Fairy Queen (locomotive)

File:Rewari Railway Heritage Museum.JPG (formerly Rewari Steam Locomotive Shed) is the home of the Fairy Queen.]]

The locomotive was constructed by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson at Leeds, in England, in 1855,{{cite news |title=Luxury on wheels: Royal trains of India |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/travel/luxury-on-wheels-royal-trains-of-india-101669969207692.html |access-date=18 February 2023 |work=Hindustan Times |date=2 December 2022 |language=en}} and reached Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, in the same year.{{cite book |last=Rao |first=Jammi Srinivasa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-78QewtubgoC&q=%22Fairy+Queen%22+%22locomotive%22&pg=PA32 |title=History of Rotating Machinery Dynamics |publisher=Springer Science and Business Media |year=2011 |isbn=978-94-007-1164-8 |location=Dordrecht |pages=32 |access-date=8 January 2013 |url-access=limited |via=Google Books}} On arrival, it was given fleet number "22" by its owner, the East Indian Railway Company; it was named in 1895.{{cite news |last1=Sood |first1=Jyotika |title=162-year-old Fairy Queen train to grace railway tracks again |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/TBBlHIZ3NjttVkosonmrnL/162yearold-Fairy-Queen-train-to-grace-railway-tracks-again.html |access-date=18 February 2023 |work=Mint |date=10 February 2017 |language=en}} Initially, the {{track gauge|5ft6in}} gauge locomotive was used to haul light mail trains in West Bengal, operating between Howrah and Raniganj, and during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 hauled troop trains. Subsequently, the train was consigned to a line construction duty in the state of Bihar, where it served until 1909.{{cite news |title=World's oldest steam engine will ferry people between Delhi and Rewari from February 11 - On track |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/infrastructure/worlds-oldest-steam-engine-fairy-queen-will-ferry-people-between-delhi-and-rewari-from-february-11/piece-of-history/slideshow/57094326.cms |access-date=18 February 2023 |work=The Economic Times}}{{cite news |title=World's Oldest Working Steam Engine 'Fairy Queen' Ready to Haul Heritage Train Once Again |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158386 |access-date=18 February 2023 |work=pib.gov.in |publisher=Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of Railways}}

The Fairy Queen spent the next 34 years on a pedestal outside Howrah station.{{harvnb|Ahrons, British Steam Railway Locomotive|page=142}} In 1943, the locomotive was moved to the Railway Zonal Training School at Chandausi, in Uttar Pradesh, where it served as a curiosity object for many of the students based there.

A number of similar locomotives were built around the same time as the Fairy Queen. These were supplied by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson and also by Stothert, Slaughter and Company of Bristol. One of these, Stothert-built Express, had been preserved at Jamalpur Locomotive Workshop, in Bihar, since 1901.{{cite book|title=The British Steam Railway Locomotive|last=Ahrons|first=E.L. |author-link=E.L. Ahrons|volume=I, to 1925|publisher=Ian Allan|year=1966|ref={{harvid|Ahrons, British Steam Railway Locomotive}}|pages=141–142}} As the inscription on Express{{'}} pedestal claimed that it was the first locomotive to operate between Howrah and Raniganj, and it was numbered "21" by the East Indian Railway Company, it has been claimed that Express is the older of the two. Express was restored by Loco Works Perambur for running in 2011, making it a contender as the world's oldest operating steam locomotive.{{Cite news |author=Verma |first=M. Dinesh |date=16 August 2011 |title=At the age of 156, she is no mere showpiece |newspaper=The Hindu |location=Chennai |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/at-the-age-of-156-she-is-no-mere-showpiece/article61582148.ece |access-date=22 August 2022}}{{Cite news|title=Special run for oldest locomotive|newspaper=The Times of India|date=16 August 2011|location=Chennai|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-16/chennai/29892008_1_steam-engine-chennai-egmore-jamalpur-loco-works|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707062454/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-16/chennai/29892008_1_steam-engine-chennai-egmore-jamalpur-loco-works|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2012}} Express EIR 21 is currently running in different divisions of Southern Railway on weekends.{{Cite news |last=Varma |first=M. Dinesh |date=2018-07-25 |title=Time travel to the steam engine era |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/time-travel-to-the-steam-engine-era/article61582153.ece |access-date=2021-07-30 |issn=0971-751X}}

