In the history of Indian Railways, in which year did the first train in India steam off on a scheduled route?

Introduction / Context:
The beginning of rail transport is a landmark event in India's economic and social history. Railways played a crucial role in integrating markets, facilitating movement of goods and people, and shaping colonial as well as post independence development. Many general knowledge questions ask about the year in which the first train in India started running on a scheduled route. This question tests your ability to recall this foundational date in Indian Railways history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question concerns the first train in India on a scheduled route.- Several years from the nineteenth century are listed as options.- We assume familiarity with the famous first run between Mumbai (then Bombay) and Thane.

Concept / Approach:
The first passenger train journey in India took place on 16 April 1853. The train ran between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane, covering a distance of about 34 kilometres. This date is widely recognised as the formal beginning of rail transport in India. Although some earlier experimental or freight movements may have occurred, 1853 is treated as the official starting year of Indian Railways. Therefore, among the options provided, 1853 is the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall the famous inaugural run of the first passenger train in India between Bombay and Thane.2. Remember that this run took place on 16 April 1853, a commonly cited date in railway history.3. Note that years such as 1848 or 1875 appear in other contexts but do not match this specific milestone.4. Recognise that by 1880, the railway network had already expanded significantly beyond that first line.5. Select 1853 as the correct year from the options given.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official histories of Indian Railways and general knowledge books all state that the first passenger train in India ran in 1853 between Bombay and Thane. They often provide additional details such as the involvement of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and the number of carriages used during the inaugural journey. These consistent accounts across multiple sources confirm 1853 as the correct year for the first train in India.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- 1848: predates the actual first passenger train run; railway planning and proposals were still in early stages.- 1875: by this time, a significant portion of the initial network was already operational, so it cannot be the starting year.- 1880: far too late to mark the beginning of railways in India.- 1901: by then, India had an extensive railway system and a separate Railway Board was being discussed.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the year of the first train with other dates such as the creation of the Railway Board or later extensions of the network. Others may remember the general time frame but not the exact year. To avoid confusion, link the specific date 16 April 1853 and the route Bombay to Thane in your memory as the starting point of Indian Railways. This simple association makes it easy to select 1853 whenever this question appears in exams.

Final Answer:
The first train in India steamed off in the year 1853.