Fifes and drums festivals are among the many top tourist attractions to watch out for when visiting historic colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The military band follows the tradition begun in 1775, when colonists battled the British in a war for American independence. Fifers and drummers ages ten to eighteen were recruited to boost the morale of marching soldiers. To this day, members of the Fifes and Drums Corps, both girls and boys, start practicing at age ten and stay on the course until they are eighteen.

The town has successfully preserved many historic buildings. The restored and reconstructed buildings account for most of the important sites in Virginian history—more than 500 of them. The work was facilitated by hundreds of archaeologists, historians, and researchers. Much of the investment came from the government and generous wealthy benefactors. And this is to be expected, as Williamsburg played an important role in the shaping of the nation’s history and the values it upholds to this day.

With fully-restored houses, hotels, and parks, Williamsburg has gained back its colonial landscape that attracts tourists interested in the beginnings of American history and democracy. The tours are authenticated programs, ensuring that historical facts are preserved and passed on.

But colonial Williamsburg is not only a destination for tourists on historical trips. Williamsburg is also a great dining and shopping destination. The popular Historic Triangle is one of the best hubs of the local economy.

The next time you plan a vacation, head to colonial Williamsburg and travel back in time to see how the great founding fathers lived. Experience how history unfolded through the town’s many festivals, plays, and tour packages of historic sites. Lodging can be easily arranged through online or phone reservations.

e-WilliamsburgVirginia.com Williamsburg Virginia provides detailed information on Williamsburg Virginia, Williamsburg Virginia Lodgings, Colonial Williamsburg Virginia, Williamsburg Virginia Real Estate and more. Williamsburg Virginia is affiliated with i-VirginiaBeach.com Virginia Beach Real Estate.

The plane tickets are purchased, the vacation days are set, the mail is on hold and somebody will be by to water the plants. Every detail of your coming trip is handled, except for the question of what to do with your car. If you are unable to get a ride to and from the airport, parking becomes a factor. Then comes the inevitable question: should you leave your car at the airport or choose an off-site lot?

Both obviously have their advantages in security, be it personal guards or surveillance cameras, yet one must take into consideration other factors before deciding who will watch over your car while you’re away. Just as you have carefully planned every detail of your vacation, so you should research the needs for items left behind.

Price: More than likely an airport lot will have a set fee for extended stay parking, estimated these days to be anywhere from ten to fifteen dollars depending upon the airport. Offsite private lots may be able to beat those prices, and in addition offer coupons and discounts to travelers (senior discounts, auto club, etc.). Call and compare pricing for various lots near you and see the difference.

Amenities: With an airport lot, oftentimes you leave your car and it sits. While it may be a comfort to know that nobody will come near your car while you are away, it might not always be a bad thing if somebody does. Some offsite lots offer amenities airport lots do not, including detailing and battery charging. Check with the parking lots to see which offers what services.

Shuttle: You may think parking at the airport gives you the advantage of proximity. However, if you are forced to park a good distance from your terminal and walk with a cumbersome amount of luggage, you may not feel so lucky. True, there are shuttles, but not every airport may offer shuttle service from their parking lots (smaller airports in particular). Offsite lots, however, are more likely to offer regular transportation to and from your terminal, allowing you to make an easier transition.

With dedicated research to your parking options, you will be able to make an informed decision about long-term parking. With your car in a secure lot, you can ease your mind and enjoy your trip.

Kat Lively is a freelance health writer for Compuslim, compuslim.com hoodia pills for appetite suppression, FlowCushion, the ergonomic flowcushion.com seat cushion for home and office, and for Rainfloresta, quality rainfloresta.com acai products for good health.

There are many free market aircraft manufacturers working extremely hard to make small jet aircraft more affordable and efficient. This goes along with the new theory of Air-Taxi type travel as an alternative to flying large business jets, which use lots of fuel and are very expensive. NASA is assisting in this strategy and handing down its technologies into the aviation market place to insure that this comes about faster. These new aircraft will usher in a completely new class of aircraft called VLJs or Very Light Jets.

There are several entrepreneurial companies working hard to bring this technology to market a record speed and there are also some very well established International Companies looking a capturing some of the pie. In fact these Very Light Jets appear to be quite in demand as one company has already taken some 500 advanced order. Many larger cities are also vying to bring aircraft manufacturing to their cities to help with higher end jobs and economic development.

