Title - SHER-E-PUNJAB 60-year-old heritage chugs off again

Amritsar: Steamloco WL-15005 was just another lost name in the Indian Railway heritage till it arrived at the Northern Railway mechanical workshop in Amritsar. The steam locomotive, which has the privilege of hauling the last broad gauge steam train, has gone for a makeover after being rehabilitated at the workshop. The new-look Sher-E-Punjab, as the locomotive has been named, was flagged off to make its journey to the Rewari steam locomotive centre of the Indian Railways, where it will find its temporary home.The new-look Sher-E-Punjab leaves for Rewari steam locomotive centre from the mechanical workshop in Amritsar on Monday. Photo: Vishal KumarThe heritage locomotive was flagged off by officials amid loud cheers, and will now be running special trains based at Heritage Shed Rewari. The engine, built in 1955 by UK-based Vulcan Foundry, was a mixed-class locomotive that made a historic run between Ferozepur and Jalandhar to haul the last broad gauge steam train on December 6, 1995.The steam locomotive got retirement from service in 1995, but the engine found a new lease of life, thanks to the engineers at the Northern Railway workshop, Amritsar. "It was in a dilapidated condition when it arrived here, needing almost every possible replacement. Major repair done with the engine were with its drag box, replacement of steel members, axle boxes, corroded coal bunkers and superficial welding to uplift its look," shared GC Singh, Deputy Chief Engineer at the workshop.

Railway employee puts coal to power the engine.

The Black Beauty, as it was called, is now fit to run special tourism-based trains and be part of exhibitions across the country.

"It's been nearly 20 years that the steam locomotives have been phased out. These locomotives are now hired for shooting purposes in movies, at a rate of Rs 40,000 to 50,000. Now, we want to keep the era alive in the memories of people. Not just in movies, they will also be able to see the steam locomotives in reality and understand how they were run, at the Heritage Shed Rewari," said Singh. Sher-E-Punjab had its share of limelight when it was used to shoot some climax scenes in the film 'Gadar - Ek Prem Katha'.

"The almost 60-year-old steam locomotive engine WL 15005 had its final run from Ferozepur to Jalandhar on December 6, 1995. Earlier, it was involved in an unfortunate accident due to bursting of boiler tubes on December 6, 2007. As it was first run in Punjab, it was named Sher-E-Punjab," Singh said.

The journey

* The new-look Sher-E-Punjab, as the locomotive has been named, was flagged off to make its journey to the Rewari steam locomotive centre of the Indian Railways, where it will find its temporary home

* The engine, built in 1955 by UK-based Vulcan Foundry, was a mixed-class locomotive that made a historic run between Ferozepur and Jalandhar to haul the last broad gauge steam train on December 6, 1995.

Fatal cases

* Recently, a 13-year-old boy identified as Nishan Singh was electrocuted to death while he was retrieving a kite struck in high-tension wires.

* Vikram Singh (12) of Sangar village (Khadoor Sahib) lost his thumb and a couple of fingers of his right hand