INDIAN STEAM RAILWAYS MAGAZINE XVII National Steam Congress Issue No.: XVII WINTER 2019 ` 20 About ISRS From the Editor... The Indian Steam Railway Society is a non-profit organisation formed on 23rd October, 1999, by railway enthusiasts committed to the preservation The Guinness Book of World Records lists the 1855- of steam and other railway heritage. built Fairy Queen or EIR 22 as the world's oldest working locomotive. This is being hotly contested by the Express, EIR 21, Fairy Queen's sister locomotive, Advertisement Rates : also built in 1855. Whichever loco gets the title of the • Back Cover - Rs, 50,000.00 oldest working locomotive is not at all relevant as • Inside Back Cover - Rs. 50,000.00 both the locos are of the same vintage and both are • Full Page Spl. - Rs. 25,000.00 • Full Page - Rs. 10,000.00 owned by the Indian Railways. • Half Page - Rs. 5,000.00 The question that now comes up is the third position. • Quarter Page - Rs. 3,000.00 A strong contender is the 0-4-0T Anjubault-built locomotive, the Ramgotty. Built in the year 1862, the For Details, please contact : Ramgotty first worked on the Indian Branch Railway Secretary Company, a 4-foot gauge railway between Nalhati Indian Steam Railway Society and Azimganj in the Bengal Presidency of British National Rail Museum, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 India India. The Fairy Queen and the Express worked Email: [email protected] between 1855 and 1909 after which they were retired. Website: http://:www.indiansteamrailwaysociety.in Ramgotty on the other hand had a much longer working life from 1862 to 1974 when it was also ISRS Executive Committee retired. Thanks to the push given by Ashwani Lohani, the then Chairman of the Indian Railway Board, Chief Patron: Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board & Ramgotty was taken up for revival in 2018 and this Ex-Officio Secy. to the Govt. of India year, it is in steam for the first time since it hissed steam last in 1974. This makes it perhaps the third Telephone oldest working locomotive in the world. If any person President: Mr. R. S. Virdi 8800990870 is aware of any other older locomotive, please let the Vice President: Sir Mark Tully Indian Steam Railway Society know. Getting the Ramgotty working again was an even Working President: Mr. Ashwani Lohani bigger challenge than the revival of the Fairy Queen Secretary: Mr. G. Shankar 2924-2474, 2923-0453 and the Express. The latter locos were both taken up Joint Secretary: Mr. Dileep Prakash by a full-fledged workshop that had been at the Treasurer: Mr. P. J. Singh 9810411980 forefront of steam loco overhaul and maintenance in the steam days. Ramgotty, on the other hand, was Members: Mr. Abhimanyu Shaunik 9811322052 taken up by the Train Set Depot at Shakurbasti in Mr. S. K. Luthra 9717745757 New Delhi. Yes, the depot had been a steam loco shed Mr. Ravindra Gupta at one time but such sheds did not undertake the kind Mr. Arun Mohan of heavy repairs that workshops did. Yet, the depot leadership and staff took up the challenge and their Editor: Mr. J. L Singh 8130111589 confidence in themselves bore the fruit of the Patron: Director NRM 9717641051 Ramgotty being in steam once again. While the boiler of the locomotive was repairable, the frame and the undergear had to be virtually rebuilt. The Indian Steam Railways Magazine encourages readers to Therefore, it is a tribute to the great work done by the contribute to the magazine about issues related to preservation of Shakurbasti depot that the theme of the National steam and other railway heritage. Such contributions may include Steam Congress this year is RAMGOTTY RETURNS. technical papers, humorous articles, information about Let's hope that in the years to come, others follow suit forthcoming events, memoirs or photographs. All published contributions shall be suitably acknowledged. Please send your and we have many more steam behemoths returning. contributions to : Happy steaming…
Editor Indian Steam Railway Society National Rail Museum ( J L Singh ) Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021, India Editor Email: [email protected]
The theme for the 17th National Steam Congress is “Ramgotty Returns”
1 CONTENTS
0504 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE
RAMGOTTY RETURNS - 0605 FROM THE FAIRY QUEEN TO RAMGOTTY
STEAMING ON! 0508 THE UK'S LATEST Ramgotty being renovated at the STEAM LOCO TAKES TO Shakurbasti Train Set Depot at New Delhi THE TRACKS Paul Whittle
DARJEELING COMES 0510 TO THE UK David Barrie
THE RIVER, FORT AND BRIDGE XVI NATIONAL STEAM 0512 P J Singh 0513 CONGRESS - A REPORT
PHOTO FEATURE 0517 ISRS STEAM RUN 2018
TRAIN TO RAJMAHAL 0524 P K Mishra
BOOK REVIEW 0530 A SHORT HISTORY OF INDIAN RAILWAYS
Photos Courtesy Train Set Depot, Shakurbasti
2 3 go 'on line' and check for any data requiring Southern Railway (SR) leads in providing updating - or discrepancies requiring corrections, Workshop support for the 'heavy repair' of steam and communicate them to the Secretary via email locos at its Perambur and Golden Rock Workshops. for updating/correction. Members who find their SR also runs the EIR 21 'Express' - the twin of oldest name missing may also apprise the Secretary with working steam loco in the world the 'Fairy Queen' - particulars of date and tenure of membership. much to the delight and acclaim of the public 'down South'. The steam operations on Niligiri Mountain And all readers are urged to log on and apply on line Railway are the only MG steam services at present, to join the movement. Promise to revive your while on NG it is that lovable iconic B-Class that steamy memories – pun not intended! continues to provide 'Joy' and rides on the Toy Train The accounts for the last FY 2018-19 have been of the DHR on the Northeast Frontier Railway audited and uploaded on the website for between Darjeeling and Ghum. information of all members. The AGM of the Society On the Eastern Railway little “Miss Muffet” was – probably the second after inception - was held on taken off her tuffet - and brought back to life to ride the 22nd of September 2019 at the NRM New Delhi. for a while – on the rails inside Jamalpur Workshops. A summary of the activities of the Society was R. S. Virdi While on the South-Eastern Railway Kharagpur presented and the audited accounts passed. The President ISRS Workshop toiled hard to breathe steam into that existing Managing Committee members were giant – the Bayer-Garrett - and run it on the requested to continue till the next AGM - which Kharagpur - Midnapore section. At CLW the 1:8 MESSAGE should be held by around May / June 2020. The scale working model steam loco was fired up to the holding of the long overdue AGM may not have EIR 21 “Express” steaming on Southern Railway joy of the children there. ISRS enters its twentieth year - with about a hundred much of an impact on the movement for restoration and eighty-six members on its rolls. A hundred and of Steam - but it is a legal requirement for registered have since decided to stick to the date, time and Ratlam Division on Western Railway has done twenty two are original life members - and sixty four Societies and must be fulfilled. venue of the meeting in future! We fervently request some exemplary work in retaining and restoring the tenure members for ten years who joined 2013 9 km MG hill section from Patalpani to Kalakund The Managing Committee met regularly on the greater participation from Members. onwards - including your current President who (near Indore). This section should see the added second Sunday of every month through the year – Steam activity on IR... joined the Society post retirement in 2015. The attraction of steam operations soon as some of the barring two occasions. The first when the date grandiose plan to raise the membership to a The centre of gravity of the steam activity on IR for MG steam locomotives presently at Rewari are coincided with the date of voting for the General thousand hasn't quite started rolling yet. We BG has shifted to the Rewari Steam Heritage Centre. being transferred there. Mumbai Division of Central Elections in Delhi - the 12th of May 2019. The managed only five new members in the last one It is here that Northern Railway through the Sr. Railway runs the only B-class other than those on meeting had to be cancelled. The other occasion year. DME Shakurbasti and his team - work the magic of the DHR, on the NG section from Neral to Matheran. was when the date coincided with the date of the keeping the BG steam locomotives in fine We finally have the current and updated list of Statesman Vintage Car Rally in Feb 2019. The Exciting times ahead… maintenance fettle. There are 3 WPs, one sole members – uploaded on the ISRS website at meeting was pre-poned by a day - and despite the surviving WG, one AWE and one WL based at Rewari The news that IR is planning to offer operation of indiansteamrailwaysociety.in. Request members to usual notices, it did lead to a lot of confusion! We of which at present only two WPs are operational. As passenger services to private sector players is of course is the “Fairy Queen” EIR 22. There are four potentially great news for promoting “steam MG steam locos here too, but no track to run them heritage tourism” – which incidentally were the on. The WL is in Amritsar Workshop for the last three theme of the XVII National Congress this year that years, awaiting the attention of its benefactors to has been changed to Ramgotty Returns. come back on line. Revival of the 1862 built A steam hauled service from Nizamuddin Delhi to RAMGOTTY - taken off the plinth at NRM, is the Agra, with a bullet nosed WP - and 5 star on board major work-in-hand is the major work taken in by services, has