Meter Gauge Chronicles. A journey in one of the last remaining mainline MG routes.
1. BRK-MLN MG Express being shunted on PF-1 of Bahraich. Meanwhile GD-BRK DEMU in background in background preparing for it's return journey.
2....
more... Machine, man and nature. Our train departing from the laidback settings of Manjhara Poorab.
3. Daily life and the daily commuters of the train. Most of the travellers boarded to reach their daily jobs in Risiya. Teachers, shopkeepers, nurses, policeman, peons, everyone on the train seemed to know each other.
4. A curious child looking out of the window. He kept asking his father about everything he saw. That's how I became a railfan, too.
5. Lines meeting and going deep into the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary.
6, 7. Traversing through the Dudhwa national park.
8. Approaching the mighty Ghaghra barrage. It was quite scary sitting on the gate and recording while the river churned below.
9. A semaphore signal and a railway employee returning after setting the signal to Stop.
10. That one's obvious. The little devil snatched my samosa and hid below the train.
11. Our pairing train going back to Bahraich, running back into the Katarniaghat sanctuary after emerging from Dudhwa.
12. A busy Nanpara Junction bustling with activity. Train halted here for almost an hour. You can go out and buy things to eat. Or you can buy bread-pakoras or samosas being freshly made on the PF. The huge old tree gives the feels of old times and may remind you of Malgudi Days.
13. The said bread-pakora. Along with the samosa it was quite delicious, although a bit oily to my liking.
14. A IZN YDM-4 stands tall at it's base, Mailani.
15. The MG yard of Mailani. You can spot a wide variety of YDM-4s, GS and Vistadome tourist coaches here. Along with a few freight vans and brake vans.
16. Located a few meters away from the station, beyond the yard is the loco maintenance shed of Mailani, most probably managed by IZN.
17. Mailani yard with all the MG coaches and locos with the coaching depot visible in the background.
18. Where MG meets electrified BG. BRK-MLN MG Express on PF-3 while my next connecting train MLN-GKP Express standing on PF-1.
I did this journey on 31/06/2022. And except LKO-GD, the entire LKO-MLN-LJN journey was on a station bought general ticket. The train was clean, washrooms were clean and were fully functional. Although same can't be said for the electrical elements.
I was also quite surprised that people boarding the train from the stations mid-jungle, too traveled with valid tickets. They were helpful and interacting with them, learning about their slow lives in remote areas was an experience in itself.
Kumud.
please wait...Translate to EnglishMeter Gauge Chronicles. A journey on one of the last remaining MG routes yo!
1. BRK-MLN MG Express being moved on PF-1 at Bahraich. Meanwhile, GD-BRK DEMU getting ready for its trip in the background.
2. The train leaving the chill vibes of Manjhara Poorab, with machine, man, and nature all chillin' together.
3. Regular life and daily peeps on the train heading to work in Risiya. Teachers, shopkeepers, nurses, cops, and even peons - everyone on the train was tight with each other.
4. A curious kid checkin' out the scene from the window; askin' his pops about everything. That's how I got into trainspotting too.
5. Tracks going deep into the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary, connectin' different paths.
6, 7. Rollin' through Dudhwa national park, catching all the vibes.
8. Approaching the mighty Ghaghra barrage, feeling some type of way as the river below churned.
9. A railway worker bouncin' back after set the signal to Stop - keepin' things movin'.
10. The sneaky lil devil grabbin' my samosa and hiding under the train like a pro.
11. Our ride headin' back to Bahraich, passing through Katarniaghat sanctuary after Dudhwa.
12. Nanpara Junction busy as with trains. Stopped for a minute, grab some grub and maybe swing by for some freshly made bread-pakoras or samosas at the platform. Big old tree giving you them Malgudi Days vibes.
13. That bread-pakora hittin' right with the oily vibes.
14. IZN YDM-4 standin' tall at Mailani.
15. Peep the MG yard at Mailani, all sorts of YDM-4s, GS coaches, Vistadome joints, and some freight rides too.
16. Check the loco maintenance shed beyond the yard, handled by IZN probably.
17. Mailani yard stacked with all them coaches and locos, chillin' with the coaching depot in the background.
18. Where MG links up with electrified BG - BRK-MLN MG Express on PF-3 vibes with my next ride MLN-GKP Express on PF-1.
Laid out this journey on 31/06/2022. The whole ride on a general ticket from LKO-MLN-LJN was smooth. Train was fresh, washrooms clean and working. Electrics? Well, that's another story.
Impressed how even peeps in the middle of nowhere tapped in with their tickets mid-jungle. Helpful bunch - talkin' with them was some real insight into their remote life.
Kumud.
