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| XE |
Item:
Steam Locomotive |
|
|
74. The massive XE ar Safdarjung station in Delhi, awaiting passage to the
NRM. (Photo Credit: Harsh Vardhan) |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: William
Beardmore, UK Class: XE Year Built:
1930 Service:
ER, WR, SR (SR machines were XE/1), This particular unit: EIR, ER,
later served at (and retired from) the Coal Transportation Division of the MPSEB (Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board), Korba ,
Wheel Arrangement: Mikado (2-8-2) Numbering:
Initially 422, later 22541, changed to 3634 at the MPSEB
Named: ----
Rail Gauge: bg (5' 6") |
The
XE arrived at the NRM quite by accident, as she was meant for preservation at another
location. Happily, she stayed on as the latest addition to the NRM treasure trove (1998)
The XE is one of a class of what is the heaviest non-articulated steam locomotive ever
used on the IR. They used to weigh a good 200 tonnes in working order. The massive XEs
were used all over the IR network in their heyday. In their final days however, they could
be spotted by and large on the ER (Andal, Asansol, Jhajha), WR (Kota) and the SR. (Erode,
Jolarpettai).This particular engine # 22541 was based at the Asansol shed of the ER, from
whence she was sold to the the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board's facilities at Korba for
hauling heavy coal trains. The engine was in service till as recently as December 1997.
After withdrawal, the locomotive was cosmetically restored by the loco shed in Bhilai,
before being moved to the NRM, albeit mistankenly. This engine has been kindly donated to
the NRM by the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board for her heritage value. |
| TJ |
Item:
Steam Locomotive |
|
|
|
|
| 75.1
The TJ at the head of the old Palace on Wheels rake, at the very entrance to the NRM. |
75.2
This pic of the TJ was shot by me in 1983, and shows the engine in full black livery. The
same black livery persisted even on my 1985 visit. |
75.3 A
closer look at the beast. A caption painted on the side of the TJ in 1983 proclaimed that
the TJs were the second lightest mg engines to run in India. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: W.G.Bagnall,
Stafford, UK Class: TJ (non-standard)
Year Built: 1888 Service: JR (Jaipur State
Railway), later WR (Western Railway), Wheel
Arrangement: 0-6-0PT Numbering: Initially 2646, JR
no. 643, WR number not known. Named:
---- Rail Gauge: mg (3' 3 3/8") |
| The TJ was the second
lightest mg engine to be used in India, as per a caption painted on her side in 1983. She
led a rather unglamourous existence, performing shunting duties on the Jaipur State
Railway, and later on the WR. At least one NRM publication (WR Metre gauge system by
R.R.Bhandari) has stated that the engine is still in working order, and does perform
shunting duties within the NRM grounds, as and when required. (a phenomenon probably not
witnessed in recent years). When I visited the NRM in Nov. 1997, the TJ had been moved
from her place in the museum's outdoor display area, and placed at the head of the old
Palace on Wheels rake (due to be converted into a hotel) at the very entrance to the NRM.
(see 75.1 above). |
| MTR |
Item:
Steam Locomotive |
|
|
|
| 76.1
The MTR at the museum gates. |
76.2
Note the unusual baloon stack chimney. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: Dick Kerr & Co.
