The Hindu : Karnataka News : The `black beauty' revives memories of a bygone era

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 03, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

The `black beauty' revives memories of a bygone era

By Our Staff Correspondent

The vintage classic `Rajahamsa' chugs out of the Mysore railway station for the heritage ride to K.R. Nagar as children wave in delight at the passing train.

MYSORE, JUNE 2. Plumes of black smoke swirled up in the sky as a jet of vapour puffed out of the cylinders to create a distinct sound that belonged to a different era.

As the pistons heaved and the giant wheels rolled in synchronised motion it was a throwback to the vintage steam era of the Indian Railways.

The steam locomotive "Rajahamsa" was on duty hauling six carriages packed with children and invitees on a heritage ride from Mysore to K.R. Nagar and back to mark the silver jubilee of the Mysore Rail Museum.

When the locomotive gathered steam and hurtled past the station, heads turned and people stood to watch at level crossings and the open courtyards of their houses, while children dashed towards the track to watch the "engine" of which they had only heard about.

Reviving memories and conjuring up images of an age when the black beauties ruled the track, the heritage ride had elements of history that could be interesting to fans of the Railways. Like for instance, the broad-gauge steam locomotive — the WP Class Rajahamsa — which was chugging along the tracks was the same engine that recreated the historic run between Boribunder and Thane to mark the 150th anniversary of the Indian Railways.

Hauled by a diesel locomotive from Rewari in Haryana, this engine is commissioned for such special occasions and also participated in the anniversary celebrations organised by the Eastern Railways. And of the thousands of such steam locomotives that ruled the track till the early 1970s, only 10 have survived and are in working condition while the rest have come under the auctioneer's hammer to be sold as scrap. A point admitted by the Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Arvind Khare, who was among those enjoying the heritage ride.

But a few have made a comeback like the "Fairy Queen" which is recognised as the oldest running steam locomotive in the world. An early locomotive of East India Railway, the Fairy Queen was built in 1855 by Kitson Thompson and Hewton of Leeds. It got its present name in 1885 and was in operation till 1908 and was retired till it was revived and put back on wheels in 1997 after a thorough overhaul at Perambur in Chennai.

But fairy tales like the Fairy Queens are rare. For the last steam locomotive was built in 1968 though the steam engines continued to be in operation till the 1980s. However, the main trunk routes saw the shift to diesel and subsequently went electric. But the Southern Railways was the last to phase out the steam engine and the Mysore-K.R. Nagar section saw steam locomotives in operation till as late as 1993 as Mr. Khare pointed out.

Cost was the prime factor. And a one-way trip to K.R. Nagar requires three tonnes of coal, which works out to Rs. 15,000 as fuel cost. The 34-km distance between Mysore and K.R. Nagar was covered in approximately 50 minutes. As the train entered K.R. Nagar there was a surprise in store. For schoolchildren had lined up along the platform to greet the steam locomotive. What followed was a photo session as rail enthusiasts waited in a queue in front of the steam engine to get themselves photographed to cherish the memory.

For the new generation on board the train the experience was exhilarating. As Bhavana, a Class X student of St. Joseph's School, Mysore, exclaimed: "It was a memorable experience: the sound, the whistle ... Never seen or experienced anything like this before but had only heard our father describe it. We enjoyed the ride and I will share this with out friends and classmates.'' A view shared by her brother, Rohan of JSS Public School. So it was for over 250 students on board the train.

A short break for the engine to be uncoupled and it reversed for the return trip back to Mysore on the same track. Gathering pace and spewing steam, the Heritage Special screeched to halt near a crossing. For the line had to be kept clear for the Shatabdi Express which sped past without so much as a glance at the "Rajahamsa." Perhaps, it was a pithy reminder that the times of the steam engine were long over and they have been supplanted by the diesel and the electric locomotives in the era of Shatabdis and the Rajdhanis.

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