Indian Railways – A Visual Journey

The railways did more than link India – its metamorphosis into a network brought the nation together. This sumptuously illustrated adult reference book traces the history of the railways in India from the early plans of the 1830s, the laying of the first lines, and expansion into the interiors of the country to its role in India’s momentous freedom movement, and the present era of speed. It celebrates the awe-inspiring bridges, stations, tunnels, and locomotives of the past and present. It traces the development of technology, dives into the operational and commercial aspects, and documents the railways’ transition from a colonial tool of expansion and trade to an intricate system with a distinct national identity. Most of all, it tells the story of the people who built and planned the railways, their vision, the triumphs, tragedies, and the impact on their communities.

Digitally launched on 26th August by the Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal had this to say about the book, “It almost looks like a visual masterpiece and touches you when you are remembering…your own experiences while travelling in the railways. I think the book captures, in a significant measure, the soul of the Indian Railways and some of the photographs in the book are truly beautiful.”
According to Dr. Bibek Debroy, Economist and Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India and the book’s Foreword writer: “DK produces excellent books. I first met DK in some other connection…There are several books on the Indian Railways…but this is a book that is going to enthral not only the likes of us but also the young, because it is delightfully produced, with wonderful photographs, paintings. It chronicles the beginnings, not just 1853, even beyond that and takes the Indian Railways to the present… I am delighted that I have been able to, in some sense, trigger this book and am honoured to be part of this process.”
Publishers of highly visual, photographic non-fiction for adults and children, DK’s aim is to inspire, educate, and entertain readers of all ages.

Aparna Sharma, Managing Director of DK India sums it up, “DK is a global publisher of non-fiction for adults and children and recognized the world over for its high quality and iconic visual style. So when we launched our local publishing programme, our ambition was to create Indian titles with all of these attributes, not just for the Indian reader, but also to take these wonderful subjects like the Indian Railways, to a global audience, in a way that only DK can do…we hope you enjoy reading this book as much as we did making it.”