My pictures with their little stories

Coonoor Railway Station Like all pretty railway stations of Nilgiri Mountain Railway , Coonoor railway station is no exception. The heritage structure seems to be in good shape and the presence of steam locomotive workshop ensures activity throughout the day with lots of steam, smoke and sound in the air. (Coonoor, 2007) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Romance of Steam Steam, smoke and sound - together they make a heady cocktail. From my childhood, I have looked with great admiration every loco driver that came by. Steam locos have had a special place. These drivers have been my heroes. Would never miss an opportunity to chat up with this special tribe.  (Coonoor, 2007)  ‪

Water stop at Hillgrove, Nilgiri Mountain Railway When you see closely the entire process involved in running and maintaining steam locomotives, you cannot help but get involved in it. Each step is part of a ritual which the technicians and engine drivers perform with the same rigour and meticulousness with which a priest would go about performing a pooja. The degree of involvement may be actually higher. This X class steam locomotive is enjoying its water stop at Hillgrove on Nilgiri Mountain Railway . (Hillgrove, 2007)                     Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Mountain Railway with steam locomotive Some amount of walking around and climbing gives you the vantage points you have been looking for. The steam locomotive puffing with full force on the gradient on this lovely route of Nilgiri Mountain Railway that passes through dense forest and the Nilgiri mountains . At a spot like this, it is all very quiet and the sound of approaching steam engine gets you in a state of high alert and excitement no less than what was felt by the brother-sister duo in the film Pather Panchali by Satyajit Ray , when they heard the whistle of the steam locomotive from a distance and ran through the fields to catch a glimpse of the approaching beauty - one of the most enchanting cinematographic sequences ever filmed. (somewhere near Lovedale , 2007) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

A stop for Nilgiri Express This stop for Nilgiri Express is meant for water to refilled in the steam locomotive. The cute little stations and surroundings are so pretty that you cannot but resist getting down at each station where the train makes a stop. There are vendors selling crispy vadas and chai at each of these stations. (2007 ) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

X class steam locomotive of Nilgiri Mountain Railway The X class steam locomotives which are Swiss make, are a looker and they look as beautiful from whichever angle one views them from. The golden star on the black circular area right in front gives the loco a character and an imposing presence of its own. (2007)                      Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Black Beauty up close The X class steam locomotives that power trains between the stretch of Coonoor to Mettupalayam of Nilgiri Mountain Railway are wonderful machines which are kept running by equally wonderful technicians of Indian Railways who work diligently at the steam loco workshop at Coonoor. Unlike the Light and Sound shows at various archaeological sites, watching these beauties is a Sight and Sound show. Mechanical engineering at its best ! Any youngster who watches these Swiss origin machines up close is bound to be inspired to be a fine mechanical engineer or a technician. (2007)                        Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Passenger at Katti railway station Nilgiri Passenger at Ketti railway station on the Ooty - Mettupalayam line. This station like others on this line are beautiful little structures and retain the old world charm. Life is easy and slow here and the only semblance of any hustle bustle is when a train arrives. Here the engine driver is ready to exchange his token and the green flag of the guard will go up soon. (2007) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The Man and The Machine It is the love, care and dedication of the technicians at the steam loco workshop at Coonoor that has kept these beautiful X class vintage steam locomotives running on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway . Whoever I spoke to at this workshop - the technicians as well as the engine drivers, they were all proud of the fact nowhere in the world you can find such relics from the past up and running. (2007) Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Steam locomotive at Coonoor Loco Workshop I spent several hours on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. While everything about this route is romantic, nothing beats the raw steam power of the vintage steam locomotives still in operation.  The loco workshop at Coonoor must be having a bunch of passionate magicians who keep very old steam locomotives up and running.                     Here is my blog post on Nilgiri Mountain Railway