PSMT (After Restoration) Inspection Saloon

This unique 40 ton 0-3-0 locomotive was manufactured by M/s Orenstein and Koppel of Berlin in 1907. A total of four locomotives were imported into India. The balancing wheel is of 50 centimeters (1 ft 8 in) diameter. Other two wheels are double flanged having groove depth of 2.15 centimeters . The locomotive has a wheelbase of 119 centimeters. The main load is borne by the single rail while the rest is borne by the balancing wheel which runs on the ground. Further, in normal train systems, the rails have to be at almost exact level of other rail, failing which the train may go off the tracks. By using ‘Ewing system’, this problem is solved as the balancing wheel does not need exact level to maintain the balance of monorail. In addition to it the cost of laying tracks also goes down considerably since only one rail is used. Another benefit of using ‘Ewing’ system was that the balancing wheel could run on existing tarred roads thus further reducing cost to lay down tracks.

This is a rebuilt saloon, body built at Amritsar Workshop (Northern Railway) in 1976, on an orignal underframe. The coach was the private inspection saloon of Col. Bowles, who built the Trainways in 1907. Wooden seats have been fitted for passengers in place of original cane chairs.