Some years back you could travel from Delhi to Bangalore in a Meter Gauge train. Akola-Khandwa section was a part of that corridor. Now this section including the famed Spiral at Dhulghat all are a part of Core & Buffer areas of Melghat Tiger Reserve
Moving on from our NG sojourn on day 1 we arrived at Akot Jn where we were expecting an incoming train from Khandwa side. What better way than a semaphore section to greet us (Trayambak Ojha)
Cleaing the loop and entering Akot Station (Trayambak Ojha)
After a brief halt, the train is ready to depart. (Trayambak Ojha)
The skies were very gloomy and the train departs in full glory from Akot (Trayambak Ojha)
Shifting our Focus deeper into the Melghat Tiger reserve and after a very difficult off roading on a rainy day, we Arrived at a heaven called Wan Road. (Trayambak Ojha)
From being desolate to crowded the transformation was quick for the station. The wood cutters and Railway staff for maintenance used this train to return to their homes. (Trayambak Ojha)
The weather had become very difficult with constant rain falling we all took to different positions to capture the train (Vivek Pillay)
After a brief halt the train departed from Wan Road while the wood cutters probably wanted to return walking to their villages. (Trayambak Ojha)
Prowling through the forest with the semaphores saluting the train, we ended the action for the day (Trayambak Ojha)
Day-2 and we arrived Akot just before Dawn and we were just on time to capture the morning departure at Akot and it gave some smoky show. (Trayambak Ojha)
The train to Akola departs from Akot making the atmosphere totally smokey. (Vivek Pillay)
Our next location was the famed Dhulghat Spiral, which was a difficult place to reach but was all the efforts. The train here enters the viaduct to climb down the spiral (Trayambak Ojha)
After climbing down the gradient using helical path the train crosses below the same viaduct below through the dense jungle. (Trayambak Ojha)
And it curves to re-enter the forest towards Dhulghat (Trayambak Ojha)
There is no dearth of wildlife. Seen here is a crab on the tracks , who probably was washed out by the monsoons. We were also able to see Chitals in the forest (Trayambak Ojha)