The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has opened a new photo gallery at its museum in Sukna and re-commissioned a 125-year-old steam locomotive as the hill railway marked the 146th anniversary of the Sukna station on Saturday.
Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, general manager of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), inaugurated the gallery at the toy train station, located around 10km from Siliguri. The exhibition features historical photographs documenting the century-old mountain railway, its heritage infrastructure and the history of Sukna station.
Each photograph in the gallery carries a QR code that visitors can scan to access detailed information about the image and its historical significance. Shrivastava said the gallery was intended to showcase the DHR’s past while recreating the heritage of the station at the site.
The DHR is scheduled to complete 150 years in 2030. The railway, known for its narrow-gauge route through the Darjeeling hills, continues to operate heritage services and maintain steam locomotives through its workshop at Tindharia, around 30km from Siliguri in the Kurseong subdivision of Darjeeling district.
During his visit, Shrivastava inspected the DHR’s heritage infrastructure and the Tindharia workshop, where he re-commissioned the steam locomotive B780. DHR authorities are planning to deploy the locomotive on two special short-distance heritage services, Muktadhara and Red Panda, which operate between Kurseong and Mahanadi, a DHR official said.
The Tindharia workshop currently maintains 13 DHR steam locomotives. These locomotives continue to operate services between Darjeeling and Ghoom, offering visitors heritage rides using engines that are no longer manufactured. Nine diesel locomotives are also operational, while three new diesel locomotives were introduced last year, according to Shrivastava.
The workshop began operations on a temporary basis in 1881 and became fully operational in 1925. Its continuing role places it at the centre of the railway’s effort to keep historic rolling stock and associated infrastructure in service. Railway officials said a dedicated officer has been appointed to oversee the maintenance of railway infrastructure under the guidance of Rishabh Choudhary, director of the DHR.
The programme also included the inauguration of a new barrack for the Railway Protection Force in Kurseong. Shrivastava formally opened the Giddaypahar siding near Kurseong after its restoration following 21 years. He also visited the Netaji Museum and the Centre for Studies in Himalayan Languages, Society and Culture at Giddaypahar.
During the visit, a book on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was unveiled, according to sources cited in the report. The new gallery, the restored siding and the planned heritage services form part of the railway’s anniversary programme as officials prepare for the DHR’s 150-year milestone in 2030.
