Just the other day when I sat chatting with a friend the discussion suddenly veered towards railway engines and later steam engines.
Steam Engine...the words take me back to a different world...Conjure a very different picture every time I hear about them, see them on TV, in movies etc. The words steam engine also remind me of an iron monster with a huge appetite for coal...which chugs away huffing & puffing, hissing and whistling from one city to another, leaving behind people, mountains, farms and hamlets...
Since my Periappa (Tauji in Hindi; dad's elder brother) was in Railways, I had even more fonder memories of the steam engine. Now retired, he started his career with steam engines. I remember seeing him off at the railway station in Madurai long long ago when like every other trip he would board the steam engine for his trip. Was lucky to go along for a 'steamy' ride from Madurai to Pollachi (if am not mistaken). Periamma (Taiji), my parents, cousins & brother were travelling along, in the train though.
First time I got into the engine, all I could remember seeing is lots of iron parts around a coal furnace! It was really really hot, what with air from the furnace blowing towards you as the engine moves forward. The train was at a station, I don't remember which one when I boarded it.
As the signal is given, Periappa & his first assistant work a few levers which moves the engine slowly forward, as the whistle is blown. By the way there was a second assistant whose work is to take care of the furnace! The first few chugs (created by the moving of the pistons) and slow and come with a heavy noise...and slowly the chugs catch a nice rhythm. It slowly got so hot that I started looking for cover but no escape! My curious eyes were gazing at all the 'instruments' out there and whenever possible without disturbing Periappa I would ask and try to understand how it all works.
It was the year 1996-97, when steam engines were being phased out all over to be completely replaced by more efficient diesel engines. Periappa had already moved to driving diesel engines. Madurai being one of the major sheds, one by one all the monsters were mercilessly broken down for scrap. It was historic but a sorry sight...
Over the years steam engines have been part of some memorable movie and song sequences. Pather Panchali, Sholay and a whole host of Hindi & Tamil cinema had steam engines as a part of important climax, song & fight sequences...
Today after all these years whenever I catch a steam engine - in a movie, in an ad, a song or a programme it refreshes all me memories!!!!
Steam Engine!!!
1 comment:
They were part of a different era. But an era nevertheless. An era that stays full steam in the mind !
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