Showcase Archives I

Stark reminders: a defunct steam crane and a steam locomotive's tender are stark reminders of happier times. This particular instance is even more tragic: it marks the demise of MG at Guntakal. #AUTH1#Sundar Krishnamurthy#AUTH2#, 2001. #GOLD#

ZDM-1 #704: the sole member of this class that was not converted to NDM-1. This engine worked a childrens' train in the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi before she was unceremoniously dumped in the NRM in 2001. #AUTH1#Satish Pai#AUTH2#, 2001.

A WDM-6 at Katwa Jn. on the ER, filling in for an absent WG. Local passenger services had just been taken over (Dec. 1993) by units such as this, as well as other classes of diesels. #AUTH1#Terry Case#AUTH2#, Dec. 1993.

The untiring and indomitable Tata trucks rest easy on a RO-RO piggyback freight train on the Konkan Railway. #AUTH1#IRFCA Member#AUTH2#, 2001.

Cavernous interior of a tunnel being bored on the Konkan Railway. Imagine such a scene with the Dickensian yellow lighting when you hurtle down the tracks in your fast train! #AUTH1#IRFCA Member#AUTH2#, 2001.

A diesel multiple unit (DMU) emerges from the Old Goa tunnel on the Konkan Railway. #AUTH1#IRFCA Member#AUTH2#, 2001.

This sparkling, bright WDP-2 waits to get coupled to the rake of the Trichy-bound Pallavan Express on a pleasant afternoon at Chennai Egmore. (2000). #AUTH1#Anand Krishnan#AUTH2#, 2000.

WPs being prepared for the day's duties at Shaharanpur, home ground for the legendary Hal Hughes. #AUTH1#Terry Case#AUTH2#, 1980s?

Showcase's first pic that is not an actual photograph: this picture postcard shows a panoramic view of the Pamban bridge with a steam-hauled passenger train about to enter it. Scan provided by John Lacey.

X #37386 in steam at Mettupalayam in Feb. 2001. #AUTH1#Satish Pai#AUTH2#, 2001.

Working backstage: this is a close-up of one of the cog wheels which engages onto the rack between Coonoor and Kallar on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. #AUTH1#Satish Pai#AUTH2#, 2001.

Award-winning photography - again - from Tim Wakeman. A YDM-4 running LHF is silhouetted against a setting sun as she enters Katpadi with a passenger train. #AUTH1#Tim Wakeman#AUTH2#, 1999. #GOLD#

An enthusiastic crowd of curious onlookers gathers at Konnagar station on 19 Sept. 1999 as the HGS pauses for a breather en route to Tribeni with the Millennium Express. #AUTH1#Mrinal Das#AUTH2#, 1999.

The assistant driver acknowledges the green flag amidst black smoke while WDM-2 #17987R exhibits incomplete combustion as she powers out of Kirloskarwadi station with the 7384 Maharashtra Express. #AUTH1#Apurva Bahadur#AUTH2#, 2001. #GOLD#

The shed status board in the foreman's office at Kosamba on the WR, shot on 1981-01-22. #AUTH1#Terry Case#AUTH2#, 1981.

An old semaphore signal adds a perfect period atmosphere to this picture of an mg diesel YDM-4 #6155 as she snakes into Pakala Jn. with a passenger train. #AUTH1#Tim Wakeman#AUTH2#, 2001.

Is it a railway station or a temple? The busy main entrance of Varanasi station, seen on 1995-12-23. #AUTH1#Mike Brooker#AUTH2#, 1995.

No, not a scene from the American wild west. This fabulous shot by John Lacey shows a double WDM-2-headed express on the horseshoe curve approaching Jarandeshwar on the Pune - Miraj line. #AUTH1#John Lacey#AUTH2#, 2001. #GOLD#

A cow on the platform at Varanasi station can't seem to decide between the water fountain and the refreshment stall. #AUTH1#Mike Brooker#AUTH2#, 2001.

WCM-1 #20070 in gorgeous navy livery emerges out of a station in 1977 with the Deccan Express. The engine looks more like a WCM-2 due to the absence of the 'half shut eyelids' visors.
#AUTH1#Roderick Smith#AUTH2#, 1977. #SILVER#

WP #7714 powers out of Daund Jn. with a passenger train. Note the tender in CR green livery and the metal cutout star around the headlight instead of silver paint.
#AUTH1#Glyn Thomas#AUTH2#. #SILVER#

Local urchins cast a curious eye at our photographer while a puny YL glistens in the morning sunlight as she prepares to leave Mehsana on the WR with a local passenger train.
#AUTH1#Terry Case#AUTH2#, 2002.

Vatwa shed's WDM-3A #18705R thunders out of Jodhpur Jn. with 4708 Ranakpur express towards Bikaner.
#AUTH1#Apurva Bahadur#AUTH2#, 2002.

Lucky schoolkids get to ride the train to school every day! A ZDM-5 at Barog stands against a foreground of what seems an impossible junction of tracks.
#AUTH1#Herambh Patankar#AUTH2#, 2002.

WDM-2 Jumbo #17859 waits with the Trivandrum Rajdhani at Kankavli station on the KR as another express crosses. A front view of this locomotive appears on John's Vasco Vindaloo site. #AUTH1#John Lacey#AUTH2#, 2002.

Alas, a thing of beauty now gone forever! A YG powers out of Mysore with the Chamarajnagar Passenger. When I visited in 2000, the line was entirely diesel worked.
#AUTH1#Apurva Bahadur#AUTH2#, 2002. #MENTION#

Bhusaval station in the 1980s: a WAG-2 returns to shed. Note WG with passenger train on another platform.
#AUTH1#Dr. Shirish Yande#AUTH2#, 2002.