Meter gauge to MHOW

Magic of the meter gauge, 52992 briefly halts at Ajanti station as the sun rises over the plains. The platform consists of little more than a pair of ancient shade trees.

Heading north near Attar, a home semaphore is visible in the distance.

After bailing from the now very crowded 52992 I made a dash for the north end of the station and was able to capture that train powering up the grade towards the Narmada River.

In a cloud of turbo lag 52992 accelerates towards the Narmada and MHOW.

My patience was rewarded by 52963 showing up with the ugly duckling of MHOW, 6576 which wears the tattered remains of its old Phulera scheme. This locomotive would follow me around for the rest of my trip much to my dismay.

Expecting the Akola to Mhow 52988 to be late as usual I set up for the southbound Khandwa bound train. However a few minutes later the distinctive purr of a YDM4 from behind me made me suddenly realize this was a mistake as the train crossed the Narmada r

My patience was rewarded by 52963 showing up with the ugly duckling of MHOW, 6576 which wears the tattered remains of its old Phulera scheme. This locomotive would follow me around for the rest of my trip much to my dismay.

A closer view of 52963, the short train easily fits into the frame, attesting to the sad state of the meter gauge these days.

After 52963 had passed there was a long break to explore and find something to eat. After lunch at Hotel Gopal Midway I ventured back to the bridge to walk the tracks back to the station, easily the safer option over the narrow crowded Khandwa Road. The t

The extra tall approach semaphore to the Omkreshwar station stands at the edge of the bridge.

Long wait at a small station, little has changed here in years.

After a 2hr and 40 minute wait the station comes to life again as 52975 Mhow-Akola arrives at Omkareshwar with the lower quadrant semaphore guiding it to the east platform.

After a 2hr and 40 minute wait the station comes to life again as 52975 Mhow-Akola arrives at Omkareshwar with the lower quadrant semaphore guiding it to the east platform. The distinctive IR station board clearly shows the station in Hindi, English and U

After a dash to the other end of the station I was able to photograph 6607 in the classic Ratlam based livery accelerating 52975 south towards Akola under a plume of ALCO smoke.

6607 rapidly accelerates 52975 towards Akola past the lower quadrant semaphores at the south end of the station. The trains passage has caused a massive backup, the AC bus would be most tourists choice of visiting Omkareshwar rather than the crowded unair

After a long wait traffic streams across the railroad before the gates are closed again for the arrival of my 52964 to Mhow.

The LP on 6576 reaches for the token as 52964 arrives at the station.

After departing Balwara we leave the plains behind and ascend into the Vindhya Range travelling through a series of horseshoe curves towards Choral where we will cross train 52987

Our battleworn workhorse idles away at Choral waiting for the arrival of 52975 south.

Posing for a photograph to pass the time

After a relatively short wait 52987 arrives with 6726 in the new Mhow solid red orange scheme.

The Kalakund banker backs towards 52964 past cows grazing on the sparse vegetation.

Close up of our banker 6717 wearing the new Mhow red orange scheme which is being quickly applied to most units.

6717 backing onto the train, soon it will be time to head up the Choral Ghats and onto Mhow.

Onboard the last coach climbing the Choral ghats, the tall ravine viaduct lays just ahead.

Looking back towards our banker as we exit tunnel 3 with both locomotives working hard to conquer the stiff grade.

Passing through the rock formations before tunnel #2 that have been the site of many railway photographs dating back the steam era. The portal of tunnel #1 can be seen in the distance.