Guwahati, May 27, 2026: In a significant initiative to preserve India’s rich railway heritage, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has successfully renovated the historic Steam Locomotive No. 808-C Class NG Loco of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and installed an upgraded heritage display at its headquarters in Maligaon.

The renovated steam locomotive was inaugurated on May 26 by Chetan Kumar Shrivastava in the presence of senior railway officials and staff members.

Originally built in 1914 by the North British Locomotive Company Ltd. of Glasgow, United Kingdom, the heritage locomotive is regarded as a rare symbol of India’s railway legacy. The engine had earlier been displayed at the NFR headquarters campus and has now been given a new lease of life through extensive repair, repainting and restoration work.

The restoration project was undertaken by the C&W Workshop at New Bongaigaon under the guidance and motivation of the NFR General Manager. The renovated display now features decorative lighting along with realistic sound and smoke effects, making it an attractive heritage attraction for visitors and railway enthusiasts.

Steam Locomotive No. 808 belongs to the renowned 4-6-2 Pacific Class locomotives introduced in 1914 for operations under the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Alongside its twin engine No. 807, the locomotive once hauled freight trains weighing up to 800 tonnes on the Kishanganj Extension section of the DHR network.

Following the conversion of the Siliguri–Kishanganj line to metre gauge in 1948, the locomotive continued operations as a shunting pilot at Siliguri before being decommissioned in the 1960s.

NFR officials stated that the restoration reflects the railway’s continued commitment to conserving historical railway assets and promoting awareness about India’s steam locomotive heritage.