One of the engines of the Nilgiris Mountain train has returned to Mettupalayam after a trip to the Trichy Ponmalai railway workshop for repair and maintenance, on Tuesday.

The six engines of the Southern Railways, which are currently being used to run the trains between Ooty and Mettupalayam, are usually sent for annual maintenance works to the Ponmalai Railway workshop at Trichy. Initially there were 12 engines, but two of them were wrecked in accidents in 1942 and 1982. Four engines are exhibited in Mettupalayam, Coonoor, Mysuru and Delhi.

According to the Mettupalayam Station Master, the engines are sent on alternative basis to the workshop and are returned promptly. “We make sure that all the engines are properly maintained, and are sent to the workshop for repairs once in a year to keep them in good condition,” he said.