News from the NRM - Winter 2001
This article was originally published by the Indian Steam Railway Society (ISRS) in its newsletter, and is reproduced here by permission, which is gratefully acknowledged. Copyright for the material here rests with the ISRS and the author(s) of the article. The ISRS is the premier organization in India engaged in preservation and efforts to promote awareness of the country's railway heritage.
Note: This is an excerpt, not the entire article. The article originally appeared in the ISRS Newsletter No. 7, Winter 2001.
Fairy Queen is a 2-2-2 Well Tank engine of 1855 vintage built by
Kitson, Hewitson and Thomson of Leeds, England. It was restored
to regular main line service in 1997. It operates two day excursions
from New Delhi from October to March each year, running down the
main line to Alwar on Saturdays; the passengers then stay overnight
in the former Maharajah of Alwar's Palace in a tiger sanctuary, and
spend early Sunday morning tiger-spotting before catching the
Fairy Queen back to Delhi Cantt. The locomotive carries two coaches.
One is a Power/ Buffet Car with a diesel generator to supply power
for the air brakes as well as lighting. The passenger car has a large
glass window at the end that overlooks the coal bunker straight into
the cab. Fairy Queen has undergone a major overhaul at the
Locomotive Works, Perambur this year and bears a completely
new look thanks to the efficient and dedicated efforts put in by
workmen of SER and SR. The locomotive has had the driving wheels
re-axled, and the majority of its brass tubes have been replaced. The
locomotive was fitted with two baby compressors last year to make
it an independent working air-braked unit. However, the two
compressors have been fitted on the sides of the locomotive which
make them look ugly and out of place. They should be concealed.
Fairy Queen, Guinness certified as the world's oldest working
locomotive on the mainline, is set once again this year to rekindle
the romance transporting fifty guests in an exclusive journey of a
lifetime. The fare is
Fare information included is indicative and no longer valid! Contact information omitted as being out of date.)