Indian Railways is the state-owned railway system of India, operating 6,909 stations over 63,327 km of track. It transports over 18 million passengers and 2 million tonnes of freight daily, making it one of the largest rail networks in the world. The document provides details about the history and operations of Indian Railways, including its various gauges of track, types of trains operated, and classification system for locomotives. It also summarizes the key components and functions of a typical diesel locomotive shed, including fuel storage, control room operations, and a chief technical assistance cell. The chapter on diesel engines outlines the basic four-stroke combustion cycle and defines important engine terms like compression ratio.