DHR B Class: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Rayaan Das21
Last edited October 23, 2025
VisualWikitext
>Rayaan Das21
No edit summary
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Class of narrow gauge steam locomotives built for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway}}{{Infobox locomotive
{{Short description|Class of narrow gauge steam locomotives built for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name            = DHR B Class
| name            = DHR B Class
| powertype        = Steam
| powertype        = Steam
Line 84: Line 85:
}}[[File:Darjeeling train in shed. 1979.jpg|thumb|300px|Darjeeling train in shed. 1979]]
}}[[File:Darjeeling train in shed. 1979.jpg|thumb|300px|Darjeeling train in shed. 1979]]


The '''DHR B Class''' is a famous class of {{Track gauge|2ft}} gauge {{Whyte|0-4-0|ST}} [[saddle tank (locomotive)|saddle tank]] [[steam locomotive]]s used on the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] (DHR) in [[West Bengal]], India.{{sfn|Hughes|1994|p=34}}{{sfn|Marshall|2001|p=60}}
The '''DHR B Class''' is a class of {{Track gauge|2ft}} gauge {{Whyte|0-4-0|ST}} [[Tank locomotive#Saddle tank|saddle tank]] [[steam locomotive]]s used on the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] (DHR) in [[West Bengal]], India.{{sfn|Hughes|1994|p=34}}{{sfn|Marshall|2001|p=60}}


==Service history==
==Service history==
A total of 34 B Class locomotives have served on the DHR. Some are still on the working roster. One, [[DHR 778|no. 778]], was sold for private preservation, and four others were sold to Coal India, Assam. The remaining class members have been either plinthed in various locations in northern India, or scrapped. Of the few in active service, the locomotives 788 'Tusker' and 'Victor' haul trains between Darjeeling to Ghum stations via Batasia loop, quite a few times a day. {{sfn|Marshall|2001|pp=60–61}} Another loco, DHR 780 is kept preserved with two narrow gauge coaches at Eco Park, Rajarhat, as an exhibit.  
A total of 34 B Class locomotives have served on the DHR. Some are still on the working roster. One ([[DHR 778]]) was sold for private preservation, and four others were sold to Coal India, Assam. The remaining class members have been either plinthed in various locations in northern India or scrapped. Of the few in active service, the locomotives 788 'Tusker' and 'Victor' haul trains between Darjeeling to Ghum stations via Batasia loop, quite a few times a day. {{sfn|Marshall|2001|pp=60–61}} Another loco, DHR 780 is kept preserved with two narrow gauge coaches at Eco Park, Rajarhat, as an exhibit.


19B was re-imported to the UK c. 2000 and underwent restoration before spending two decades operating at the [[Beeches Light Railway]].<ref name=Holden>{{cite news |last=Holden |first=Michael |date=24 May 2023 |title=Adrian Shooter's two-foot gauge replica Indian Hill railway up for auction. |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/05/adrian-shooters-two-foot-gauge-replica-indian-hill-railway-up-for-auction.html |work=Rail Advent |access-date=25 May 2023}} </ref>
[[File:Preserved DHR 780 with 2 coaches.jpg|thumb|right|Preserved DHR 780 with 2 coaches]]
[[File:Preserved DHR 780 with 2 coaches.jpg|thumb|right|Preserved DHR 780 with 2 coaches]]
[[File:Preserved B class steam loco -780 with NG coaches.jpg|thumb|right|The front look of the preserved DHR B Class - showing the saddle tank]]
[[File:Preserved B class steam loco -780 with NG coaches.jpg|thumb|right|The front look of the preserved DHR B Class - showing the saddle tank]]


==Livery==
==Livery==
Initially, all members of the class were liveried in DHR green. For a short period at the end of World War II, they were repainted black. Later, they ran in an unlined red colour. Since coming under the control of the [[Northeast Frontier Railway]] in 1958, they have been painted Caledonian blue with white lining.{{sfn|Reed|1972|p=}}{{sfn|Gammell|1985|p=7}}
Initially, all members of the class were liveried in DHR green. For a short period after World War II, they were repainted black. Later, they ran in an unlined red colour. They were given their current Caledonian blue with white lining after coming into ownership of the [[Northeast Frontier Railway]] in 1958.{{sfn|Reed|1972|p=}}{{sfn|Gammell|1985|p=7}}
 
==Preserved examples==
 
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
!DHR Nº
!Manufacturer
!Serial Nº
!Built
!IR Nº
!Location
!Current status
!Image
!Notes
|-
|28
|Sharp, Stewart & Co.
|4978
|1903
|785
|Dehradun railway station
|Display
|[[File:B class ^785 DHR locomotive plinthed outside Dehradun railway station - Flickr - Dr. Santulan Mahanta.jpg|130px]]
|
|-
|32
|North British Locomotive Co.
|20143
|1913
|787
|Siliguri Junction station
|Display
|[[File:DHR 787 at Siliguri Shed 05-02-18 19.jpeg|130px]]
|
|-
|33
|North British Locomotive Co.
|20144
|1913
|788
|Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India
|Operational
|[[File:Stem Engine of Himalayan mountain train..JPG|130px]]
|
|-
|41
|Sharp, Stewart & Co.
|44914
|1917
|794
|Neral shed
|Display
|[[File:Matheran in August2012SONY DSC - panoramio.jpg|130px]]
|
|-
|42
|
|
|
|795
|
|
|[[File:Toy Train Darjeeling West Bengal India.jpg|130px]]
|
|}


