Not Running Out Of Steam

  • Maninder Dabas / FG
  • India
  • Jan 04, 2013

 

 

 'I sell here, Sir, what all the world desires to have-Power'

(Matthew Boulton said these words about the improved steam engine invented by James Watt, and brought into production at Boulton's manufacturing site)


If the wheel was the greatest invention of primitive man, it was the steam engine that changed the course of modern human civilisation. And the countries that managed to combine these two all time great inventions ruled the world for centuries. Steam engines may have now been discontinued from most of the railway networks in the world, but humanity should not forget the contribution of this once mighty machine. The British introduced railways in India. The steam engine has served the Indian Railways from 1853. In the late 1970s the diesel engine replaced most of the steam engines. Some steam engines still exist, preserved by the Indian Railways as the souvenirs of its glorious past. Rewari Steam Loco Shed is one such treasured place in the world

At the Rewari Steam Loco Shed, nine steam engines have not only been preserved, but have also been maintained in working condition. They once served the masses of India. This  shed is like a museum for these steam engines, and we work day and night to ensure that they don't stop working,” said Ganpat, the Loco foreman, who has been serving the Railways for the last thirty-five years. Northern Railway, with the help of groups like Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), is trying to increase awareness among the masses for such a unique artefact from the past – and one of the great inventions of all time. “This Loco Shed is one the oldest in the country. Unfortunately, this well maintained Museum is hardly visited by 'tourists' – or even locals. In fact most people don't know about its existence; and that's why, through media and other sources of mass communication, we are trying to make this place better known,” said Sudhir Bhargava, INTACH's Rewari Conveyor.


History

The Rewari Steam Loco Shed was started in the year 1893, and was under the jurisdiction of the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railways (BB & CIR). Rewari soon became one of the biggest junctions of the meter gauge route. In fact the first train on meter gauge in India ran between Delhi and Rewari in 1873. This Shed was the largest metre gauge loco shed in India, with close to 500 maintenance staff working here at its peak. The Shed was closed down in the year 1993. In 1994, The Royal Orient Express was started, and was hauled by two steam locomotives on the stretch between Delhi Cantt and Rewari. With this service the Loco Shed again rose to prominence. The real big moment came in 2002, when the then Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, declared this place as a heritage shed and museum for steam locos

Rewari locos have been a part of several Bollywood period films, like Guru, Gandhi-My Father, Rang De Basanti, Gadar. The Shed has been given a new lease of life, with large scale renovation and restoration work carried out in 2010. A new cafeteria, a small library and a museum have been added. However, the spirit of the place is intact, with the same shed building—dating back to 1893—and the majestic black beauties back in action. “Look at this old shed; despite being renovated with modern iron bars, it is still the same  – a monument from the British era. Apart from this shed, these nine black beauties standing here speak volumes of the dedication and contribution of Indian Railways in the service of the country,” added Ganpat.


The Engines 

Angadh (1928-30), Virat (1945-46, 1947 and 1949), Akbar (1946-67), Azad (1946-67), Sher-E-Punjab (1955 and 1966-68), Rewari King (1952-72, 1949), Sahib (1949-72), Sultan (1949-72) and Sindh (1949-72) are the nine steam engines that have been kept by the Northern Railway in this Museum. “All these engines are in working condition, and we have kept a dedicated staff to maintain them. It takes more than 6 to 7 hours to get one engine ready to move. Just to make a slight movement, to appease the visitors, we have to put at least 2,500 litres water in the engine, and a lot of coal – to make the boiler function. We keep them in working condition because the Railways doesn't want to let these engines die. We would like people from across the country to come and see these marvels from the past. Of course people from across the globe do come here to have to look, since no other place has nine working steam engines under a single shed. Four of these engines were manufactured in the West, and the rest five have been manufactured in India.” explained Ganpat.


A day at the Museum

If one wishes to visit this Steam Loco Museum, the rail route is perhaps the best mode of transportation. This museum is located at just a stone's throw from the Rewari Junction. Visitors from Delhi or Gurgaon can also take the road, as NH-8 provides a smooth drive of 2 odd hours. The loco foreman informed us about the working of steam engines, and how difficult it is to maintain such old engines. We then headed towards a dark room, where a documentary about this loco shed was shown. The thirty five minute documentary provided a holistic idea about this place, as also some experiences that should not be missed. In the main office some antiques of Indian Railways have been preserved. There was a wooden telephone of the British era (still functional), a wall clock made in London, a gramophone, and some old antique furniture. “Oh I love this place. Look at the ambience of this room; it seems time has stood still. This place is so well-maintained also; I think people should know about it,” said Madhu Verma, a Gurgaon resident, while observing the antique artefacts. 

 This Museum also has two passenger (railway) cars – one of which is relatively new, with fully furnished interiors. It is a replica of the car used by the Indian Railways for the Delhi to Sariska (Alwar) route. The other passenger car is the one constructed specially for Edward-III, who visited India in 1921. “This is one of our prized possessions, because it is an old-style car made entirely of wood. Apart from some interior modifications, the car is more or less the original,” explained Ganpat. There is also a small area where the railways has kept some old tools, crockery (late nineteenth century) and many other artefacts and photographs – that speak volumes of Indian Railways, and its incredible odyssey from an elite mode of transport to a modern yet common mode.  “We want school kids and other groups to come here; we are fortunate to be the only place in world where they can see so many steam engines working,” urged Ganpat. 

Indian Railways still operates a steam engine ride for passengers from Delhi Cantt to Sariska, Alwar. This two-day trip gives an individual a unique experience of wildlife, while sitting in a train driven by a vintage steam engine. “Indian Railways charges Rs. 11,000 per individual for this two-day trip: it includes the return journey, stay in a hotel, and four meals daily. One can go to the IRTC website to book a ticket, or can do it directly from our office at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi,” said Raj Kumar, another senior railway official.

It was time to catch the train back to Gurgaon. The Rewari-Meerut local took a leisurely two hours to cover the distance of 50 odd kilometres.

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