The new HSD (High Speed Diesel) Oil-fired steam locomotive (Metre Gauge), ‘X-37401’, manufactured at the Central Workshops, Golden Rock in Tiruchchirappalli and also the first one manufactured in India, for use in Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), arrived at Mettupalayam on Saturday. 


This new steam locomotive was flagged off by B.G. Mallya, General Manager of Southern Railway at Central Workshops on September 27 and was dispatched by road to Mettupalayam on October 5. Upon reaching Mettupalayam, the locomotive was lifted from the truck and placed on track on Saturday.


This X-37401 is 10.38 metres long and weighs 50.3 tonnes and has two Oil Tanks: The Main Tank has a capacity to hold 1,600 litres while the Rear Tank can hold 725 litres. The water tank can contain 4,500 litres of water and the engine
has been fitted with rack and pinion arrangements to chug in the hilly terrain of Nilgiris Mountain and will undergo extensive trial runs in the stretch before being inducted into service.