Ooty: While steps are underway to make the 99-year-old coal-fired steam locomotive of Swiss origin, the lone surviving coal-fired heritage steam locomotive in Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), into an exhibit piece at the Ooty railway station, there is a growing chorus to use it to introduce ‘footplate ride’ in Ooty railway station yard to enhance train-based tourism, income and economy.
It was indeed surprise to see on Friday morning that the old coal-fired locomotive was being taken to Coonoor railway station from Mettupalayam, wherein it had been resting for sometime after the introduction of four oil-fired indigenous steam locomotives in the recent times.
Railway sources said that they would overhaul the coal-fired locomotive and ready it in such a way to keep it as an exhibit-piece at the Ooty railway station yard in future. Meanwhile, K. Natarajan, president of the Heritage Steam Chariot Trust, an organisation of NMR aficionados, said that the 99-year-old coal-fired locomotive which is still operational, should be used to introduce foot-plate ride in the railway station yard in Ooty to further enhance the train based tourism potential and earn good income.
“In footplate ride, the fare will be slightly higher and the tourists can have the feel of the heritage steam ride in the Ooty railway station yard. This will help the hill train lovers to enjoy a ride and have a train driving experience, in the loco-cabin along with expert loco operators and helping them in the filling of coal and related works. This type of ride is quite popular in some western countries, as train lovers always would show great interest in travelling in steam locomotives, which paved way for railway revolution in the past,” he added.
