India's biggest steam locomotive back in action

Kolkata, Nov 17 (UNI) India's biggest steam locomotive '' The Beyer Garrat'' today chugged out of station after a long gap of 35 years.

The locomotive, restored by the South Eastern Railway, was flagged off between Shalimar and Mecheda sections of Kharagpur division by West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

The N-class ''Beyer Garrat'' was the only locomotive of its kind to run anywhere in the world and has the largest water capacity of any Garratt ever manufactured - about 10,000 gallon.

The engine was imported from Beyer, Peacock and Company locomotive builders based in Gorton, East Manchester in 1929 by the Bengal-Nagpur Railway and remained in service till 1969.

'' The N-Class also holds the distinction of being the largest railway locomotive to run in India, '' Subhasis Ganguly, SE Railway's Chief Heritage Officer, said.

The restoration had been carried out under the guidance of AK Behara, Chief Works Manager at Kharagpur, along with a retired railway official, S Rangaswamy, and skilled artisans from the workshop.

'' Though the actual restoration was done in a year, the entire project has taken two years. There are more than 50 people involved in the project, '' Mr Ganguly said.

The locomotive was last used in 1970-71, he said.

SE Railway General Manager V K Raina said the train to be stationed in Kharagpur would run on seasonal basis.

UNI TJP SJC YA MIR KP2049