Hills of Tiperah & Beyond
The MG lines of NFR are not just about the hill section. The plains of Assam too had some beautiful MG sections. Here we are presenting pictures from the Badarpur-Silchar, Karimganj-Maishashan, Baraigram-Dullabcherra, Karimganj-Agartala sections.
The fully-loaded morning Dhullabcherra-Karimganj passenger arrives at its destination. (Benhur)
All vantage points have been used to transport their stuffs to Karimganj. The two pairs of trains connecting Karimganj with Dullabcherra are backbone of this people, with poor road network. (Benhur)
The Dullabcherra-Karimganj passenger is now ready to depart as Karimganj - Silchar passenger. Here the loco tries to emote like a steam engine. (Benhur)
The kid is awestruck, as the YDM-4 notches up to shunt a MBCX rake back into a loop at Karimganj. (Benhur)
The morning Silchar-Karimganj passenger arrives at Karimganj. The train will proceed as Karimganj-Maishashan passenger. (Benhur)
Maishashan got prominence after 1947, as it became a border station. Maishashan is part of Comilla-Akhaura-Kulaura-Badarpur line constructed by the Britishers in late 19th Century and early 20th Century. (Benhur)
The loco goes ahead for reversal. Just few hundred meters ahead is the Bangladeshi border. Apparently an iron bar is kept on the lines, indicating that the line has been closed for traffic. (Benhur)
Back at Karimganj, a father does some railfanning with his kid. (Harish)
The power of Silchar-Agartala runs around at Karimganj for its journey further ahead to Agartala. Trains coming from Lumding/Silchar and going towards Agartala have reversal at Karimganj. (Harish)
View towards Badarpur side. (Harish)
The yard at Karimganj. The line on the extreme left goes to Karimganj Ferry point. (Harish)
A MG Plasser machine, which had become jobless! (Naveen)
The Agartala bound passenger takes a breather at Baraigram junction. Baraigram has to be the most simple junction in the region. The line straight ahead is towards Agartala, while the line to the left goes to Dullabcherra. (Harish)
Back in the passenger towards Dullabcherra, this worker is carrying small fishes bought at Nilambazar to his fish farm. They keep stirring the pots containing fishes to keep them alive. (Harish)
End of line at Dullabcherra, and the loco is getting reversed for its journey back to Karimganj!
The end of line at Dullabcherra. For many passengers though, the travel continues for reaching far flung places of Assam and Mizoram by means of shared taxis. For Mizoram, another gateway is Bairabi, which is proposed to be extended up to Sairang. (Benhur
The loco running around to attach to the returning train to Karimganj. Due to permanent speed restrictions on this line, the train has accumulated a 90 mins delay during a 50-km journey. (Benhur)
The upside down journey towards Baraigram. (Benhur)
A smile that made my day. (Benhur)
Back at Silchar-Agartala bound Fast Passenger, we halt at the no-platform Patharkandi railway station. (Harish)
A MG caboose and a flat-bed car spotted at a siding at Dharmanagar. (Benhur)
Dramatic evening sky makes a perfect backdrop to the passenger train bound for Agartala at Dharmanagar. (Harish)
Silchar - Agartala Fast Passenger waits for crossing with Lumding bound express at Ambassa. (Harish)
Silchar - Agartala Fast Passenger waits for crossing with a freight train at Manu. (Harish)
A late running Agartala - Lumding Express arrives at Ambassa. (Harish)
The Silchar - Agartala Fast Passenger waiting for a crossing with a freight train at Mungiakami. (Naveen)
Meanwhile at Agartala, a passenger train waits for starter. The building on the left is the Railway Officers guest house. (Benhur)