Just before Gauge Conversion closed services on the Satpura Narrow Gauge Railway, a diverse team of railfans travelled the length and breadth of the system to document it for posterity.
Crossing some lovely stone viaducts on the way to Chhindwara (Rajit Kumar)
Lit up by the setting sun, the locomotive hauling the overnighter to Jabalpur catches its breath at Bhimalgondi (Shashanka Nanda)
Glowing in evening sunlight between Bhimalgondi and Khukrakhapa. (SRIRAM SRINIVASAN)
The day's service was also carrying a spare loco to run services out of Nainpur. This train often transported locos to and from the Motibagh shed. (Shashanka Nanda)
Past Bhimalgondi, the line to Chhindwara climbs steeply as our train heads into the setting sun (Shashanka Nanda)
Village folk returning home after cutting wood for their fires make way as the train rumbles past (Shashanka Nanda)
Double headed 58839 Nagpur-Nainpur-Jabalpur Passenger is lit up nicely by the golden evening sun as it gets ready to depart Kukrakhapa station on the Nagpur - Chhindwara section (Vivek Manvi)
The setting sun bathes the rake in stunning light at Bhimalgondi (Rajit Kumar)
Early morning passengers gathering at Chhindwara for the first services to Nainpur and Nagpur.
Staff prepare a loco for morning duties out of Chhindwara
The ZDM3A bursting in to action
We continue the second leg of our journey in a battered 2S coach of the CWA-NIR passenger. That doesn't deter our spirits though! (Vivek Manvi)
The CWA-NIR passenger takes a breather at the serene Jhilmili station . It turned out to be a longish halt here, allowing us to soak in the atmosphere. (Vivek Manvi)