London Class: MTR (non-standard) Year
Built: 1910 Service: Karachi Port Trust, later
Marla Timber Depot, moved to NWR (North Western Railway) (most of it now in Pakistan),
finally creostating plant at Dhilwan on the NR (Northern Railway), Wheel Arrangement: 0-4-2T
Numbering: 2 Named: ---- Rail Gauge: ng (2' 6") |
| The dimunitive MTR
started her life at the Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan. She was later moved to the Marla
Timber Depot on Northern India, and the NWR. She ended up as a works locomotive at the
creostating plant at Dhilwan on the NR. Apart from her slender profile and dimunitive
profile, another unique feature of the MTR is the bulbous baloon stack chimney.A common
feature among wood-burning locomotives, these huge chimneys (also called 'spark arrester
chimneys') incorporate a wire mesh on the inside, to prevent sparks flying out of the
chimney and setting fire to the countryside. One more MTR is preserved in Delhi outside
the Northern Railway Headquarters building. |
|
|
| 77.1 The fire engine
is now housed in a glass house, complete with mannequin firemen. |
77.2 The fire engine
was usually the first exhibit to greet the visitor at the NRM. She was usually parked
right next to the NRM main building entrance, and was kept out in the open. This was shot
in 1981. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: John Morris &
Sons, Manchester, UK Class: Not Applicable Year
Built: 1914 Service: NSR (Nizam's State
Railway), Wheel Arrangement: 4-wheeler road vehicle Features:
80 hp petrol engine, chain drive, turbine type of
pump with a capacity of 700-900 gallons per minute. Water pipes: inlet 6" dia, output
3" dia. |
| This fire engine was
procured for the Lallaguda Carriage and Wagon Works of the Nizam's State Railway
(Hyderabad). She was in use till about 1960. The water pump is mounted on the vehicle's
rear, and is driven by the main engine. The vehicle is also fitted with an 'exhaust
ejector' type of priming device. The car is amazingly still in working order, and can run
at a maximum speed of 60 kmph. The NRM enters the vehicle in the vintage car rally in
Delhi every year, and she is a constant winner almost every time. |
|
78-79. There are
two trolleys in this pic, treated as two separate exhibits. One was used on the GIP
Railway, and the other on the NSR. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: Not known
Class: Not Applicable Year Built: Late
1800s/early 1900s Service: NSR (Nizam's State Railway) GIPR (Great Indian Peninsula Railway) later
SCR (South Central Railway) and CR (Central Railway) respectively., Wheel Arrangement: 4-wheeler road
vehicle Features: Hand-hauled and hand operated for use on station platforms, each is fitted
with a rudimentary hand pump. |
| Recent
additions to the NRM treasure trove are two delightful little hand-hauled and hand
operated fire trolleys. Built in the late 1800s/early 1900s, these trolleys were placed on
station platforms, where road vehicles could not pass. Such fire trolleys were used on the
Nizam's State Railway and the GIPR (later CR): I have photographed one such trolley on the
plaform at Karjat as recently as 1992. Each of these devices if fitted with a very basic
hand pump, operated by two men in a see-saw motion. Additional information subsequently
about these hand pumps (courtesy Harsh Vardhan) is as follows: (suitably modifien in keeping with the consistency of language and style): 1. THE PINK COLOURED TROLLEY IS CALLED `YADGIR' , (NAMED
AFTER A SMALL TOWN BY THE SAME NAME NEAR GUNTAKAL. (YADGIR INCIDENTALLY IS FAMOUS FOR
SAND) THIS TROLLEY BUILT BY MERRYWEATHER & SONS ENGINEERS, LONGRACE AND LAMBETH,
LONDON. YEAR BUILT IS NOT KNOWN. IT WAS RENOVATED BY THE DIESEL LOCO SHED, GUNTAKAL ON
31.03.97. THIS TROLLEY WAS ORIGINALLY USED ON THE NSR.(NIZAM'S STATE RAILWAY).
2. THE MAROON COLOUR TROLLEY IS NOT NAMED. IT WAS
BUILT BY SHAND & MASON, UK IN 1863 AND WAS USED ON THE GIP (GREAT INDIAN PENINSULA)
RAILWAY. |
WDM/1 |
Item: Diesel Locomotive |
|
 
Photo Credits: L to R:
Harsh Vardhan, Satish Pai, John Lacey |
80.1-2-3. The WDM/1s
were the first bg diesels to run in India. A unit here is seen just received at the NRM
(2000). The engine will be refurbished cosmetically and then displayed. While pic 80A
shows the unit just outside the NRM grounds, B and C were taken soon after the beast was
moved into the NRM grounds. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: American Loco. Co.