the promise of a great business shakurbasti and it is the completion of this work that opportunity. Let's hope some private sector Tour gives the Congress this year its theme - Ramgotty Operator bites this bullet! The fundamental Returns. requirement for running such a service successfully Meanwhile the Krauss-Maffei 1:4 scale working is of course a couple of WPs in perfect fettle - fit for model steam loco - restored last year – continues to 100 kmph - and the crew to run it. Will that ever chug away on the one km circular track at the Bal become a reality? Bhawan in Delhi. The KC 520 continues to delight Steam lovers on the R. S. Virdi Kalka Shimla Railway and the ZB-66 on the Kangra President ISRS Miss Muffet Locomotive in front of Jamalpur Locomotive Workshop before revival Valley section. D-3/3203, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070 4 5 scheme again and the Rewari Steam Heritage Centre Bengal, to an unlikely gauge – 4 feet. The Ramgotty Ramgotty Returns came up. Today, the Centre is homing 12 steam locos, 8 locomotive was also built to this gauge by Anjubault of BG and 4 MG. France in 1862. In 1872, the Nalhati-Azimganj line merged with the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway and later From the Fairy Queen to Ramgotty It was also during Lohani's stint as the Director at the in 1925, was taken over by the East Indian Railway and got Museum that the Friends of the Rail Museum was started. converted to the normal BG. This locomotive was also This body later metamorphosized into what is today the converted to BG and transferred to Jamalpur Workshop Indian Steam Railway Society. where it worked as a shunting locomotive till 1951. It was The success of the Fairy Queen was the impetus that then sold to the Calcutta (now Kolkata) Municipality for others needed. The South Eastern Railway revived and hauling garbage wagons. After it was retired in 1974, it ran Beyer Garratt locomotive No. N 38811 in 2006 while was saved by Jamalpur workshop from the cutter's torch the Southern Railway revived the Fairy Queen's cousin, and not sold as scrap. When the National Rail Museum EIR 21, the “Express”, in 2009. Both locos are in steam was set up in New Delhi in 1977, one of the first exhibits to today. With Ashwani Lohani's return to IR as Chairman of be brought to it was the Ramgotty. And, here the the Railway Board in 2017, steam revival activity took a Ramgotty stood till 2018. quantum leap. The iconic loco, Miss Muffet, was revived In 2018, it was picked up for revival and the Shakurbasti by Jamalpur Loco Workshop. Other locos that had been Train Set Depot was given the responsibility. Sr. DME languishing like KC 520 of Kalka-Shimla Railway and ZB66 Shakurbasti and his team put their heart and soul into the of Kangra Valley Railway returned to their steaming days. task and today, Ramgotty is steaming once again. Another project was taken up of the revival of a RAMGOTTY has returned… locomotive of vintage comparable to the 1855-built Fairy Queen: This was revival of the 1862-built Ramgotty. The story of the revival of steam from the Fairy Queen to the Ramgotty is a fascinating one, but surely this is not Who or what is Ramgotty? It is none other than an the end. There are at least another 15-20 locomotives interesting steam locomotive. It is perhaps the only that can be revived and should be able to steam up again. locomotive named after an Indian during the British days. If the necessary will and support of the Indian Railways And it was not named after a Governor, a General or even and other interested stakeholders is forthcoming, we a Governor General. Ram Gati Mukarji was the Manager could even build new steam locos as is being done in the of a small railway company named the Indian Branch UK and the USA. The days of the black beauties are Railway Company, a short 27-kms railway, opened certainly not over. between Nalhati and Azamganj in what is now West
The Fairy Queen
In the 1960s, i.e. as recently as 50 years back, the Indian the Fairy Queen. Although we claimed that it was in Railways (IR) was operating over 11,000 steam working order, it had not actually worked since 1909, locomotives. In fact, when you said “Locomotive” it having stood on various pedestals in the intervening meant steam. Its cousins, the diesel and electric period. In spite of the bureaucracy that was more of a locomotives, were referred to as diesels and electrics: the hinderance that a help, Lohani took the help of the 'locomotive' was one powered by steam. Perambur Locomotive Workshop and steamed up the Fairy Queen in 1997, the first time in 98 years. After a Today, the situation is at the other end of the spectrum. number of trips were completed, the Guinness Book of With less than 40 steam locomotives in a position to Records certified the Fairy Queen as the world's oldest steam in the country, the days of steam are definitely working locomotive on the 13th of January 1998. over. As the years rolled by, the black beauties were being cut up and sold as scrap. The only ones that were not Not satisfied to rest on his laurels, Lohani followed it up touched – the hill railways of Darjeeling and the Nilgiris – with proposals to accord World Heritage status to the were also continuing precariously and would perhaps Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Victoria Terminus have followed the footsteps of their brothers and sisters (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), the Victorian to oblivion. Gothic railway station cum office of the Central Railway zone. Both now have the status and acted as catalysts for Enter Ashwani Lohani! If the title of “Steam revival man” the other hill railways, Kalka-Shimla Railway and the can be given to any person, it has to be Ashwani Lohani. It Nilgiri Mountain Railway to follow suit. Not just that, was a fortuitous day when he was posted as Director of Lohani also initiated the setting up of the Rewari steam the National Rail Museum in New Delhi. During a visit to shed to be a centre where a number of steam locos could the Rail Museum at York in the UK, he noted that they had be homed and human expertise as well as spare parts a locomotive of 1868 vintage in working order. This led concentrated in one place. This project languished after him to the path of revival of our very own even older Lohani's departure from the museum. In 2009, when he locomotive, East Indian Railway's EIR No. 22, aptly named was Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi, he pushed the
The Ramgotty 6 7 heritage steam locations. But it will Steaming On! The UK's Latest Steam Loco also be equipped with all the modern safety equipment to allow it Takes To The Tracks to operate on the national main-line network. Paul Whittle The splendid 1920s-era picture 'Great Western Style' of a Saint Class locomotive in its prime depicts a Bristol-London express speeding through Sonning Cutting headed by No 2922 'Saint Gabriel'. The artist, Philip D. Hawkins is one of the leading UK railway artists and a Fellow of the Guild of Railway Artists, a 150-member professional body that this year celebrated its 40th anniversary. The picture is available to purchase as a high quality print from www.philipdhawkins.co.uk or www.railart.co.uk Last steam loco built by British Railways. 9F Class 2-10-0 No 92220 Evening Star at the National Railway Museum, York. (Photo credit Paul Whittle) Full details of the Great Western S o c i e t y a r e a v a i l a b l e a t www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk Lady of Legend with a short train of former GWR carriages at Didcot on 27 July 2019 Photographs: Courtesy the Author In 1960, British Railways built its last a limited steam construction revival. nents led to a long line of very steam locomotive. Constructed at Since entering service in 2008, successful follow-on types. In all, Paul Whittle is the Vice Chairman, the Swindon works of the former 60163 'Tornado' has been a regular some 77 Saints were constructed, The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Great Western Railway (GWR) it was sight on main-line specials and and after half a century of work the Society and can be contacted at a powerful 2-10-0 freight locomo- preserved lines, whilst in 2017 it was last example, No 2920 'Saint David', [email protected] tive. Normally, it would have been the first steam locomotive in fifty was scrapped in 1953. outshopped in plain black livery, but years to run at 100 mph. Building on Great Western Style by Philip D. Hawkins FGRA Work started on the new-build in deference to the occasion it was t h a t s u c c e s s , t h e A 1 Ste a m project in 2009 and benefited from painted in express passenger green, Locomotive Trust is now well ahead the use of two major components, given a copper-capped chimney with constructing P2 Class 2-8-2 No. the boiler and the frames, from Hall and named 'Evening Star'. But with 2007 'Prince of Wales' and has even C l a s s 4 - 6 - 0 ' M a i n d y H a l l ' , a rapid dieselisation the locomotive ordered the first components for its successor class to the Saints and of a saw service for only five years on the third locomotive project, Gresley V4 type already well represented in main-line, before working on several 2-6-2 No. 3403. p re s e r va t i o n . T h e te c h n i c a l heritage lines, and is now on static The very latest new-build steam specifications include a weight (loco display at the National Railway locomotive to enter service (April plus tender) of 125 tons, boiler Museum, York. Star Class 4-6-0 No 2999 Lady of Legend on shed Under construction. An impression of P2 Class 2-8-2 No 2007 Prince of Wale 2019) is 4-6-0 Saint Class No. 2999 pressure of 225 psi and two outside