Darjeeling toy train - UK engineers enhanced 84-year-old steam locomotive

Siliguri, March 12.TT: Two UK engineers have successfully “enhanced power” of an 84-year-old steam locomotive of the Darjeeling toy train to haul carriages during a training for railway employees at the Tindharia workshop.

The “Queen of the Hills” (B806) effortlessly hauled three coaches uphill from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) workshop to Tindharia station covering a distance of 1.3km on March 4.

The loco was overhauled by David Mead, the director of engineering of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society (DHRS), the UK-based association of toy train lovers, and steam engineer Mike Weedon as part of their agreement with the DHR to train the workshop employees in the repair of steam engines.

The training that started in August last year was conducted in the course of three visits by the British experts.

Mead said DHR director P.P. Roy had sought the help of the DHRS to resolve issues with B Class locos of the hill railway in January last year.

“The plea came during a meeting between Roy and Clive Thompson of Darjeeling Tours Limited (the DHRS’s travel firm). I met the director during my visit to India in March 2011 and promised him to get the approval of the DHRS Board to conduct a training for the DHR employees. We are aware that the employees adept at the repair of steam engines have retired from the DHR and the existing workforce has forgotten the skills required for the locos,” Mead told The Telegraph at 12th annual general meeting of DHRS’s Indian Chapter held last week.

“The main objective of the Society in this project was to revive the employees’ steam skill by helping them identify defects and restore engines using machinery at the workshop,” he added.

Weedon, an engineer with nearly 30 years of experience in the steam railways, joined Mead in conducting the training. The duo were scouting for an engine that needed major improvement when they encountered B806 in the Siliguri loco shed in August. They said B806 had been built by the North British Glasgow Company in 1928.

“Most engines at the DHR are more than 100 years old. The locos’ capacity to haul coaches has deteriorated and their consumption of coal and water increased. B806, though in working condition, was facing problems in hauling loaded coaches uphill. It used to halt after travelling uphill for some time. We examined the engine and found that cylinder bores were worn out, pistons were of old designs and its rings were loose in the groove,” said Weedon, who owns a company that repairs miniature steam locos in the UK.

Mead and Weedon worked on the engine when they were at the workshop for four weeks in August. They re-bored the cylinders and produced and fixed new piston heads and rings of modern designs.

The work continued during their fortnight visit in November last year and four-week stint at the workshop in February and March this year.

“Simultaneously, we taught the employees to repair machine tools and showed them the procedures for restoration of the locos,” Mead said.

“Trial runs in the workshop during our initial visits were good. But our real test lay in running the engine uphill. On March 4, we ran B806 on a trial basis and it pulled three coaches uphill for 1.3kms in 10 minutes, proving that we successfully enhanced the power of the engine. We would have run it for a longer distance had it not been for the breaches on the tracks caused by landslides,” said Mead.

Paul Whittle, the vice-chairman of the DHRS, expressed his wish to carry on with the technical assistance to the heritage railways.

“The work done by our two engineers is commendable but it wouldn’t have been possible without the active co-operation of Mr Roy and the Indian Railways. We will have more credibility while we co-operate with the DHR in future for further training. Discussions are on with the DHR to continue the technical assistance from the DHRS,” Whittle said.

The toy train authorities appreciated the assistance offered by the DHRS. “Members of the DHRS have been providing technical assistance to the workshop. We appreciate it and welcome their assistance in future too,” said Roy.