Gwalior - Sheopur Narrow Gauge Trip

Leaving Gwalior station, the NG line circles around the hill which houses the city's famous fort ( a portion of the hill can be seen in the background). The track literally passes through the backyards of local residences. Two elderly ladies chat amiably

From the very first station (Ghosipura) itself, the train is full enough to warrant rooftop riders. And the train hasn't even left the city limits. ()

Sequence 1.1 - Between Gwalior and Ghosipura lies perhaps the world's longest level crossing. The train slows down to 5 kmph as it curves in to the road section. Note the gates which control the access of the train to this section. ()

Sequence 1.2 - The road and the track pass through this cutting between the hill. The two same a common alignment due to lack of width, hence the entire road section is closed off when the train comes. However, it does not prevent this autorickshaw to sne

The track and the road share the same path for about 500m. Sequence 1/3 - The far end of the level crossing can be seen in the distance. ()

Sequence 1.4 - This is the view looking back. Dismantled track pieces can also be seen lined up on the side. ()

Sequence 1.5 - The train veers off sharply to the left at the end of the section. Thanks to the early hour, there's nary a soul to be bothered by the long closure. ()

Roofing on the Gwalior - Sheopur passenger. When there is no place inside, everyone heads to top. And it is an entirely different train up there - including exclusive vendors. Photo taken just as we are entering the Chambal National Reserve Forest. (Bhara

Leaving the city behind, we enter the heartland of the former Scindia state. Sumaoli is the first major stop on the way. Our approach into the station is through thick woods which literally engulf the track. ()

Sumaoli is also site for the first crossing of the day. The extended halt is well utilised by the crowd to grab some Chai and Samosas. ()

The incoming train is the morning Sabalgarh - Gwalior passenger. Unsurprisingly, the train is packed to the rafters. ()

Another look at the train. Loco in charge is NDM-5 #803 from the Gwalior shed. ()

Mohan is trying hard to blend in with the locals - some of whom are busy catching a late morning nap. ()

Sequence 2.1 - Just after Kailaras, one needs to cross the Kuari (Kwari/Kuwari) river. Again, road and rail share a common path. Here our train is curving in to the section leading up to the track. ()

Sequence 2.2 - Road traffic is made to halt as the train gets the right of way. ()

Sequence 2.3 - This is the common section, again hemmed in between the ravines. Note the little boy with the green bucket - he's part of the unofficial rooftop catering service. ()

Sequence 2.4 - The Kuari flows all the way across the northern districts of Madhya Pradesh and joins the Sindh river near Etawah in UP. The Sindh in turn joins the Yamuna just a few kilometers later. ()

Sequence 2.5 - As we look back, the gate behind us has already opened and traffic is sneaking up on us. ()

Sequence 2.6 - The road traffic however won't get too far. In typical Indian fashion, buses, tractors, jeeps, two wheelers and bullock carts among others have happily formed an all too familiar jam. The train however, merrily honks its way past. ()

The second crossing of the day is at Sabalgarh - a typical two bit town in the middle of virtually nowhere. However, it forms the hub of the section with radiating services to both ends of the section. Our crossing is with our pairing train, the Sheopur

This one is probably twice as packed as our train. Probably because it goes from the smaller town to the big city. Loco in charge is #805. ()

Past Birpur we approach the longest bridge on the section, across the Kuno river. The Kuno meets the Chambal a few kilometers to the north from this spot. ()

After crossing the river the track crosses the small hill range it had been skirting all around. One gets an idea of the terrain in this panoramic image stitched together from 4 frames. ()

Narrow cuttings replete with gradients upto 1:80 are a chief feature of this section. The sun was blazing hot by now, with thorny brambles passing just inches away. ()

Finally we reach Sheopur - the chief highlight of the town being its fort set on the banks of the river Parvati. ()