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HERITAGE TRAIN DETAIL

Fairy Queen Heritage Steam Train

Built in 1855 and returned to working service in 1997, Fairy Queen is one of the world's most celebrated surviving historic steam locomotives.

Route
Historic tourist operations: Delhi Cantonment – Rewari; earlier Delhi – Alwar tourism services
State
Delhi, Haryana and historically Rajasthan tourism circuit
Year started
1855 locomotive; restored to mainline tourist service in 1997
UNESCO status
Not a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Fairy Queen is one of the most important surviving locomotives in Indian railway history.

The locomotive was built in Leeds, England, in 1855 by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson for the East Indian Railway Company.

During its early career, it hauled light mail trains in eastern India and also performed other railway duties before being withdrawn from regular service in the early twentieth century.

After decades of preservation, Indian Railways restored Fairy Queen to full working condition. It returned to mainline operation in 1997.

The locomotive subsequently became internationally famous and was recognised by Guinness as the world's oldest steam locomotive in regular operation at the time.

Fairy Queen has hauled heritage tourist services including Delhi–Alwar and later Delhi Cantonment–Rewari runs, allowing passengers to experience the sights and sounds of nineteenth-century steam railway travel.

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