An Electric Multiple Unit train [not containing a separate engine] usually used for short distance travel coming from the nearby city of Kanpur. The second image has a the trusty EMU and a modern all air conditioned train standing adjacent to each other. The final image is a close up of a diesel loco.
The original WDM 2 series was Alco one, yes. This is a 3300 hp WDM 3D loco, which was developed much later I think , ~2003.
Monkeys at the station [since the station is quite open and it's a menace there sometimes]. The second image would probably be unknown in the developed world. Why are people boarding from tracks and not proper platforms? Reason is a relatively fast train is coming bound for a twin city 72 kms away. The train is all Unreserved [meaning no reserved compartments] and majority of the people could be daily travelers. Since the train has doors on both sides, these people wish to avoid the heavy crowding on the platform and gain the upper hand by boarding first from the track side, leading to better chance of getting seats. This isn't a problem in reserved class trains or most long distance ones but this is one of the few exceptions. This problem is furthur exacerbated since the suburban services frequency was cut down by more than half, leading to more people depend on the morning Inter city.
When you wander into a station with no active services at that time and find yourself the sole person there!
> Metro train going over traditional train tracks > A passenger train standing at a wayside station > Lush green fields seen from the train
Kangra River Valley is a Narrow Gauge Railway in Northern India. I haven't been there though apparently some folks at IRFCA [Indian railfanning group/site just like Trainboard[though has a slightly different layout] took great images of it. The Flick link is here . Attached is one image I found brilliant.
What kid of work is ongoing, seeing those loose pavers? In the USA, that area being unprotected would make safety officials unhappy.
Brilliant is an understatement. That's breathtaking! Lots of greenery and some massive mountains in the background. And a train as a bonus!
I am not sure since there were no construction folks then. Either case, only couple of services stop there and rest just skip this station. If you wish to see true danger, take a look at Bombay/Mumbai's locals. Those things are both the lifeline and a walking death machine. This stretch has actually involved over the past decade. It remained as a single diesel line since the British built it with doubling and electrification being recent additions. So was upgradation of platforms and things like foot over bridges
First image is the last remaining Meter gauge line in my state. Image not mine. Source Second image is Mine . I traveled to Delhi recently. My train was after this. This train has a mixed rake [General+Sleeper+various AC types; it will be a separate long post if I list the various kind of accomodations here]. This is a General coach with NO reserved seating. So first come, first serve. This guy basically demanded the emergency window to be opened [argued for 10 mins atleast] and then first beamed his friend inside and then himself. The main door was too congested. Since the next service was all air conditioned reserved, it was the last train that day [it was already 2200 hrs] bound for national capital for folks who didn't have confirmed tickets.
A blue liveried diesel loco and a goods loco carrying probably a defunct electric passenger loco at the head of a local train.
These goods locos are rarely used for passenger trains. An exception was probably made in this case because this is a crawling unreserved train that stops at every station enroute. They had a built in purpose years/decades ago when roads where non existent [I mean, if one goes to the birth of this railroad, originally Meter gauge, then traditional roads were non existent for all intents and purposes] but in today's day and age when buses are easily available and at frequent intervals, only the cheapest travelers take the trains, I do remember one of my relatives [now dead, RIP] taking the daily UP train from one station ~50 kms to another village station[adjacent to it]almost daily for his work. Direct route even now b/w those two stations is quite loopy if one wants to take the road. However, with declining patronage and more express trains being introduced, these trains hardly run on time and few passengers bother with them. Despite this being a double electrified line now, it creaks under heavy load and these trains are often sidelined to get overtaken by faster express services. I mean, I took the train because I like trains and stations but most people don't I'll upload an image which I took inside the train where dust had soaked onto the seats. Whilst the government is focusing on fast services that are expensive yet modern, these crawlers from the past era [fare is like <1 $ for distance of 150 km end to end in this train which is cheap even by Indian standards; if I try to do the same by one of the premium newly announced trains, I might end up shelling 10-20x the cost] remain forgotten.
The French-speaking locals around here (province of Québec) had a nickname for those slow trains that stopped at every single station - tortillard. They just plodded their way along the tracks, slowly, through some nice scenery, stopping for each station. Very relaxed, but it got people and goods from point A to point B - and all points between - surely and safely. As with anywhere else, this was before real roads became widespread and the only alternative was a horse and buggy. Thanks a million for sharing your photos and stories.
Funny thing I started an old Orson Welles film today and it started with a shot of horse and buggy riding in the middle of downtown of an American city along side modern cars.
