India_Arkonam_WP1_7139_Arkonam_-_Madras_local_24_11_1979.jpg (148457 bytes)|
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Directory: /pix/ne/India/steam/WP
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| India_Arkonam_WP1_7139 (CLW 1966) Black clouds promise a tropical downpour as Southern Railway BG Pacific WP1 7139 (CLW 1964) prepares to depart Arkonam with an Arkonam - Madras local train; 24.11.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Arkonam_WP1_7738 Southern Railway BG 4-6-2 WP1 7738 (CLW 1966) arrives at Arkonam during a rain storm, with train number MD3 a Madras - Arkonam local; 24.11.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
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India_BG_WP1 7100 Madras
Running into Madras on 1 December 1979, passing Basin Bridge depot, we see 4-6-2 WP1 7100 on Train AM4, an Arkonam – Madras stopping passenger. Undoubtedly the most distinctive locomotive to work in India, the WP class totalled 755 units. The first 20 came from Baldwin of America to be followed by more from Baldwin, plus Montreal and Canadian Locomotive Works, Chrzanow of Poland and Florisdorf of Vienna. The final 259 engines came from Indian Railways’ own Chittaranjan Works (1963 – 1966) and were classified WP1
Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
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India_BG_WP1 7643 Vadodara
The “Sabarmati Express”, Western Railway Train 165 from Ahmedabad to Faizabad, hurries past Vadodara on 14 December 1979. Looking a bit dirty for such a prestigious duty was Pacific WP1 7643.
Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
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India_BG_WP 7090 Mettupalaiyam
The small broad gauge shed at Mettupalaiyam plays host to Southern Railway 4-6-2 WP 7090, which had worked in on the overnight express from Madras; the locomotive would take the return working later that day – 26 November 1979. Note the huge bird of prey menacingly circling, its beady eyes locked onto a very tired and dishevelled-looking railway enthusiast!
Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
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India_BG_WP 7410 Madras
The things we do to get the shot! That liquid in the foreground was ostensibly a river, whereas in fact it was basically an open sewer and quite malodorous! Southern Railway Pacific WP 7410 is reflected in – what? – as it passes Madras Basin Bridge with Train 417 from Madras to Tirupati. Evening, 1 December 1979.
Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
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India_BG_WP 7733 Delhi
The locomotive depot at Delhi Cantonment kept two WP Pacifics in a special livery and first class working order for hauling the daily “Taj Express”, Train 80 from Delhi to Agra and return. Dawn had just about broken on 11 December 1979 when WP1 7733 came positively blistering past “The Little Taj” monument in south Delhi. The locomotive was resplendent in Blue and White livery with many adornments and leaning out of the cab, you can just see the snow-white turban of Mr Singh, one of the regular drivers of this crack express.
Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India: Delhi Junction No.11: Double-track broad gauge (BG) and metre gauge (MG) lines entered Delhi Junction station from the west. The BG was used by Indian Railways' Northern Railway while the MG was shared by the Northern and Western Railways. Just outside the station BG and MG lines diverged south to enter New Delhi station. Each weekday morning there was a 95% steam-hauled, “rush hour” of commuter and long-distance trains, on both gauges, with a large number of movements to be seen in just a few hours. Add to this the use of the railway tracks as footpaths by the local population and you had a very interesting scene. These photos were taken on the morning of Tuesday, 11 December, 1979; nowadays, all lines are broad gauge and overhead electrified. The driver of BG Pacific WP1 7681 was aware that a group of railway enthusiasts were filming near Delhi Junction so he made a very noisy exit from the station with a fast passenger train to Shri Ganganagra! With whistle blowing and the exhaust blasting, the driver put on a wonderful show for the visitors. Colour slide and scan by Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India: Delhi Junction No.16: Double-track broad gauge (BG) and metre gauge (MG) lines entered Delhi Junction station from the west. The BG was used by Indian Railways' Northern Railway while the MG was shared by the Northern and