KAPURTHALA: Rail Coach Factory has developed and manufactured Narrow Gauge coaches for Kalka-Shimla Railway which were unveiled on Monday by its General Manager Ashesh Agarwal.
These coaches will be transported to Kalka for second phase of extensive oscillation trials. Based on outcome of the trial, they will be planned to be put into service on Kalka Shimla route.
The prototype coaches made for the trial of four coaches include each of AC Executive Chair Car, AC Chair Car, Non AC Chair Car and a Luggage Car.
According to a RC spokesperson the factory was entrusted with the project to design and manufacture a new narrow gauge rolling stock for Kalka-Shimla Railway (KSR) and this project posed significant challenges as there was no digital data for modelling of narrow-gauge tracks for development and verification of coach designs which developed around 1908.
"Notwithstanding the above limitations, the RCF design team recreated the required design inputs. 3D models were created by RCF design team by using the old blue print and sketches available at Kalka workshop. These models were then used as the baseline for development of the new designs for modification of the bogies and development of all new shell superstructure and furnishing designs,” said the RCF spokesperson.
According to RCF officials factory will be manufacturing 30 such state-of-the-art narrow gauge panoramic coaches including 04 AC Executive Chair Cars (12-seater), 08 AC Chair Cars (24 seater), 13 Non-AC Chair Cars (30 seater) and 05 Luggage Cars. These coaches have a light weight shell with upgraded bogies and improved air brake system and power windows and darkening vista glass in upper classes, slide window in second class for panoramic wider view so that the passengers can experience the beauty of the mountains and valleys.
The coaches will also be equipped with modern safety features like CCTVs and fire alarms, Anti UV coated window glasses, Powered doors, Heating/cooling package AC, Linear concealed fans, Linear LED lights, Modular seating rail mounted seats with flip backs, restaurant type seating with luxury seats for Executive class, Onboard Mini pantry, Luggage Bins, Inter-car gangway (Vestibule) etc.
Each train of new design panoramic coaches will consist of seven coaches – one AC Executive Chair Car, two AC Chair Cars, three Non-AC Chair Cars and one Luggage Car.
