Steam Powered Trains Brought Back to Life in India

In northern India, the old steam locomotive has been brought back to life.

Spurred by childhood nostalgia and a love for old-world charm, a small team of technicians has painstakingly restored eight steam locomotives.

Located in Rewari, outside New Delhi, this 100-year-old heritage shed comes alive to the sound of whistles and chug of steam engines every weekend.

Vikas Arya from Indian Railways says the group wanted to preserve the black beauties for future generations, and show them what it was like to travel in a steam-powered train.

[Vikas Arya, Indian Railways]:
"The way it whistles and they have fire in their belly, and that fire is visible. I believe, for a common man, that it's fascinating to see a huge 120-ton engine, which can move just on steam. They are the most beautiful machines you can find in the world."

The renovation was easier said than done, with the steam trains dating back to 1853.

The factories that made the spare parts had shut down, while engineers specializing in locomotive maintenance and repair had long since retired.

[Vikas Arya, Indian Railways]:
"Main concern is that with the phasing out of steam locomotives from Indian Railways, we are not inducting people who would come as trained steam engine maintainers. So, these few people - 20-25 left here - are from the old age of steam trained. We need to preserve these skills, so our biggest challenge is to have people who have the skills, who have the know-how to maintain the steam engines."

Looking to the future, the Indian Steam Railway Society has earmarked 53 routes for heritage train journeys in India, with the view to restoring the black beauties to their former glory.