<P> Rail transport in India began during the early nineteenth century . </P> <P> India's first railway proposals were made in Madras in 1832 . The Red Hill Railway, the country's first train, ran from Red Hills to Chintadripet bridge in Madras in 1837 . It was hauled by a rotary steam - engine locomotive manufactured by William Avery . Built by Arthur Cotton, the railway was primarily used to transport granite stone for road - building work in Madras . In 1845, the Godavari Dam Construction Railway was built at Dowleswaram in Rajahmundry . Also built by Cotton, it supplied stone for the construction of a dam over the Godavari River . </P> <P> On 8 May 1845, the Madras Railway was incorporated, followed that year by the East India Railway . On 1 August 1849, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway was incorporated by an act of parliament . The "guarantee system", providing free land and a guaranteed five - percent rate of return to private English companies willing to build railways, was finalized on 17 August 1849 . In 1851, the Solani Aqueduct Railway was built in Roorkee . It was hauled by the Thomason steam locomotive, named after a British officer - in - charge of that name . The railway transported construction materials for an aqueduct over the Solani River . In 1852, the Madras Guaranteed Railway Company was incorporated . In 1852 the Madras Guaranteed Railway Company was incorporated . </P>

Where was the first railway line laid in india