Celebrating World Heritage Day !
Although, World Heritage Day is mostly meant for historical monuments & sites, here is one of those many examples which has bagged the heritage tag from the perspective of Indian Railways.
Presenting...
more... the Guinness World Record holder of the World's Oldest Running Steam Locomotive, EIR 22 (East Indian Railway-22) christened as the "FAIRY QUEEN". The locomotive was built by Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson, England in the year 1855 with a wheel arrangement of 2-2-2T. It served the Howrah- Raniganj stretch for a long time after it was pressed into service. Later, it was shifted to Bihar and was in service till 1909. In 1998, it was restored by Perambur Loco Works & subsequently, in the same year it earned the Guinness World record of oldest steam locomotive in service. However, as of today EIR-21 , the elder sibling of the Fairy Queen happens to be the oldest running steam loco in the world. Both EIR-21 & EIR-22 were built in the year 1855 & withdrawn in 1909. EIR-22 was restored in 1998 & became the Guinness World Record holder but back then EIR-21 was still out of service until its restoration much later in 2011 by Perambur Loco Works.
The heritage tag in IR has had other contenders too which includes few smaller gauge (MG/NG) rail roads, locomotives, station buildings, etc. Some have bagged the heritage tag, some still live to tell their stories patiently waiting for their inclusion under the tag & some have unfortunately found their permanent place in history.
please wait...Translate to HindiChal, aaj World Heritage Day mana lete hain!
Haan, World Heritage Day zyada tar purani buildings aur sites ke liye hota hai, par sun ek aise mukable ka example hai, jisko Indian Railways ka heritage tag mila hai.
Pesh hai Guinness World Record holder, duniya ke sabse purane chal rahe Steam Locomotive ka, EIR 22 (East Indian Railway-22) jise "FAIRY QUEEN" ke naam se bhi jana jata hai. Locomotive bani thi 1855 mein England mein Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson ke dwara, 2-2-2T wheel arrangement ke saath. Bahut saal tak Howrah se Raniganj tak ki journey karti rahi. Baad mein ise Bihar shift kiya gaya aur yahan se 1909 tak chali. 1998 mein, ise Perambur Loco Works ne restore kiya aur usi saal ise Guinness World record mila sabse purani steam locomotive hone ka. Abhi bhi EIR-21, Fairy Queen ke bade bhai ki tarah, duniya mein sabse purana chal rahe steam loco hai. Dono, EIR-21 aur EIR-22, 1855 mein banaye gaye aur 1909 mein retire hue. EIR-22 ko 1998 mein restore kiya gaya aur usne Guinness World Record jeeta lekin us waqt EIR-21 abhi tak service mein nahi tha jab tak uski restoration 2011 mein Perambur Loco Works ne nahi ki.
IR mein heritage tag milne wale aur bhi contenders hain jo include karte hain kuch chote gauge (MG/NG) rail roads, locomotives, station buildings, etc. Kuch heritage tag jeet chuke hain, kuch ab tak intezaar kar rahe hain, aur kuch ka permanent jagah mil chuka hai history mein.
