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This section contains some unusual pictures. During a recent visit to the Golden Rock Workshops in Tiruchhirapalli (GOC at Trichy, to put it more simply), ISA came across some bizzare rebuilds and innovations. Here are some pictures. In all probability, some of these machines will probably never leave the shed itself, like the Hercules shunter and the YDM/4 converted to a bg engine by fitting it on a WDM/2 underframe. But some of them are serious rebuilds, and fellow member Apurva Bahadur has indeed spotted one of the flat faced WDM/2Cs on his trip in 2001 from Poona to Madras. (Pune to Chennai). Anyway, here goes:

1-2. Meet 'HERCULES', a bizzare looking works shunter built in-house at the Golden Rock Worshops in Tiruchhirapalli. This machine will be used as a works shunter at the workshop, for hauling stock in and out of the shops.

3-4. View from the short hood end (left) and the long hood end (right) of a mg YDM/4 diesel locomotive, mounted on a bg WDM/2 base. ISA himself is seen in the pic on the left. This bizzare mg loco on bg base has not been classified yet, and will probably be used for in-works shunting.

5-6. Two views of an X class mg Rack and Pinion steam loco from the Nilgiri Mountain line, seen here undergoing heavy repair in the Golden Rock shed in Tiruchhirapalli.

7-8. A WDM/2c rebuilt with a flat nosed cab at the short hood end, after suffering extensive collission damage. The livery suggests that this engine belongs to the Erode shed. Pic at right shows the cab of this rebuilt loco. Our Apurva Bahadur had spotted a train hauled by this engine much later, in 2001.

9. A rebuilt WDS/6 heavy shunter, again with a flat nosed cab at the short hood end.

10. A WDM/2 diesel so rebuilt. Note slight lengthening of the long hood due to shifting of the cab to the very end of the locomotive.

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