Fairy Queen - World Oldest Running Steam Engine

The Fairy Queen as seen during the parade of steam engines on 02-February-2007.

==== About the Fairy Queen ====

A Guinness World Record holder, this engine is the pride of the Indian Railways. It is the world's oldest locomotive in working condition. Built in 1855 by Kitson Thompson and Hewitson of Leeds, U.K. this engine has once again been pressed into service on popular demand since 27-Sep-1997 and has been periodically hauling tourist trains between Delhi Cantonment and Alwar. This engine was the first exhibit to be brought to the National Rail Museum in New Delhi, India, at the time of the laying of its foundation stone in 1971. This locomotive is said to have hauled troop trains to Raniganj during the 1857 War of Independence.

The engine weighs 26 tonnes, has a gauge of 5' 6", coal capacity of 2 tonnes(app.), wheel arrangement with 2-2-2 T WT and Stephenson valve gear.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Fairy
• Queen
• worlds
• oldest
• running
• steam
• engine
• locomotive
• indian
• railways

[GenghisKhan44]

Course, Britain's "Lion" could overtake The Faery Queen, too, if its museum reps wouldn't be so scared of taking her out for a steam.

I wonder why they let her out for a steam in 1952, then? (Titfield Thunderbolt and all that, eh, chappies?)

[TheSteamdriver]

that looks like a modified stirling single whee; arrangment 2.2.2 the first ones I belive had tenders and not tanks and bunkers but I suppose it had to modified to work on the indian railways a very good example of british engerneering to build and design trains and very good indian engerneering for maintaing stuff in such good working quailty well done to both india and us brits

[hyzercreek]

Oldest operable is the john bull in the smithsonian. Built 1831 gets fired up and running at the museum every 30 years or so, last time I think was 1990's

[denaltheclonetrooper]

What about furrniss railway no.20

[73Datsun180B]

@GenghisKhan44 They don't steam it anymore because apparently there's a lot of stress cracks appearing throught the locomotive. What else would you expect from a loco thats been in regular use for 180 years!!

[vpsn99]

It is interesting to see that oldest running engine in India rather than Britain where such engines were used to built. Planing to take a trip on this train with my family in coming year.

[appleintosh]

looks like something you'd find at disneyland

[Fireheart528]

@GenghisKhan44 #3985 is the best one out there thats currently running; 'twould be my dream job if i could get a job with that one's crew. The words 'muzza chunku' are Native American for  'iron road', but the word 'muzza' means practically any kind of metal. A lot of people also refer to it as the 'high iron', but i have no idea where that one came from.

[GenghisKhan44]

@Fireheart528 I don't know what a muzza chunku is, but I believe you. Big American locomotives have a grandeur of their own. Ever seen videos of the Challenger? Quite a majestic engine, she is. :)

[Fireheart528]

@GenghisKhan44 True, #844 hasn't been around as long. Still one of the best locomotives to ever ride the muzza chunku of the USA's railroad network.

[GenghisKhan44]

@Fireheart528 Not quite. The Lion was built in the 1830s.

[Fireheart528]

@GenghisKhan44 The USA can make a claim similar to that too. #844, which was built in 1944, is STILL running, and has never been retired.