India's First Electric Engine 'Sir Leslie Wilson' Is A Picture Of Neglect As Railways Marks 100 Years Of Electrification

100 Years Of Railway Electrification: India's first electric locomotive, Sir Leslie Wilson, is left buried under debris. There are plans to build a museum, but work on the project has not started yet.

Mumbai: Indian Railways is gearing up to celebrate a monumental milestone — 100 years of electrification — on February 3, with grand events planned across the nation. Amid this celebratory mood, however, a significant piece of this history is languishing in neglect. India’s first electric locomotive, known as 'Sir Leslie Wilson', is lying buried under cement, rubble, and waste.

The locomotive, part of the country’s railway heritage, had been preserved in the Central Railway’s Heritage Gallery at the east entry of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). But with the station undergoing extensive redevelopment, the gallery has been dismantled, and the historic engine is now gathering dust lying amid debris.

Sir Leslie Wilson, A Piece Of History

The first electric locomotive was named after Sir Leslie Orem Wilson, the then Bombay Governor who flagged off the first electric train service in Mumbai on February 3, 1925. According to the Central Railway, this EF/1 class locomotive was made by the Swiss Locomotive Works in Winterthur, and had been in service until 1998.

India's railway electrification journey started during British colonial rule, mainly due to the demand for a more efficient transportation network to support the rapid urbanisation of cities like Bombay (now Mumbai). Steam locomotives were unable to keep pace with the demand. On February 3, 1925, the country's first electric train operated between Bombay Victoria Terminus (now CSMT) and Kurla. 

This February 3, the Central Railway will organise various programmes to mark the centenary of electrification. The milestone will be celebrated nationwide, with senior officials including the general manager and divisional manager of Central Railway expected to participate in the festivities. 

Ironically, just a stone’s throw from their offices in Mumbai, Sir Leslie Wilson, once a proud symbol of progress, sits forgotten.

But this isn’t an isolated case. Alongside the locomotive, other valuable artefacts — such as a historic steam-powered crane, the first ticket-printing machine, and numerous railway relics — are also in poor condition. 

The neglect of these relics underscores that while Indian Railways is focused on modernisation, it seems to be leaving its heritage behind.

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Museum Planned For Heritage Items

The current state of the locomotive is a disappointing turn of events for a collection that was painstakingly curated by railway officials. On April 18, 2018, World Heritage Day, the Central Railway inaugurated the Heritage Corridor, which showcased rare artefacts and engines, including Sir Leslie Wilson. A dedicated team had gathered data and collected relics from across the state, transporting them to Mumbai’s CSMT for display. 

Speaking to ABP News, railway officials said plans were in place to build a museum for the items of historical importance. However, they added, renovation work at CSMT started before work on the museum could be started. 

"Land has been designated in Lonavala for the establishment of a museum to house historical artefacts. However, while work on the museum project is yet to begin, renovation work at the station started already. Once the museum is completed, the artefacts will be relocated to their new home," said an official who did not wish to be named.

According to sources, the historic engine has been lying dumped for the past eight to nine months.