My pictures with their little stories

Shoving coal into the boiler of the steam locomotive The sight of the coal fired boiler of the steam locomotive with its door open is a rare sight. The loco staff opens it before the journey to top it up with coal. It is the moment when the lid of the boiler is opened, that the sight of the yellow orange dancing flames make you realise the power they hold and will soon unleash to make this loco pull the coaches of the narrow gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway . ( Darjeeling , 2017) 

Steam locomotive 805 at DHR loco shed, Darjeeling Looking at the steam locos at the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway loco shed was a fulfilling experience. The afternoon light ensured that the heavy metal of the locos stood out with the texture and shine of the surface making a huge statement. The red plate fitted on the blue coloured loco with 805 in copper colours created a distinct persona for this steam locomotive.( Darjeeling , 2017) Here is my blog post on Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Steam locomotive of Darjeeling Himalayan railway puffing its way Sitting so close to the steam locomotive of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (we were in the first row of the coach next to the loco) meant that I perfectly understood what puffing meant.  Steam locomotive is the ultimate multimedia experience - sound, smoke, steam, water droplets, coal particles and the locomotion. Here is my blog post on Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

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

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

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