Rail Museum New Delhi A window into India’s Locomotive Past

Trains have been chugging along on the Indian mainland for well over a 150 years, connecting far-off places and bringing Indians closer. A tribute to these amazing machines is at New Delhi, the Rail Museum, which houses some of the best known and oldest steam locomotives and coupes from yore. A visit to this museum in Chankayapuri is akin to taking a ride in the time-machine, which is a must for every Indian who’s grown up whistling a ‘cooooooo’ in his or her childhood.

Fairy QueenClass: Broad-gaugeBuilt: 1855Restored: 1977Builder: Kitson Hewitson & Thompson, LeedsTrivia: Supplied as a mail engine though eventually used as a construction loco on the building of the South Behar line from 1896. This 1855 made steam locomotive is the oldest surviving railway engine in the entire world. Once every month during the tourist season the Fairy Queen make its journey out of the museum to make its schedule journey between Alwar and Delhi.

Ramgotty AnjubaultClass: Broad-gaugeBuilt: 1862Retired/Restored: 1954Builder: Anjubault of Paris, FranceTrivia: Altered from 4‘inch gauge to BG. Ramgooty Mukherjee was the last GM of Nalhatti-Azingang Light Railways that was taken over by EIR and regauged to BG in 1892. Shunting loco in Jabalpur and then sold to Kolkata Corporation for refuse hauling in 1951.

BG 26Class: Broad-gaugeBuilt: 1870Builder: Sharp Stewart & Co, Atlas Works, ManchesterTrivia: Owned by Oudh & Rohilkund Railway till 1921. 2 whistles with different tones. Brought first train to Dehradun on 1-Mar-1900. Had inside Cylinders.

Sharp Stewart 3517Class: MonorailBuilt: 1899Retired/Restored: 1952Builder: Sharp Stewart & Co, Atlas Works, ManchesterTrivia: Original Railway number B-2 renumbered as B-777. Four prototypes were built by Sharp Stewart of the UK in 1889, and after successful trials, 30 more were ordered. One more B # 792 is preserved in Delhi, outside the IR headquarters building 'Rail Bhavan'.

Decauville WB-707Class: Broad-gaugeBuilt: 1902Builder: W.G. Bagnall Ltd, Castle Engg Works, Stafford, UKTrivia: Built for strategic lines on NW Frontier & later used for training by Madras Engg Territorial Army group of Bangalore. Supplied to the Military reserve as part of a batch of 20 locos in 1902 & 3.

Patiala State Monorail TrainClass: MonorailBuilt: 1907Retired/Restored: 1976Builder: Orenstein & Koppel, A.G. BerlinTrivia: One of 4 locos supplied by O&K (Works numbers 3356-9) in 1909 to the Patiala State Monorail System in Punjab. The line was 50 miles in length and ran from Sirhind to Alampura and Patiala to Bhavanigarh.

MLR 739Class: Narrow-gaugeBuilt: 1907Builder: Orenstein & Koppel, A.G. BerlinTrivia: MLR No 2, then IR 739 and classified ML Class in 1957. One of the sturdiest locomotives used for hauling trains in the British times.

Duchess of York M2-162Class: Meter gaugeBuilt: 1924Retired: 1970Builder: Workshops AjmerTrivia: Only locomotive built with joist gear. Built on modified design of Dubes Glasgow at Ajmer shops. Supplied to BBCIR, No 162, and named after the Duchess of York.

Garratt BG -38815Class: Broad-gaugeBuilt: 1930Builder: Beyer Peacock & Co, ManchesterTrivia: Weighted at 235 tonnes. Railway number 815 altered to 38815. Supplied to BNR.N Class No 815. Renumbered 38815 in 1957. It was a sturdy locomotive used in the mountainous regions and for large haulage.

Electric Locomotive Sir Roger LumleyBuilt: 1930Builder: Vulcan Foundry Ltd, Newton Le WillowsTrivia: This WCP-1 engine has wheel arrangements which were quite rare. The locos were supplied from the Vulcan Foundry, UK in 1930. It was an electric locomotive which operated under 1500 Volts Direct Traction. It is famous for hauling the Mumbai—Pune Deccan Queen Express in the early years when it was launched.

Bibliography

• Images: Wikipedia/Photo stock websites• Text & information: http://www.irfca.org/• Preserved Steam Locomotives in India - 2008 -

Rajesh Agrawal, Executive Director (Heritage), Ministry of Railways, and former Director, National Railway Museum, New Delhi (http://www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/preserved-steam-india.xls)