The Sambalpur Railway Division of East Coast Railway has created a Heritage Park in front of the Divisional Railway Manager’s Office in Sambalpur to showcase an age-old steam locomotive.
The steam locomotive No-679 has been retrieved from the junkyard of the Bankura railway station of Adra Division under the South Eastern Railway and placed in front of the Divisional Railway Manager’s Office on December 31, 1999 on the eve of the new millennium after giving a new sleek and beautiful look.
This steam locomotive with glorious history by serving Mail/Express Trains in the then Bengal-Nagpur Railway was successfully transported and now has been installed as pedestal in front of the DRM Office. This heritage locomotive was built by the North British Locomotive Co Ltd, Glasgow (Scotland) in the year 1908 in the name NG Steam locomotive No.679 having its wheel configuration 4-6-2 with Class CC. It was carved on a brass plate and is placed at the heritage site.
The good news for public is that this heritage garden will be open to the general public and they can also take selfies with the engine in the garden. In the next few days, old-style semaphore signals (with signal arms) will be installed in front of the locomotive engine.