(ALCO) Class: WDM/1 Year Built: 1957 Service: ER (Eastern Railway), SER (South Eastern Railway), Retired from Gonda shed
on the NR (Northern Railway) Wheel
Arrangement: Co-Co Features: Diesel-electric
transmission, 4-stroke turbo supercharged 12 cylinder engine, 1977 hp Numbering: Not yet known Named: ---- Rail Gauge: bg (5' 6") |
| The very latest
addition (Nov.2000) to the NRM treasure trove is this WDM/1 diesel electric locomotive:
one of a class of the first broad gauge diesels to run in India. They were similar to
Alco's World Series locomotives, and were unidirectional 'A' units. Although they proved
beyond doubt that diesel has its advantages, this class was not repeated, due to the
limited powerpack and the unidirectional profile. The engines were initially put on heavy
coal and ore trains and on fast expresses on the Eastern and South Eastern Railway, and
were subsequently retired from Gonda on the Northern Railway, where they ended their lives
doing one off jobs. Some were re-powerpacked with Mak engines, and at least one unit had a
flat nosed cab built into the blunt end by a certain diesel shed on the SER. |
WAG/1 (Bidhan) |
Item: Electric Locomotive |
|
Picture Credit: Satish Pai |
81. The first WAG/1
ac electric freight locomotive built at India's Chittaranjan Works. The engine has been
named 'Bidhan'. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: Chittaranjan
Locomotive Works, India Class: WAG/1 Year Built: 1963 Service: NR (Northern Railway) GIPR Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo
Features: 3400
hp freight locomotive, max. speed 80 kmph Numbering: Not yet known Named: BIDHAN Rail Gauge: bg (5' 6") |
| Another recent
addition to the NRM is the first Indian built ac freight electric locomotive of class
WAG/1. The engine is named 'Bidhan'. Further details and picture will be posted as soon as
they are available. |
ZDM/1 (later
NDM/1) |
Item:
Diesel Locomotive |
|
Picture Credit: Satish Pai |
82.
NDM/1 # 500
seen here soon after she was moved to the NRM grounds in 2001. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: Jungenthal, Germany
Class: Previously ZDM/1, later
ragauged and reclassed NDM/1 Year Built:
1955 Service:
NR (Northern Railway: 2' 6" Kalka Simla line),
later CR (2' 0" Neral Matheran line) Wheel Arrangement: B-B
Features: Articulated
Numbering: Not
yet known Named: --- Rail Gauge: Initially ng (2' 6"), later regauged to 2' 0" |
| This class of six
engines initially started their life as ZDM/1 on the 2' 6" Kalka Simla line on the
NR. They served to provide some relief to the ZF class steam locomotives. The ZDM/1s were
rendered redundant by more powerful ZDM/4 & 5 class of diesels which later took over.
All six of the ZDM/1s were regauged to 2' 0" ng and were classified NDM/1. Five of
them were moved to the Neral Matheran line on the CR, while this particular one was
relegated to hauling a childrens' train in a park in New Delhi. All the Matheran NDM/1s
have now been retired. This lucky survivor is the engine at the park. This engine and its
cars were unceremoniously dumped in the NRM grounds in 2001. While the fate of the cars is
unknown, the engine has now been preserved, as pictured here. |
WDM/4 |
Item:
Diesel Locomotive |
|
Picture Credits: Harsh Vardhan |
83.1-2.
View of the short hood and long hood end of a WDM/4 brought to the NRM for
preservation in 2001. These pictures are shot at the Safdarjung station
yard, just before the engine was moved into the museum grounds. |
| VITALSTATISTICS:
Builder: Electro
Motive Divn. of GM, USA Class: WDM/4 Year Built: 1960-61 Service: NR (Northern Railway), SER (South Eastern Railway)
Wheel Arrangement: Co-Co
Features: 2600
hp mixed traffic locomotive, max. speed 160 kmph, three radiator fans,
snowplow fitted Numbering: 18001
Named: ---
Rail Gauge: bg (5' 6") |
| After
the WDM/1 class of diesels proved inconvenient due to their unidirectional
profile and limited powerpack, the IR started looking out for more
powerful engines. The 'road switcher' or 'hood' design was eventually
chosed, of which two classes were imported from America. These were the
Alco build WDM/2 design and the GM-EMD built WDM/4. The WDM/4s featured
several advanced features, including a maximum speed capability of 160
kmph. They did much fine work with super trains like the Rajdhani Express.
