World's oldest engine back for brief rideThis was the EIR-21's sixth successful heritage run
Last Updated IST
Mangeshkar composed music under the pseudonym 'Anandhgan' for a few Marathi movies before making it big in Hindi cinema.
The steam-emitting locomotive that chugged along the tracks appeared like an ancient beast breathing back to life.
A century ago it would have been normal for the steamer to barrel along, but on Sunday, it was the cynosure of the public who watched it with wild curiosity.
Such an attention is justified when the locomotive in question is the world’s oldest, which was brought out of retirement for a brief ride.
Cheered by heritage enthusiasts, the 162-year-old engine began its journey from the Chennai Egmore station to Kodambakkam, just a few kilometres away.
The successful ride of the locomotive, EIR-21, which hauled a single coach with Southern Railway officials, was the sixth run of the world’s oldest working engine that bore an uncanny resemblance to its contemporary, the fairy queen (EIR-22).
Made in the UK, the loco arrived by ship in India in 1855. After being taken out of service in 1909, it spent a century as a display object at the Jamalpur Workshop and Howrah Station, rusting away in sun and rain. At this time, many of its parts had either gone missing or almost completely rusted.
Following its restoration though, the grand old loco seem to adopt modern technology like GPS-based speedometers with ease.
A century ago it would have been normal for the steamer to barrel along, but on Sunday, it was the cynosure of the public who watched it with wild curiosity.
Such an attention is justified when the locomotive in question is the world’s oldest, which was brought out of retirement for a brief ride.
Cheered by heritage enthusiasts, the 162-year-old engine began its journey from the Chennai Egmore station to Kodambakkam, just a few kilometres away.
The successful ride of the locomotive, EIR-21, which hauled a single coach with Southern Railway officials, was the sixth run of the world’s oldest working engine that bore an uncanny resemblance to its contemporary, the fairy queen (EIR-22).
Made in the UK, the loco arrived by ship in India in 1855. After being taken out of service in 1909, it spent a century as a display object at the Jamalpur Workshop and Howrah Station, rusting away in sun and rain. At this time, many of its parts had either gone missing or almost completely rusted.
Following its restoration though, the grand old loco seem to adopt modern technology like GPS-based speedometers with ease.