ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, ðə tɹˈeɪnɪŋ ʌv ˈɪndiən ɹˈeɪlweɪ sˈɜːvɪs ʌv mᵻkˈænɪkəl ˌɛndʒɪnˈɪɹz ˈɜːsmi pɹoʊbˈeɪʃənɚz wʌz sˈɛntɹəlˌaɪzd ænd pˌʊt ˌʌndɚ ðə kəntɹˈoʊl ʌvðə dᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˈɪɹɪmˌiː, bˌʌt wɪð hɛdkwˈɔːɹɾɚz ɪn kˈɑːɹɹɐɡpˌʊɹ, wˌɛɹ ðɛɹwˌʌz ɐn ˈɑːfɪsɚɹ ˌɔn spˈɛʃəl dˈuːɾi ˌoʊˌɛsdˈiː hˌuː koʊˈɔːɹdɪnˌeɪɾᵻd ðə tɹˈeɪnɪŋ wɪððə dᵻɹˈɛktɚ.
In 1988, the training of Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) Probationers was centralised and put under the control of the Director of the IRIMEE, but with headquarters in Kharagpur, where there was an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) who coordinated the training with the Director.