at Didcot Railway Centre on 27 July 2019 (Photo credit A1 Steam Locomotive Trust). Almost sixty years from that 'Lady of Legend' built by the Great cylinders with Stephenson valve momentous day at Swindon, it's Western Society at their Didcot gear. remarkable that across the UK there Steam Centre. Originally designed in An integral feature of the project is are about twenty projects to re- 1902 by the then Chief Mechanical the 'Atlantic Option'. Although create steam locomotives of types Engineer of the Great Western intended to run primarily as a 4-6-0, not already rescued from the scrap R a i l w a y , G e o r g e J a c k s o n provision has been made for the yards. The new-build movement Churchward, the Saint class repre- loco to run as a 4-4-2 'Atlantic', started in 1994 with 'Tornado', a 4-6- sented one of the most important mirroring the original build contract 2 Pacific A1 Class of the former developments in steam locomotive when 13 Saints were built as 4-4-2 London and North Eastern Railway. design of the 20th Century. There for comparative purposes and later Costing £8m, all privately funded, were many innovative design converted to 4-6-0s. The plan is for the project took 14 years and proved features, and Churchward's empha- 'Lady of Legend' to stay at Didcot for that there was still the engineering sis on standardisation of compo- running-in before visiting other capacity and donor-enthusiasm for First steam new-build, A1 Class Pacific No 60103 Tornado hurries westwards through West By fleet on a steam charter from London on 1 June 2019. 8 9 successful Railway Company Darjeeling comes to the UK running trains out of St Pancras in London to destinations all over David Barrie Birmingham and the midlands. Adrian built 'The Beeches' light railway in his garden in order to number of our active members give showcase number 19. Remarkably, it presentations at the Indian Steam has its original boiler, which makes it Railway Society annual conferences. the oldest working locomotive We have supported the DHR in boiler in the world! many ways. We do this in India and here in the UK. Publicising the DHR is So, from time to time, Number 19 at the forefront of what we do. visits a preser ved line (The Ffestiniog, the Leighton Buzzard, One of our initiatives that falls firmly being two examples) and the DHRS in this 'promoting awareness' is invited to add colour and interest category has been to descend upon by adding prayer flags, Hindi tion and the event this August was captivating qualities. Indian a preserved railway in the UK and signage, a bazaar, chai sellers, and held in the high tourism season. In Railways has championed the DHR, transform it into India. A simple more. Of course, we dress in Indian addition, the BBC sent over a crew to investing heavily in its resurgence. reason, the oxygen of publicity. This costume. (We British do enter into film with the result that this was The DHR Society endeavours to play has really been made possible by the spirit of the occasion.) This of screened on the early evening peak its part in ensuring knowledge of Adrian Shooter's Darjeeling 'B' class course creates publicity, visitor time regional news, raising the this remarkable line reaches the It is generally recognised that the parties, exchanging engineering locomotive (number 778 also known numbers swell, the media sense a profile of the event further, and so, widest possible audience. 'Flying Scotsman' is probably the expertise, funding via the Darjeeling by its original number, 19), being story, and thereby the profile of the of course, the DHR enormously. most famous locomotive in the Ladies Inner Wheel, an awareness available to run on the chosen line. About the Author: David Barrie is DHR is raised. Thus, fulfilling our aim of ensuring world. But possibly you may not programme for children. Via our In case you do not know the story, Chairman DHRS. He can be reached the DHR is well publicised! r e a l i s e t h a t t h e D a r j e e l i n g charity arm (Darjeeling Railway this engine was purchased back in The Launceston Steam Railway is a at [email protected] Himalayan Railway (DHR) is very Community Support) we aid and the 1960's by a wealthy American, heritage line that operates out of the In India and all around the World, The DHRS website: www.dhrs.org likely the most famous railway in the assist various activities to help the who ran it on his private line back town of that name in the county of there are those who love the Indian world. Certainly, amongst rail fans people and villages alongside the home. When he passed on his family Cornwall, a top UK holiday destina- Hill Railways for their unique and from America to Australia, from tracks, from establishing schools to did not know what to do with it, so it Japan to the United Kingdom, it is sending a doctor to the remote languished in the back of the local the dream of all rail enthusiasts to v i l l a g e s , e n c o u r a g i n g s e l f - railway museum for several years. visit this 'Holy Grail' of railways. Little employment opportunities, to eco Thanks to a chance encounter, the wonder, therefore, that in the 1990's projects like planting saplings to DHRS learnt the museum wished to a Society devoted to this remarkable establish ground stability. We dispose of it. Of course, we could not line was founded. Nothing remark- funded the establishment of a afford to purchase, but we knew able, except that it was founded in garden at Sukna to prevent someone who might. Step forward the UK, where we have over 100 encroachment over the railway one Adrian Shooter, then Chairman preserved steam heritage railways, sidings. You may have heard a of Chiltern Railways, a hugely each with its own fan base, support- ers' group, or Society dedicated to its well being. So, what makes the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society (DHRS) unique is that it is the only Society in the World, with members in some 26 different countries, founded to champion a railway in a different country. The mission statement of the DHRS is, 'To promote awareness of, interest in, and support for, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.' As some readers may already be aware, we have over the decades achieved this by a number of initiatives, whether it is chartering trains, bringing tour
10 11 The River, Fort and Bridge XVI National Steam Congress P J Singh A REPORT
The Bridge
The early morning sunrise, the wakeup call of the rooster, Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIP). While the Bina- were quite normal for the young lad to go and play in the Kotah track was a straight run, at Palaitha it had to cross dusty streets of KOTRA. But the little fellow did not dream the Kali Sind river, the fury of which is a spectacle to that this daybreakwas going to change his future life and behold, when viewed from the majestic ramparts of the soon he would become the ruler of one of the most historic fort. powerful States in Rajputana. MaharaoChatrusal II, ruler The Thakur Sahib of Palaitha,Apji Onkar Singhji, provided of Kotah was issueless and of fading health. He decided land,built a bungalow for the GIP engineer and,in to adopt Udai Singh as his heir to the throne of Kotah. addition, built staff quarters, stables and drinking water Since there were other contenders to the throne, the wells. The rail link and the bridge were completed in adoption was kept a very closely guarded secret and the seven years and the first train was run sometimes in 1907. boy was smuggled out from KOTRA to the fort of Kotah. The Maharao of Kotah, his nobles and their families This adoption was the wisest act of Chatrusal, who traveled in the first train. For over 100 years the power of otherwise was an easygoing ruler and the State went into steam hauled the train and in the silent nights, under One of the Painting on display debt. He died in 1889, and the young village boy, after millions of stars, the silence used to be broken by the education in Mayo College, Ajmer, and Military College, huffing and puffing of the steam engines. They always The XVI National Steam Congress was conducted by the and regular members. Mhow, became the 16th ruler with full powers invested to used to blow a long whistle as if to salute the majestic fort Indian Steam Railway Society (ISRS) in New Delhi on the him in November 1892. He changed his name to of Palaitha. After the last farewell whistle, diesel engines The Hon. Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain 17thand 18th of November 2018. The main Congress was MaharaoUmaid Singh, the Second. During his 51-year have taken over, but they have kept the tradition of was kind enough to grace the occasion as the Chief conducted on the 17that the National Railway Museum reign there was good progress in education, medical blowing their horn while crossing over the bridge. Guest. The Hon. Minister for Culture Shri Mahesh Sharma (NRM) Auditorium while a Steam run to Rewari was ser vices, roads, bridges and there was good also found time to grace the Congress as the Guest of The Kali Sind river and the fort are 42 kms. from organised on the next day. administration. He was the first ruler who made Hindi the Honour. He addressed the gathering during the function. Kotah(now Kota) on the Baran Road and a little further are official State language. There were strict laws on hunting Considering the heightened activity in the previous year cenotaphs of the early rulers and the GIPbungalow. The Master-of-Ceremonies and Organising Secretary, and there was wildlife protection; nobody could shoot a in reviving and also bringing back many off-pedestal Vikas Arya, launched the proceedings and called upon tiger without his permission. steam locos to life all over the Indian Railways, the theme the gathering for observing a two minutes silence in for the Congress was appropriately kept as “Revival of Be that as it may, at heart he was a railway man, many a memory of the late President of the Society, Lalit K Sinha Photographs: Courtesy the Author Steam”. time traveling within the driver's cabin and in the trolley P J Singh has been a rail enthusiast all his life and has who had passed away on the 15th of February earlier in of the Permanent Way Inspector. While BB&CI contributed regularly to the ISRS magazine. Delegates for the Congress started registering early in the year. A lamp was lit in honour of the past Presidents, Railwaywas in the process of connecting Kotah with the warm and sunny Delhi afternoon, with the NRM RC Sethi and LK Sinha, by the dignitaries present, along Bombay, his desire was to connect Kotah with Bina/Guna. Auditorium foyer decorated with lively paintings of with Smt. Anita Sethi, wife of Shri RC Sethi. After the mutiny of 1857, the British government decided renowned painter Kishore P. Biswal, arranged by the This year’s Congress held special significance as two of to expand the railways so that war supplies and troops efforts of the Director of NRM and Patron of the Society. the previous Directors of the National Rail Museum, who could be transported rapidly. The Rajas of the Indian His oil on canvas paintings of steam locomotives were a have played an important role in the start and sustenance States also desired to have railways in their own territory real treat and set the right tone for the Congress. of the Steam Heritage movement in India, were attending but chose MeterGauge. The Maharao had vision that one Delegates also enthusiastically picked up the latest ISRS the Congress as important functionaries of Indian day Central India wouldconnect to Rajputana and Magazine issue put together by JL Singh, our ever so Railways: one, Ashwani Lohani as Chairman of the Indian insisted on Broad Gauge. Finally, the Midland Railway active Editor and the 2019 Steam Calendar put together Railway Board, and the other, Rajesh Agrawal, as the Company took up the work but was bought over by the by the efforts of Abhimanyu Shaunik, one of our active The Fort Member Rolling Stock, Indian Railway Board.
12 13 The Congress commenced with the welcome address of from about 40,000 to about 160,000 in this period, Shri Venkataraman, a familiar Railwayman from Chennai The next presentation made by the Principle Chief its Working President and Chairman Railway Board, testifying to the popularity and commercial success of in his nineties, who has made it his passion to write and Mechanical Engineer Southern Railway, A K Kathpal, was Ashwani Lohani. He welcomed all those attending and these ventures. Since these steam trains run on the publish many fascinating books on various aspects of equally impressive. He recounted the extraordinary story applauded the efforts of all zones of the Indian Railways mainlines, along with regular services, reliability and Railway development on his own initiative and cost, was of the revival of EIR 21 “Express”, the twin of EIR 22 “Fairy in reviving some of the most iconic steam locomotives in safety achieved by the steam traction has to be at par with also felicitated. Queen” by the team of Southern Railway, both open-line the last one year. He emphasised the need to revive the that achieved by the commercial main line services. This and workshops of Perambur and Golden Rock. Express Technical Presentations steam locos to good working condition and having a is a huge challenge but has been planned for. undertook its first commercial run on 27th May 2018 mission of working a regular time tabled train using these The first presentation was by the Principle Chief between Chennai Egmore and Kodambakkam, followed The second part of his presentation detailed the locomotives. Mechanical Engineer, Northern Railway, Arun Arora. by successive similar and highly popular runs on all meticulous work done in restoring the 60007 Sir Nigel Divisions of Southern Railway. He described the story of In his address, the current President, Ranjit S Virdi paid Gresley, an A4 Pacific class of steam loco. The restoration As overall incharge of the epicentre of steam revival this iconic loco from when it was put in service in 1855, till tributes to the past Presidents and expressed the hope was done between 2015 and 2018. Belonging to North activities –Rewari Steam Shed, he recapitulated the being plinthed first at Jamalpur workshop and later at that the Society would continue to build on the Yorkshire Moors Railway, where it made its farewell run in outstanding works done by his teams for revival of steam Howrah station. In 2010 the loco was restored by foundations laid by them through the good work they September 2015, the locomotive underwent complete locomotives at Rewari, Shakurbasti, Amritsar and Kalka Perambur workshop and undertook a heritage run on had done. Though he had joined the movement for overhaul in public view at the National Railway Museum during the year. 15th August that year. He also described the return of preservation of steam rather late, he expressed his desire workshop in York. The work is being financed and The movement of the only WG locomotive, 10253 to another 100 year old steam loco, X-37384, on the Nilgiri to expand the membership and presence of the Society overseen by the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Rewari, and the ongoing efforts to steam it up, the revival Mountain Railway, which is now running regular charters all over the country. He expressed the hope that the Preservation Trust Ltd. and the locomotive is anticipated and repairs of WPs 7161 & 7200, and the Bal Bhawan also. Indian Railways and other stakeholders in the Tourism to re-enter mainline service on final completion of the scaled-down Krauss Maffei loco after many years of industry, especially in Assam, would take up the revival of overhaul and return to service. The next presentation by the Principle Chief Mechanical being out of use, as well as KC 520 on the Kalka Shimla a portion of the heritage MG line of Haflong Hill in Assam, Engineer South-Eastern Railway J K Saha and his Chief Originally built by London and North Eastern Railway Railway, and ZB 66 on the Kangra Valley Railway, all were retained after the broad gauge conversion, and develop Works Manager Kharagpur, A K Gupta. They recounted (LNER) Doncaster Works in 1937, this A4 Class Pacific outstanding and challenging projects. The icing on the it as a site for Steam Tourism. the putting back in steam of the only surviving and Locomotive was initially numbered 4498 and 7 (LNER cake was the first time introduction of a weekly time arguably one of the heaviest articulated steam The Member Rolling Stock, Rajesh Agrawal, who is the 1946) and later as 60007 on British Rail service upto 1966. tabled mainline steam loco hauled train on 15th Sept locomotives to ever run on the Indian railway system – Chief Patron of the Society, said that he had always been Withdrawn from service on 1 February 1966, it was saved 2018 between Farukh nagar and Garhi Harisu. It was the BNR 811 (SER 38811) BG Beyer Garrett. The giant, closely associated with steam heritage not only in India by the A4 Preservation Society, which was soon renamed indeed a proud year for Northern Railway and Steam. built in 1926 and withdrawn from service in 1969, had but all over the world and considered it his duty to the A4 Locomotive Society, from the cutter’s torch. It was preserve it along with all his other responsibilities. named after Sir Nigel Gresley, one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to The Keynote address of the 16th National Steam become Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London Congress was delivered by David McIntosh of British Rail and North Eastern Railway (LNER). who had been invited by the Society on the recommendation of Sir Mark Tully, Vice President of the Sir Nigel Gresley is the holder of the postwar steam Society. His presentation showed that there is a lot to be record speed of 112 miles per hour (180 km/h) gained learnt from the experience of ‘revival of steam’ in Britain on 23 May 1959 and carries a plaque to that effect. here in India. The Keynote address was followed by the ceremony of First and foremost is the sheer scale of the ‘revival’ there. the release of ISRS Souvenir- the Indian Steam Railway There are over a thousand working steam locos in Britain Magazine, the ISRS calendar and the release of the book today as against barely 24 in India – counting all gauges. ‘Crossing the Lines’ authored by Pramod Kumar, retired Secondly the revival of steam in Britain has been made General Manager of Diesel Loco Works, by the Hon. Chief commercially viable – mainly because the steam heritage Guest followed by his speech. This was succeeded by the services are run as private enterprises with a large presentation of Steam Awards, list of which is given at the number of volunteers taking up various tasks. The British end of this coverage. citizenry values its heritage and is prepared to spend a good amount on a weekend ride on a steam train with family and friends. His presentation brought out in detail how many mainline steam services are run by the two charter Steam Train Operating Companies authorised by Network Rail (the British Rail Infrastructure company created after privatisation). The presentation showed that the number of trains run is continuously on the rise, peaking to 600 in 2017 from about 150 in 1997, when these companies were formed, and mileage rising from about 10,000 miles to about 90,000 miles annually. The number of passengers carried on such charters has also quadrupled
