Rajputana Malwa RailwayClass F/1 Steam Locomotive, 1895
Technical Data
| Stamp Set | Locomotives |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | May 15, 1976 |
| Denomination | 50 p |
| Quantity | 3,000,000 |
| Perforation | comb 14½ x 14 |
| Printer | Security Printing Press, Nashik |
| Watermark | No Watermark |
| Colors | Multicolor |
| Catalog Codes |
Michel IN 674 Stamp Number IN 720 Yvert et Tellier IN 478 Stanley Gibbons IN 807 |
| Themes | Locomotives | Railways |
The steam locomotive holds a special place in the history of industrialization and transportation, symbolizing progress and innovation. In India, the era of steam locomotives began on December 22, 1851, with the introduction of the “Thompson” locomotive during the construction of the Solani Aqueduct near Roorkee in Uttar Pradesh. The first public train service powered by steam locomotives commenced on April 16, 1853, between Bombay and Thana.
As the railway network expanded across the country, the ‘Iron Horse’ played a pivotal role in carrying passengers and goods, contributing to industrialization, urbanization, and economic development. Indigenous manufacture of locomotives commenced in the Railway Workshops at Jamalpur and Ajmer in the late 19th century, with designs influenced by those from the UK but adapted to local conditions.
The standardization of designs began early, in 1903, and in 1924, a Locomotive Standards Committee was established to improve existing designs and develop new, powerful locomotives. This committee’s efforts significantly enhanced indigenous technical expertise, facilitating the manufacture of most steam locomotive spares domestically.
Post-independence, India set up its first steam locomotive manufacturing unit in Chittaranjan in 1950, producing 2,351 locomotives between 1950 and 1972. However, as diesel and electric locomotives gained prominence worldwide, India transitioned to manufacturing these types. The Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi started in 1964, and the Chittaranjan unit began producing electric locomotives in 1961.
Today, the Indian Railways boast a fleet of 8,682 steam locomotives, 1,702 diesel locomotives, and 729 electric locomotives. Among these, the F/1 locomotive was widely used before independence, particularly on the Rajputana Malwa Railway, which became part of the Bombay Baroda and Central Indian Railway. Manufactured both in the UK and in India, these locomotives were crucial in shaping India’s early railway infrastructure, symbolizing the nation’s journey towards modernization and connectivity.