Steam
Locomotives of India
~
the
complete site on Indian steam
Latest
Updates on the Indian Steam Scene
Photographs
and content - Dileep
Prakash
UPDATED
ON October 10, 2002
Wankaner
The
last YG steamed up was on Dec 17, 2000 for the Pepsi TV Commercial and
the steam train ran between Makansar and Wankaner. Thereafter, the line
is closed for BG conversion from Dec 19th. Wankaner is the latest graveyard
today with about 9 locos.
The
saddest news in Y2K is that the Wankaner (Gujarat) steam section was dieselised
in February 2000. This section was run on steam between Wankaner till Maliya
Miyana via Morbi and Dahinsara and was the last regular steam shed in India.
It was
worked by 1000mm guage YP and YG class locomotives manufactured by TELCO
in the 1960's. There were about 14 of them when I last shot there in August
1999 and they were in bad shape. I guess the staff knew that steam was
going to end ...
Two
Wankaner YP's (2257 & 2805) were sold to a US company and were over-hauled
by the Ajmer shops. They would be leaving the country shortly - possibly
for a South American destination where they would run steam specials.
|
Dehradun
Rail Centenary
The
latest good news is that the 1960 vintage WP 7015 manufactured by
CRW, Poland ran from Dehradun till Harrawala in North Uttar Pradesh. Though
this is a stretch of only 10 km the loco was tried out twice in March between
Dehradun and Haridwar a run of 50 km through the most beautiful Doon Valley. |
The
occasion for this run was to commemorate the centenary of the Doon Railway
which started in 1900. A postage stamp was also released.
The
loco will now return to the National Rail Museum in N. Delhi.
Meanwhile
the WP 7161 manufactured by Chittranjan Locomotive Works, which
had been sent to Mumbai, has also returned to the NRM and work is
going on to restore it.
Both the 7015 and
7161 were lying at Haridwar till 2 years back. They were then restored
by the Charbagh shops at Lucknow and at Moradabad. The DRM and Sr. DME
Moradabad have been pivotal in their revival. |
Snippet
!!!!
The
KC 520, 1905 vintage from North British has been revived
by the Amritsar shop in August 2001. It is running a special on the
Kalka~ Simla mountain line. A ZB is being
prepared for the Kangra
Valley Railway.
|
There
is some very promising news about the P class Ex BNR Garratt locomotive
presently incarcerated at the Kharagpur Workshop of South Eastern Railway. This
loco is going to be resurrected.
GREAT
NEWS!!!! The Matheran line is going to be running
on steam. At least one steam train with chugh through the hills during season
at Matheran. One B class from DHR has arrived at Matheran.
It is likely that Matheran will get
a steam special soon.
Global
tenders floated for Oil Fired locos for DHR and NMR.
Lets see what happens!!
If you want to see the tenders look here http://www.indianrailway.com
DHR
The main trains
from NJP to Darjeeling and back are being hauled by NDM6's (diesel locos
manufactured by SAN). The Railway Minister has inaugurated diesel services.
But there is a silver lining ~ the Kurseong-Darj 'school special' is still
hauled by the B Class ST's. So are the Ghoom Steam Special and other heritage
booking trains.
The NJP steam shed
will be converted into a diesel one and all steam is going to be maintained
at Tindharia.
I
visited Korba, in December 2000, where only one AWE 3315 is working.
That too will be scrapped by mid-2001 when the new diesel arrives.
The
MAWD 1798 has been revived by the NF Railway in Guwahati. The loco ran
on its maiden trip on Feb 20th and is now going to be a regular tourist steam
special called "Brahmaputra by Steam". Another
YG now pulls the "Jatinga
Steam Safari" on the Lumding Halflong Hill section in Assam. Credit goes
to the entire team of railway professionals and Mr. Bisht, GM NFR.
To see a photo please
click here.
Bagnall No. 5 has been steamed up at
Nagpur and did a short run to mark 150 yrs of IR.
Also the WL 15005 will run shortly from
Trivandrum.