At the AirVenture 2005 EAA, Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in in Oshkosh had several prototypes on display. One company, which has a prototype is Honda of North America’s Research and Development and the tests are nearly complete and the performance numbers and fuel economy are looking quite good. NASA at Langley Research Center is providing assistance to engineers at all the innovative companies building these light business jets.

One aircraft looking very good is the Eclipse 500, by Eclipse aviation, which is working with the NASA SATS (small aircraft transportation system) project for VLJs. For information about NASA’s SATS project on the Web, visit:

sats.nasa.gov

It maybe interesting for folks to fly a HondaJet, but if it is as efficient as the original Honda Car, it is very promising indeed. The HondaJet Team has a mock up model so far and is testing a one-ninth scale version in NASA wind tunnels. Small, fast and totally efficient jet aircraft for your second family car? Could it be in your future? Think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/ Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; WorldThinkTank.net www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Experience a different side of Brighton, insists Callum Saunders

Whilst the main perception of Brighton is its trendy bars, assortment of fine eateries, sprawling beach and vibrant nightlife, there’s a hidden gem right on the doorstep of this cultured city. Brighton Marina offers a different perspective of holidaying on the South Coast whilst remaining a stones-throw from the bustling city centre.

An alternative option to getting burnt!

If you’re looking for a bit of adventure in between sunning yourself on Brighton’s award-winning beach, the Marina may just offer you that extra buzz you’re looking for. Take off in a boat for the day and catch some rays, or maybe even some fish for the extra daring amongst you!

When not messing about at sea, Brighton Marina has plenty to keep you occupied during the hazy summer evenings. The casino is a glamorous and fun night out if you haven’t spent all of your holiday money on ice creams and inflatable dinghies! An eight-screen cinema ensures that there’s always something to see at the flicks, whilst the array of bars, cafes and restaurants will supply you with well-earned food and drink after a busy day by the sea.

Accommodation to suit your group…

The Marina truly is a great place to holiday for young tourists. Close enough to pop into the bustling heart of Brighton and paint the town red, the marina provides a classier alternative to crammed city hostels. Self-catering apartments and holiday homes offer an affordable and flexible approach to your vacation, with many places offering additional sofa beds and sleeping options for groups. Go on, check out the Marina, and enjoy a different side of Brighton!

For a fantastic array of apartments available within Brighton Marina and around Sussex, visit brightonmarinaapartments.com brightonmarinaapartments.com

Callum Saunders is a freelance writer with over five years worth of writing experience. His extensive portfolio includes copywriting for local businesses, including marketing, advertising and promotional copy as well as web content and press releases. He also possesses a broad range of journalistic experience, having written for several publications including The Sussex Express, The Wharf, Docklands News and TNT magazine. With an individual approach tailored to your specific requirements, Callum can ensure that words work for you! mailto:callum@castlegate-tech.co.uk callum@castlegate-tech.co.uk

Booking & shopping online has proven to revolutionize the travel industry. There are many pros to utilizing online booking sites to plan your trip. Bottom line is, it saves you time and money, both important factors when planning your trip.

Before you go booking your trip online, read our tips on doing so to ensure you find the best deals and are protected in the process…

1. Shop around:

This has been our motto from the start. We are finding that prices change all the time, so it is important to look around for the best travel deal.

Besides searching our site, we have provided our favorite sites (with reviews) for finding the best deals.

Don’t get paralysis on analysis though. We recommend you pick a price (be reasonable though) and search until you find it- once you find it- take it!!

2. The more flexible you are the better:

Hey, I know when you travel with kids or a group of people, being flexible isn’t an option.

If you can be flexible, it will help, that’s all. Things like flying on certain days (like Saturday or mid-week), or specific times (10pm-6am for example) could be a benefit.

3. Join Frequent Flyer Programs:

This is a travel tip. You don’t have to fly every other month to benefit from these programs. If you use credit cards, you might as well get something back.

Heck, we pay them enough in charges that you deserve something in return. Just pick your favorite airline(s) and sign up for an airline mile card!

4. Read:

Sign up for e-zines.

You can set up a free email account if you don’t want these piling up in your in-box. Many of them have an opt-out section that allows you to quit receiving emails once you are done.

They usually provide up-to-date alerts on what deals are out there. Also, you might want to look into a few information products about traveling on a budget or getting great deals!!

There are experts out there who have been there and done that and know how to take advantage of great opportunities.

