The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Second oil-fired steam loco for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 29, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Second oil-fired steam loco for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI, JULY 28. The Central Workshops, Golden Rock here, has manufactured the second oil-fired, steam locomotive for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR).

Christened "Himanand", the new narrow gauge locomotive has been manufactured with certain modifications and special features for better performance in the hilly terrain.

Weighing about 15 tonnes, the loco, belonging to the "B Class" type, has been manufactured at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crores over one and half years.

Both "Himanand" and "Himrathi", first oil-fired steam loco, also manufactured in the workshop in December last, will be sent to the DHR in three weeks, the Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer (Production), V. Ramachandran told The Hindu today. Trial runs of the two locomotives would be done on the DHR lines.

"Himanand" has pre-heating arrangement for water to improve boiler efficiency.

Further, the reservoir of the compressor has been relocated to retain the original shape of the loco. It resembles the original steam loco used on the DHR lines, years ago.

Improved design

Explaining the special features of "Himanand", Mr. Ramachandran said it was provided with a compressed air brake as a safety measure.

Provision was made for a generator set to provide power to the pumps to enable circulation of water for supply of fuel oil to the burner.

Besides, provision of a deflector plate in the firebox of the boiler was made. The design of the firebox had been improved for optimum heat transfer.

The small engine with four-wheel discs and two axles had a fuel tank with a capacity to hold 900 litres of diesel, besides a water tank with a capacity of 1,800 litres.

Mr. Ramachandran said the initial steam loco drawings were given by the North Frontier Railway and new components were designed by the Golden Rock Workshop.

The Railway Board had entrusted to the workshop the task of manufacturing three oil-fired steam locomotives for the DHR, based on its experience in manufacturing locos for the Nilgris Mountain Railway.

Prior to manufacturing the locos, an existing engine was brought from the DHR and converted into an oil-fired loco at the workshop here.

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