The misty hills of Darjeeling are preparing to welcome back a legend. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is set to revive one of its oldest steam locomotives—Sharp, Stewart & Co. 777-B—just in time for the festive Durga Puja season.
Built in 1881 at the Atlas Works in Glasgow, the 16-ton beauty once thundered along Darjeeling’s narrow-gauge tracks before retiring in 1957. For decades, it stood silently at the National Rail Museum in Delhi, admired as a relic but never in motion. Now, in a symbolic homecoming, it is being transported back to the Tindharia Workshop—the very place where it underwent a major restoration in 1917.
“The green signal has already been received,” confirmed DHR Director Rishabh Chowdhury. “Once the engine reaches Tindharia, our team—along with experts from India and abroad—will attempt to bring it back to life. Imagine not just riding in a toy train, but in a living, breathing chapter of railway history.”
The Workshop That Keeps Steam Alive
The Tindharia Workshop, established in 1913 and expanded in 1927, remains the beating heart of the DHR. Spread over 6,670 square meters, it is responsible for maintaining 13 working steam locomotives that continue to enchant tourists. Its craftsmen, many of whom represent generations of expertise, are now entrusted with reviving the 777-B.
A Boost for Tourism and Heritage
The timing of the revival is no coincidence. Darjeeling sees a surge of domestic and international visitors during Durga Puja, and the sight of a steam locomotive chugging through tea gardens and mountain ridges is expected to become a magnet for travelers.
“World Railway Day is approaching. If the DHR receives such a gift at this moment, it will be an extra treat—not only for tourists but for heritage itself,” said Samrat Sanyal, editor of Himalayan Hospitality Travel and Tour Development Network.
More Than Just a Locomotive
The 777-B has had a remarkable journey—from service in Himachal Pradesh to Darjeeling, then decades of display in Delhi. Out of 32 locomotives built in its series, very few remain today, making its restoration a matter of pride and poetic justice for the hills.
If the project succeeds, it may open the door for other forgotten locomotives lying idle in Guwahati, Howrah, and Delhi to find a second life. For now, Darjeeling waits eagerly for the moment when the whistle of the 777-B once again echoes through the mountains, carrying not just tourists, but the weight of history itself.