Fairy Queen (locomotive)
| EIR 22 Fairy Queen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Numbering: | 1855-1881: 22 1881-1884: 92 1884-1907: 101 |
| Number: | 1 |
| Manufacturer: | Kitson Thompson and Hewitson , Leeds , England |
| Year of construction (s): | 1855, restored 1997 |
| Retirement: | 1908 |
| Type : | 1A1 n2t |
| Gauge : | 1,676 mm |
| Service mass: | 26 t |
| Top speed: | 40 km / h |
| Indexed performance : | 97 kW (130 hp) |
| Driving wheel diameter: | 1,829 mm (72 in) |
| Control type : | inside |
| Number of cylinders: | 2 |
| Cylinder diameter: | 305 mm (12 in) |
| Piston stroke: | 559 mm (22 in) |
| Water supply: | 3 m³ |
| Fuel supply: | 2 tons of coal |
| Speedometer: | No |
| Control: | inside |
| Coupling type: | UIC coupling with side buffer |
The Fairy Queen , also known as . East Indian Railway Company # 22 refers to is a 1854-built Indian broad gauge - steam locomotive , which was scrapped 1908th It was rebuilt by the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum - a railway museum located approximately 70 km southwest of New Delhi , and sometimes runs between Delhi Cantonment Station and the Railway Museum . The locomotive was listed in the 1998 Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest operational and regularly in service steam locomotive. The structurally identical East Indian Railway Company No. 21 Express is also operational and should be even older because of the one digit lower serial number.
history
The locomotive was built in England in 1855 by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson with the serial number 481 and reached Kolkata , which was then still known as Calcutta , in the same year . On arrival she received road number 22 from the East Indian Railway Company (EIR), which pushed the construction of the railway from Kolkata in the direction of Delhi. After several renumbering, the locomotive was named Fairy Queen in 1895 . The locomotive was initially used for light express trains in West Bengal that ran between Howrah and Raniganj . During the uprising of 1857, the locomotive was used in front of troop trains before being assigned to the construction service in Bihar , where it remained until it was scrapped in 1908. It was then installed as a monument locomotive in front of Howrah Station , one of Kolkata's two most important long-distance train stations, until 1943 , before it was installed in the Zonal training School at Chandausi near New Delhi. The locomotive was granted cultural heritage status by the Indian government in 1972, which made it part of the state treasury . It was externally refurbished and in 1973 transferred to the National Rail Museum of India in New Delhi, which opened in 1977.
Technical characteristics
The coal-fired tank locomotive has two outer cylinders positioned at an angle above the running plate, which give the locomotive an output of 130 hp. The maximum speed is 40 km / h. 3 m³ of water of operating materials are carried in an underfloor tank, while the 2 t coal container is located behind the drivers. A roof without side and front walls provides poor protection for drivers from the weather.
Operational reconditioning
After the success of the Palace on Wheels luxury train launched for tourists in 1982 , the second tourist project was the refurbishment of the Fairy Queen . The locomotive was restored to working order in 1997, so that it was able to drive a main line again for the first time in 88 years. Commercial operation with two four-axle passenger coaches began on July 18, 1997. One of the coaches is reserved for the 60 travelers, while the second coach with generator , compressor and food supplies serves as a service vehicle. The two-day trip leads from New Delhi via Rewari to Alwar in Rajasthan , 143 km away , with travelers staying overnight in Sariska National Park . The train only runs during the tourist-attractive winter season - at the beginning of December to February, later until April, with two trips per month. In 1999 the train was awarded the National Tourism Prize for the most innovative and unique tourism project by the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee .
In 2004 the Fairy Queen returned for the first time to the Perambur locomotive workshop near Chennai for regular maintenance .
In May 2011, when the locomotive was parked unattended in Delhi, it was a victim of metal thieves. The 50 to 60 brass parts that were difficult to replace included the steam whistle , pressure gauges and their supply lines, lubrication lines, stuffing boxes and oilers. At first it seemed uncertain whether to come back to terms with it. However, the locomotive returned to Perambur for repairs in December 2011, where most of the missing parts had to be manufactured in-house. During the failure of the Fairy Queen , the special train operated with the WP 7161 . The Fairy Queen returned to service in February 2012.
Individual evidence
- ^ The Fairy Queen: the World's Oldest Working Locomotive. In: Sterling Holidays Blog. Retrieved May 1, 2014, July 15, 2018 (American English). The picture in the article shows the golden letters EIR 22 on the push bar, which indicate the railway company and the locomotive number.
- ^ 'Steam Express' to run between Delhi cantonment-Rewari from tomorrow: All you need to know. The Indian Express, October 13, 2017, accessed September 24, 2018 .
- ↑ 'Fairy Queen', world's oldest steam engine, back in action. In: The Tribune. February 11, 2017, accessed July 15, 2018 .
- ↑ SSK Rail World: EIR 21 "Express" | 1855 Built, The Oldest Working Steam Locomotive | Heritage Run 2017 |. In: Youtube. September 10, 2017, accessed July 15, 2018 .
- ^ A Brief History of Kitson & Co. In: Leeds Engine Builders. Accessed July 15, 2018 .
- ↑ a b c Which is the World's Oldest Working Locomotive? . Pitara Kids Network. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ↑ a b World's Oldest Steam Locomotive Fairy Queen Back On Track . In: Getty Images . ( Downloaded at [accessed July 15, 2018]).
- ↑ Fairy Queen All Set to Embark on Her Maiden Voyage . TravPR. December 21, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ↑ a b The Fairy Queen . Indian Railways. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ↑ a b Avishek G Dastidar: Fairy Queen Is in Need of a Magic Wand . In: The Indian Express , January 23, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ A b Fairy Queen Vandalized - British Built Locomotive Faces Uncertain Future . In: Getty Images . August 25, 2011 ( gettyimages.de [accessed July 15, 2018]).
- ↑ Avishek G Dastidar: FairyQueen loot: no FIR, only a cover-up plan. In: Indian Express. Retrieved December 23, 2011, July 15, 2018 (UK English).
- ↑ Fairy Queen Train. Royal Indian Trains, accessed July 15, 2018 .
- ↑ Indian Luxury Trains Adds 'Fairy Queen' to its portfolio. Retrieved July 15, 2018 .