History behind EIR 21

The name ‘EIR 21 Express’ was given to the loco by its creators, Kitson,
Thompson & Hewitson of England, who built it in 1855. The loco was shipped
to the Indian subcontinent, to span high and low lands. It carried people from
different walks of life and heavy cargos for over 55 years.

Back in the day, travelling in the EIR 21 Express was nothing short of an
adventure to passengers who cheered as the whistle blew.

The loco service was discontinued in 1909. It was then used for exhibitions at
Jamalpur Workshops and Howrah Station for over a century. After 101 years
of serving as an exhibit, the loco endured harsh sun and heavy rains, which
corroded several parts. While some parts went missing, some broke and
some were deemed unfit for usage.

Shining a ray of hope, Loco Workshop, Perambur, took up the challenge of

reviving the Express EIR 21 in 2010.

It has now been eternalized like its twin sister loco, Fairy Queen EIR 22, which
also won the Guinness Book of World Records Title, ‘The World’s Oldest
Working Steam Loco.’

But the ‘Express Loco’ is still considered older than the ‘Fairy Queen,’ both of
which had a history of hauling trains full of troops from Howrah to
Raneegunge to put down the Sepoy mutiny of 1857.

The refurbished EIR 21 is also famous for effortlessly adapting to modern-day

gizmos such as GPS-based speedometer.

The second heritage run was conducted the following year on the same day
from Chennai Egmore to Guindy, with the loco covering 11km in a duration of
35 minutes.

The third heritage run was conducted as part of the 63rd Republic Day
celebration, on January 26, 2012, from Chennai Egmore to Guindy. The loco
pulled one coach with 60 seats covering 11 km at a maximum speed of 45
kph.

The fourth heritage run was in commemoration of the loco’s 157th anniversary
on February 6, 2012, from Chennai Central to Perambur with one coach
having 60 seats covering 5km.
The fifth heritage run was conducted on January 26, 2013, as part of the 64th
Republic Day celebrations, from Chennai Egmore to Guindy with one coach
having 60 seats covering 11km.

Authorities including Vashishta Johri, general manager, Southern Railway, P

K Mishra, additional general manager, Southern Railway, R Kuppan, chief
mechanical engineer, Naveen Gulati, divisional railway manager, Chennai
Division, Elavarasan, chief signal and telecommunication engineer, and other
railway officials bore witness to the sixth heritage run.

The country’s oldest working steam locomotive, one which was used to
transport troops during the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857, is all set to chug into
Kochi, to ferry heritage enthusiasts and tourists to Vallarpadam island.
EIR-21, the steam locomotive, dates back to 1855 and in Kochi it will, in all
likelihood, traverse the country’s second-longest railway overbridge.
“A movement plan will be finalised within a week. The vintage loco is most
likely to operate in the Edappally-Vallarpadam route, providing passengers a
scenic view of the Vembanad backwaters. The view will especially be
spectacular when the train passes through the 4.62-km bridge,” said
Harikrishnan, Ernakulam station director and area manager of Southern
Railway.
The bridge and the entire 9-km rail route to Vallarpadam are grossly
underutilised and only two container-laden trains use the corridor every
month.
The steam loco rake is currently operating in the Madurai Railway Division.

In 10 days
The rake will arrive in Kochi in about 10 days. A proposal to enter into tie-
ups with operators of cruise ships that call at Kochi to enable high-end
globetrotters to travel on the train is yet to materialise.
Railway sources said that a skilled loco pilot would accompany the
locomotive and be based here till the rake left for another railway division in
a few months.
 The fare for the train is yet to be finalised.
“An alternative route for the heritage train is between the Cochin Harbour
terminus, a heritage railway station on Wellington Island, and Ernakulam
Junction, through the newly built Venduruthy railway overbridge, which too
overlooks the backwaters. Though it will not halt at any station in either
route, passengers can relish every moment of the journey,” Mr. Harikrishnan
said.
Built by Kitson Thompson and Hewitson Leeds in London, the EIR 21 loco
was shipped to India in 1855 for use by the erstwhile East Indian Railway.
EIR 21, along with her sister train Fairy Queen (EIR 22), was used for troop
movement in 1857.

Back from museum

After over five decades in service, it was withdrawn from regular service and
displayed at railway museums. It was later overhauled and retrofitted with
modern gadgets at Perambur Loco Works in Chennai.
Technical details

Made by: M/s Kitson Thomson & Hewitson Leeds

Year:1985