Bhubaneswar, Jan. 16 -- Train 18, billed as India's fastest train, is no doubt a big achievement for the Indian Railways so far. But, at the same time, the making of the country's first engine-less train has turned out to be even a bigger achievement for a man from Odisha. He is Debi Prasad Dash, Chief Design Engineer (Electrical) of Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the manufacturer of Train 18.

Dash, a 1987-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), considered an expert on design of of Traction Distribution networks, had led a team comprising of around 27 people, including some finest engineers, designers and supervisors which worked relentlessly for over six months, including Sunday to conve...