➧ Topic: Historical Development of Indian Railways | History of Indian Railways | Indian Railways Historical Events ➧ Subject: Railway Engineering | RBT ➧ Courses: Diploma | B.Tech | Competitive Exam’s ➧ Trade: Civil Engineering ➧ Subscribe our YouTube channel for explanation of Slides's! https://www.youtube.com/@civiltechmate

2. Historical Development: Introduction
India has poor means of communication before introduction of railways.
Indian railways introduce in the nineteenth century in the period of Lord
Delhousie, who is considered as "The father of Indian Railways". The
main aim of railways in India at that time was to provide benefit to
British Government.
01 | Civil TechMate

3. The first train in India was run :
• On 16th April, 1853
• Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Thane
• With 4 Coaches & One Steam Locomotive
• Distance Covered: 34 Kilometres
• Time Taken: 4 Hours
Historical Development: First Train
02 | Civil TechMate

4. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company
was :
• Incorporated in Britain
• By Act of Parliament in August 1849
• Build number of Railway Lines in India
• Contracted with Indian Government
Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company
03 | Civil TechMate

5. Year Event
1844
First railway construction proposal in India submitted to East
India Company by Mr. R. M. Stephenson.
1849
First contract of construction of experimental lines of 160 kms
undertaken by East India Company.
1850
Indian Peninsula Railway started construction of railway from
Mumbai to Kalyan
1853 32 kms long railway line between Bombay and Thana was opened
Historical Development: Events
04 | Civil TechMate

6. Year Event
1854
39 kms long railway line between Howrah and Hoogly (West
Bengal) was opened.
1855 - 60
Railway Companies Established:
• Great Indian Peninsula Railway (G.I.P)
• The East Indian Railway
• The Madras Railway
• The South Indian Railway
• Eastern Bengal Railway Etc.
Historical Development: Events
05 | Civil TechMate

7. Year Event
1862 Feeder Lines in North India were constructed.
1868 - 81
Indian railway line length reached upto 646kms. Government
stopped giving construction contract and took over itself
responsibility of railway construction.
1879 - 80
Total length of Indian Railway reached upto 14920 kms. The
famine commission recommended construction of 8000 kms of
new railway line to protect country from femine.
Historical Development: Events
06 | Civil TechMate

8. Year Event
1890 Indian Railway Act was passed.
1900 - 01
Railway line length reached upto 39603 kms. Mr. Thomas
Robertson was appointed for investigation of railway
administration, organization and system.
1905
Railway Board was established under department of commerce
and industries.
1907 McKay Committee was set-up to study problems in railways.
Historical Development: Events
07 | Civil TechMate

9. Year Event
1908 Railway board was re-organised.
1914 - 21
Indian railway line length reached upto 56456 kms. This was the
first world war period, that was why some strategic lines were
constructed.
1922 Railway Board was organised again.
1923 Nationalisation of Indian railways started.
1925
Government took over the charge of Great Indian Peninsula East
Indian Railways.
Historical Development: Events
08 | Civil TechMate

10. Year Event
1929 - 30
Total length of railways was 66358 kms with capital investment of
₹856.75 crores.
1930 - 36 Economic depression period of India
1937
Burma was separated from India due to 3200 kms railway lines
was *curtailed.
1939 - 47
Total length 65850 kms now. This is also period of 2nd world war
and War Transport Board was established in 1942. Bengal famine
created another problem for Railway Borad in 1943 - 44.
Historical Development: Events
09 | Civil TechMate

11. Year Event
1947 - 48
Due to partition of India, The total length of railways decreased
to 53707 kms.
1949 - 50
Indian Government took over the charge of all railways except
some private companies.
1950 Zonal grouping of railways was done.
Historical Development: Events
10 | Civil TechMate