Having run around the rake, the loco reattaches itself for the journey to Bari. There, the train will reverse again and come to Mohari, and run towards Sirmuttra as a new service.

The beating heart of the beast - a Kirloskar Cummins 6 cyl 450hp diesel engine

The train curves into the final stretch towards Sirmuttra. A town known for its sandstone quarries which was used to build famous monuments like the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb in Delhi.

None of the town's storied history is reflected in its railway station. A ramshackle building and filthy environs speak of the neglect on part of the authorities.

On the return journey to Dhaulpur, the road an rail part ways. The train takes a circuitous route via Mohari, while the road runs straight to Bari.

Given the load and advanced age of the rolling stock, even the slightest gradient requires a hefty effort on part of the locomotive. The result, a thick cloud of smoke that railway photographers love.

The days of Narrow Gauge are setting on the Indian Railways. Socio-economic pressures mean that bigger, faster Broad Gauge trains are the norm. Against all odds, the Dhaulpur NG is holding on. Not for long though.