5. Know all the terms and conditions:

This is a very important cheap deal travel reminder.
For example, you will want to know if your quotes are locked in immediately or how long you have til you must decide, what their refund policy is, cancellation policy, if their site is safe when you enter your information (if you see a golden key or padlock at the bottom in the toolbar, then you will be fine), changes you might need to make, and so forth. You don’t want to get trapped into something that you can’t get out of.

6. Get Coupons:

Getting your hands on coupons can save you tons of money off various travel necessities. You can find valuable money savers with coupon books.
Other cheap deal travel tips to consider…

7. Check a few sites & once you find your price, go bid at an auction site like Priceline, at a lower price.

8. Book all in one. Sometimes if you book your airfare, car, & hotel or a combo of the three, you can get a better cheap deal. Don’t be afraid to ask!!

9. For flights, you can also do things like get bumped/stay over, fly out of another airport in your region (consider gas & driving and if that’s worth it), & consider 1-2 or more connections (no-stop flights can be expensive).

Bonus tips when shopping online in general…

Do online shopping with companies you know. We provide some places that give you a good start. You can also compare offline or with major retail chain’s websites.
Keep your passwords private and choose them wisely.
Keep good records. This protects you if something arises.
Check out the company’s security policy and privacy policy. These are typically located at the bottom of the page. Or, look under site map or company information.
Read the legal terms. These policies let you know what they do with any information you provide.
Get their contact information. Try it out if need be. Make sure you know how to get a hold of someone.
Make sure before you purchase, you read their return/refund policies.
Review all descriptions of products, shipping & handling terms, and any other pertinent information you want to know. This should all be outlined for you.

Discount Florida Vacations is a total Florida vacation guide offering fun, sun, tips, ideas, checklists, help, recommendations, resources, and experiences for anyone traveling to Florida.
You can find excellent information or plan your trip with us at…

discount-florida-vacations.com discount-florida-vacations.com

Twenty-five years back Carolina Knights planned a motorcycle rally at the beach.
They were only five in number.
The event pulled around a hundred visitors in 1980.
The weekend occasion is now a weeklong gala with around 400,000 visitors and thousands of bikers.
This year (May 24-29, 2006), it will become a town-wide festival.

Yes, we were talking about Atlantic Beach Bike Fest.

Another famous bike rally is Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Myrtle Beach Rally. It is the longest continuous rally starting on 17th may this year at Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

Tourists from all parts of the country and abroad plan their Myrtle Beach vacation around this season specifically to join the party with over 100,000 bikers, food and amusement. Officials estimate that around 375,000 visitors will join the party this year.

Black Bike Week is also a popular bike festival, around which a good number of people plan their Myrtle Beach vacation. The tag line “make it bounce” bounces in almost every nook and corner of the town, wild and extreme, during the fest. One can easily guess rest of the story.

Something is always happening there at Myrtle Beach. The 55th annual Sun Fun Festival is just knocking at the doors with the agenda to break the record for the world’s tallest sandcastle. The complete sandcastle will be 60 feet wide at its base and 35 feet tall with 1,200 cubic tons sand and the theme is “Summer Starts Here”.

The Ninth Annual Sea Doo Surf and Turf Championships will take place on June 3rd and 4th, behind the Spring Maid Resort on the beach. Summer sports, Fitness Camps, Masters Swimming, Myrtle Beach Biathlon and others are always pushing each other.
Such events of high-energy with professional participation, great racing, and lots of crowd participation pull great number of visitors round the year.

Traffic congestions of four hours or more are common throughout the Grand Strand during the Memorial Day weekend though there are additional law enforcement officers. A little data about traffic will be helpful for visitors to get into and move around the city during the festival seasons.

In Myrtle Beach, traffic on Ocean Boulevard is one-way, southbound, from 29th Avenue North to the southern city limits, with no parking allowed. Traffic headed north to the Town of Atlantic Beach on Highway 17 will enter a turn-only lane.

Whatever your reasons are for being by seaside, a
Myrtle Beach vacation always has something new to offer and amuse you. Be there once to believe it.

The City is the heart of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile crescent of beach on South Carolina’s northern coast.

Aric Nagel is a freelance writer and owner of ‘89 Dollar Travel’ – 89dollartravel.com 89dollartravel.com – offers various vacation packages at premium places in America only for eighty-nine dollars.
89dollartravel.com/vacation/myrtlebeach/ 89dollartravel.com/vacation/myrtlebeach/ Myrtle Beach Vacation from 89 Dollar Travel.