However, the more straightforward Alco WDM/2 design was eventually chosen
due to GM's reluctance to offer technology transfer, due to which it was
clear that the WDM/4 could not be built in India. This is one of the first
locomotives to be imported. |
END
OF OUTDOOR EXHIBITS
The Palace on Wheels
was a novel tourist train launched by the Indian Railways around 1982, in association with
the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. The train comprised of nine Royal
saloons and private rail cars of the erstwhile Maharajas and rulers of the Princely
states. It was an attempt to re-create the high-old style and luxury of yesteryear. For a
price, passengers could enjoy seven days of total luxury, travelling by a steam hauled
train in exactly the same way the Royalty of yesteryear travelled, in those very cars the
Rajahs and Maharajahs rode. It was luxury fit for a king.
The dream lasted less
than a decade when complaints starting pouring in as to how the cars rocked uncomfortably
while in motion. And the bumpy rides they offered. Luxurious alright, but the Maharajas
had probably never travelled at such speeds in their time! It soon became apparent that
the cars, all of them between 70 and 100 years old, were too old to keep on running. They
had lived their life, and had given out the best they had, and it was not proper to thrash
them about any further in this manner, without jepoardizing safety.
The Commissioner of
Railway safety ordered the old veterans off the rails, and a spanking new airconditioned
Palace on Wheels train took its place. Thanks to the curse of 'Project Unigauge', much of
the mg track on the Palace's route was torn up and bg tracks laid instead. Thus yet
another new Palace train was built, with bg cars.. The earlier mg aircon Palace rake now
does another route, and goes by the name The Royal Orient. But thats another story.
The erstwhile Royal
cars of the original Palace on Wheel train, now reduntant, were moved to Delhi and
statationed just inside the NRM grounds, near the entry gates. It is understood that the
rake will soon be converted into a luxury hotel. No train is complete without a
locomotive, so one of the NRM exhibits, the TJ locomotive, has been coupled at the head of
the rake. Till such time work on the hotel project is commenced and subsequently
completed, the train will continue to sit there in the NRM grounds, the cars shuttered and
gathering dirt.
I photographed the
cars on my visit to the NRM in Nov. 1997, and a with a little research from other sources,
I could collect some information about the cars, which I would like to share with you :
TJ |
This
picture has appeared twice on this webpage already, but nonetheless has to be repeated
here for the sake of continuity. Here is the TJ locomotive at the head of the old Palace
on Wheels train. |
CT
9s
 |
Built
in 1922 at the Bhavnagar Workshops for use by the Maharaja of Nawanagar. This car has a
large central lounge with coupe'-s on either side of the lounge. |
CT
7  |
The
only car in mundane IR maroon, this car was built in 1911, and was part of the Viceroy's
special train. The car has four small cabins, of which three are coupe'-s and one is a
four berth cabin. |
CT 744  |
|
CT 744
was built in 1910 for use by the Maharaja of Rajputana. This car has a large saloon with
two sette'-s. The lower berth on the other three coupe'-s are Dewan beds.
(Far left: BB & CI crest on the side of the CT 744). |
CT 34755  |
Used
by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar and built in 1929, CT 34755 features a small balcony at one
end. The car has four two-berth cabins. |
CT 10
 |
This car was built to
a very spacious form in 1953 from the original 1923 car used by the Maharaja of Bikaner.
The lower berth in the three coupe'-s in this car have headboards, and the lounge in the
car has a large period mirror. |
CT34757/814 |
|
This
car was built in 1910 for the Maharaja of Porbunder in Gujarat.This car is of a
comparatively smaller profile, and has a balcony at one end, complete with brass railings.
The balcony actually eats into the car's floor space. It has three coupe'-s
and a tiny pantry which has barely enough space for a refrigerator and one staff member.
(Far left: 'Booked to the Rail Transport Museum' stencil on the undercarriage of the
of the car.) |
CT 34756/56  |
The
unique feature of this car is the lounge at the centre, with two coupe'-s on either side.
The car was built in 1917 for use by the Nizam of Hyderabad over his Nizam's State
Railway. |
CT 17  |
Not
much information is available about the history of this car, except that it was built in
1913. The car has a large, regal saloon, and four small coupe'-s. |
CT 3  |
The
oldest car on the old Palace on Wheels train, CT 3 was built in 1889 for the Maharaja of
Bikaner. It was the most sought after car on the whole train as it contained the only
four-berth cabin with an attached bathroom! |
|
