Narrow Gauge (Diesels) in India 2016

The International Steam Pages

John Browning joined Darjeeling Tours' "Narrow Gauge Extravaganza" tour in March/April 2016. John sent me a long report which I have divided into a steam and diesel section so some railways will appear on both. Click here for the steam report.

Indian Railways – Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

New Jaipalguri – Siliguri Junction – Darjeeling 2ft gauge 9th - 14th March

See www.dhrs.org for timetable information.

The entire line, 52 miles in length, was traversed with steam in a variety of stages. The track has now been reinstated at two massive landslips at Tindharia and near Pagla Jhora although the hill cart road remains severed at Tindharia.

The once-daily through diesel train was only operating three days a week in each direction although there are currently three operational diesels of Class NDM6 on the line, numbers 601, 602 and 605. The fourth, number 604, was at Siliguri Junction shed without its engine. These are 4wDH built by SAN Engineering & Locomotive Co Ltd, Bangalore. The other two members of the class are on the Matheran line.

The frequent joy trains operating between Darjeeling and Ghum with steam and diesel traction appear to be very popular with local, mostly Indian, tourists, and there are other tourist trains operating further afield from Darjeeling, Kurseong and Rangtong.

Steam-hauled trains appear to be limited to two coaches while the diesels can run with three cars. Two maintenance trolleys were noted in the trolley shed at Kurseong.

Locomotives were observed as follows:

NDM6 class 4wDH built by SAN Engineering & Locomotive Co Ltd, Bangalore

601 (560/1998) – shunting Siliguri Junction shed 10th March, uphill train to Darjeeling at Kurseong 11th March, downhill train from Darjeeling, Joy trains (Darjeeling – Ghum) 12th March, uphill train (New Jaipalguri – Darjeeling) at Siliguri Junction 14th March.

602 (561/1998) – downhill train (Darjeeling – Kurseong) at Sonada 11th March, Joy trains (Darjeeling – Ghum – Darjeeling) 12th and 13th March

604 (563/1998) – engine out at Siliguri Junction shed 10th March

605 (564/1998) – downhill train (Darjeeling-New Jalpaiguri) at Tindharia 10th March

602 on Joy train at Darjeeling on 12th March

Indian Railways – Kalka – Shimla Railway

2ft 6in gauge 15th - 16th March

http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/kalka-klk-to-shimla-sml/1982/2862
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/shimla-sml-to-kalka-klk/2862/1982

The entire 59-mile line was travelled in two chartered railcars on 15th March, one running before and the other after a service train. The locomotives seen working were of the double ended ZDM3 class of bogie diesels built in Mumbai at Parel Workshops since 2008. However some of the older ZDM3 class diesel locomotives built at Chittaranjan with a single cab positioned about ¾ of the way down were also seen. A few seemed to be still in service. The KC Class 2-6-2T locomotive kept at Shimla was chartered on 16 March but it cannot be in good shape as a diesel was rostered to haul it and its two cars back up the hill from Taradevi.

Locomotives seen were as follows:

ZDM3 class B-BDH built by Indian Railways, Chittaranjan Works, Asansol between 1971 and 1982. Liveries ivory & blue (IB), white & blue (WB), two-tone blue and white (BW) and white & red (WR). Building years shown below refer to financial year.

151 (ZDM3 004/70-1) (IB) – part of this locomotive is plinthed at Kalka shed, consisting of the cab and nose section mounted on a single bogie, 15th March

154 (ZDM3 004/1970-1) (IB) – plinthed at Kalka shed 15th March

156 (ZDM3 009/1971-2) (WB) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

157 (ZDM3 010/1971-2) (WR) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

159 (ZDM3 012/1976-7) (WB) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

162 (ZDM3 015/1976-7) (WR) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

178 (ZDM3 021/1980-1) (BW) – dismantled in Kalka shed 15th March

186 (ZDM3 029/1980-1) (WB) – parked at Kandaghat station 15th March

187 (ZDM3 030/1980-1) (WB) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

190 (ZDM3 033/1983-4) (BW) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

192 (ZDM3 035/1983-4) (WB) – Kalka station yard 15th March

ZDM3 class B-B DH built by Indian Railways, Parel Works, Mumbai from 2008. Livery red & ivory (RI) or yellow and two-tone green (YG)

