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BNR RD 688, 1'C1', Nasmyth-Wilson 1929. National Rail Museum New Delhi, 2012-12-07. tobias b köhler

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India_Ankleshwar_shed_W1_591 The 2ft 6in gauge, 19 miles (30km) Rajpipla State Railway from Ankleshwar to Rajpipla opened in 1897 and with later extensions totalled 59 miles (94km). Steam traction gave way to diesel in the 1990s, until closure of the line for conversion to broad gauge, still with diesel haulage, which was completed in 2013. Western Railway Ankleshwar engine shed, with 0-6-2 W1 591 (WB 2857/1948) undergoing a boiler washout; 15.12.1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_Ankleshwar_shed_W1_592 The 2ft 6in gauge, 19 miles (30km) Rajpipla State Railway from Ankleshwar to Rajpipla opened in 1897 and with later extensions totalled 59 miles (94km). Steam traction gave way to diesel in the 1990s, until closure of the line for conversion to broad gauge, still with diesel haulage, which was completed in 2013. Western Railway Ankleshwar engine shed where 0-6-2 W1 592 (WB 2858/1948) was under repair; note the capuchon atop the chimney, a detail difference from sister W1 591; 15.12.1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Southern Railway NG (2ft-6in) 4-6-2 ES 507 (Kerr Stuart 4358/1926) under repair at Bangalore Yelahanka, on the nearly-100 mile line to Bangarapet; 29.11.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Southern Railway NG (2ft-6in) 4-6-2 ES 508 (KS 4359/1926) was also under much heavier repair than her sister, half-covered by the stone-built engine shed. The track in the forground looks lightly used and the tour group was told there was little traffic to Bangarapet where the third Class ES, No.506, was to be found; 29.11.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_Dhaulpur_shed_ZA3_735 Indian Railways’ Central Railway NG (2ft 6in) system based on Dhaulpur (or Dholpur), ran to Mohari from where branches extended to Sarmathura and Tantpur; the lines opened between 1908 and 1914 to a total of 55 miles (88kms). Steam locomotives were replaced by diesel power in the 1980s, but the entire system is now closed, pending conversion of the route from Dhaulpur to Sarmathura to broad gauge. Dhaulpur engine shed 2-8-4T ZA3 735 (Kerr Stuart 4205/1921) has just been repaired and was undergoing a steam test; 9.10.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

India_Dhaulpur_shed_ZA4_737_2ft_6in_2-8-4T_ZA4_737__HE_3708_1951__9_10_1979.jpg (93686 bytes)

India_Dhaulpur_shed_ZA4_737 Indian Railways’ Central Railway NG (2ft 6in) system based on Dhaulpur (or Dholpur), ran to Mohari from where branches extended to Sarmathura and Tantpur; the lines opened between 1908 and 1914 to a total of 55 miles (88kms). Steam locomotives were replaced by diesel power in the 1980s, but the entire system is now closed, pending conversion of the route from Dhaulpur to Sarmathura to broad gauge. Inside Dhaulpur engine shed 2-8-4T ZA4 737 (Hunslet 3708/1951) undergoing a heavy overhaul; 9.10.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

India_Futwah_10_30_train_depart_Futwah-Islampur_10_30_to_Islampur_2ft_6in_0-6-2T_2H__MW_1920_1919__7_12_1979.jpg (157474 bytes)

India_Futwah_10.30_train_depart Martins Light Railways was a British company founded in 1897 to provide seven narrow gauge railways in the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar-Pradesh and West Bengal. By December 1979 only one railway was still in use: the Futwah - Islampur 2ft-6in line, opened in 1922 over the 27 miles (43 kilometres), between those two towns. Against the odds it remained in use until closure in 1987, after which the route was re-gauged to 5ft-6in and electrified. 2ft 6in 0-6-2T 2H (MW 1920 1919) leaves Futwah with the 10.30 train to Islampur; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_NG 76cm_Dabhoi system_B 0557 The Maharajah of Baroda commissioned construction of a system of 2’-6” (76cm) lines across his vast estates. Centred upon Dabhoi, five routes radiated out to Jambusar, Miyagam Karjan, Chandod, Bodeli and Takhala, with a total track length of 207kms, making it the largest narrow gauge system in the world. The pictures date from 14 December 1979, when all line traffic was hauled by Class ZB 2-6-2, but a number of older classes still lingered on various pilot duties. Today all lines have been converted, or are in the process of conversion, to broad gauge. Locomotive shed pilot at Dabhoi was this tired-looking 2-8-4T B 0557. Colour slide and scan Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_NG 76cm_Dabhoi system_C 561 The Maharajah of Baroda commissioned construction of a system of 2’-6” (76cm) lines across his vast estates. Centred upon Dabhoi, five routes radiated out to Jambusar, Miyagam Karjan, Chandod, Bodeli and Takhala, with a total track length of 207kms, making it the largest narrow gauge system in the world. The pictures date from 14 December 1979, when all line traffic was hauled by Class ZB 2-6-2, but a number of older classes still lingered on various pilot duties. Today all lines have been converted, or are in the process of conversion, to broad gauge. Carriage pilot at Dabhoi was another aged 2-8-4T C 561, seen here arriving at the station with a staff train. Colour slide and scan Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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India_NG 76cm_Dabhoi system_P 605 The Maharajah of Baroda commissioned construction of a system of 2’-6” (76cm) lines across his vast estates. Centred upon Dabhoi, five routes radiated out to Jambusar, Miyagam Karjan, Chandod, Bodeli and Takhala, with a total track length of 207kms, making it the largest narrow gauge system in the world. The pictures date from 14 December 1979, when all line traffic was hauled by Class ZB 2-6-2, but a number of older classes still lingered on various pilot duties. Today all lines have been converted, or are in the process of conversion, to broad gauge. Station pilot at Dabhoi was this rather pretty outside-frame 4-6-0 P605, busily moving wagons about with much fuss and wheezing! Colour slide and scan Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Steam locomotive "MTR-2". Originally built for the Karachi Port Trust by the British firm of Dick Kerr & Co. in 1910, this beautiful 2'6" locomotive with an oversize chimney also worked at the Marala timber depot from 1917 - 1922 after which it was finally brought to the creosating plant at Dilwan on the Northern Railway. National Rail Museum New Delhi, 2012-12-07. tobias b köhler