NFR restores century-old steam locomotive at Maligaon headquarters

Maligaon, May 27 (MExN): In a significant step towards preserving India’s railway heritage, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has renovated the historic Steam Locomotive No. 808-C Class NG Loco of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) Type (4-6-2) Pacific and installed an upgraded heritage display at its headquarters campus in Maligaon.

The renovated heritage locomotive was inaugurated on May 26 by NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava in the presence of senior railway officials and staff members.

According to an official statement, the heritage locomotive was built in 1914 and manufactured by the North British Locomotive Company Ltd., Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The steam locomotive, considered a rare symbol of India’s railway legacy, had already been installed and displayed at the NFR headquarters in Maligaon and has now been given a new lease of life through extensive repair, painting and renovation works.

The restoration work was carried out by the C&W Workshop at New Bongaigaon under the guidance of the General Manager of NFR.

The renovated locomotive has been enhanced with decorative lighting along with real sound and smoke effects, making it an attractive heritage display for railway visitors and enthusiasts.

The statement said Steam Locomotive No. 808 belongs to the renowned 4-6-2 Pacific Class steam locomotives introduced in 1914 for service under the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

Along with its twin engine No. 807, the locomotive played a significant role in hauling freight trains of up to 800 tonnes on the Kishanganj Extension section of the DHR.

After the Siliguri-Kishanganj line was converted to metre gauge in 1948, the locomotive continued service as a shunting pilot at Siliguri before being decommissioned in the 1960s.

The preserved steam engine now stands as a reminder of the steam era and the engineering excellence of Indian Railways.

The restoration of Steam Locomotive No. 808 reflects NFR’s continued commitment towards conservation and promotion of historical railway assets and creating awareness about the legacy of steam locomotives in India, the statement added.