A Discreet Meter Gauge from Bihar

On a day with a dramatic sky and hide and seek playing sunlight. A passenger service towards Banmankhi from Purnia Jn makes headway on a small viaduct enroute (Trayambak Ojha)

Just as we position ourselves near a small station named Alinagar Tola a fully loaded Meter gauge service from banmankhi appears with people positioned all over the train with cycles hanging. Tha plan was to chase every train at vantage points throughout

We proceeded a further ahead to capture the same train appearing in a much open area but the crowd was still intact. Reminded me of the fevicol ad (Trayambak Ojha)

As the train disappeared through the remote villages of Purnia district there was a lot of speculation amongst the locals on our motives (Trayambak Ojha)

Through the farmlands of Bihar this meter gauge service is the lifeline of the people in this area with more than 100% occupancy in the trains (Trayambak Ojha)

Negotiating numerous curves and through the dense thickets the late running service to Purnia from Banmankhi had lots of Bollywood & Hollywood stuntmen standing tall comfortably on the trains (Trayambak Ojha)

The train packed to capacity had many stuntmen who had occupied every available space in their train along with their wares. This section is a lifeline to these people (Trayambak Ojha)

Through the rice plantations this alco showed that it can show it's power of smoking (Trayambak Ojha)

The train to Purnia junction enters the viaduct as the cows are grazing in the grasslands and enjoying the dark clouds were the passengers boarded on the roofs (Trayambak Ojha)

We hastily reached Purnia Court station just on time for the capturing the departure of the MG train belching dark clouds of burnt diesel. Adjacent to the mainline was a freight rake which seemingly was defunct. (Trayambak Ojha)

Just as the train left Purnia Court station a chain pulling resulted in train coming to grinding halt. Post that we requested the LP to light up the headlamps and he obliged us (Trayambak Ojha)

The freight rake on the adjacent line had some tankers as well. A closer look at it (Trayambak Ojha)

Blowing dust around the return passenger service from Purnia Jn to Banmankhi onwards to Bihariganj cruises through the Rice farms and grasslands grazed by cows and herders seeing them off (Trayambak Ojha)

Negotiating a curve just ahead of the largest viaduct on the section the passenger train seemingly had lesser passegers since it was already in the afternoon (Trayambak Ojha)

The viaduct seemed to be on an S curve as there was another sharp curve just after the viaduct where the train moves gracefully (Trayambak Ojha)

Just as we thought he crowd would reduce to our selight and surprise the train was reloaded with daredevils all over at Krityanand Nagar and the aggression on the YDM4 was clearly visible (Trayambak Ojha)

The monsoons had surely flooded the region as seen in this water mass on the fields while the MG train goes at a cautioned speed (Trayambak Ojha)

The YDM4 and its rake is reflected in this Canal overflowing above its safe mark through Sarsi enroute (Trayambak Ojha)

Chasing the train we finally arrive at Banmankhi the train was stacked to the brim yet again with all sorts of wares and cycles specially as the semaphores bow down in awe (Trayambak Ojha)

The train towards Bihariganj enters Banmankhi junction which was typical crowded station surrounded with greenery and low platforms (Trayambak Ojha)

A picture of the bygone era. Multiple defunct YMD4s belonging to Siliguri, Narkatiaganj and Izzatnagar were lying in their graveyard. The steam remnants can been in in the distant along with condemned MG rakes (Trayambak Ojha)

Moving to the other end of the platform we see a service from Bihariganj entering into Banmankhi and just before it could enter the platform the usual chain pullng process ensues people getting down from the train all around with their wares (Trayambak Oj

And there were some waanbe heroes as well who were flaunting poses while the vendors were still moving as soon as the train started moving again to enter the platform (Trayambak Ojha)

A brilliantly bright sky blue painted NArkatiaganj YDM4 lies stationery in the Banmankhi yard (Trayambak Ojha)

A humble umbrealla repairer seamlessly does his chores while the YDM4 in the background prepares itself to launch from Banmankhi towards Bihariganj (Trayambak Ojha)

In another part of the platform people making wares from canes and bamboos are unperturbed by the honking YDM4 ready to depart from Banmankhi (Trayambak Ojha)

As the train starts for Bihariganj the public is still loading and unloading their stuff hanging from the doors and wherever possible (Trayambak Ojha)