Kochi can have a ride in the oldest steam locomotive
People in Kochi can have a travel in the world’s oldest running steam locomotive and become part of history with the Indian Railways all set to operate the 164-year old ‘EIR 21 Express’ on the 8 km Ernakulam Junction-Cochin Harbour Terminus section on February 16 and 17.
The 164 year old ‘EIR 21 Express’ – the world’s oldest running steam locomotive
To travel from Ernakulam Jn. to Cochin Harbour Terminus by this Heritage Special Train, hauled by the world’s oldest running steam locomotive – EIR 21, foreign nationals will have to pay a fare of Rs 1000. For adult Indian nationals, the fare will be Rs 500; for children below 12 and above 5 years of age, an amount of Rs 300 will be collected as fare. No fare will be levied for children below 5 years of age.
“The first trip will start from Ernakulam Junction at 11 am on Saturday. If there is high demand, we will operate another trip on the same day at 3 pm. The tickets can be booked online and also can be availed from the Reservation counter at Ernakulam Junction from tomorrow (Friday),” the official said.
For the convenience of tourists, rail heritage enthusiasts and the public, tickets for this heritage train run will be issued at both Ernakulam Jn. and Ernakulam Town railway stations.
The name ‘EIR 21 Express’ was given to the loco by its creators Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson of England who built it in 1855. It was shipped to the country and was in operation for 55 years for erstwhile East Indian Railway.
It was as part of Thiruvananthapuram Division’s initiatives in promoting heritage values of Indian Railways, a heritage steam train run sequence was organised in the Division. Reminiscing the primitive era of train service, a heritage run was organised on 7th February 2019 with the chartered run of a heritage train hauled by EIR 21 – ‘World’s Oldest Running Steam Engine’ from Nagercoil Jn. to Kanniyakumari. Another heritage train run from Nagercoil to Kanniyakumari was organised on 10th February 2019.