EIR-22 'Fairy Queen' --- Here comes the World Record Holder - world's oldest steam locomotive in regular service !!! Manufactured in the year 1855 by by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson at Leeds, in England, this broad-gauge locomotive was imported by the East Indian Railway and was commissioned in the same year, with road number EIR # 22, for light passenger train services between Howrah and Raniganj in West Bengal. This 130 hp locomotive with Robert Stephenson 'Patentee' 2-2-2 type wheel arrangement with the driving wheels measuring 6 feet in diameter. The locomotive is fired by coal and powered by two outside cylinders. It can do a maximum of 40 kmph, weighs 26 ton and can carry 3,000 litres of water in an underslung water tank.
During the Sipoy Mutiny in 1857 this loco was used to haul troop special trains as well and later it was transferred to Bihar where it served for line construction works until 1909. Post-retirement, the locomotive was displayed outside Howrah Railway Station for more than three decades till it was moved to Railway Zonal Training School at Chandausi in 1943. The locomotive's heritage status was formally recognized in 1972 following which it was moved to the National Rail Museum which opened in 1977. And finally after 88 years since its retirement, the 'Fairy Queen' restored to full working condition and returned for its first mainline journey (post restoration) on 18th July 1997 hauling a two coach train from Delhi to Alwar - a distance of 143 km. In the following year it was certified by Guiness Books of Records.
In 2011, the locomotive was extensively vandalized and looted by local goons at a railway shed in Delhi (undoubtedly the most troublesome & lawless place of India), all thanks to the then callous officials who were in-charge. It took more than 12 months for the Perambur Workshop to get the Fairy Queen back on track. Since then it was homed at Rewari Steam Loco shed at utmost care. Photographed by Somsubhra Das. D.O.P. - 16th August 2019.