700 (YG) – uphill train 15th March, preceded steam charter from Shimla to Taradevi 16th March to haul train back to Shimla

701 (RI) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

703 (RI) – downhill train at Sonwara station 15th March

704 (RI) – Kalka shed yard 15th March

705 (RI) – Kalka shed 15th March

706 (RI) – Kalka shed 15th March, shunting at Shimla station 16th March

707 (RI) – downhill train at Kandaghat 15th March

708 (RI) – downhill train at Taradevi 15th March

709 (YG) – downhill train at Shimla 16th March

710 (YG) – downhill train at Sonwara 15th March

711 (YG) – downhill train at Jutogh 15th March

0-4-0+4DMR. Livery red and ivory.

1 – Shimla carriage sidings 15th March

2 – running downhill at Summer Hill 15th March

3 – uphill charter 15th March

4 – uphill charter 15th March

703 on a work train at Sonwara on 15th March

Railcar 3 awaits a cross at Sonwara on 15th March

710 with downhill train at Sonwara on 15th March

Indian Railways – Kangra Valley Railway

Pathankot Junction – Baijnath Paprola – Joginder Nagar 2ft 6in gauge 19th -21st March

http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/pathankot-ptk-to-joginder-nagar-jdnx/92/6337
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/joginder-nagar-jdnx-to-pathankot-ptk/6337/92

This superb 100 mile line through wonderful scenery retains a charm that has been lost from the tourist-oriented hill railways. The line was built in the 1920s to support the construction of the Shenan hydro-electric power station beyond Joginder Nagar. It is impressively engineered and there are some very substantial bridges on the line. The 12-mile upper section from Baijnath Paprola to Joginder Nagar currently sees one train a day in each direction. The remainder sees four trains in each direction. The main shed is at Pathankot Junction but there is also a small shed at Baijnath Paprola.

The recent delivery of red-and-yellow Class ZDM4A locomotives from the Nagpur system, made redundant there as a result of the current program of gauge conversion, has led to the condemnation of seven of the older ZDM3 locos, one of which was converted from Class ZDM4.

The ZB Class 2-6-2 number 66, (Bagnall 2985 of 1952), which is supposed to be undergoing overhaul for use on the line, was noted dismantled at Amritsar Workshops on 22nd March. Little progress was discernible.

Locomotives seen were as follows:

ZDM3 class B-B DH built by Indian Railways, Chittaranjan Works, Asansol.
Livery two-tone blue and white (BW), red and ivory (RI).

160 (ZDM3 013/1976-7) (BW) – condemned at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

161 (ZDM3 014/1976-7) (BW) – condemned at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

164 (ZDM3 017/1976-7) (BW) – condemned at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

165 (ZDM3 018/1976-7) (BW) – condemned at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March on shop bogies

166 (ZDM3 019/1976-7) (BW) – condemned at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

167 (ZDM3 020/1976-7) (BW) – condemned at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

177 (ZDM4 010/1976-7) (BW) – condemned at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

179 (ZDM3 022/1976-7) (BW) – downhill train at Palumpur Himachayal 20th March, uphill train at Jwalamukhi Road 21st March

182 (ZDM3 025/1980-1) (RI) – uphill train at Dalhousie Road 21st March

185 (ZDM3 028/1980-1) (BW) – uphill train at Palumpur Himachayal 20th March

191 (ZDM3 034/1980-1) (BW) – downhill train from Jogindar Nagar 19th March, uphill train at Nagrota 20th March, Pathankot Jct shed 21st March

195 (ZDM3 038/1981-2) (BW) – uphill train at Bathu bridge 20th March, downhill train from Baijnath Paprola 21st March

ZDM4A class B-B DH built by Indian Railways, Chittaranjan Works, Asansol.
Livery two-tone blue and white (BW), red and yellow (RY).