14 15 been reconstructed and made functional by the valiant Steam Run on the 18th of November 2018 efforts of the SER leadership in 2006, but last year an Photo-feature A steam run was organised from Delhi Cantt. station to effort was made to overhaul it and make it run on the Rewari the next morning, i.e. the 18th of November 2018. mainline in steam, and possibly make a regular charter The train was hauled by WP 7200 “Azad”. trip. The presentation was about the current effort, the ISRS Steam Run 2018 challenges faced – what with the fading away of the Amongst others, the dignitaries on board included remaining supporting skills and materials in Railway Rajesh Agrawal Member RS Railway Board, Sir Mark Tully, workshops – and the grand success achieved in David McIntosh and his partner Ms. Carole, David successfully moving the locomotive on its own steam. Charlesworth of the DHRS, and other ISRS members Some issues still remain – for example the braking – including the President and Secretary. which hopefully would get tackled to enable it to haul A notable personality on the footplate all through from passengers, at least on ceremonial occasions. As part of the National Steam Congress, a steam run was 1871 that MG was finally accepted and the Delhi-Rewari Delhi Cantt. to Rewari was Alexander Karnes, a young organised from Delhi Cantt, station in New Delhi to line was constructed. After being part of RMR, the line The last presentation was by J L Singh about a number of steam enthusiast from the US who had delivered a Rewari with WP locomotive No. 7200 “Azad” hauling the was subsequently taken over by the Bombay Baroda & interesting steam locomotives exhibited at various memorable keynote address at the 14th Congress. His train. A special coach was attached for the delegates who Central India Railway, and finally, during re-organisation locations in the USA which he had the opportunity to report on the state of affairs of the Rewari Shed as well as started the run. While most of the delegates joined the of the railways after independence, became part of the personally see. Among these were two geared steam the Steam loco revival in India which he published on his run at Delhi Cantt. some of them joined only at Gurgaon Bikaner Division of the Northern Railway zone of the locomotives, a Shay and a Hasler, common among the Facebook page is remarkably detailed and insightful. The station. Indian Railways. Today, it remains on the Northern logging companies in the USA. Geared steam Steam Society was pleased to grant him an honorary Railway but as part of the Delhi Division. It was earlier a locomotives were never run in India. membership of the Society and looks forward to his The Delhi Cantt.-Rewari rail line was constructed and Meter Gauge double line. As a consequence of Policy continued association. He combines the insights of an opened for use as a section of the Rajputana-Malwa The Conference ended with a Vote of Thanks by the Unigauge of the Indian Railways, one of the two double engineer and a manager with the hands-on skills of a Railway (RMR) way back in 1873. It was, in fact, the first Secretary of ISRS, G Shankar. lines was converted to Broad Gauge in 1994 and the other mechanic, indeed a rare combination. Meter Gauge (MG-1000 mm) line in the country. Lord in 2006. Thus, it is now a Broad Gauge double line. He first paid tributes to Shri L K Sinha, our previous Dalhousie, the then Governor General, often credited Photos archives of the ISRS. President for his enormous services to the Society and to with the introduction of the railway in India, was in favour Apart from a visit to the Rewari Steam Centre, the run Steam Heritage. Then a detailed thanks was proposed to of the Broad Gauge (BG-1676 mm) and all the initial lines itself was on a very historic line. We bring you the run in all those who had, in many small and big ways, in the country were laid to this gauge only. It was only by pictures. contributed to the conduct and success of the XVI Congress. List of Steam Awardees: 1. Delhi Division: for displaying an outstanding commitment to the cause of steam locomotives by running a regular weekly steam hauled train. 2. Perambur Workshop: for displaying an outstanding commitment to the cause of steam locomotives by reviving EIR 21. 3. Southern Railway: for displaying an outstanding commitment to the cause of steam locomotives by reviving X 37392 at NMR. 4. Rewari Steam Loco Shed: for displaying an outstanding commitment to the cause of steam locomotives by reviving the steam loco at Bal Bhavan, New Delhi. 5. Amritsar Workshop: for displaying an outstanding commitment to the cause of steam locomotives by reviving ZB 66 steam locomotive. 6. Kharagpur Workshop: for displaying an outstanding commitment to the cause of steam locomotives by reviving the Beyer Garratt locomotive. 7. Mr. David Charlesworth: for displaying an outstanding commitment to the cause of steam locomotives.
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 George Turnbull, the chief engineer awarded to Nelson and Co., Railway it reached at 4.30 p.m. Thus the road Train to Rajmahal of EIR, conducted the survey in contractor in India, who built 121 from Calcutta to Rajmahal is December, from Burdwan to miles in Rajmahal and then went practicality open, for the occasion of P K Mishra Rajmahal, identified the route and bankrupt. this special train was not that of an determined the gradient after taking experiment, or a trial trip, but it was The tapping of Ganges by the levels. The whole difference of level for a special purpose, and one that railways was a momentous feat as between Calcutta and Mirzapur was the Managers, and indeed all who henceforth neither passengers nor stated to be only 240 feet and this are connected with the Railway may costly goods would be subject to the rise was almost uniformly spread well be proud of - it was to convey freaks of Nuddea rivers and would over a distance of nearly 600 miles the first lady of the land from profoundly change the life and and consequently gradient available Rajmahal to Calcutta.” activities of the region for ever. in this line averaged about 1 in The train left Howrah at the 12,000. In 1851, Turnbull went to the It was a construction against all odds exhilarating pace of forty-five miles extent of stating: “Although it would under most challenging circum- an hour, and kept up this running to be almost premature and rash to stances and railway engineers and Burdwan, where breakfast was state so positively before regular sets their team had to constantly battle partaken of. After a short rest a fresh of longitudinal sections are made, with wild animals, deadly diseases, start was made, the junction soon yet I have strong hopes, amounting epidemics and onslaughts of nature. reached, and as speed was no object, almost to conviction, that a gradient “The Rajmahal Railway has been stoppages were made at places not much, if at all, greater than 1 in driven through a land of tigers & wherever any order had to be given, 2000 may be obtained all the way cholera, the labourers have had to telegram to be despatched, from Howrah via Rajmahal to the battle with the deadly miasma of engineers to be taken up, or work to Howrah Station today river Soane to the west of the city of jungle, the growth of centuries and be inspected. Patna," Turnbull’s Report, 26 Feb. in some instances have been carried A contract was signed between the “Rajmahal, formerly known as hours what now takes the steam 1851, Sel. Govt, of India, No. 1 off in broad daylight by wild beasts The party consisted of G. Turnbull, East India Company and the East Agmahal, was selected by Raja Man vessel, on the average, as many days, whose lands, undisturbed for ages Esq., engineer-in-chief; E. Palmer, Lord Dalhousie, the Governor Indian Railway Company on 17 Singh, famous General of Akbar, as and what is only precariously have been intruded by the stranger Esq., agent; Lingard Stokes, Esq., General, remarked “Tried by these August 1849, entitling the latter to the capital of Bengal on account of accomplished by the heavily-laden with his iron road.” Rajmahal, its locomotive superintendent; T. tests, I apprehend that the entire line construct and operate an "experi- its central position with respect to country boat in a month.” Indian Railway & Historical Association Batchelor, Esq., traffic manager; C. L. from Calcutta by the Valley of the mental" line between Calcutta, the that province and to Behar and from Railways as Connected with by John Brunton Adley, Esq., Superintendent electric Ganges to the North West Provinces, existing seat of power of British its commanding the Ganges and the British Empire in the East by Sir telegraphs; Captain Stanton, will stand the first in order of On the 4th July 1860, the first train India, and Rajmahal, the old capital strategic pass of Teliagarhi.” William Patrick Andrew c o n s u l t i n g e n g i n e e r t o t h e of Bengal. (Statistical Account of Bengal, vol. importance and value, and ought to ran through from Calcutta to Lord Canning, the Governor General, Government of India; Captain, the xiv. pp. 325-326) command the earliest and best Rajmahal; this section of the Railway “An expenditure of £1,000,000 was after the inaugural train journey, Hon. C. I. Stanley, A.D.C. to the attention of the Government of was planned for opening to the sanctioned for the first section: from Rajmahal was the point from which delivered a historic speech at Governor-General; Major W. S. India.” Dalhousie’s Minute, 20 April public from 15th October. The Hourah (Howrah), opposite Calcutta, the Ganges was continuously Rajmahal: “We began our journey at Sherwill; and J. Wilson, Esq., barrister. 