==See also==
==See also==


*[[History of rail transport in India]]
*[[Rail transport in India#History]]
*[[Indian Railways]]
*[[Indian Railways]]
*[[Locomotives of India]]
*[[Locomotives of India]]
Line 119: Line 184:


==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat-inline|DHR B Class}}
{{commons category-inline|DHR B Class}}


{{Narrow gauge locomotives of India|state=collapsed}}
{{Narrow gauge locomotives of India|state=collapsed}}
Line 129: Line 194:
[[Category:Sharp Stewart locomotives]]
[[Category:Sharp Stewart locomotives]]
[[Category:0-4-0ST locomotives]]
[[Category:0-4-0ST locomotives]]
[[Category:B n2t locomotives]]
[[Category:2 ft gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:2 ft gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Mixed traffic locomotives]]

Latest revision as of 10:18, 23 October 2025


DHR B Class
No. 792 hauling a school train, 2005
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder
Build date1889–1925
Total produced34
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-4-0ST
 • UICB n2t
Gauge2 ft (610 mm)
Driver dia.26 in (0.660 m)
Axle load7.75 long tons (7.87 t)
Loco weight14 long tons (14 t)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		9 sq ft (0.84 m2)
Boiler pressure140 psi (0.97 MPa)
Heating surface316 sq ft (29.4 m2)
SuperheaterNone
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size11 in × 14 in (279 mm × 356 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort7,750 lbf (34.47 kN)
Career
Operators
ClassB
Numbers
  • DHR: 17–30, 32–36, 39–53
  • All-India: 777–806
DispositionSome still in service
[1][2]
Darjeeling train in shed. 1979

The DHR B Class is a class of 2 ft (610 mm) gauge 0-4-0ST saddle tank steam locomotives used on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in West Bengal, India.[1][3]

Service history[edit | edit source]

A total of 34 B Class locomotives have served on the DHR. Some are still on the working roster. One (DHR 778) was sold for private preservation, and four others were sold to Coal India, Assam. The remaining class members have been either plinthed in various locations in northern India or scrapped. Of the few in active service, the locomotives 788 'Tusker' and 'Victor' haul trains between Darjeeling to Ghum stations via Batasia loop, quite a few times a day. [2] Another loco, DHR 780 is kept preserved with two narrow gauge coaches at Eco Park, Rajarhat, as an exhibit.

19B was re-imported to the UK c. 2000 and underwent restoration before spending two decades operating at the Beeches Light Railway.[4]

Preserved DHR 780 with 2 coaches
The front look of the preserved DHR B Class - showing the saddle tank

Livery[edit | edit source]

Initially, all members of the class were liveried in DHR green. For a short period after World War II, they were repainted black. Later, they ran in an unlined red colour. They were given their current Caledonian blue with white lining after coming into ownership of the Northeast Frontier Railway in 1958.[5][6]

Preserved examples[edit | edit source]

DHR Nº Manufacturer Serial Nº Built IR Nº Location Current status Image Notes
28 Sharp, Stewart & Co. 4978 1903 785 Dehradun railway station Display
32 North British Locomotive Co. 20143 1913 787 Siliguri Junction station Display
33 North British Locomotive Co. 20144 1913 788 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India Operational
41 Sharp, Stewart & Co. 44914 1917 794 Neral shed Display
42 795

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hughes 1994, p. 34.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Marshall 2001, pp. 60–61.
  3. ↑ Marshall 2001, p. 60.
  4. ↑ Holden, Michael (24 May 2023). "Adrian Shooter's two-foot gauge replica Indian Hill railway up for auction". Rail Advent. Retrieved 25 May 2023. 
  5. ↑ Reed 1972.
  6. ↑ Gammell 1985, p. 7.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Gammell, C.J. (1985). Relics of the Raj. London: G.R.Q. ISBN 0946863016.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1976). Steam in India. Truro, Cornwall: D. Bradford Barton Ltd. ISBN 0851532586.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1994). Indian Locomotives: Part 3 – Narrow Gauge 1863–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-0-3.
  • Manning, Peter (2013). The Anatomy of the Darjeeling Garratt and the Engine it tried to Replace: the DHR Class "B" saddle tank. Coromandel Valley, South Australia: Peter Manning Design & Drafting. ISBN 9780980621228.
  • Marshall, Lawrence G (2001). Indian Narrow Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Plateway Press. ISBN 1871980488.
  • Reed, Brian (1972). Darjeeling Tanks. Loco Profile 23. Windsor, UK: Profile Publications. OCLC 498607897.

External links[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=DHR_B_Class&oldid=452515"
Discover more