Award for DHR

TT, Siliguri, Dec. 18: A London-based society of engineers has presented an award to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway for maintaining the world's oldest and largest operational fleet of British-built narrow gauge steam locomotives.

The award was given by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) that is headquartered in the UK.

The society was established in 1847 and has 113,000 members in 140 countries. It presents awards to British built artefacts that have achieved significant engineering feats and chose to present the "engineering heritage award" to the DHR this year.

The award that comprised a plaque was handed over to Subrata Nath, executive director (heritage) of the railway board, by Ravi Kochak, chairman of the India branch of IMechE, at an event held in New Delhi on November 19.

According to members of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society - the UK-based association of DHR lovers - IMechE had sought information about the heritage railway from them before conferring the award.

"We mentioned in our application that these locos constituted the world's oldest and largest still-operational fleet of British-built narrow gauge steam locos. They were very impressed and decided to present the DHR with the engineering heritage award," Paul Whittle, the DHRS vice-chairman wrote to The Telegraph.

He was present at the event in New Delhi last month when the IMechE award was presented to the DHR.