Railway have been a great integrating force in India for more than a century, particularly so after the attaining of independence in 1947. It has bound the economic life of the country and helped in accelerating the development of industry and leped in accelerating the development of industry and agriculture. It has brought together people from the farthest corners of the country and made possible the conduc of business, education, pilgrimage and tourism. The history of Railway in India began on 16th April 1853, when the first train steamed off from Boribunder to Thane, covering a distance of 34 Kilometers. From such a modest beginning, the Indian Railways have grown into a large network of about 7,000 stations spread over a route length of nearly 63,000 Kms. Today it is one of the largest organisations in the world, employing the work force of 16 lakhs. It provides the principal mode of transport for freight and passengers in India

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India