Exploring the unexplored of NFR

Our train, 13141 Teesta Torsha Express...gave us a fabulous run after MLDT. (Arghya Roy)

The soulless FOB at New Jalpaiguri at 3:40am. (Pramit Mitra)

Our first major capture of the trip; SGUJ’s new WDP-4D #40091. It was lying idle at one end of the platform. (Pramit Mitra)

A MLDT based Alco approaches New Jalpaiguri station from the New Cooch Behar Side while two people are silhouetted by the headlamp of an approaching WDG-4. (Pramit Mitra)

While we enjoyed our nocturnal rail fanning, a WDG-4 of Siliguri shed was resting at its den, the very Siliguri (SGUJ) station. (Pramit Mitra)

The display stands at Siliguri station glowed with the three magical letters ‘NFR’ while the sun peeked out of the darkness. A whole new feeling gripped us. (Pramit Mitra)

Our train, 15465 Siliguri-Dhubri Intercity Express curving through the dense Gulma forest range with the MLDT Deemer honking madly. (Pramit Mitra)

We were halted at Sivok for the crossing of a freight train which emerged from the Teesta Bridge with a UDL WDG-3A. (Pramit Mitra)

Light at the end of darkness; crossing a tunnel just after Sivok en-route to New Mal. (Pramit Mitra)

With the freight train gone, our train curving out of Sivok and approaching the bridge over River Teesta. The first rays of the sun are reflected by the coaches of our train. (Pramit Mitra)

New Mal soaks in early morning sunshine while a KTE WDG-3A is negotiating the huge curve just before the station with twenty-six HCPV coaches. (Pramit Mitra)

The same WDG-3A stranded at Chalsa, the station after New Mal, for a crossing. (Pramit Mitra)

Andal’s WDG-3A has brought in the Alipurduar-New Jalpaiguri Intercity Express at Chalsa. (Pramit Mitra)

The Intercity Express crossing the small bridge over River Kurti and disappearing fast into the forest just after departing from Chalsa. (Pramit Mitra)

Ideal place for railway photography…bright sunshine, a bridge and green forest. The Kurti Bridge and its setting just after Chalsa station. (Pramit Mitra)

15483 Sikkim Mahananda Express appears with Siliguri’s #20011. This loco, WDP-4 #20011, had the normal WDP-4 livery and was named named ‘BAAZ’ earlier. However, it lost both its name and livery after a recent paint job. (Pramit Mitra)

Love everywhere. A young couple takes a stroll down the tracks at Chalsa while we realize that it’s our love for railways that had brought us that far. (Pramit Mitra)

13149 UP Kanchankanya Express emerges from the forest on a sharp bend with BWN WDM-3A #16413R. It was a unique feeling seeing this train so far away from home. (Pramit Mitra)

Almost eight hours late running Poorvattar Sampark Kranti Exress rushes towards Guwahati with WDP-4B #40022 in SHF. (Pramit Mitra)

Another shot of the same passenger train. The lush green surrounding creating such a contrast with the blue livered coaches of the train. (Pramit Mitra)

Our expectations grow into reality. The entire route to Hasimara was laced with curves through the forest. Seen here; our train negotiating one such curve just after Chalsa. (Pramit Mitra)

A LDH transferred NGC WDM-2 was waiting with flat-beds at Nagrakata for a crossing with our train. (Pramit Mitra)

Our train notched up as we were approaching a small gradient. (Pramit Mitra)

A WDG-4 from Siliguri with empty BOXN coaches was stalled at Binnaguri. Wonder if there’s no time for even rubbing off the dust from the windscreen. (Pramit Mitra)

We encountered the crossing of 12501 Poorvattar Sampark Kranti at Dalgaon. The train was running bang on time with SGUJ’s #20015. Note the deserted FOB of the station. (Pramit Mitra)

Curving into Hasimara, our last stop for the day. This curve is just preceded by the Torsha River Bridge. Note the feather signal that points to the loop. (Pramit Mitra)

Our first catch at Hasimara. A WDG-3A from Andal approaching the station with a container rake. Hasimara has three platforms, the diversions to which can be seen here. (Pramit Mitra)