27 September 2014

Tourist train 'Akbar' to commence tiger sighting journey in October

 A tourist train hauled by vintage steam engine 'Akbar' is all set to commence its journey to Alwar from October 11. Manufactured at the Chittranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), the 49-year-old steam engine is is one of the last surviving remnants of the steam era.

The two-coach train will be hauled by the steam locomotive carrying visitors for tiger sighting at Sariska National Park, said a senior Railway Ministry official. The train starts its journey from Delhi Cantonment Station and travels to Alwar in Rajasthan through Rewari on a tour package which includes a visit to the national park near Alwar.

According to the itinerary, the train will travel between October to April next year on every second and fourth Saturdays, starting from October 11 in subsequent years 2015 and 2016 also.
The loco has been named after the great Mughal emperor.

After remaining out of service for many years, 'Akbar' was restored, overhauled and reclaimed in full-working condition at the Amritsar Workshop of the Northern Railway in October 2012 and restarted hauling this tourist train in 2013. Currently it is stationed at the Rewari Steam Locomotive heritage shed.

The engine has been in the news after being featured in the film Bhag Milkha Bhag.