Pathankot: The whistle, the coal-fired furnace and the slow, rhythmic chug of a steam engine through the hills may soon become more than a memory for railway enthusiasts and tourists visiting the Kangra Valley Railway.Steam locomotive ZB-66, one of the most treasured heritage assets of the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway, returned to Pathankot on Tuesday, paving the way for the revival of heritage steam rides on one of India's most scenic rail routes.The locomotive was brought back from the Rewari Heritage Shed in Haryana in response to growing demand from tourists and rail enthusiasts keen to experience travel from a bygone era, railway officials said.After maintenance and servicing, the locomotive is expected to resume special heritage runs on the 164-km Kangra Valley Railway, which winds through the foothills of the Dhauladhars, crossing bridges, tunnels and picturesque hill stations between Pathankot and Jogindernagar.Built in 1952 by W G Bagnall Ltd of Stafford, United Kingdom, ZB-66 served Indian Railways for decades before age and wear took a toll on its boiler, tender and underframe. By 2012, the locomotive had deteriorated significantly.Its revival began when the Amritsar workshop of the Northern Railway undertook the challenging task of restoring the locomotive. After years of painstaking work, engineers and technicians brought the steam engine back to life in Mar 2017, preserving a rare piece of railway history.The locomotive was later shifted to the Rewari Heritage Shed in June 2023 and has now returned to its home in Pathankot.Since its restoration, ZB-66 has hauled several special heritage services. In 2018, it pulled a chartered train carrying British tourists between Palampur and Baijnath Paprola. The following year, special steam runs were organised for schoolchildren to familiarise them with India's railway heritage.Railway officials said the return of the locomotive aligns with efforts to promote heritage tourism and preserve India's rail legacy. "Our objective is to conserve this rich technical heritage and connect younger generations with the glorious history of Indian Railways through tourism, education and heritage conservation initiatives," said Raghvender Singh, public relations inspector, Jammu Division, Northern Railway.The locomotive is 42 ft 7 in long with its tender, weighs 43 tonnes, runs on coal and water, and can attain a top speed of 30 kmph. For tourists, however, its appeal lies less in technical specifications than in the chance to step back into a disappearing chapter of railway history.