WP-7200 'Azad' --- It is the class that marked the change of coding system from 'X' to 'W' for broad gauge locomotives in Indian Railway system post-independence. This locomotive WP # 7200 was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works at Philadelphia, USA in the year 1947, is the first of 16 prototypes that were handed over to Indian Railways from the Baldwin which marked the advent of American locomotives in Indian soil. These 2680 hp, 101.5 ton steamers with 'Pacific' 4-6-2 wheel arrangement were capable of doing up to 110 kmph and are equipped with Walschaerts valve gear. With two outside cylinders, 18.5 ton axle load & a tractive effort of 15.03 tons, these locos used to carry 25,000 litres of water & 15 ton of coal at a time. The first 16 prototypes which arrived in 1947 from Baldwin were labeled WP/P and numbered as 7200-15.

Some articles/souces narrates that this loco was handed over to Indian Railways on the 15th of August 1947, India's Independence Day, though it physically arrived on the Indian soil not before October 1947. This adds to the historic importance of this locomotive thus initially called as 'Shahjahan' later has been re-christened 'Azaad', meaning 'free' in hindi. This locomotive was a part of Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR), Bombay Baroda & Central India Railway (BB&CI), East Indian Railway (EIR) before eventually transferred to Northern Railway later. Homed at Moradabad shed this locomotive was later shifted to Saharanpur shed from where it retired from active service in May 1987 and ultiamtely preserved at National Rail Museum. Later the steamer was again restored to full working order with speed restricted to 45 kmph and finally homed at Rewari Stem loco shed labelled as the working heriatge. Which made this loco a frequent choice for a number of Heritage runs across the country. Here was one such occassion of the HWH-BDC Heritage run commemorating the 155 years of Eastern Railway. Photographed by Somsubhra Das. D.O.P. - 16th August 2009.