DHR B Class

The DHR B Class is a class of gauge saddle tank steam locomotives used on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in West Bengal, India.

Service history 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. 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.

Livery 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.

Preserved examples

DHR NºManufacturerSerial NºBuiltIR NºLocationCurrent statusImageNotes28Sharp, Stewart & Co.49781903785Dehradun railway stationDisplay32North British Locomotive Co.201431913787Siliguri Junction stationDisplay33North British Locomotive Co.201441913788Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, IndiaOperational41Sharp, Stewart & Co.449141917794Neral shedDisplay42795

DHR B Class

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