Railway Board is set up with three members.
1904: More members included in the Board.
1905: Powers and structure of Railway Board are formalised. It is now under Dept of Commerce and Industry with an independent Chairman.
1907: Govt purchases all major lines and re-leases them to pvt operators
1920: Based on Acworth Committee recommendations govt takes over actual management of all railways and separates railway finances from general finances. This practice is followed even today.
1922: Retrenchment Committee under Lord Inchcape recommends drastic cuts in workforce and expenses.
1922: Railway Board reorganised, overriding powers given to Chief Commissioner railways.
1924: Railway finances separated from general govt budget.
1925: First Railway Budget presented.
1925:EIR Co and GIPR, the largest networks, taken over the state.
1937: The post of Minister for Transport and Communication created. The minister was a civil servant and dealt with the Railway Board.
1951: Zonal grouping of Railways begins.
Railways’ First
August 16, 1853, 3:35 pm: 21 gun salute launches first passenger train in India, by Great Indian Peninsular Railway from Bori Bunder to Thane -- 400 passengers, 14 carriages, three engines, Sindh, Sultan and Sahib. Journey time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
August 15, 1854: First train in east India, Howrah to Hoogly.
July 1, 1856: First train in south India, Veyasarapdy (Madras) to Wallajah Road (Arcot).
March 6, 1859: First train in north India, Allahabad to Kanpur
1862: First princely state-owned line, Dabhol to Miyagam in Baroda. Train pulled by oxen. Later became Baroda State Railways.
August 1, 1864: First train arrives in Delhi from Calcutta, ferried on boats across Ganga in Allahabad
1867: First suburban service begins from Virar to Bombay Backbay.
1873: World`s first metre gauge service begins, Delhi to Rewari.
Half Ticket, Full Service
1862: 2-tier seating started in III classes.
1871-74: Gas lamps introduced in many passenger carriages.
1872: Air-cooling introduced in I class coaches on GIPR lines.
1874: IV class introduced; coaches with no seats.
1888: AH Wheeler and Co introduces Railway Library series publications.
1905: Lavatories provided in all lower class carriages.
1936: Air conditioning introduced in coaches.
1952: Fans and light mandated for passenger coaches.
1956: III class passengers allowed use of dining car.
1967: II class sleeper coaches for long distance trains.
1974: III class abolished.
1986: Computerised reservation started at Delhi.
Going Loco
1893: First railway foundry set up at Jamalpur.
1895: First locomotive built with old parts at Ajmer workshop.
1899: `Lady Curzon`, first locomotive built in India, at Ajmer.
January 26, 1950: Chittaranjan Loco Works (CLW) set up. Builds first steam engine, `Deshbandhu`.
1952: TELCO begins productions of YG locos.
1959: First steam loco designed by CLW.
1961: Diesel Loco Works, Varansi established.
What`s in a Name?
January 1, 1882: GIPR station opened to public in Bombay.
1887: Station named Victoria Terminus (VT) after Queen Victoria on her jubliee year.
May 4, 1996: VT renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
IB, near on South Eastern Railway is the shortest station name.
Venkatanarasimharajuvariapeta on Southern Railways is the longest station name.
April 2000
Total length of rail tracks: 62, 759 km.
Electrification of tracks: 14, 261 km.
Total number of engines: 7, 517.
Total number of bogies: 2, 44, 419.
Passengers travelling annually: 458 crores.
Total number of workers
1950-51: 9, 13, 600
1970-71: 13, 74, 200
1980-81: 15, 72, 200
1990-91: 16, 51, 800
1999-00: 15, 77, 200
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