15 Jul. The Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR)
formed.
1852
18 Feb. The first locomotive seen shunting near Byculla
flats in Bombay.
1853
16 Apr. The first train steams out from Bombay to
Thane, a distance of 34 kilometres.
1854
15 Aug. The first passenger train operated from Howrah
(Calcutta) to Hooghly on the newly formed East India Railway.
1854
The first railway workshop of the Great Indian Peninsular
Railway opened at Byculla, Bombay.
1862
Jamalpur Railway Workshop opened in Bihar.
1864
1 Aug. Calcutta and Delhi linked by rail.
1869
1 Jul. Change in government policy. It was decreed
that private lines could be taken over by the state on certain terms after the completion of 25 years.
The Sone Bridge at Arrah.
1853
First locomotive 'Lord Falkland'
1862
Double decker coaches introduced on the GIP and the
EIR.
1863
Sone Bridge near Arrah commissioned. Becomes the most
notable bridge of the early years.
Metre gauge P-31652 express steam locomotive of the BBCIR built in Ajmer.
The first train from Bombay to Thane, 18th April, 1853.
1870 - 1889
1844-69
Phase I of Railway Policy. Uptil now the construction of railway lines had been left
entirely to private companies operating under the guarantee system.
1870
7 Mar. Calcutta - Bombay rail link opened.
1870
Travelling post offices introduced on the East Indian
Railway.
1874-79
Serious famines. New railway lines urgently required for relief.
1878
Afghan War. Tracks extended upto the Bolan Pass for
troop movement.
1880
Total length of tracks 14,500 kms.
1869-80
Phase II of Railway Policy. All new lines are constructed by the direct agency of the
State with State funds.
The Victoria Terminus station Bulding, Bombay, built in 1888.
1870s
Gas lamps began to replace oil lamps in carriages.
1887
Bombay's Victoria Terminus station building inaugurated.
1891
Toilets attached to third class coaches.
1892
First patent simple interlocking device.
1893
Cabin interlocking introduced.
Metre gauge F-734 0-6-0 steam locomotive of the RMR. The first loco to be built
in India at the Ajmer Workshops.
Multiple aspect Colour Light signals with route indicator at right.
