The article (Open Page – “Steam engines, dream machines”, Jan.3) reminded me of the time when my father was station master at Bezwada (now Vijayawada) and Arakkonam. Our railway quarters were in Vijayawada near the engine shed. My elder sister and brother, who were in school, would board the train from the town where they were studying. The engine driver knew them and he would let them travel in the engine. They would enjoy the hospitality as the engine driver used to roast groundnuts and give them a feast. On reaching our quarters, he would sound the whistle and let the family know that they had reached.
When we moved to Perambur we lived near the railway grounds. I made friends with a number of Anglo-Indians steam engine drivers. I used to envy them but did not know how driving a steam engine was a tough job.
S.R. Viswanathan,
Chennai
