Essential Repairs
With just a few routes on Indian Railways where steam still held sway in 1997, the locomotives were on their last legs, and it was undoubtedly a challenge to keep them at work, as they were in a very run down condition.
The engines were sent north for repair at Ajmer, but it’s likely that they were withdrawn from service when any major problems occurred, so small depots like this at Chittorgarh would have to do the best they could to keep their locomotives going.
Very nice image. Not only were they challenging for upkeep but could be lethal. When doing an oral history project about the steam trains that ran from Jacksonville, Florida to Savannah, George engineers and firemen would describe when boilers burst under excessive steam pressure. As a result lives were lost and insurance rates climbed.
Indeed Tim, but very rare after the end of the nineteenth century.
Reblogged this on Old IR Memorabilia and other collectibles and commented:
Amazing Steam locomotive photos
Thanks very much for reblogging.