The Emphatic Steam of Darjeeling with Meter Gauge & Broad Gauge Flavors

The trip begins- After a hasty run from New Jalpaiguri Rly Stn and deliberate attempts by tour operators to fleece us we somehow managed to bargain a deal- NJP-Matigara-SGUJ Hotel- Darjeeling. As we reached Matigara just on time the Meter gauge Rail bus f

And the Rail bus which was empty suddenly was stacked with school going children boarding all over it (Trayambak Ojha)

After having a troublesome and tiring ride up the hills and unwanted delays by a cranky driver we do indeed reach Darjeeling before the First Narrow Gauge Steam hauled Joyride train from Ghoom. (Trayambak Ojha)

Darjeeling station by afternoon, this is only time we saw diesels NDM 5 was later taken to Kurseong for POH (Trayambak Ojha)

We hastily dumped our luggage and quickly arranged for another car that was much more helpful. Then we came riding down as the train to Ghoom as Joyride departs through one of many monastries through which the entire Darjeeling Himalayan Railways cross, s

The first stop of the train was a water filling point where water was filled for the combustion process also a complete routine check of the loco was performed (Trayambak Ojha)

Since it was steam loco and that too more than 90 years old it needed a lot of checkup and hard work by the crew managing coal feed discharge etc. (Trayambak Ojha)

Pride of Darjeeling Steaming hot cup of Darjeeling Tea & Steam loco (Trayambak Ojha)

And the chase had begun! Running frantically to capture train at all possible vantage points (Trayambak Ojha)

The star of the section is the Batasia Loop. It is an Alpha loop which will be self explained in subsequent images (Trayambak Ojha)

Alpha loops are used to climp sudden high grades not possible bu just an elavation just as the train enters the curve to the loop (Trayambak Ojha)

After taking a complete 90 degree curve the train climbs the batasia loop seen with the Darjeeling town across the valley (Trayambak Ojha)

Since this being a Joyride the train to Ghoom stops here for toursit to enjoy this memorial created for War martyrs of Gorkha Regiment (Trayambak Ojha)

Through the World Famous Tea Gardens of the Darjeeling. We made sure we took some back home (Trayambak Ojha)

Just as the train starts to exit the Batasia loop climbing the elevation required a thick fog engulfs the entire valley and makesit a mesmerizing effect (Trayambak Ojha)

The train takes a final curve of the Batasia loop another 90 degree curve as it departs the Batasia War Memorial (Trayambak Ojha)

The train crosses the viaduct which is used to connect to the elevated section as the train had entered the loop below it some moments back (Trayambak Ojha)

Our driver by now had become enthusiastic about our endeavour and was very clear about our goals. Hence he suggested this monastry gate to be our next shooting point (Trayambak Ojha)

Chasing the train we finally arrive at Ghoom. There was a thick fog in the entire valley and light had reduced dramatically. The Khalasi here exchanges flag conforming that all was well at the Ghoom station (Trayambak Ojha)

The inflammable fire of the Crew's dedication to his work was by no means inferior to the fire of the steam loco furnace (Trayambak Ojha)

As the loco reverses it takes the mainline tracks and not the loop adjacent to the Platform the train was standing (Trayambak Ojha)

A symbolic image of Monks passing by where the steam service also starts it's journey up the hills (Trayambak Ojha)

After the joyride departed to our surprise another service from Kurseong arrived with steam instead of a diesel loco. Diesels were on maintenance that weekend (Trayambak Ojha)

These steam beauties are stunning to look but required a lot of care as the ALP of the loco releases the steam pressure and inspects the loco for its further journey (Trayambak Ojha)

After a prolonged halt at Ghoom the service to Darjeeling from Kurseong departs amidst thick fog. We had asked the LP why could'nt he switch on the headlamps he said it was not working and the noise of the loco and the horn was sufficient for the people t

The train arrived at Batasia in no time and this time there was no halt as it starts to descend the Alpha loop (Trayambak Ojha)

Although the thick cloud cover meant that we could not photograph the train against the back drop of the Kanchenjunga but this place is spectacular nevertheless. More on the loop here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batasia_Loop (Trayambak Ojha)