Rlys get Rs 40 cr for making steam locos for NMR

Tiruchirapalli, Nov 1 (UNI) The Railway Board has sanctioned Rs 40 crore for the manufacture of four oil-fired steam locomotives for the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), according to Chief Mechanical Engineer, Southern Railway, V Carmelus.

He told the press yesterday the locomotives would be manufactured at the Golden Rock Railway workshop here as it had the designs and technical knowhow.

The first loco would roll out in 18 to 24 months. In three years, all the locos, belonging to the 'X' class would be ready.

At present, seven steam locos were being operated between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, of which two were oil-fired and the rest coal-fired.

The steam locos operated were imported from Switzerland and between 50 and 90 years old, he added.

The surplus metre gauge locomotives (MG) in the possession of the Railways were being exported to various countries.

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