Indian Railways plans to re-introduce vintage steam engines for public

After the vintage steam engine, Fairy Queen, left the Railway Museum, Delhi, to take a short trip from New Delhi Railway station to Delhi Junction, the next day it went from Delhi Cantonment to Rewari in Haryana. Now Indian Railways plans to bring back the vintage steam engine for the amusement of general populace.

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The Fairy Queen, which is the world’s oldest steam engine, was brought to Calcutta (modern day Kolkata), from England in 1855, and was used as a light mail train in West Bengal. On Republic Day, 2018, it went from New Delhi to Delhi Junction with two coaches.

The Fairy Queen’s run has inspired the Indian Railways to bring back these glorious vintage steam engines for the public. Two more of such steam engines that have been lying dormant for a long time, including a Ramagooty, could be revived in similar fashion.

The Delhi tour that is on the cards will see these trains run through prominent landmarks such as Chanakyapuri, Sarojini Nagar and Safdarjung. The landscape along its route will be transformed to please the eyes.

According to reports, luxury royal trains have been losing its popularity over the years, with a 24.8 percent decrease in revenue incurred by Palace on Wheels, while Royal Rajasthan took a massive 63.18 percent dip. Hence, with the introduction of these heritage steam engines, the Indian Railways is looking to lure locomotive enthusiasts, and bring back the lost sheen of Railway Tourism.

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