1853, Pari. Pap., (H.C.), 1852-53, inter vals between rains were to Raneegunge, via Pandooah and navigable at all seasons of the year the chief seat of Western trade and LXXVI, (787), p. 117 employed in putting the line into The party were kindly housed by T. Burdwan. The line is to be continued for steamers upwards for a distance civilization on this side of the globe, efficient order and allowing the Vigors, Esq., district engineer at The work of constructing Railway from Burdwan, in a northerly of five hundred miles. The river traffic the head quarters of England’s earthwork to settle and consolidate. Rajmahal, whose house, built over lines from Burdwan to Rajmahal was direction, to Rajmahal, and thence was estimated at more than two power in Asia; and we have closed it the “Sungee Dullan,” or Stone Hall, Before the official inspection of the probably along the right bank of the million tons, while that by road was almost under the walls of the ancient an ancient building, commanding a Governor General, an inspection Ganges to Patna, Mirzapore and estimated to be only 33,370 tons. capital of Bengal and Behar — the beautiful view of the river Ganges, its Allahabad. A fur ther sum of city of Gour — which, little more than special was run on 22nd July It was expected that rail connectivity numerous populated islands, and £1,000,000 has been sanctioned, for two centuries ago, was not sur- between Howrah and Rajmahal between Calcutta and Rajmahal the bold projecting Rajmahal hills the purpose of continuing the passed by any in India for its busy allowing the entire top brass of EIR to would avoid the five hundred and that dip down to the water's edge. extended line to Rajmahal, the whole population and magnificence, but thoroughly inspect the new line twenty eight miles of a long expense not having yet been which now lies a mass of tangled before officially declaring the section The paper, London Daily, describes circuitous route of rapid and ever estimated. The East India Company ruins and rank forest, tenanted by open. the difficulties faced in the field, tor tuous Bhaugerrutte, long guaranteed interest on the capital wild beasts, reeking with fever, and challenges in removing rocks in labyrinth of Soonderbunds, which The following notes of a trip on the advanced for this purpose, at the void not only of human industry, but cuttings, bridging the treacherous would be navigable only eight East Indian Railway from Howrah to rate of five per cent per annum for of human life. In travelling between rivers and how the indomitable months of the year. The river traffic Rajmahal and back appeared in the the first million, and four and a half these two points — points of such English perseverance and talent was extremely dangerous due to Calcutta Englishman, 10 September per cent for the second.” Railways striking contrast — we have passed could overcome all these obstacles. frequent shipwrecks and total loss of 1860 edition: in Bengal: (being the Substance of through a country teeming with “The state of the line from the large amounts of property. “A special train left Howrah at 6.15 a Repor t Addressed to the population and covered thick with all junction near Burdwan to Rajmahal a.m. on the 22nd July, for Rajmahal, Chairman of East India Company “The Railway train would, with that is necessary to the sustenance is most creditable to all concerned. which place after several stoppages, by Sir William Patrick Andrew) certainty, perform in ten or twelve of man.” Lord Canning
24 25 administer to the wants of their dashes through the cutting at the successful opening up of the line Monday 10 September 1860 others, whose services in connexion from Calcutta to Rajmahal is but the with the work it was proper to humbler workmen, amongst whom Seeta Pahar, you first of all marvel Board had grand expectations of the prelude to a good road to Darjeeling acknowledge, and it will doubtless cholera has lately created foul that such an undertaking should large traffic shifting from rivers to being constructed , and inhabitants tend much to the promotion of good havoc.” London Daily News, ever have been thought of, and then Railway after opening of the section. of Calcutta would be able to spend feeling on their part. Monday, 10 September 1860 you wonder that it should ever have "Great expectations," the Board said, been accomplished. Not content their holidays on the slopes of the Immense bridge over the More River "Have been formed of the large The following is a copy of the with proclaiming their power to cut Himalaya, and gaze upon the snowy at Synthia was one of the greatest traffic which will come upon this communication sent to one of the through hills, and with a cool peaks and blue glaciers in not so engineering works of India with a portion of the line, but the Board District Engineers employed on the contempt for anything like an distant future. large number of elegantly turned think it right to guard the sharehold- work:— obstruction, the engineers of the The train left Rajmahal at 6.15 a.m., ers against too sanguine an expecta- arches and its breathtaking From the Secretary to Govt. of India. railway, upon forcing their way on the 25th, on its return towards tion that this traffic will appear brickworks. Public Works Department. through the obstinately tough Calcutta, arriving safe at Howrah at 4 simultaneously with its opening. It “I was content to know that I was basaltic hill, quietly run their line p.m. The whole country for forty will certainly take time to draw it To GRAHAM PEDDIE, Esq., DISTRICT approaching and then crossing one right through the Jola Jheer, a huge miles south of Rajmahal was under from its accustomed channels, and ENGINEER, East Indian Railway. of the greatest engineering works of lake, extending for miles in every water from the three previous days' whilst no doubt there will at once be India. The waters of the river, for the Sir, direction. heavy rain. a very considerable apparent first time since the Creations now I am commanded by His Excellency The Sita Pahar cutting was a work of tonnage conveyed, it will principally Lord Dalhousie flow under the arches of a railway The rivers were in all cases very full; the Viceroy and Governor-General immense labour through solid be in the Company's own materials, bridge, and that as quietly as if some had left their beds, and were of India to transmit, for your Great must have been the difficulties Basalt; three to four thousand men the real trade of the country coming perfectly accustomed to such spreading over the country, putting acceptance, the medal struck by overcome, bad black cotton soil in were employed on the mining and gradually, and until the advantages bridges. The water of this river, the embankments to a severe test, order of Government on the some places that melts away under cutting work. The first contractors of railway transit are better under- however, at times can and does but they had stood firmly; and along occasion of opening the East Indian the influence of homoeopathic abandoned it in despair, as the stone stood in India, probably in the first perform feats of such boisterous- the whole line, with the exception of Railway to the Ganges at Rajmahal, doses of water, and becomes proved to be as hard as iron. instance somewhat slowly." History ness, that when the time does come the usual moderate subsidence of as being a memorable point attained converted into black mud, heavy and of the East Indian Railway by George for it to exert its force, the masonry At Rajmahal, one can see the ruins of new earth, not an impediment was in the construction of that great deep cuttings in others, cuttings that Huddleston will be sorely tried and, doubtless, house of great Jagat Seth, one of the met with, though thousands of work, on which you have been make a non-professional man will prove to be made of sterling richest person of his time and workmen are still engaged trimming Governor-General of India in his employed. shudder to his heels when he thinks stuff.” famous Banker,Rothschild of India; at and turfing the slopes, filling up speech after opening of the Railway of the masses of ponderous rock I have the honour to be whose door, East India company, holes, digging tanks, erecting to Rajmahal also raised the issue of blasted and removed, rivers with The next great work is the bridge French and Nawabs of Bengal ,would telegraphs and water tanks, building financial viability of the project, Sir, Your most obedient servant, almost uncontrollable streams that over the Adjye, a magnificent piece come frequently for loans. houses and stations; and although reiterating the remunerative of engineering of twenty-four H. Yule, Lieut.