Oldest steam loco roped in for heritage run

Southern Railway will operate a heritage special train hauled by the oldest steam locomotive from Chennai Central to Avadi on August 15.

The oldest steam locomotive will haul two coaches. Leaving Chennai Central at 11 a.m., the heritage train is expected to reach Avadi by noon.

The locomotive which was at the workshop of Jamalpur was refurbished by Perambur Loco Works by a team of railway engineers and will be put into operation especially for the heritage run.

According to a press release, history will be recreated on that day when the heritage special will chug along the Basin Bridge, Vyasarpadi Jeeva, Perambur, Perambur Carriage Works, Loco Works and Villivakkam stations.

Though the steam traction is longer the primary mode of locomotion on Indian Railways, the romance of steam traction is undying. Southern Railway and the Chennai Division take pride in recreating a bit of the beautiful past on the occasion of the Independence Day, the release said.