Historical steam run celebrating 51st Railway Week

Mumbai, Apr 9 (UNI) And we thought gone were the days of royalty chugging out on a puffing steam engine pulling train.

The experience was recreated by the Western Railways marking the beginning of a long celebration of 'the 51st Railway Week'. The majestic 'Shahenshah' whistled and bustled out of Mumbai Central Station today, smelling of fresh paint, taking all its passengers down the bygone era.

'Heritage Steam Run' was organised by the Western Railway celebrating the Railway Week from April 9-16 and also the 151st anniversary of its forerunner, the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway (BC&CI).

The steam engine with seven coaches was flagged off,offering music and a red carpet treatment to all the passengers including former union petroleum minister,Ram Naik, school children and mediapersons on board.

Western Railway General Manager Rajkamal Rao said that from the modest beginnings in the 19th century, the railway today has become the lifeline of India and the glorious bygone steam era will be cherished by the generations to come. This steam run was a nostalgic attempt to look back into the past.

He said this steam engine 'Shahenshah' was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadephia, USA in 1947.

Mr Ram Naik said, ''In this day and age of electric engines, we shouldn't forget our humble beginnings. The steam engine is part of our past, our heritage. As we move forward, we need to give the respect and prestige our history deserves.'' Driver of the Heritage Steam Run Gurmeet Singh said, ''The training for the steam engines was stopped 15 years ago but the engine is used from time-to-time showcasing our rich heritage. We must bring it out more often for the common man to see and move forward with the glorious pictures of the past encouraging him to go on and progress.'' UNI ARM PP PK KP1802