Golden Rock Railway Works, India, 2016

This historic name has now been replaced by Southern Railways, Diesel Loco Shed, Ponmalai and it is where a number of oil-fired steam locomotives have been built in recent years. On a visit in February 2016 we were not allowed to take photos but even getting into the works can be considered quite an achievement. We were able to see work on the cosmetic restoration of a steam locomotive which was destined for display on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
6000 workers are employed on the sight and they refurbish some 142 diesel locomotives each year.

 

The impressive works entrance

The tower clock was built in Croydon, UK in 1923 and still going strong

The only picture inside the works shows the 'traverser' in the distance which moved the locos between the various stages of refurbishment