RAIL INDIA HERITAGE BERAUE

History of Indian Railways

The Indian Railways is a Government of India body which is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the entire rail network in India. As far as rail transport in India is concerned, it enjoys total monopoly. More than 17 million passengers avail the transport facilities offered by the Indian Railways.

History of Railway in India- Important Years

•       1832- Plans were proposed to introduce a rail network in India.

•       1844- Private entrepreneurs set up a private rail system in India.

•       1851- Trains became operational.

•       1853- Passenger trains were introduced.

•       1875- 95 million pounds were invested into Indian railways by British companies.

•       1895- Indian locomotives began to operate in the country.

•       1901- A Railway Board was established.

•       1907- The government obtained total control over most of the rail companies.

•       1908- First electric locomotive was introduced.

•       1947- 40% of the railway network came under Pakistan's possession.

History of Indian Railways- Important Years

After India obtained independence from the British, the rail network in the country was christened as the Indian Railways.

•       1951- Nationalization of the rail system in India took place.

•       1952- Six railway zones were introduced.

•       1995- Steam locomotives became obsolete. Only diesel and electric locomotives were operational.

•       1987-1995- The Indian Railways reservation system was computerised.

The Indian Railways now operates one of the world's largest rail networks. On an annual basis, more than 17 million passengers avail the transport services offered by the Indian Railways. The employment opportunities generated by the Indian Railways is also quite remarkable. Over 1.6 million employees work under the payrolls of the Indian Railways.

World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways

World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways – an Introduction

World Heritage Sites are the sites that are included on the list maintained by International World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. These heritage sites have outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. Indian Railways also has a few sites that have been declared as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. Just even a few days back, there has been three World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways, which include (i) Mumbai ChhatrapatiShivaji Terminus (CST), (ii) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and (iii) Nilgiri Mountain Railway. But on 7th July, 2008, UNESCO included Kalka – Shimla Mountain Railway into the list of World Heritage Site to make the number of World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways to four.

Mumbai ChhatrapatiShivaji Terminus (CST)

ChhatrapatiShivaji Terminus (CST) is a historic railway station in Mumbai. Formerly known as Victoria Terminus, or Bombay VT, it is one of the busiest railway stations in India and the headquarters of the Central Railways. One of the World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways, this historic station was designed by Frederick William Stevens in 1887-1888, and it took Rs. 16.14 lakh at that time to build it. This terminus took ten years to complete and was named after the reigning Queen Victoria.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is another World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways, nicknamed as the “Toy Train”. It is a narrow-gauge railway (610mm) that runs from Siliguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal. Built between 1879 and 1881, this 86 km long railway, powered by a steam engine, ascend from 100m at Siliguri to about 2,200m at Darjeeling. This railway has been listed in the World Heritage Site in 1999.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Mountain Railway is another World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways that runs between Mettupalayam and the hill station of Udagamandalam. The only rack railway in India, Nilgiri Mountain Railway runs on the Nilgiri Hill, in Tamil Nadu, South India. One of the oldest mountain railways in India, this railway was opened by the British in 1899. It was included in the World Heritage Site in July, 2005.

Kalka – Shimla Mountain Railway

Kalka – Shimla Mountain Railway is the latest entrants in the World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways. On 7th July, 2008, UNESCO enlisted it on the list of World Heritage Sites. Constructed in 1903, Kalka – Shimla Mountain Railway is one of the significant railways in India. This 96.6 km railway stretches from Kalka to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.

For more information on World Heritage Sites in Indian Railways, please go through the site www.headlinesindia.com.