Fairy Queen History
The Fairy Queen, the oldest working Steam Locomotive in the world,
is a 2-2-2WT BG loco built in 1855 by Kitson, Thompson, & Hewitson for the British
firm, the East India Railway. It used to travel on the Howrah-Raniganj
line (121 miles) and later in Bihar till 1908. For the first time in the year
1895, it was christened as the fairy queen. Chronology of the Fairy
Queen 1855
- the steam locomotive was built and started its operation on Howrah-Raniganj
line. 1895
- Chiristened as 'Fairy Queen'. 1908
- Halted its operations 1971 - First
exhibition in National Rail Museum 1996
- Completely over hauled by ICF (Integral Coach Factory), Perumbur 1997
- Rejuvenated to work on main lines with a chair car and service car with a powerful
generator and compressor July 18, 1997
- made its first commercial Trip from Delhi to Alwar January13,
1998 - Certified as the world's oldest working locomotive by the Guinness
Book of World Records January25, 1999
- Received National Tourism Award for the most innovative and unique tourism project.
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