-Col., Secretary to the think lightly of rising to fabulous the line is a single one, and engines employment of capital to facilitate arches; and equally excellent are the One can also see the grave of Govt. of India. The History of the heights in a few hours, and that have are engaged daily in running up and investments: bridges over all the minor streams Surgeon Boughton, the man who, East Indian Railway by George beds broad enough for artillery down the line, not an approach to an too numerous to mention. The having gone from Surat to Agra in ”Though the Government were most Huddleston. Published 1906 by practice-grounds; then again every accident occurred. conceivable article, whether for extensive cutting at Surrool, two 1636, and cured the daughter of anxious to give encouragement to Thacker, Spink and Co. The saloon carriage attached to the the investment of English Capital in Railway purposes or for food, have miles in length, is as neat a piece of Shah Jehan, as his fee obtained a The East Indian Railway line to special train is a beautiful piece of India, and however sincere their had to be brought from great work as can be found in any part of patent for his countrymen to trade Rajmahal was opened on the 15th coach-building; the greatest desire, that encouragement would distances, some of which can only be England. free of customs duties facilitating the October 1860 with much splendour. growth of East India Company in liberality having been exercised in its fail, unless they could prove by the measured by thousands of miles.” En route, Pakour is the first station in A train, containing the Lieutenant India, and destiny would allow him construction, ornaments, and establishment that there is scope for “But by the indomitable English the Santal country; where a Martello Governor of Bengal and other to play the same role of facilitating furniture”. London Daily News, remunerative employment of such perseverance, talent and kindness, tower, thirty feet high and twenty distinguished guests invited by Mr. British trade in Rajmahal, where he capital in India, particularly in all these difficulties, and many others feet diameter, loop holed for Palmer, the agent, East Indian railway cured one of the lights of Sultan Bengal. Without such assurance, besides, have been overcome; and musketry with space on the top for company, started from Howrah at 8 Suja’s ‘harem’. capitalists will not be induced to aid one or two light guns, was o’clock in the morning, and took up lastly, the constructors of this great in such enterprises, however useful constructed. It was built in 1856 for The region was teeming with wild life the Right Honourable the Governor work have had to contend against an in their ultimate results." A Sketch of protection of Railway officers & including rhinoceros and tigers, General and his Excellency the enemy more powerful and more to Eastern Bengal with reference to its Railway bungalows when the latter which are now sadly extinct: “For Commander-in-Chief at Serampoor be dreaded than any of those yet railways, and government, Thacker were rebuilt after Santal resurrection sports-men there is abundant at 9 o’clock. mentioned; but by patience, care, Spink & Co. 1861 and kindness, even this great of 1856. This tower afforded occupation; the islands in the river The train entered upon the new line To commemorate the opening of the difficulty has been overcome; and protection against a company of not a hundred yards from the station at Synthia at about past 12, and after line as far as Rajmahal, the this was sickness amongst the mutinous Sepoys in 1858. “Rajmahal, will yield a goodly bag of hog, deer, stopping for the refreshment of the Government of India struck a large workmen along the line, for the its Railway & Historical Association” frankolin, partridges, wild hog and passengers for nearly an hour at silver medal which was distributed to engineers, whose time and patience by John Brunton tigers; whilst nearer the hills Rampoor Haut, reached Rajmahal rhinoceros, tigers, jungle-fowl, pea- the principal officers engaged on the are so thoroughly occupied and tried The approach to the Rajmahal hills, before 5 o’clock in the evening. The fowl, and other game, are met with.” work. The distribution of a symbol of whilst carrying out their great from the very pretty scenery, is distance of Rajmahal from Howrah is the kind would, it was thought, be design, could still find time to peculiarly pleasing, and as the train It was fervently hoped that this 202 miles, of which 83 are newly George Turnbull acceptable to the engineers and
26 27 opened. The party returned without government, and who, if their hills into India, by showing that there is His Excellency the Governor General, formed Sultan Suja’s Boitakaana now of India, Volume 11 by Sir William any untoward occurrence to Calcutta and jungles had been as accessible remunerative employment for it, in proceeding up the Ganges, took makes a comfortable sitting room Wilson Hunter. on the following day. It was no small five years ago as they are now, would that India must be advanced. This the opportunity of visiting three of for the Railway Engineer. All permanent way, rolling-stock and achievement to open 83 miles of have been at once checked in a can be done only by showing an the principal works on the East George Turnbull, in his half yearly other stores were transported from railway in one day, and to run purposeless rebellion. example of the practical success of Indian railway, viz., the Monghyr report ending 30th June to the England in sailing ships via the Cape successfully a train consisting such undertakings as this; and that t u n n e l , a n d t h e S oa n e a n d “Lastly, we find ourselves standing Chairman and Board of Directors of of Good Hope (the Suez Canal did entirely of new carriages built in the the East India Railway, to do honour Kurrumnassa bridges. on the bank of the great Ganges, at the East Indian Railway dated 9th not then exist). By 1859, before railway company’s own workshops, to which we are met, is not only full that point at which it is in the Turnbull reported that in Rajmahal august 1861, wrote that The works opening of Rajmahal section, there conveying upwards of 200 lst-class of future promise, but actually in interests of commerce that the Station much remains to be done; and way have been maintained in were 77 engines, 228 coaches and passengers over 200 miles of railway great part remunerative, and that of tedious and uncertain navigation of but he had not been very urgent in good working order, and the traffic 848 freight wagons with EIR. at an average speed of 25 miles an its well-working there need be no i t s l o w e r w a t e r s s h o u l d b e pushing on the works there, until has been carried on without hour, returning the same distance apprehension, we may now safely The construction of line to Rajmahal exchanged for a short and secure experience has proved how much intermission during the half-vear. with equal success the next day. assert. was initially much impeded by the land carriage. accommodation will be required. Ahmoddpoor Station is nearly Sonthal insurrection necessitating The line had, as was to be expected, I am sure, gentlemen that many of finished. At Mullarpoor and Nulhatty “If, then, Gentlemen, it be destined, “Above 3 miles of Permanent Way importation of labourers from suffered much from slips and you must have been struck, as the second or "up" platform walls are as without presumption we may are laid down already for station Nagpur and other distant parts, settlement of the new embankment certainly I was, by the sight of a train finished, and the goods and believe it to be, that to British science purposes; three additional brick unhealthiness of climate, difficulties during the rains, then hardly over, such as we saw to-day, carrying 200 passenger sheds are well advanced. and British enterprise shall be bungalows, and a barrack for guards in constructing large bridges & and the ballasting was incomplete; first class passengers, all in brand Rampore Haut engine changing committed in India the noble task of and engine drivers, are completed. extensive viaducts. It was pioneering but the engineers had exerted new carriages of Indian make, and station has the pumping engine bringing security, comfort, and leadership of Turnbull that the line themselves to get ready for an with new engines, issuing from its The following temporary structures house and tank finished; the other comparative wealth within the reach could be finally constructed. opening before the Doorgah Poojah starting place, so perfect in all its have been set up: a booking office buildings are in progress. Moradoi of races as yet ignorant of these; of holidays, and succeeded so well that parts, and so well appointed, that and platform, a goods shed, with and Pakour stations are nearly It was expected that Railways would extending the field of profitable the train passed up without difficulty Paddington station itself might have export and import platforms, and an finished. play a big role in civilizing the natives industry to them; of supplying the or delay, except for five or six been proud of it, accomplishing engine shed for six locomotives, with and imbibing the importance of wants of some by the superfluities of In 1860, when the loop-line of the minutes to replace a rail near the within nine hours a journey of more watering apparatus. The permanent punctuality in them. others ; of enhancing prosperity East Indian Railway was opened to commencement of the Rajmahal than 200 miles, 85 of which have only buildings for booking office and where it exists, and of reviving it this town, an arm of the Ganges ran “As the stream of the Ganges , like branch. this day been opened, and arriving at carriage sheds are in hand, and will where it has drooped and decayed ; immediately under the station, that of Nile, and other great River, its journey’s end, not only easily, be carried on to completion as fast His Excellency the Governor General of promoting fellow ship between forming a navigable channel for has been the diffuser of civilization smoothly, and without an accident, as materials can be provided. of India, Lord Canning gave a historic men, and of bringing light into dark steamers and boats of all sizes. In among its banks, so is the Railway but without a screw loosened. speech at Rajmahal : places ;—if these, I say, be the The continual changes in the bed of 1863-64 the river abandoned this likely to prove a line of light through functions allotted to the science and I have known something of similar the River Ganges are well known; the channel, leaving an alluvial bank in