The Fairy Queen was built by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson at Leeds in England in 1855. The coal-fired engine is powered by two outside cylinders measuring {{convert|12|x|22|in|mm|0}}, and has a power output of {{convert|130|hp}}, producing a maximum speed of {{convert|40|km/h|mph}}. It carries {{convert|3000|L|impgal USgal}} of water in an underslung water tank. The locomotive weighs {{convert|26|t|1}}, and the coal tender {{convert|2|t|2}}.{{cite web|title=The Fairy Queen |url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,2,320,378,1062 |publisher=Indian Railways |access-date=8 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115175935/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0%2C2%2C320%2C378%2C1062 |archive-date=15 January 2013 }} Built for the {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge, it has a 2-2-2 wheel arrangement, developed by Robert Stephenson and Company in 1833, with a driving wheel measuring {{convert|1829|mm|in}} in diameter.{{cite web |date=November 2003 |title=Records of Robert Stephenson and Company, Locomotive Manufacturers, Newcastle upon Tyne |url=http://www.nrm.org.uk/~/media/Files/NRM/PDF/archiveslists2012/businesses/Intro%20to%20RS%20co%20archive%20%20drawing%20lists.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330224924/http://www.nrm.org.uk/~/media/Files/NRM/PDF/archiveslists2012/businesses/Intro%20to%20RS%20co%20archive%20%20drawing%20lists.pdf |archive-date=30 March 2015 |access-date=23 February 2013 |publisher=National Railway Museum}}

The Indian government bestowed heritage status on the Fairy Queen in 1972, rendering it a national treasure. It was restored and given a special spot in the newly built National Rail Museum at Chanakyapuri, in New Delhi,{{cite news |title=Amid tussle between NRM & IRCTC, railways' souvenir shop at New Delhi station in trouble |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-tussle-between-nrm-irctc-railways-souvenir-shop-at-new-delhi-station-in-trouble-6160625/ |access-date=18 February 2023 |work=The Indian Express |date=11 December 2019 |language=en}} which offers a comprehensive history of the Indian railway's defunct and operational models, their signalling apparatus, antique furnitures used, historic photographs, relevant literature, etc.{{cite news |title=How well do you know India? This Independence Day weekend, here are 10 museums to test your GK |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/how-well-do-you-know-india-this-i-day-weekend-here-are-10-museums-to-test-your-gk/articleshow/93345753.cms |access-date=18 February 2023 |work=The Economic Times |date=5 August 2022}}

Following the success of the Palace on Wheels, the locomotive was restored to full working order in 1997, in preparation for its first mainline journey in 88 years and its return to commercial service on 18 July. The two-day excursion saw the train plying the {{convert|143|km|mi}} from New Delhi to Alwar in Rajasthan, with passengers spending an overnight stay at the Sariska Tiger Reserve. The locomotive hauled a carriage capable of carrying 60 passengers at a maximum speed of {{convert|40|km/h|mph}}, with a service car holding a generator, compressor and pantry. The operation was repeated between December and February in the following years.{{cite web |date=21 December 2012 |title=Fairy Queen All Set to Embark on Her Maiden Voyage |url=http://www.travpr.com/pr-20488-fairy-queen-all-set-to-embark.html |access-date=8 January 2013 |publisher=TravPR}}{{cite book |last1=de Bruyn |first1=Pippa |url= |title=Frommer's India |last2=Bain |first2=Keith |last3=Allardice |first3=David |last4=Joshi |first4=Shonar |publisher=Wiley Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-470-55610-8 |edition=Fourth |location=Hoboken |pages=60 |access-date= |url-access=}} It was certified by the Guinness Book of Records in 1998 as the world's oldest steam locomotive in regular operation.{{cite web|title=National Rail Museum|url=https://www.angelfire.com/ak5/nrmindia/fairyqn.htm|publisher=S Shankar|access-date=9 January 2013}} The following year, the train received a National Tourism Award for the most innovative and unique tourism project from Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India.

