People &Institutions
People & Institutions explores the human side of Indian Railways. This collection documents the evolution of railway administration, personnel management, industrial relations, staff welfare, recruitment and the institutions that have shaped India’s railway system.
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The Church at the Heart of the Railway Colony
There are railway buildings that speak of locomotives, bridges and workshops. There are others that tell a quieter story—the story of the people who lived around the railway. The story of St Mary’s Church at Jamalpur is the story of a church around which the social history of an entire town revolved for many decades.
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Arthur Thomas Cotton — The Engineer Who Saw India’s Rivers and Railways as One System
Arthur Thomas Cotton was a pioneering engineer in the 1830s, advocating for railways in India to address transportation challenges. He constructed the Red Hill Railroad, demonstrating the efficiency of railways for heavy material transport, and laid foundational ideas for integrating railways with other infrastructure.
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Before the First Train: The Men Who Imagined Railways in India
The Indian railway story began long before the first passenger train in 1853, with early experiments in transportation, proposals, and contributions from both British and Indian pioneers. This foundation advanced into a comprehensive railway network reshaping India’s commerce and communication.
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National Academy of Indian Railways: Past, Present and Future
The Indian railway system underwent significant changes through various committees and government decisions. The Acworth Committee recommended consolidation and nationalization of railways, leading to the establishment of the Railway Staff College. The Debroy Committee proposed reforms including merging the railway budget with the general budget and encouraging private participation. The creation of the Indian Railway…
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The Railway and the Freedom Struggle: How the Raj’s Railways Helped Create a Nation
Mahatma Gandhi’s third-class railway travels illustrated how India’s colonial railway system, initially built for imperial control, facilitated the growth of nationalism. The railways connected distant regions, spreading political ideas and allowing revolutionary networks to form. Ultimately, this infrastructure transformed from an instrument of empire to a pivotal element in India’s quest for independence.
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Training of Group A officers in Indian railways
Indian Railways is a vast organization with 10 departments and 10 different services, including technical, non-technical, and medical. Recruitment is through Civil Services Exam and Engineering Service Exam, with specific training for each service. Officers also undergo field training, management training, and foreign training. The introduction of IRMS will bring significant changes to the training…