The only XG Class Locomotive - Then and Now

The first effort at standardisation took place in 1903, when the British Engineering Standards Committee set up a subcommittee for this purpose. They came out with their recommendations for the design.

These design guidelines standardised wheel arrangements, weight, grate area and various other characteristics. They came to be known as the British Engineering Standards Association or ‘BESA’ designs.

The locomotives built to these standards were still in use during 1960s and 1970s.

After the First World War, a need was felt for building more powerful locomotives suited to Indian conditions and capable of handling steam coal from Indian collieries. As a result, a new set of design recommendations were made in the mid-1920s. These were known as the Indian Railway Standard or ‘IRS’ designs.

These locomotives were bigger and heavier than the BESA models, with larger grate areas and newer technology. Similar standards were recommended for metre gauge and narrow gauge. All broad gauge classes were given the prefix ‘X’, metre gauge ‘Y’ and narrow gauge ‘Z’.

Here is the design of the ‘XG’ class of locomotives, of which only three were manufactured. The locomotives were built by Beyer Peacock & Co., in 1928.

The original locomotive maker’s number of the surviving loco was 650. The railway number that was initially allocated was 911, which was subsequently changed to 973 and later to 368206.

These locomotives were the mainstay of shunting operations in the Delhi Junction yard for several years.

Locomotive No. XG/M 911 stationed at the National Rail Museum.