Tipong Colliery. Photos by Mohan Bhuyan and Bharat Vohra
It's not just coal that is carried by the colliery line...
B 796 came charging out, now really showing off!
Memories of Darj flooded back instantly!
B 796 and her load approach their destination - the long shed in the background. Each wagon is sent into the shed with a winch
Each wagon is tipped, the coal falling onto a conveyor belt for the uphill journey to the loading bay. Trucks carry the coal to Tirap Siding, where BOXNs wait. Once upon a time the MG used to come all the way to Tipong, sigh! Photo by Bharat Vohra
Tipong has it all...bridges, tunnels, gradients. Photo by Bharat Vohra
In the monsoon, Tipong is a train photographer's paradise
Later I was surprised to see how docile this river looks in the dry season
The B's famous thirst was evident...
...but luckily there is no shortage of water in Tipong
The colliery is spread over a large area with several mines and worker colonies with personal betel groves
This has to be one of my favourite loco sheds!
Going past the loco shed where David cools down and a dead B 789 turns her back on a rather scruffy little diesel
Coal bearing wagons are readied outside the mine entrance. Photo by Bharat Vohra
B 796 is ready to hitch up with her rake
The wagons are so tiny that they disappear behind B 796
At last a glimpse of the load
Samit & Bharat were thrilled to bits too. Finally our monsoon trip to Assam was bearing fruit, the hill section had been closed and so was the Murkongselek line
To think that when I was a boy I actually disdained steam...
I think B 796 was aware of our presence and didn't miss any opportunity to show off inspite of looking just a touch ragged
I believe wagons are allowed to run down this steep track, stayed by cables of course!
David is the only loco light enough to be allowed on this particular bridge
After David had disappeared it was B 796 all the way. For me it evoked memories of a decade in Darjeeling
Our first glimpse of a steamer at Tipong - after a long, rough ride in a stalling Ambassador
The delightfully friendly Manager personally escorted us to the loco. On the way we spotted David on the far bank.