On The NG : Nagpur-Chindwara and the Motibagh Museum

25kmph feels so much faster!

Sunset & NG 1: Molten gold or Red hot iron? NG line basking in the evening glory! Dr Akash Bang

Sunset & NG 2: Sun sets at that faraway place where these 2 NG tracks meet! Dr Akash Bang

Sunset & NG 3: At that critical time of sunset, a lapse of just few seconds and a slight decrease in exposure value of the frame can make a world of difference! Note the color changes near the sun and compare with the earlier pics especially pic no 1.

the beautiful sunset pretty much sums up our exciting day of railfanning.

Sunset on NG 4: Sunset in the forests of MP! Dr Akash Bang

The picturesque Bhimalgondi station and the dense forest behind. The curved tracks and the semaphore signal only add to the charm! Dr Akash Bang

Railfan Ranganath runs as the guard whistles and shows the green flag at Bhimalgondi. Dr Akash Bang

Guardians of the forest: In fading light we cross a semaphore high up on the tree line.

Night time action – the ZDM 3A # 171 being coupled to an NG rake at Chhindwara. This station boasts the only high level NG platform in the whole country. Everyday, the station hosts five NG and four BG trains in each direction. 2006-12-09.

At 2000 hrs, the 1NNJ is waiting at Chhindwara to depart overnight further to Jabalpur. Chhindwara Jn. 2006-12-09.

The NG-NG Diamond crossing at Chhindwara Jn Station. The 2 NG platforms (the ONLY elevated NG Pf’s in India!) at CWA are aligned end to end! One Pf ends where the man is standing (just beside the engine which is the ZDM4A that brought us from NGP). Then

VSP poses against the Nagpur-Jabalpur board of 1 NNJ at Chhindwara Jn as the newly entered guard (after a crew change) checks the goodies in his box. Dr Akash Bang

Probably the ONLY NG section in India with NG sleeper coaches. Upper berths used for sleeping whereas lower berths used for sitting. Pity we couldn’t capture an inside view due to heavy rush!! Dr Akash Bang

A view of the vacuum emergency brake valve in the guard’s cubicle of the 1NNJ. There is no loco on the rake and the brake pipe has no vacuum. Chhindwara Jn. 2006-12-09.

The reason the coach containing the guard’s cubicle is known as the “Brake van” – the mechanical brake that can be applied from this cubicle. Chhindwara Jn. 2006-12-09.

Lallaguda’s WAP 4 22606 starts from Nagpur with the Delhi bound 2721 Dakshin Express. The pic is shot from the tracks towards Howrah.

Signal cabin of Chhindwara Jn station with the clear demarcation of BG controlling lever. Dr Akash Bang

Another view of the ZDM3A # 194 as it backs onto an empty rake. Nagpur Jn. 2006-12-10

The ZDM3A # 194 is one of the three locomotives on the Indian Railways that are named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The other two are named as “Babasaheb” and are WAP 1 # 22021 and WDM 2 # 18298 or #16298. Nagpur Jn. 2006-12-10

The parting mugshot of the NG trip gang – from the left –Ravi, HP Reddy, Kamesh, Tejender, Ranga, VSP, Sachin, Srini, Bharath and Apurva. The members missing in this pic are Akash (who left earlier in the morning) and Dilip (who left the previous even