The charm and beauty of NFR attracts every railfan alike. As if to do justice to that, myself Pramit Mitra and my friend Arghya Roy went for a short trip to NFR. We took the Teesta Torsha Express on Feb-4 2013. We covered the New Jalpaiguri-Hasimara stretch through the lush green Dooars and also the New Coochbehar-New Jalpaiguri Stretch experiencing some excellent diesel action in undisputed non-electrified territory. We took the legendary Darjeeling Mail back home on 6th. You can read my trip reports in the following links: Part 1 Part 2 Note: All photos were taken with the permission of CPRO of NFR.
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)
A Shakti from NGC numbered #13016 changing tracks at Hasimara. It was crossing over to the loop to get attached to the BCNA rakes (seen at the far left of the pic). (Pramit Mitra)
Lovely twilight action. 24-hour late running 15485 Sikkim Mahananda Express curves as it approaches Hasimara with WDP-4 #20013 in SHF. The curve has a sharp banking as seen from the tilt in the loco. (Pramit Mitra)
The last capture of the day; the late afternoon sun lighting up a WDG-4 of Siliguri as it tilts sharply in the curve with BOBYN rakes. (Pramit Mitra)