Ever wondered how old the oldest operational train is? The answer is really old. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest steam locomotive all over the world may be the Fairy Queen in India. The Fairy Queen is old enough to put vintage trains like those of Heber Valley Railroad runs between Heber City and Vivian Park in Provo Cayon in Utah to shame.
Anyone who travels in India today might find how trains are central to India's transportation network and therefore are used by countless millions each year. It is not difficult to understand why the Fairy Queen is really a particular national treasure for India. India is a country having a very intimate history with trains. Arguably the greatest locomotive treasure for Canadia is the historic and stunning Rocky Mountaineer.
That old Old History of The Fairy Queen
The Fairy Queen was built in 1855 and it is today housed at the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum. It occasionally runs between New Delhi and Alwar in India. It's confusing precisely how old that's within the age of rail. 1855 is only just 2 yrs after the railways started operation in India.
- Age: Over 160 years of age
She is really old that they even saw service in the Indian Mutiny (or Rebellion) of 1857 once the British very nearly lost charge of India. In that war, she was used like a troop transport.
In 1972 she was given heritage status in India and was declared a national treasure.
The industrial revolution began in the United Kingdom, so at the moment, it was Britain which was the industrial powerhouse around the globe. The Fairy Queen was manufactured in northern England by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson within the city of Leeds. She was shipped to be certainly one of India's first locomotives in the same year. She was imported to Kolkata (then Calcutta), India.
- Built: In Leeds In England
Her first tasks would haul light mail trains in West Bengal but soon found other responsibilities in British India. She was retired from service in 1909 and was inactive for many years until she'd an entire overhaul. She spend her inactive time firstly on the pedestal outside Howrah station before being moved to the Railway Zonal Training School at Chandausi where she was something of the curiosity for the students.
- Retired: In 1909
- Designated: Designated a National Treasure In 1972
Later the Fairy Queen was restored by Loco Works Perambur, Chennai in 1996 and resumed commercial operations in 1997. Her first mission ended up being to complete a 2 day / one-night tourist circuit from Delhi to Alwar stopping for an overnight stay in Sariska Tiger Reserve
The Specifics Of The Fairy Queen
She were built with a broad (5'6″) gauge locomotive, weighs only 26 tons, has a power output of 130 horsepower, and can reach speeds as high as 40km/hr or 25 mph – considerably faster than the horse, oxen, or by foot alternatives during the day.
- Route: She Runs a Tourist Route Between Delhi and Alwar
- Certified: As The Oldest Working Locomotive By the Guinness Book of World Records
- Name: Officially Known (Boringly) As East Indian Railway Nr. 22 or East Indian Railways' EIR-22
- Weight: 26 Tons
- Horsepower: Her Output Is just 130 Horsepower
- Max Speed: She Can Reach a Speed of Up to 40km/hr or 25 mph
She isn't alone as there are other similar locomotives preserved that were also built by the British manufacturers during this period. Included in this are the Express which is a contender for the oldest operating steam locomotive on the planet (and in India.) However for simplicity's sake, we're only going with what the Guinness Book of Records says about this one.
- Express: The Sister Locomotive That May Really be Older
Rewari Railway Heritage Museum
Her home is the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum in Haryana in India (it had been formerly called the Rewari Steam Locomotive Shed). The facility itself is background and was built around 1893 and it is the only surviving steam locomotive shed in India.
Location: Around 2 Hours From New Dehli By Road
Today it houses some of India's last surviving steam locomotives – it is just across from the entrance to the Rewari railway station and 50 miles from India's National Rail Museum in New Delhi.
- Days Open: Seven days a week
- Opening Hours: 9:00 am to five:00 pm.
- Entrance: free
- Time Needed: Two to three hours
- Photography: Permitted at no charge.
