Indian Railways first ran 160 years ago on 16 April 1853 connecting Mumbai to Thane (21 miles) when 14 railway carriages carrying about 400 guests left Bori Bunder (Bombay) with 21 guns Salute
The first passenger train with steam Engine departs from Howrah station destined for Hooghly, a distance of 24 miles, on 15th August, 1854. This was the first section of the East Indian Railway was opened to public traffic, with the beginning of railway transport on the Eastern side of India.In south India the first line was opened on Ist July, 1856 by the Madras Railway Company. It ran between Vyasarpadi Jeeva Nilayam (Veyasarpandy) and Walajah Road (Arcot), a distance of 63 miles.
In North India a length of 119 miles of line was laid from Allahabad to Kanpur on 3rd March 1859.
By 1880 the Indian Railway system had a route mileage of about 9000 miles. Indian Railways now, is backbone of transportation of the countryand It is the largest rail network in Asia.
