It's likely Twain traveled to Indianapolis from Paris, IL on January 1, 1872 as he attended church in Paris December 31, 1871.
Both the New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroads had connections between Paris and Indianapolis. The NYC, as per the Wikipedia article, maps the Terre Haute Railroad and the St Louis and Indianapolis Railroads. The Wikipedia article for the Pennsylvania Railroad maps the Paris and Terre Haute Railroad and the Terre Haute and Richmond Railroad. This line was associated with the Vandalia Railroad.