In 2011, it was discovered that rare locomotive parts that were "as good as irreplaceable" had been stolen, and the locomotive was moved to Perambur Loco Workshop at Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, for repair.{{cite news |last=Dastidar |first=Avishek G |date=23 December 2011 |title=Fairy Queen Loot: No FIR, Only a Cover-up Plan |newspaper=The Indian Express |location=New Delhi |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/fairy-queen-loot-no-fir-only-a-coverup-plan/ |access-date=22 August 2022}} On arrival, it was found that an estimated 50 to 60 parts had been looted, including "the boiler, condensor, lubricator and flow tubes". The Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer at the workshops stated "What we received is a dead body, a piece of metal whose every removable part has been removed, leaving only the metal shell. The list of parts to be procured is huge." Officials estimated that it could take at least a year to restore the engine, even if suppliers of replacement parts could be found.{{cite news |last=Dastidar |first=Avishek G |date=23 January 2012 |title=Fairy Queen Is in Need of a Magic Wand |newspaper=The Indian Express |location=New Delhi |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/fairy-queen-is-in-need-of-a-magic-wand/ |access-date=22 August 2022}} Following a substantial rebuild, in which the workshops had to construct the missing parts themselves, the locomotive returned to service on 22 December 2012.{{cite web|title=Steam Express: Fairy Queen|url=http://www.indianluxurytrains.com/heritage-trains/steam-express|publisher=Indian Luxury Trains|access-date=8 January 2013|archive-date=1 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101213009/http://www.indianluxurytrains.com/heritage-trains/steam-express|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Chandra |first=Nikhil |title=Indian Luxury Trains Adds 'Fairy Queen' to its Portfolio |url=http://www.indianluxurytrains.com/news/steam-express-fairy-queen-train-23539.html |publisher=Indian Luxury Trains |date=21 December 2012 |access-date=8 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101213354/http://www.indianluxurytrains.com/news/steam-express-fairy-queen-train-23539.html |archive-date= 1 January 2013 }}{{dubious|date=November 2013}}

In 1998, the train was certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest steam locomotive which was currently in regular operation.{{cite news |title=Goodbye Fairy Queen: All about world's oldest steam locomotive to be replaced by Vande Bharat train at the Rail Bhavan |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/goodbye-fairy-queen-all-about-world-s-oldest-steam-locomotive-to-be-replaced-by-vande-bharat-train-at-the-rail-bhavan/830203 |access-date=18 February 2023 |work=Times Now |language=en}}

In 1999, it received a National Tourism Award for the most innovative and unique tourism project from the then prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The locomotive served as the basis for Rajiv from Thomas and Friends.

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• Luxury rail in India

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{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

• [http://www.royalindiantrains.com/fairy-queen.html Fairy Queen website]
• [http://www.rangan-datta.info/Jewels%20of%20time.htm Rangan Datta: Jewels of Time: Delhi National Rail Museum]
• [http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/histk.asp A M Johnson and K Ward: A Brief History of Kitson and Company]
• {{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/time-travel-to-the-steam-engine-era/article24508707.ece|title=Time travel to the steam engine era|last=Varma|first=M. Dinesh|date=2018-07-25|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}

{{Indian Luxury Trains}}

{{Indian Railways}}

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1855

Category:Individual locomotives of India

Category:Steam locomotives of India

Category:Preserved steam locomotives of India

Category:Passenger locomotives

Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives

Category:Luxury trains in India

Category:Tourism in Delhi

Category:Tourism in Haryana

Category:Tourism in Rajasthan

Category:2-2-2WT locomotives