198 (ZDM4A 001/1982-3) (BW) – shunting Pathankot Junction carriage shed 21st March

204 (ZDM4A 007/1983-4) (BW) – dismantled at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

205 (ZDM4A 007/1985-6) (BW) – uphill train at Nagrota 21st March

208 (ZDM4A 008/1985-6) (RY) – in use at Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

219 (ZDM4A 022/1985-6) (RY) – uphill train at Harsar Dehri 21st March

223 (ZDM4A 026/1985-6) (RY) – Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

225 (ZDM4A 028/1987-8) (RY) – Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

228 (ZDM4A 030/1990-1) (RY) – Baijnath Paprola shed 19th March, 21st March

231 (ZDM4A 033/1990-1) (RY) – Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

232 (ZDM4A 034/1990-1) (RY) – Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

233 (ZDM4A 035/1990-1) (RY) – Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

236 (ZDM4A 038/1990-1) (RY) – Pathankot Junction shed 21st March

Trains crossing at Palampur Himachal on 20th March

Ready for departure Palampur Himachal on 20th March

One of the newly-arrived diesels from Nagpur at Pathankot Junction shed on 21st March

Indian Railways – Dholpur

Dholpur – Bari – Mohari Junction – Tantpur & Sirmuttra 26th March 2ft 6in gauge

http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/dholpur-ng-dhoa-to-bari-bari/10584/7400
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/bari-bari-to-dholpur-ng-dhoa/7400/10584
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/bari-bari-to-tantpur-tpo/7400/7420
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/tantpur-tpo-to-bari-bari/7420/7400
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/bari-bari-to-sirmuttra-srmt/7400/7397
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/sirmuttra-srmt-to-bari-bari/7397/7400

This 62-mile rural network consists of a main line from Dholpur to Bari, extending to Mohari Junction where the line splits to Tantpur and Sirmuttra, both stone producing towns, although road transport has largely taken over stone freight. The first train each day works to Sirmuttra and return. The second works to Tantpur and back to Bari before running to Sirmuttra and returning to Dholpur. Trains are crowded with a fair proportion of roof riders. The shed at Dholpur is a charming period piece with an allocation of six ZDM5 class diesel locomotives as follows:

ZDM5 B-B DH locomotives built by Indian Railways, Chittaranjan Works, Asansol.
Livery is two-tone blue and white (BW) with the exception of one that is reverse two-tone blue and yellow (BY).

513 (ZDM5 013/1990-1) (BW) – dismantled in shed

514 (ZDM5 014/1990-1) (BW) – working in shed/station area

515 (ZDM5 015/1990-1) (BW) – dismantled in shed

516 (ZDM5 016/1990-1) (BW) – working first train

517 (ZDM5 017/1990-1) (BW) – working second train

518 (ZDM5 018/1991-2) (BY) – working in shed/station area

In the shed at Dholpur on 26th March

Ready to take out the train from Dholpur on 26th March

Busy Bari station on 26th March

Indian Railways – Gwalior

Gwalior – Sabalgarh – Sheopur Kalan 26th-27th March 2ft 0in gauge

http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/gwalior-ng-gwo-to-sabalgarh-sbl/9620/7234
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/sabalgarh-sbl-to-gwalior-ng-gwo/7234/9620
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/sabalgarh-sbl-to-sheopur-kalan-soe/7234/6940
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/sheopur-kalan-soe-to-sabalgarh-sbl/6940/7234

This single 125 mile long line extending into the country district west of Gwalior is the remnant of the former Gwalior Light Railway. I suspect that it is the last non-tourist 2ft gauge passenger railway in the world, making it a unique experience. Trains range from extremely crowded to absolutely packed, with hundreds of roof riders and literal hangers-on. The journey is dusty, and at over 11 hours gives the opportunity to meet at close quarters the friendly, curious, kind Indian people of the countryside.

One train runs the length of the line daily in each direction, with a locomotive change at Sabalgarh. There are also two Gwalior – Sabalgarh and one Sheopur Kalan – Sabalgarh return workings. Locomotive power is provided by NDM5 B-B DH locomotives, both the older type built by Indian Railways Chitteranjan Works, Asansol and new double-ended examples built at Parel Works in Mumbai. 1001, a four-wheel diesel railcar, is out of use at Gwalior shed.

