She is more than a century old…and still going strong!

New Delhi: It’s a classic case of Ripley’s “Believe It Or Not”. She is more than a century old. She has served for more than five decades. She has won accolades from every corner for keeping herself fit. It is one of the priceless possessions of Indian Railways maintained at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi.

It is the only vehicle in the world fitted with the original Shrewsbury and Challenger Solid Tyres and still retains all the original parts of its fire equipment. Believe it or not, at 60 kmph this John Morris Fire Engine doesn’t wobble at all, conveying a feeling that is quite close to our modern cars’ road dynamics. So impeccable is the performance of the “Darling of the Show”.

John Morris Fire Engine participated at the 56th Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally organized by The Statesman and VCCI at Major Dhayanchand National Stadium recently. The Engine led the rally which was flagged off from Statesman House. It successfully bagged Statesman Challenge Trophy this year.

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This elite vehicle became a talk of town and centre of attraction among the automobile lovers at the Rally. It even grabbed the attention of the Chief Guest  Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Indian Ltd. Sanjay Arora, Delhi Police Commissioner joyfully sat on the driver seat of the fire engine.

John Morris Fire Engine, manufactured in 1914, was acquired by the Nizam of Hyderabad for the Nizam State Railway for dousing fires. It was maintained in the Loco & Carriage workshops at Lallaguda, Hyderabad and got retired in 1960. Currently, it is one of the star exhibits at National Rail Museum, New Delhi. It is the only vehicle in the world fitted with the original Shrewsbury and Challenger Solid Tyres and still retains all the original parts of its fire equipment.

The huge crowd flocked to witness this most prestigious vintage fire engine. The organizers appreciated the efforts of Executive Director, Heritage Dte, Railway Board and Director, National Rail Museum for their incredible contribution in maintaining and preserving this more than a century old fire engine. The fire engine graces the precincts of the National Rail Museum.