Western Railways. Just outside the station BG and MG lines diverged south to enter New Delhi station. Each weekday morning there was a 95% steam-hauled, “rush hour” of commuter and long-distance trains, on both gauges, with a large number of movements to be seen in just a few hours. Add to this the use of the railway tracks as footpaths by the local population and you had a very interesting scene. These photos were taken on the morning of Tuesday, 11 December, 1979; nowadays, all lines are broad gauge and overhead electrified. The steam locomotive type that was the most synonymous with latter day Indian railways was the BG Class WP Pacific. Wearing the quite striking Northern Railway livery, WP 7563 brings Train 2DJ, a Jind – Delhi service, into Delhi Junction station. Colour slide and scan by Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India: Delhi Junction No.19: On the north side of Delhi Junction station was a Northern Railway, Broad Gauge locomotive servicing area. There were no shed buildings but supplies of coal and water were laid on, together with a turntable and servicing pits. These photos were taken on the morning of Tuesday, 11 December, 1979. Class WP Pacific 7603 simmers by the coal wagons waiting its next duty. Note the Boxpok driving wheels that were a feature of this class inherited from the prototypes that came from Baldwin of America. Colour slide and scan by Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Delhi_Jct_WP_7563 Northern Railway BG 4-6-2 WP 7563 (Canadian Locomotive Works 2777/1955) arrives at Delhi Junction with 2DJ Jind-Delhi passenger; 11.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Delhi_Junction_ shed_CR_WP_7158 Delhi Junction was situated in Indian Railways’ Northern Railway but its locomotive servicing point was also used by engines from the Western and Central Railways, in particular broad gauge Pacifics of the 755-strong Class WP, as seen here: green and black liveried Central Railway WP 7158 (Chittaranjan 1965); 11.12.1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Delhi_Junction_shed_NR_WP_7013 Delhi Junction was situated in Indian Railways’ Northern Railway but its locomotive servicing point was also used by engines from the Western and Central Railways, in particular broad gauge Pacifics of the 755-strong Class WP, as seen here: red, black, silver and grey liveried Northern Railway WP 7023 (Chrzanow 5043/1958). Northern Railway 2-8-2 CWD 12465 (Montreal Locomotive Works 72975/1945) is also being serviced; 11/12/1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Delhi_Junction_shed_NR_WP_7563 Delhi Junction was situated in Indian Railways’ Northern Railway but its locomotive servicing point was also used by engines from the Western and Central Railways, in particular broad gauge Pacifics of the 755-strong Class WP, as seen here: Northern Railway WP 7563 (Canadian Locomotive Company 2777/1955) uses the 82-foot (25m) diameter turntable; 11.12.1979 roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Delhi_Junction_shed_WR_WP_7614 Delhi Junction was situated in Indian Railways’ Northern Railway but its locomotive servicing point was also used by engines from the Western and Central Railways, in particular broad gauge Pacifics of the 755-strong Class WP, as seen here: red and black liveried, Western Railway WP 7614 (Canadian Locomotive Company 2828/1956); 11.12.1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Delhi_Junction_station_NR_WP_7630 Delhi Junction station, where Northern Railway WP 7630 (CLC 2844 1956) is moving to take up its next passenger working; 11.12.1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Southern Railway BG Pacific No.WP1 7100 (Chittaranjan 1963) brings train AH4 Arkonam-Madras Central passenger, past Basin Bridge engine shed; 1.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| Nicely side-lit by the sun Southern Railway BG 4-6-2 WP1 7069 (Chittaranjan 1963) moves in the shed yard at Basin Bridge; note the locomotive has spoked driving wheels; 1.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
