Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway has completed the restoration of a historic 112-year-old steam locomotive, now featured in an upgraded display at the organization's headquarters in Maligaon. General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava officially inaugurated the renovated engine on May 26, 2026, alongside other senior officials.
Originally manufactured in 1914 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, the C Class Narrow Gauge engine is a piece of British-era history. The locomotive, known as No. 808, was part of a 4-6-2 Pacific Class series. It once worked alongside its twin, engine No. 807, hauling freight loads reaching 800 tonnes on the Kishanganj Extension of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
The locomotive remained in service as a shunting pilot at Siliguri following the 1948 gauge conversion of the Siliguri-Kishanganj line. It was eventually retired in the 1960s. Before this latest refurbishment, the engine had long served as a static display piece at the NFR campus.
Work on the engine was carried out by the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at New Bongaigaon. To improve the exhibit for visitors and railway enthusiasts, the team added decorative lighting plus synchronized sound and smoke effects. Railway officials stated that the project serves as a commitment to maintaining India's industrial heritage and educating the public about the steam era.
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