Images from a trip on the Gwalior - Sheopur Kalan Narrow Gauge section. Part of the former Gwalior Light Railway built by the Scindia rulers, it is the longest section in the world operating in the 2' gauge covering 198 km.
Sequence 2.3 - This is the common section, again hemmed in between the ravines. Note the little boy with the green bucket - he's part of the unofficial rooftop catering service. ()
Sequence 2.4 - The Kuari flows all the way across the northern districts of Madhya Pradesh and joins the Sindh river near Etawah in UP. The Sindh in turn joins the Yamuna just a few kilometers later. ()
Sequence 2.5 - As we look back, the gate behind us has already opened and traffic is sneaking up on us. ()
Sequence 2.6 - The road traffic however won't get too far. In typical Indian fashion, buses, tractors, jeeps, two wheelers and bullock carts among others have happily formed an all too familiar jam. The train however, merrily honks its way past. ()
The second crossing of the day is at Sabalgarh - a typical two bit town in the middle of virtually nowhere. However, it forms the hub of the section with radiating services to both ends of the section. Our crossing is with our pairing train, the Sheopur
This one is probably twice as packed as our train. Probably because it goes from the smaller town to the big city. Loco in charge is #805. ()
Past Birpur we approach the longest bridge on the section, across the Kuno river. The Kuno meets the Chambal a few kilometers to the north from this spot. ()
After crossing the river the track crosses the small hill range it had been skirting all around. One gets an idea of the terrain in this panoramic image stitched together from 4 frames. ()
Narrow cuttings replete with gradients upto 1:80 are a chief feature of this section. The sun was blazing hot by now, with thorny brambles passing just inches away. ()
Finally we reach Sheopur - the chief highlight of the town being its fort set on the banks of the river Parvati. ()