Lucknow :

Thirty years after it undertook its last journey, and has been since stationed under a shed, a British-era train would start chugging soon once again. Only this time, its run would be curtailed from earlier 22.4km to 10km and it would ferry eco-tourists and won’t be laden with wooden logs.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath is keen to re-start the vintage train to give eco-tourism a boost in eastern UP. Railways has already completed the survey of the track and has found it fit for operation.

The train would run through the thick foliage of the lush green Sal trees in Laxmipur range of Maharajganj forest division which is famous for the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary having huge population of antelopes besides rare and endangered birds and wildlife.

This British-era train used to run on the 22.4km long track between Ikma and Chauraha that was laid in 1922 and got commissioned in 1924. It was the first track in the country which was laid in a forest only for transportation of timber. A raised platform and a beautiful yard still exist at Ikma.

“The track is still there though now most of it is covered with vegetation,” said Kuruvila Thomas, a forest official in Gonda.

Four engines and compartments of the train had been lying in Ikma since the train stopped operation in 1986. One of the engines, however, was brought to Lucknow Zoo in 2008.

The vintage train that used to run on a narrow gauge track of .625 metre had 56 bogies and four engines. Moreover, the train also had a saloon.

While the train earlier used to run on steam engine, it will now be driven by a diesel one.
The track that runs along Taungya villages has a parallel road alongside on which there is heavy movement of people all day through.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News> Politics / TNN / November 08th, 2017