Locomotives seen were as follows:

Class NDM5 B-B DH built by Indian Railways Chittaranjan Works, Asansol, painted blue & ivory (BI) or blue & white (BW)

802 (NDM5 002/1987-8) (BI) – in Gwalior shed 26th March. Westbound train (Gwalior – Sabalgarh) 27th March. Has a green cab.

803 (NDM5 003/1987-8) (BW) – in Gwalior shed 26th March. Out of use?

805 (NDM5 005/1988-9) (BW) – dismantled in Gwalior shed 26th March

806 (NDM5 006/1988-9) (BI) – repairs Gwalior shed 26th March

807 (NDM5 007/1988-9) (BW) – in Gwalior shed 26th March. Out of use?

808 (NDM5 008/1988-9) (BI) – westbound train (Sabalgarh – Sheopur Kalan) at Sumaouli 27th March

(809) (NDM5 009/1988-9) (BI) – repainting in progress Gwalior shed 26th March

810 (NDM5 010/1988-9) (BI) – eastbound train from Sheopur Kalan at Sabalgarh 27th March

811 (NDM5 011/1988-9) (BI) – repairs Gwalior shed 26th March

Class NDM5 B-B DH built by Parel Works, Mumbai painted yellow and two-tone green

812 (2014?) – eastbound train (Sabalgarh – Gwalior) 27th March

813 (2014) – working empty stock at Gwalior station 26th March

814 (2015?) – eastbound train (Shepur Kalan – Sabalgarh) at Khojeepura 27th March

Gwalior shed on 26th March

Arriving at Milaoli on 27th March

Crossing at Sumaoli on 27th March

Changing engines at Sabalgarh on 27th March

Last cross - at Khojeepura on 27th March

Indian Railways – Nilgiri Railway

Mettupalaiyan – Coonoor – Udagamandalam (Ooty) 1000mm gauge 29th - 31st March

http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/mettupalayam-mtp-to-coonoor-onr/2647/2920
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/coonoor-onr-to-mettupalayam-mtp/2920/2647
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/coonoor-onr-to-udagamandalam-uam/2920/2915
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/udagamandalam-uam-to-coonoor-onr/2915/2920

Oil-fired steam locomotives work the 17 mile line between Mettupalaiyam and Coonoor, including a 13 mile Abt rack section. Four YDM4 class diesel locomotives are based at Coonoor to work the 11 mile adhesion section from Coonor to Udagamandalam (Ooty).

This is in many ways an unsatisfactory line to visit. Trains are crowded, the carriage seating is impossibly cramped, pre-booking is essentially unavailable, there are not enough trains to meet demand, and the railway refuses to provide charters. The line is very popular with local (Indian) tourists. An extra carriage is attached to trains in the section between Ooty and Coonoor to accommodate the additional local tourist traffic on the diesel-hauled section. This requires a carriage shunt each time the uphill steam train meets the downhill diesel at Coonoor.

With only one train operating over the rack section in each direction each day, a critical article in the Deccan Chronicle of 31st March questioned the lack of additional tourist season trains. See here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=998011330290260&set=gm.10154024741668340&type=3&theater
This met with a negative response from the railway. See here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015521878539205&set=gm.10154095889913340&type=3&theater

YDM4 class Co-Co DE built by Indian Railways Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi. Livery green and ivory.

6664 (YDM4 467/1990) – Coonoor shed
6706 (YDM4 509/1991) – Coonoor shed
6724 (YDM4 527/1992) – Coonoor shed 30th March. Working 31st March
6730 (YDM4 533/1992) – Working 30th March. Coonoor shed 31st March

Diesel train from Ooty arriving at Coonoor on 30th March

Indian Railways – Matheran Light Railway

Neral – Matheran 31st March 2ft 0in gauge

http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/matheran-mae-to-neral-nrl/6675/1621
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/neral-nrl-to-matheran-mae/1621/6675
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/matheran-mae-to-aman-lodge-amna/6675/7658
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/aman-lodge-amna-to-matheran-mae/7658/6675

