The Fairy Queen Tour
The petite engine worked from Howrah to Ranigunj (121
miles) on its maiden journey in 1885. Till 1908, it was
a faithful servant to its masters, hauling trains, chugging
distances, when it was considered for retirement. The
years 1908 to 1971 were spent in oblivion, but it survived
the ravages of time. In 1971, it became an exhibit of
the National Rail Museum as many fossilised items do.
But, in its chequered history, destiny had written many
great things. Life changed for the fairy queen dramatically
in 1997 when after a complete over haul in Perambur Workshop
of the Southern Railway, it panted back to life. It pulled
its first tourist load on October 18, 1997, and graduated
to the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Oldest
Working Locomotive in January 1998. It is wonderful to
be part of history, to re-live the lost world. And what
is precisely what one does on the Fairy Queen tours.
Down The Memory Lane
The queen was all gloss and shine. A bronze chimney was
spewing out thick smoke from its crown into the air, which
thinned to a misty vapour as the engine warmed. There
was a metal windsock consisting of four cups fixed on
a pole, for the wind to be playful. Steam gushed out in
spurts from various crevices, until the driver decides
to let it out in a rush. Some show of strength that can
impress anyone around! The fairy queen in its effort of
building up steam, had caged the power of vapour so studiously.
Finally, the journey starts with a sweet long whistle,
then the train heaves and haws, and puffs, and coughs,
and pants purposefully to Alwar, some 145-km away. It
keeps on guzzling coal and water till it deposits the
passengers in a medieval setting at Alwar. |
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