Everyday Heroes: The Workshop Specialists that keep the Indian Railways running
Meet Mr. Bhag Singh, Mrs. Madhu Bala and Mr. Trilochan Singh from Kalka-Shimla Railway.
The Kalka-Shimla Railway Heritage Workshop
The Kalka Shimla Railway Heritage Workshop is where the maintenance of all the trains of Kalka-Shimla Railway takes place. There are a number of hardworking employees at the workshop who work as craftsmen, technicians, blacksmiths, engravers and metal-cutters among many others. We take a look and learn about the men and women who are the backbone of this workshop.
Mr. Bhag Singh - Blacksmith
Mr. Bhag Singh works as a blacksmith at the Kalka Workshop. His job is to work on new engines and locomotives, including the 4G engines.
Bhag SinghKalka Shimla Railway
Mr. Singh introduces himself and talks a bit about his job at the Kalka workshop.
Bhag SinghKalka Shimla Railway
Mr. Singh talks about his job, responsibilities and duties at the workshop as a blacksmith.
Bhag SinghKalka Shimla Railway
Mr. Singh and his colleagues carry a hot metal block.
Bhag SinghKalka Shimla Railway
They reshape the metal block under a power hammer at the smithy shop.
Bhag SinghKalka Shimla Railway
Mr. Bhag Singh poses with his team at the Kalka Workshop.
Mrs. Madhu Bala - Craftswoman
Mrs. Madhu Bala works at the Kalka Workshop as a metal cutter. She started working after her husband met with a tragic accident. Having no prior experience, she learnt and developed the skills of the craft at the workshop itself.
Madhu BalaKalka Shimla Railway
Mrs. Madhu Bala introduces herself and talks about what she does at the workshop.
Madhu BalaKalka Shimla Railway
She started working at the workshop after her husband's accident. Having no prior experience, she learnt everything on the job.
Madhu BalaKalka Shimla Railway
Mrs. Madhu relies on her skills as a craftsman to pay her bills.
Mr. Tarlochan Singh - Engraver
For past 30 years, Mr. Tarlochan Singh has been working as an engraver at the Kalka Workshop. He developed his skills on the job with the guidance of the people who used to engrave before him. Nearly 60 years old and soon to retire, he teaches young and new recruits how to engrave with the help of the heritage machine.
Tarlochan SinghKalka Shimla Railway
Working as an engraver on the heritage machine for 30 years, Mr. Tarlochan talks about how he came to develop his skills.
Tarlochan SinghKalka Shimla Railway
Here, Mr. Singh explains what he does as an engraver at the Kalka workshop.
Tarlochan SinghKalka Shimla Railway
With his retirement approaching soon, he is now training new recruits to work on the engraving machine.
Tarlochan SinghKalka Shimla Railway
The machine that he uses is from 1950. After all these years, it is still in a decently working condition.
Tarlochan SinghKalka Shimla Railway
Mr. Singh shows how to engrave with the help of the machine.
Kalka Workshop (2018-03-27)Kalka Shimla Railway
While the Kalka - Shimla Railway's stations, line and vehicles belong to the Government of India under the Ministry of Railways, the day-to-day maintenance and management is handled by the Northern Railway.
Numerous people work tirelessly at the Workshop to create, manufacture and maintain the trains and locomotives for the Kalka - Shimla Railway line. Many of them have been working here for more than a decade and there are many more who consider working for the railways to be the most proud-worthy moments of their career.
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