This hill railway is perhaps the most extreme in engineering terms. It is relatively short, 13 miles, but rises more than 700 metres. Five trains are scheduled to traverse the line each day, with an additional six services of ‘joy train’ shuttling the mile and a quarter between Matheran and Aman Lodge, where the road to the hill station ends. The joy trains were operating with a locomotive at each end on the day of the visit. The sharp curves on the line require short wheelbase bogies on the rolling stock and there is an interesting variety of diesel locomotives – three variations on the Jung B+B DH of Class NDM1, the most recent one having only been completed in January this year, and two examples of the 4wDH type of Class NDM6 that is also used on the Darjeeling line.

A newspaper report suggests that up to four additional new bogie locomotives may be on order for the line.
See ~~http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-demand-for-better-tourist-facilities-at-matheran-2183561~~ (link dead by 25th October 2016)

If true, this would enable the small NDM6 locomotives to be transferred to the Darjeeling line.

The locomotives seen were as follows:

Class NDM1 B+B DH built by Arnold Jung Lokomotivfabrik and by Indian Railways, Parel Works, Mumbai.
Livery is variations on yellow and two-tone green.

501 (AJ 12109/1955 reb.Parel 2002) – joy train (Matheran-Amun Lodge)

502 (AJ 12110/1955) – repairs Neral shed

550 (Parel 2006) – working downhill train

551 (Parel 2006) – joy train (Matheran – Amun Lodge)

400 (Parel 2016) – Neral shed. Possibly not yet commissioned.

NDM6 class 4wDH built by SAN Engineering & Locomotive Co Ltd, Bangalore.
Livery is yellow and two-tone green.

600 (559/1997?) – repairs Neral shed

603 (562/1998) – working Neral – Matheran and return

Cooling the converter oil at Waterpipe on 1st April

At the renovated Aman Lodge station on 1st April

One of the original Jung diesels at Aman Lodge station on 1st April

Other narrow gauge lines

Although the threat of gauge conversion hangs over them, the schedules available from http://indiarailinfo.com/trains indicate that the following additional 2ft 6in narrow gauge lines are still operating passenger trains on a regular basis.

Kosamba Jct – Umarpada – 38 miles
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/kosamba-ksb-to-umarpada-umpd/1903/7112
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/umarpada-umpd-to-kosamba-ksb/7112/1903

Nadiad Jct – Bhadran – 36 miles
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/nadiad-nd-to-bhadran-bdrn/61/6466
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/bhadran-bdrn-to-nadiad-nd/6466/61

Pratapnagar – Jambusar Jct – 35 miles
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/pratapnagar-prtn-to-jambusar-jmb/7113/6444
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/jambusar-jmb-to-pratapnagar-prtn/6444/7113

Dabhoi Network – 70 miles
Dabhoi Jct – Chandod
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/dabhoi-db-to-chandod-cdd/7000/6997
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/chandod-cdd-to-dabhoi-db/6997/7000

Dabhoi Jct – Choranda Jct via Miyagam Karjan Jct
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/dabhoi-db-to-choranda-crnd/7000/7008
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/choranda-crnd-to-dabhoi-db/7008/7000

Choranda Jct – Malsar
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/dabhoi-db-to-malsar-mlsr/7000/7010
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/malsar-mlsr-to-dabhoi-db/7010/7000

Choranda Jct – Moti Koral
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/miyagam-karjan-ng-mygl-to-moti-koral-mkrl/6439/7134
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/moti-koral-mkrl-to-miyagam-karjan-ng-mygl/7134/6439

Yavatmal - Murtizapur Jct – Achalpur – 118 miles Open in theory but subject to suspension when one of the two serviceable locomotives is not available.
http://indiarailinfo.com/train/6018/6766/6781
http://indiarailinfo.com/train/7366/6781/6766
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/murtizapur-mzr-to-achalpur-elp/202/6782
http://indiarailinfo.com/search/taag/achalpur-elp-to-murtizapur-mzr/6782/202

These are Heinrich Hubbert's pictures of the Tavatmal branch with ZDM 4/A in January 2015