Call it Ganesha’s blessings or the BJP government’s gifts to Mysore. The world’s oldest steam locomotive and oldest bridge will soon enhance the city’s heritage value.
The world’s oldest steam locomotive is all set to chug into Mysore
MYSORE: Call it Ganesha’s blessings or the BJP government’s gifts to Mysore. The world’s oldest steam locomotive and oldest bridge will soon enhance the city’s heritage value.
The world’s oldest working steam engine, Fairy Queen, was built in 1855 by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson in the UK and was rolled out for the first time for East Indian Railway.
Now, Fairy Queen has chugged into Mysore. Considering the heritage importance attached to Fairy Queen, Mysore’s “industrial heritage” will make a total of six trips between Mysore and Nanjangud, a distance of about 23 km. The engine will make two trips each on October 2, 5 and 8, railway general manager Praveen Kumar said.
The 130-hp locomotive will run at a speed of 40kmph. It will lug along two small modern coaches accommodating 60 people. The ride, however, is only by invitation and for the media.
Nonetheless, tourists need not fret.
The other heritage structure — Kabini Bridge — which was built when the Wadiyars ruled Mysore, will be given a facelift soon. This is expected to make the bridge a tourist spot. The maintenance of the railway track, which still retains its sturdiness, is in progress.
Railway officials opine that this bridge was built in 1735 and is probably one of the oldest in the world. However, it was only in 1825 that trains were allowed to chug along it.
The bridge was is use until two years ago. However, officials decreed that the bridge would get damaged if the modern behemoths plied freely. Hence, they diverted the traffic to an alternative route built recently.
The railways will place heritage coaches from its museum onto the tracks over the bridge, which would be converted into a permanent photo gallery.
The gallery will be christened Gandhi and Railways and will be inaugurated on October 2.
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