Once upon a time, Scottish castles were associated with wild chieftains exacting brutal retribution on their neighbours and crofters. Then came the age of enlightenment, which saw the Scottish aristocracy trying to emulate their English neighbours and become a little more refined. This led to a lot of new properties being built of a less defensive nature and with more emphasis on comfort and elegance. The arrival of Queen Victoria for her long period of mourning, further heightened the desirability of a Scottish home and many large ones were built during this period, incorporating new inventions like heating and electric light.

Sadly for much of the early part of the 20th century, there followed a period of decline, as the great estates struggled to maintain their noble homes and were either broken up or fell into disrepair. Fortunately by the eighties a new renaissance was emerging and this combined with greater prosperity led to a period of recovery & rebirth for a lot of these wonderful homes. It took a while for some of the older families to raise the huge sums required to restore their crumbling homes but it was slowly achieved, often with some aid from government bodies. Newcomers with deeper pockets were able to achieve results quicker and now it is all the rage to own and restore a huge pile.

Throughout the country, homes that twenty years ago you could hardly give away are now selling for millions. Add on to this the huge refurbishment cost and indeed the massive upkeep costs and you have an expensive ’second’ or in many cases ‘third’ home! However demand has never been higher and finding suitable properties is now extremely hard. Of course, anyone can stay in a luxury hotel, charter a huge yacht but not everyone can hire a 500 year old castle, surrounded by several thousand acres and boasting private shooting, fishing and total seclusion. Throw in a few battlements, ghosts and old family retainers and you have the makings of a movie set.

Obviously most of these homes are deserted during the winter months but come summer and private jets are plopping down in every small airport throughout the country. A few gleaming range rovers will be on hand to whisk up the guests and within an hour or two, everyone will be lying on the heather with a wee dram in one hand and a smoke salmon sandwich in the other. It’s intoxicating stuff for urban types and there is no danger of some annoying Russian screaming past in his Ferrari or some helicopter buzzing overhead. Of course, guests can easily get bored, so some form of ‘retail therapy’ is vital and the local cashmere outlets are happy to help out.

Grouse shooting and salmon fishing once the preserve of the upper classes is now being enjoyed by clientele of all stripes and in any case new owners of large piles are quick to don their tweed suits and present themselves as lairds of long standing. This is perfectly natural and has been witnessed by the locals for centuries. What is wonderful for Scotland is the huge amounts of money poured into the local economy by these ‘Chelsea’ Highlanders. They head north and not only help preserve these old homes but through a multitude of suppliers, they keep a lot of shops and other companies busy, as well as employing a lot of local people to help look after the properties themselves.

Absentee landlords are often much criticised but in fact they are essential and need to be encouraged. They pump funds into rural and often poor parts of the country and take on properties that are not financially viable at all. They are of course ‘living a dream’ but life is all about fulfilling ones dreams and if wealthy folk from all over the world find romance and happiness in maintaining a little bit of our heritage, well then we should encourage them. It is a great era for Scotland’s ancestral houses & castles and it’s wonderful to see.

About Author :
Andrew Loyd is a director of Loyd & Townsend-Rose Ltd, who specialize in ltr.co.uk/properties/scotland Scottish castles for hire – ideal for luxury vacations, family reunions, corporate events, or as venues for filming and sporting activities.

Boston is a city where old meets new, the ghosts of American’s past shake the hands of the contemporary artist, the educated and the talented.

When the rest of the western world was busy modernizing and contemporizing, Boston was nurturing its history holding onto its past and accomplishments, its pulse that beats with ancient victory.

City skyscrapers are juxtaposed against Faneuil Hall, built by John Smibert in 1762! The granduer of the Massachusetts State House stands proud and strong even though it was built in 1795 (pictured right).

19th Century majesty still breathes through restored hallways, red bricks tower heavenward and old oaks whisper secrets into the breeze. Boston never abandoned its heritage, it was celebrated.

Buried in the ground and lining the streets is the map to the past, the Freedom Trail follows the city’s greatest sites and events, a walking timeline if you please (takes a good couple of hours).

It might only inhabit around 600, 000 people, but what it lacks in size, Boston makes up in diversity and cultural sophistication.

Centered on the arts and education, Boston is home of some the world’s most celebrated galleries, museums and universities (that’s the Harvard Museum below).

