history

YG class 4-6-2 freight locomotive:

  • Year entered service: 1949
  • Units built (maker): 880+ (North British /BLW/ TELCO/ Kraus Maffei)
  • Wheel arrangement: 4-6-2
  • TE: 9015 kg @ 85% boiler pressure
  • Weight: 98.6-101.5 tonnes

In Janauary 2003, Southern Railway organised a special steam train consisting of a YG class locomotive hauling a rake of MG coaches from Chennai Egmore. The IRFCA gang was present to cover the occasion. Here are some images from the occasion

The rake arrivesin reverse from Tambaram station hauled a YAM1. The YAM1 then detached and the YG took over. The platform was choc a bloc with excited kids and adults alike. TV crews and photographers were present dime a dozen to cover the event.

The loco was specially decked up for the occasion and so was the rake. Irritatingly though, tied to the door handles of the coaches were young  banana trees considered auspicious in these parts. They made holding the door very difficult while the train was in motion and we had a touch time getting decent door shots.

En route the train stopped at a signal allowing us to run forward and take this shot. Look the at pristine condition of the loco and the decorated rake. The event really brought back memories from a bygone era. IR should encourage more such events allowing young railfans to stay in touch with the glory days of steam.

A shot of the tender reveals a cab full of officials apart from the driver and the firemen. Surely enough anybody worth his salt tried to work his way into the cab to get a first hand feel of the controls or to soak in that one last bit of nostalgia before these beauties were consigned to the dustbins of history.