The world’s first railway journey took place on 21 February 1804 when Trevithick’s unnamed steam locomotive hauled a train along the tramway of the Penydarren ironworks, near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.

And in India Railways were first introduced in the year 1853 from Mumbai to Thane. In 1951 the systems were nationalised as one unit, the Indian Railways, becoming one of the largest networks in the world.

We all have travelled in trains for many times and have seen the railway tracks also ,but have you ever noticed that Rail tracks are always covered in stones? But do you know why?

Well here is the answer.

These crushed stones, called ballast, are used to hold the wooden cross ties that in turn keep the rails in place. The thick bed of stones also prevents weed, plants, and other vegetation from growing under the tracks. The ballast also prevent the rails from getting flooded and moved by the water.

Actually the rail track can be affected by many thing, like the increasing and decreasing of temperature, so these stones help it to be on its place.

So now as you know the answer you can help others knowing about it .