The Museum of Fine Arts houses a great collection of classical pieces, with collections from infamous Impressionist artists Renior, Degas, Manet and Monet to name drop a small few.

It’s also the home of leading educational institutes Harvard University, MIT and Emerson College.

On the opposite side of the scale, Boston is also birthplace to the ska/ punk movement that swept music scenes globally (think the Mighty Mighty Bosstones).

You might think it’s good now, with New Year (Bostonians call their celebrations The First Night), Chinese New Year, and St Patrick’s day atmosphere lingering in the streets, but Boston city is just warming up.

Coming up this summer there’s the Fourth of July Harborfest, and July Chowderfest, not to mention the Boston Film Festival in September and the unlimited amount of things you can do to celebrate the new summer breezes.
Activities

You can sail out on the Charles River, cycle on the Shining Sea Bike Path (scenes of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket!), walk the Freedom Trail and swim around the shores of Cape Cod.

Take an excursion out to the Boston Islands, each one with its own fascinating history.

Catch a Red Sox game out at the infamous Fenway Park, the Boston institution of baseball (pictured left).

Even though the dreaded peak season is around June through to October in this city, it truly is the best time to go.

The air is comfortable by late May and the heat rises through July to August. If you’re in search of the prettiest times however, September to October is the foliage season. Gardening gloves on!

Be aware that prices will go up at these times and there may be restrictions on bookings regarding stay dates and extra charges or deposits.

Leah Bradicich has travelled comprehensively through Europe, the UK, South East Asia and Australia. She works for Vroom Vroom Vroom, a website collating all the deals and specials from the nation’s largest car rental companies, offering discounts on car rentals. Her writing career is starting to take off, with articles written and published in the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

India’s steam train heritage still brings out hoards of people. In Delhi, from babes in arms to ancient one-time signalmen, last week they literally piled onto the tracks where they grappled with television cameras from at least four broadcast stations. In a challenge to every health and safety regulation ever to fill 100 bound files in the archives of Brussels, people tumbled from the green plastic grass and red carpet onto the rails without obstruction.

The Heritage Parade of Steam Locomotives celebrated the end of Railway Heritage Month. Shri Lalu Prasad, the Honourable Minister for Railways, was the Most Distinguished Guest. Second was Sir Mark Tully, the former BBC Delhi correspondent and Vice-President of the Indian Railway Society (IRS). Mark is a guru in his own right.

After most of 40 years in India (and indeed he was born in Calcutta where his father was then stationed), he is a kind of Grand Old Man, regarded with approximately equal emotions of awe and affection appropriate to his Saddhu-like status. Being seen with him attracts more attention than a formal promenade with Tony Blair would.

This is not exaggeration. When Sir Mark once walked up the steps of Government House in Delhi with our Honourable PM, the crowd were in raptures but it wasn’t Tony Blair who had caught their attention. They were shouting in Hindi for Mark Tully.

There are several other dignitaries present: the Mayor of Delhi, members of the Railway Board, the President of the IRS and a whole row of very smart and important looking people. They are seated on the platform in beautifully presented upholstered chairs covered in white and set upon plastic grass. On the opposite platform, a whole tableau of Indian history is taking place with children waving colourful flags and an historical account of Indian railways in full swing as men run up and down behind boards bearing the trains moving.

No one is paying very much attention. In spite of the valuable collection of not just VIPs but VVIPs and the war on terror, security is conspicuously absent bar the presence of a delightful chocolate brown Labrador led by a soldier along the seating, his tail wagging enthusiastically.

It is very Indian that into this pageant the normal scheduled train, its 24 battered green and cream bogeys so familiar to the 13 million people who travel on Indian railways every day, disgorges its passengers. In fact not once but twice, passenger cargo is offloaded into the melee. People are moved towards the exit, not pleased to be denied the occasion. Street theatre like this is part of Delhi life and commands an instant audience.

Now coolies tidy the trailing edges adorning the front line of comfortable settees designated Railway Board. The compere seeks silence in various languages. “Please sit down everyone.” No one pays the slightest attention. Someone screams gutturally into a microphone, part in Hindi, alternated with regular “hello, hello, hello, testing, testing, testing” and loads of reverberating feedback.

The flowers and water bottles are now in place for the VVIPs who are presumably more than merely VI. Even the Railway Board have not so far been treated to such magnificence. Here comes the sniffer dog again, obediently sniffing along our feet. An Argentinean gentleman introduces himself and his wife and makes interested conversation. He is curious to know what a white west-European female is doing here.

