PhilH
Western Thunderer
Photos taken on two trips to India in March 1976 and January 1980. They will cover the narrow gauge (2'-6" and 2'-0") and main lines (5'-6" and metre).
Starting on a high note - literally, with the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Modellers in 16mm scale live steam (with suitably deep pockets) may be considering the latest production by Roundhouse Engineering - the 'C' Class 4-6-2, of which the DHR had two.
Originally built for the branch running south from the main DHR line to Kishanganj in 1914, they were little used after replacement of that line by a new metre gauge line which was completed by January 1950. In March 1976 both locos were still at New Jalpaiguri, although not used for some time and the notice on 807 stated - "stored 1.4.69". 808 is in the shed behind 807 and was painted all black except for the red footplate valances and buffer beams. By the January 1980 visit 807 had left two months before for preservation in the Nehru Science Centre at Bombay, but 808 was still here and I noted that the cab and tender were now blue. 808 is now plinthed outside the Northeast Frontier Railway headquarters at Maligaon, Guwahati in Assam.
Sukna at 11 miles from the terminus at New Jalpaiguri is the start of the hill section and from here to the summit at Ghum the line climbs 6874 feet in altitude at an average gradient of 1 in 30.5. Longer trains are split here into a number sections for the climb and in 1976 the mail train was split into three separate trains.
795 on arrival at the head of the combined train. It will take the first three coaches and a brakevan, 783 will take the next two coaches, the mail coach and a four wheel van,
The trains run up the hill with sometimes only a short distance between them, and soon after leaving Sukna 795 and the first section are viewed from the second section.
Starting on a high note - literally, with the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Modellers in 16mm scale live steam (with suitably deep pockets) may be considering the latest production by Roundhouse Engineering - the 'C' Class 4-6-2, of which the DHR had two.
Originally built for the branch running south from the main DHR line to Kishanganj in 1914, they were little used after replacement of that line by a new metre gauge line which was completed by January 1950. In March 1976 both locos were still at New Jalpaiguri, although not used for some time and the notice on 807 stated - "stored 1.4.69". 808 is in the shed behind 807 and was painted all black except for the red footplate valances and buffer beams. By the January 1980 visit 807 had left two months before for preservation in the Nehru Science Centre at Bombay, but 808 was still here and I noted that the cab and tender were now blue. 808 is now plinthed outside the Northeast Frontier Railway headquarters at Maligaon, Guwahati in Assam.
Sukna at 11 miles from the terminus at New Jalpaiguri is the start of the hill section and from here to the summit at Ghum the line climbs 6874 feet in altitude at an average gradient of 1 in 30.5. Longer trains are split here into a number sections for the climb and in 1976 the mail train was split into three separate trains.
795 on arrival at the head of the combined train. It will take the first three coaches and a brakevan, 783 will take the next two coaches, the mail coach and a four wheel van,
The trains run up the hill with sometimes only a short distance between them, and soon after leaving Sukna 795 and the first section are viewed from the second section.
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