first full scale working railway steam locomotive was built in the United Kingdom in 1804 by Richard Trevithick. World's first railway journey took place On 21st February 1804, as Trevithick's unnamed Steam locomotive hauled a train along the Rail transport of the Penydarren iron works, near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales. In 1814 George Stephenson, inspired by the early locomotives of Trevithick and others, built the Blucher locomotive, one of the first successful Flange-wheel adhesion locomotives. Stephenson played a pivotal role in the development and widespread adoption of the steam locomotive. It was not until 1825 that the success of the Stockton and Darlington Railway proved that the railways could be made as useful to the general shipping public as to the colliery owner. The world's first trunk line can be said to be the Grand Junction Railway, opening in 1837, and linking a midpoint on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway with Birmingham, by way of Crewe, Stafford, and Wolverhampton.
.................................................. ..............
RAIL IN INDIA
The first rail system plan for India was put forward in 1832, but nothing could be done for next 12 years. In 1844 A.D., the Governor General of India Lord Hardinge insisted private entrepreneurs to set up a rail system in India. Two railway companies were created and the East India Company was asked to assist them. Interest from a lot of investors in U.K. led to the rapid creation of a rail system in India. The first train in India became operational on 22nd December 1851 and was used for the hauling of construction material in Roorkee. The first passenger train between Bori Bunder, Bombay and Thana covering a distance of 33.66 km (21 miles) was inaugurated, On 16 April 1853. The British government encouraged the setting up of railway companies by private investors under a scheme which assured a guarantee of an annual return of 5% during the initial years of operation. After completion of work, the company was to be transferred to the government, but the original company would hold operational control. Thus the development of railways in India started on all sides. The rail network had a route mileage of 9,000 miles (14,500 km) by 1880, mostly radiating inward from the three major port cities of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. By 1895 India had started building it's own locomotives. In 1896 some railway engineers and locomotives were sent to Uganda to construct Uganda Railways.
.................................................. ..........................
NECESSACITY OF RAIL IN RAJPUTANA
The trade in Rajputana till the mid of 19th century, was carried on animals like bullocks, camels, ponies and donkies; and animal driven carts. The outbreak of 1857 put the factor of urgency for the rapid development of roads, railways and telegraph lines in Rajputana. Government of India advised the native states to undertake the construction of these facili¬ties for movement of military troops for the maintenance of law and order and to encourage trade and commerce.
.................................................. ........................
#railhistory@rajasthan