The greeting party is beginning to assemble, guarded by soldiers and sundry hangers-on. Mark arrives looking very dapper in lemon shirt and burgundy herringbone waistcoat. Suddenly there is total silence. The Minister welcomes everyone; the cameras capture the moment from the middle of the tracks and like media everywhere in the world, practically trample each other to death in their determination to get the best shot. There are babies crying, children running up and down the VIP chairs and clearly many people who are not either media or guests here but who have found their way in without obstacle.

The bottom of a female soldier is literally in my face. A settee is relocated to make room for the broadcasting fray and the bottom shifts a few inches but ever increasing numbers of media take to the tracks although whether deliberately or by force of gravity is difficult to say.

We are now being roped in, literally. I am not altogether sure whether this is to keep us away from mauling Mark Tully or from trying to get a free ride on the Fairy Queen, the oldest locomotive still track-worthy, built in 1855 in Leeds, and the pride of the Indian Railway Society.

This piece de resistence (my respects to cross-cultural relationships) chuk-chuks along the platform in its green and gold livery, at once dignified and friendly. Brightly dressed children waving flags and blowing on plastic whistles add to the sense that we have all slipped back in time to a more romantic, less threatening era when children could be children and railways were elegant, grand and somehow symbolic of all that was best in the newly industrialised world of the mid-19th century.

More follows…..

The Fairy Queen

A Guinness World Record holder, this engine is the pride of Indian Railways. It is the world’s oldest locomotive in working condition. Built in 1855 by Kitson Thompson and Hewitson of Leeds, this engine has once again been pressed into service on popular demand since 27 September 1997 and has been periodically hauling tourist trains between Delhi and Alwar. This engine was the first exhibit to be brought to the National Railway Museum in Delhi at the time of the laying of its foundation stone in 1971. This locomotive is said to have hauled troop trains to Raniganj during the 1857 War of Independence in India. The engine weighs 26 tonnes, has a gauge of 5 feet 6 inches, coal capacity of approximately 2 tonnes, wheel arrangement with 2-2-2T WT and Stephenson valve gear.

The other steam trains on parade:

XE-3634

Built by Vulcan Foundry Company Ltd in England in 1930, this engine was commissioned by Indian Railways in 1931 at GIP Railway, now Central Railway. The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board in Korba purchased the engine in 1979. The gauge is 5 feet 6 inches, weight is 196.42 tonnes and it is almost 79 feet long. Its wheel arrangement is 2-8-2, piston stroke is 30 feet, water capacity is 6000 gallons and coal capacity 14 tonnes.

WAR CLASS AWE-22907

This engine is one of the war design locomotives procured in large numbers during the early 1940s and was used for both passenger and goods services. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, in 1943, it was owned by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. The Maker’s number 69703, GIP No 6128 and CR No 22907, identify the engine. It weights 183 tonnes, has Walshaets valve gear, two outside cylinders, gauge 5 feet 6 inches and the wheel arrangement is 2-8-2

WL-15005

Given the majestic name of Shere-e-Punjan, this engine had the privilege of hauling the last broad gauge steam train on Indian Railways. This historic run took place between Firozpur and Jallandhar on 6 December 1995. It usually hauled mail/express trains and was allotted to the Southern Railway and was based at the Shonanur Shed. Later it was transferred to Northern Railway where it was initially based at Bhatinda shed. From there, it was moved to Ludhiana and finally to Firozpur from where it retired. The engine was brought to the National Rail Museum in January 1996. Built in 1955 by the Vulcan Foundry, it has a 5 feet 6 inch gauge, a wheel arrangement of 4-6-2 and is now based at the Steam Centre at Rewari.

More follows….

WP-7200

The bullet nosed WP locomotives were the mainstay of broad gauge passenger train operations on Indian Railways for a very long time until the last steam engine retired in 1995. This exhibit identified by the number WP-7200 is one of the 16 prototypes that were received from the USA before their production was started at Chittaranjan Locomotive works. This engine was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, in 1947 and was owned by GIP Railway (later Central Railway). It has a 5 feet 6 inch gauge, weighs 102.4 tonnes and has a wheel arrangement of 4-6-2. It was retired from service in May 1987.

From Maggie Stanfield in Delhi
writtenwords.eu writtenwords.eu
mailto:maggie@writtenwords.eu maggie@writtenwords.eu