India_Madras_Basin_Bridge_shed_WP1_7154_CLW_1965_WP_7480_MLW_77369_1949_1_12_1979.jpg (148703 bytes)| Madras Basin Bridge engine shed with different liveries for a pair of BG Pacifics: Southern Railway WP1 7154 (Chittarnajan 1965) and South Central Railway WP 7480 (Montreal Locomotive Works 77369/1949); note both locomotives have 'Boxpok' type driving wheels; 1.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Mettupalaiyam_BG_station_WP1_7090 The Southern Railway's BG Train Number 5, the "Niligiri Express" was steam-hauled from Coimbatore to Mettupalaiyam. In typical Southern Railway clean condition, 4-6-2 WP1 7090 (Chittaranjan 1963) has arrived at Mettupalaiyam with the "Niligiri Express"; 26.11.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Mughal_Sarai_WP/P_7209 Mughal Sarai locomotive servicing yard hosts BG 4-6-2 WP/P (WP/Prototype) No.7209, one of the first batch of fifteen WPs, from Baldwin Locomotive Company (73417/1947), being inspected before working its next turn; 7.12.1979 Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Mughal_Sarai_front_ends Mughal Sarai and a sunset study of locomotive front ends: WP/P 7209 & WG 8706; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Patna_Junction_station_WP_7029 Patna Junction station Eastern Railway BG 4-6-2 WP 7029 (Chrzanow 5050/1959) has arrived with an express and moves off to the engine shed; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
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India_Shindawane_WP_7608 South Central Railway BG 4-6-2 WP 7608 (Canadian Locomotive Company 2822 1956) hauling the Pune - Miraj “Konya Express”, halts at Shindawane station for water and a fire clean. The route from Pune to Miraj had once been metre gauge, recently rebuilt as broad gauge; 22.11.1979. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Vadodara_shed_WP_7483_and_WG_8880 The Western Railway’s broad gauge engine shed at Vadodara, formerly Baroda, though situated on an electrified main line, had, in 1979, many duties for Pacifics and 2-8-2s, off the electrified sections. Eventually though, steam was totally superseded and today, a large electric locomotive depot occupies the former site of the steam shed. Vadodara shed yard with Pacific WP 7482 and beyond, 2-8-2 WG 8880 (Montreal Locomotive Works 77382/1949 and Henschel 25024/1954, respectively); 14.12.1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_Vadodara_shed_WP_7614 The Western Railway’s broad gauge engine shed at Vadodara, formerly Baroda, though situated on an electrified main line, had, in 1979, many duties for Pacifics and 2-8-2s, off the electrified sections. Eventually though, steam was totally superseded and today, a large electric locomotive depot occupies the former site of the steam shed. Flying over Vadodar shed yard, a large vulture is looking for its next meal, as 4-6-2 WP 7614 (Canadian Locomotive Company 2828/1956) rests in the sun, with the aforementioned WG 8880; 14.12.1979. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
| India_near_Patna_E.Bound_express_WP_7140 Travelling at around 60 mph (100km/h), Eastern Railway BG Pacific WP 7140 (Chittaranjan 1964), is seen near Patna with an east-bound express; 7.12.1979. Roger Griffiths roger.griffiths@hotmail.com |
India_Arkonam_WP1_7738_CLW_1966_MD3_Mad-Ark_local_24_11_1979.jpg (146106 bytes)
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India_BG_WP1_7643_Vadodara__T165_Sabarmati_Express__Ahmadabad-Faizabad_14_12_79.jpg (114532 bytes)
India_BG_WP_7090_Mettupaliyam_shed__26_11_1979.jpg (150163 bytes)
India_BG_WP_7410_Madras_BB_T417_Madras-Tirupati_1_12_79.jpg (84155 bytes)
India_BG_WP_7733_Delhi_T80_Delhi-Agra_Taj_Express_11_12_79.jpg (74882 bytes)
India_Delhi_Jct_No_11_WP1_7681_to_Shri_Ganganagra_11_12_1979.jpg (140004 bytes)
India_Delhi_Jct_No_16_WP_7563_2DJ_Jind-Delhi_11_12_79.jpg (130413 bytes)
India_Delhi_Jct_No_19_WP_7503_11_12_1979.jpg (153198 bytes)
India_Delhi_Jct_WP_7563_2DJ_Jind-Delhi_pssgr_WP_7563__CLC_2777_1955__11_12_1979.jpg (162367 bytes)
India_Delhi_Junction__shed_CR_WP_7158__CLW_1965__11_12_1979.jpg (141662 bytes)
India_Delhi_Junction_shed_NR_WP_7013__Chrz_5043_1958__11_12_1979.jpg (128371 bytes)
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India_Delhi_Junction_shed_WR_WP_7614__CLC_2828_1956__11_12_1979.jpg (139640 bytes)
India_Delhi_Junction_station_NR_WP_7630__CLC_2844_1956__11_12_1979.jpg (153143 bytes)
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India_Mettupalaiyam_BG_station_WP1_7090_T5_Nilgiri_Exp_WP1_7090_CLW_1963_26_11_1979.jpg (151582 bytes)
India_Mughal_Sarai_WPP_7209__BLW_73417_1947__7_12_1979.jpg (160030 bytes)
India_Mughal_Sarai_front_ends_WPP_7209_+_WG_8706_7_12_1979.jpg (138118 bytes)
India_Patna_Junction_station_WP_7029__Chrz_5050_1959__7_12_1979.jpg (143644 bytes)
India_Shindawane_WP_7608_CLC_2822_1956_Konya_Express_22_11_1979.jpg (159525 bytes)
India_Vadodara_shed_WP_7483_and_WG_8880__MLW_77382_1949__WG_8880__Hen_25024_1954__14_12_1979.jpg (144104 bytes)
India_Vadodara_shed_WP_7614__CLC_2828_1956__WG_8880__Hen_25024_1954__14_12_1979.jpg (150870 bytes)
India_near_Patna_E_Bound_express_WP_7140__CLW_1964__7_12_1979.jpg (149602 bytes)