Mofussil darkness enabling the “We began this day’s journey at a enterprise of our fellow country men ceremonies in England, but never tendency of the river of late years has its place. Rajmahal was, till 1879, merchants, the educator and the spot washed by the tides of the Bay in India, then I declare that I do not have I heard of any that was more been to deposit large "chirrs" or three miles distant from the main missionary to give access to the of Bengal, and within a stone’s throw know where in the map, not of India thoroughly successful than that sand banks opposite to station stream of the Ganges, and could highways and hedges of the Santal of the anchorage of some of the only, but of the world, a spot could which we have this day witnessed. frontage, and the deep water is now only be approached by large boats and other districts. noblest ships which, to the be found presenting, within the at some distance south of the during the rains. A tram way was furtherance of commerce and all its “I believe, gentlemen, that if it had “Punctuality so wanting in our native short compass of one day’s journey, station. To connect the Railway with constructed to connect River Ghat attendant blessings, the skill and been prophesied to any one of you a friends will be taught more so complete an epitome of all the the unloading places frequented by with station.In 1879 the Ganges enter prise of our fellow countrymen few years ago on getting into the effectively than the school master- opportunities for usefulness and the boats and steamers, it was found returned to its old bed, but in 1882 it have launched upon the ocean. We comfortable carriage of an express the train waits for no one.” The good which attend on well directed necessary to laydown about a mile showed indications of again have ended it in an inland district train at Euston square, that you Calcutta Review, Volume 36 enterprise, as does the country and a half of Permanent Way. Some deserting it. The Imperial Gazetteer 200 miles off, where not only are the would one day be carried in a like through which we have this day unavoidable delay took place in uses of the great highway of nations conveyance and very nearly at a like passed.“ obtaining permission to lay down uncared for and unknown, but where speed through such a country as this temporary road, which is the very name of the ‘black water’ is The old portion of the line (Howrah this, you would have treated it as a absolutely necessary for the traffic, a word of mystery and terror. to Burdwan) over which you have joke. Yet the thing has come to pass but the work is now in hand, and will this day travelled is the one in India, this day;—and, let me say that the “We have skirted a district abound- soon be finished. A building of the proceeds of which already more extravagant contrasts which have ing in mineral wealth, and already considerable size, part of the old than cover the Government’s thus been presented to our eyes are eagerly seizing the opportunity, as palace ruins, was roofed in and guarantee "’ of five per cent. And not merely a subject for idle yet imperfectly afforded to it, of adapted for a hotel, and has been of though this may appear an wonderment, but a solid ground of pouring this wealth into the great g r e a t c o n v e n i e n c e f o r t h e unimportant vulgar fact to those hope for the future of British India.” centre of activity in Calcutta. We accommodation of passengers. It is who are not concerned by it, it is one Bengal Hurkaru – The East Indian have been carried through the wild found, however, to be much too full of hope for the future. and other Government guarantees country of the Sonthals, one of the small, and a proposition for on Railways. ... WM. H. ALLEN & Co., rudest and wildest races of India, but It is by tempting the capital as well as enlarging it is prepared. 7, LEADENHALL STREET. London a race not insensible to kindly the skill and experience of England 1861. The hall of black marbles which once Rajmahal Station after renovation
28 29 One of the features of the book is the personal touch that Book Review Aklekar has added to many of the stories. For instance, ISRS Membership & Subscription when he talks of the oldest railway station in the country Application Form A Short History of Indian Railways that still exists, Royapuram, in Tamil Nadu, he narrates the story of the station through a personal visit. When talking Indian Steam Railway Society (ISRS) of one of the railway's recent success stories, the Vande Bharat Express or Train 18, he does so through a MEMBERSHIP FORM One of the events at the 17th National Steam Congress this year is the release of the book, A Short History of Indian conversation with the creator of the train, the then Railways, by the well-known journalist from Mumbai, Rajendra B. Aklekar. The book had been launched in June this General Manager of the Integral Coach Factory, year but the Indian Steam Railway Society is recognising the book and honouring its author by releasing it once Sudhanshu Mani. Even when the author is writing of again at its Congress so that it is brought to the notice of the large number of persons interested in the railways that events or times that he obviously could not have 1. Name : ______the Congress brings together. witnessed, a personal touch is evident right through his 2. Date of Birth : ______writing style. A short review of the book follows… Once beginning to read the book, chances are that you 3. Sex : Male Female will not put it down. For instance, when your attention There have been a number of books written may be getting diverted, Aklekar adds a touch of humour 4. Nationality : ______that cover the history of the Indian Railways. to the stories that he is narrating. One good example is of 5. Address : ______Virtually all of them start from the first an irate passenger who complained that he had got a cinder in his eye. The reply he received is perhaps one of commercial train that ran on Indian soil in ______1853 and after going through various the best examples of not only wit and humour but also of events, dates, rail persons, developments, a diplomatic repartee. The incident is reproduced below: ______etc. end with the time when the book was There is a story about an angry passenger who written. The well-known journalist and rail complained to a railway official that he had a cinder in Phone (Off.) : ______fan from Mumbai, Rajendra B. Aklekar had his eye from one of the engines, and it cost him £1 to read most of these books on rail history and have it taken out and have his eye seen by a doctor. (Resi) : ______was aware that another book on the subject had to be different. And he succeeded The aggrieved passenger asked: 'What are you going to (Mobile) : ______admirably in bringing out a history book do about it?' Fax : ______that holds the attention of the reader To this the official answered tactfully, after saying that through presenting the rich history of the he was sorry to hear of the problem, 'We shall do E-mail : organisation through anecdotes and stories. nothing, Sir! We have no further use of the cinder, and While each anecdote may be a stand alone, from a legal point of view, the cinder was not yours. No 6. Occupation : ______he has woven all the tales together into an doubt we could institute proceedings against you for eminently readable book. removing our property, but in this case, we shall take no 7. Railway Interests : ______Aklekar needs no introduction. He has further steps in the matter.' ______authored two books related to the railways There are few books or events regarding the railways to earlier. The first was Halt Station India that which Sir Mark Tully is not connected in some way. Sir ______chronicles not only the introduction of the Mark is connected with this book as well through the first train in the port city of Bombay (now Foreword that he has written. Apart from commending 8. Other Interests : ______Mumbai) but continues to the electrification the presentation of the history through stories, he sums of the lines around the city almost a century up with the words, 'His (Aklekar's) stories instruct and ______back, and beyond. There is no doubt that entertain, bringing the past of the Indian Railways alive in when it comes to the railways in Mumbai, the present. They will entertain as well as instruct, thereby few would know more than Aklekar. The encouraging Indians to be proud of their railway's past second book, India's Railway Man, is a and ensure that those railways play a crucial role in the Date: Signature: biography of E. Sridharan, known future.' affectionately as the Metro Man, but who Kindly enclose the membership fee through Crossed rose to prominence earlier when he Thus, starting with the Red Hills Railway, whose Demand Draft / Pay order / Delhi (payable) Cheque in favour completed the difficult and challenging construction started in 1836, 'A Short History of the of “Indian Steam Railway Society”. Payment can also be Konkan Railway line very successfully. Indian Railways' ends with the introduction of Train 18 or made through Cash (in person only) or Money Order. Aklekar's third book goes beyond one city or Vande Bharat Expressthat started commercial operations one person and covers the entire Indian on in 2019, i.e. the current year. Any person with any Railways in an absorbing and very readable interest in the Indian Railways and its history must have Membership Fees manner. this book adorn his or her book shelf. 1. 10 years Membership For Persons Residing in India-Rs.5000.00 2. 10 years Membership For Persons Residing outside India-$ 100.00, $ 50.00, $ 150.00
30 31 with compliments from:
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