India
- Thread starter ge_rik
- Start date
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Having just watched Michael Portillo's journey on the railway to Shimla, I am looking forward even more to our trip. All flights, accommodation and trains are now booked and visas approved, so (hopefully) we'll be off on Saturday 31 March.
Just in case anyone fancies checking our progress our itinerary is:
Sat 31 Mar - Manchester - Helsinki - Dehli
Sun 1 Apr - Dehli
Mon 2 Apr - Delhi - Kalka - Shimla
Tue 3 Apr - Shimla
Wed 4 Apr - Shimla - Kalka - Delhi (sleeper train) - Jaipur
Thu 5 Apr - Jaipur
Fri 6 Apr - Jaipur
Sat 7 Apr - Jaipur - Varanasi (sleeper)
Sun 8 Apr - Varanasi
Mon 9 Apr - Varanasi
Tue 10 Apr - Varanasi - New Jalpaiguri (sleeper)
Wed 11 Apr - New Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling
Thu 12 Apr - Darjeeling
Fri 13 Apr - Darjeeling
Sat 14 Apr - Darjeeling - NJP - Kolkata (sleeper)
Sun 15 Apr - Kolkata
Mon 16 Apr - Kolkata - Dubai - Manchester
If possible, I will try posting pictures and updates on our travels and, no doubt, travails
Rik
Just in case anyone fancies checking our progress our itinerary is:
Sat 31 Mar - Manchester - Helsinki - Dehli
Sun 1 Apr - Dehli
Mon 2 Apr - Delhi - Kalka - Shimla
Tue 3 Apr - Shimla
Wed 4 Apr - Shimla - Kalka - Delhi (sleeper train) - Jaipur
Thu 5 Apr - Jaipur
Fri 6 Apr - Jaipur
Sat 7 Apr - Jaipur - Varanasi (sleeper)
Sun 8 Apr - Varanasi
Mon 9 Apr - Varanasi
Tue 10 Apr - Varanasi - New Jalpaiguri (sleeper)
Wed 11 Apr - New Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling
Thu 12 Apr - Darjeeling
Fri 13 Apr - Darjeeling
Sat 14 Apr - Darjeeling - NJP - Kolkata (sleeper)
Sun 15 Apr - Kolkata
Mon 16 Apr - Kolkata - Dubai - Manchester
If possible, I will try posting pictures and updates on our travels and, no doubt, travails
Rik
maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
Bon voyage Rik. Max
maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
Every time I see this thread pop-up again...
I see the washing machine man saying 'India!', when his boss suggests he go to see why they are selling so many washing machines there..
Every time I see it I see Sanjeev Bhaskar's character in the "Goodness Gracious Me" series who attributes everything to being from India or of Indian origin - "Prince Charles. Indian ! See, look at his ears. He's Indian !"
Max
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Have now returned from my travels and thought you might be interested in a few photos from our expedition:
Our first day in India - a walking tour with an experienced guide, Adam - and our first encounter with cows roaming the streets.
The following day and we climbed up to Shimla on the KSR. Very impressive engineering and a well organised railway. Plenty of ideas for garden railway modellers as everything is on narrow shelves on the hillside.
Shimla station and their railcar about to depart. I think it's a Drewry. Interesting track layout making the most of a confined space.
A couple of days later and our first sleeper train, Kalka to Delhi .... and then on to Jaipur.
In Jaipur, our hosts at the AirBnb recommended a tuk-tuk driver (Rafiq) who took us to places off the main tourist trail and found us some good places to eat. He's 44 years old, with 7children and 2 grandchildren. Some of us are just not trying hard enough!
Another sleeper train and then on to Varanasi.
A seemingly endless journey - the train was 12 hours late - an hour of which was sitting outside Varanasi Junction station.. However, it was worth it. Our AirBnb was on the banks of the Ganges - within easy walking distance of the main sights.
Plenty to see, including continual cremations on the banks of the river and ornate ceremonies each night.
Then on to Murghal Surai Junction to catch another overnighter towards Darjeeling.
This was only 5.5hours late arriving, but lost time as we journeyed so we were half an hour late for our connection on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (the highlight of the trip for me). Relieved to find the train still waiting in the station.
Rik
Our first day in India - a walking tour with an experienced guide, Adam - and our first encounter with cows roaming the streets.
The following day and we climbed up to Shimla on the KSR. Very impressive engineering and a well organised railway. Plenty of ideas for garden railway modellers as everything is on narrow shelves on the hillside.
Shimla station and their railcar about to depart. I think it's a Drewry. Interesting track layout making the most of a confined space.
A couple of days later and our first sleeper train, Kalka to Delhi .... and then on to Jaipur.
In Jaipur, our hosts at the AirBnb recommended a tuk-tuk driver (Rafiq) who took us to places off the main tourist trail and found us some good places to eat. He's 44 years old, with 7children and 2 grandchildren. Some of us are just not trying hard enough!
Another sleeper train and then on to Varanasi.
A seemingly endless journey - the train was 12 hours late - an hour of which was sitting outside Varanasi Junction station.. However, it was worth it. Our AirBnb was on the banks of the Ganges - within easy walking distance of the main sights.
Plenty to see, including continual cremations on the banks of the river and ornate ceremonies each night.
Then on to Murghal Surai Junction to catch another overnighter towards Darjeeling.
This was only 5.5hours late arriving, but lost time as we journeyed so we were half an hour late for our connection on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (the highlight of the trip for me). Relieved to find the train still waiting in the station.
Rik
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
The DHR runs through some slum areas on its way out of New Jalpaiguri. The railway and people seem to co-exist quite happily.
The line closely follows the route of the old cart road, crossing ans re-crsooing it continuously as they both steadily climb towards Darjeeling.
In addition to the three spirals, there are six reverse zig-zags. Apparently, the builders had no grand master plan, they just solved each problem as an when it arose and the zig-zags seemed like a good way of gaining extra height.
From time to time, we caught glimpses of where we had been and where we were heading as the railway wove its way back and forth across the hillsides and spurs.
As we gained height it became colder and wetter, as we went in and out of clouds.
At the half way point (Tindharia), we crossed the downward train and also were visited by one of the line's steam locos.
Communities have grown up alongside the railway and road and as space is tight, all three have to share the same small bit of mountain shelf.
Ultimately, we reached our destination. Our AirBnb was a wooden 'cottage' built into the hillside. Our host, Rapden was excellent - giving us tailored tour of the locality and the town and taking us to places which ordinary tourists would never know existed.
It took a bit of effort, but I can honestly say that organising our own trip was not only cost effective - it enabled us to mix in with the locals and see a side of India which we wouldn't have seen if we'd gone on an organised trip.
Rik
The line closely follows the route of the old cart road, crossing ans re-crsooing it continuously as they both steadily climb towards Darjeeling.
In addition to the three spirals, there are six reverse zig-zags. Apparently, the builders had no grand master plan, they just solved each problem as an when it arose and the zig-zags seemed like a good way of gaining extra height.
From time to time, we caught glimpses of where we had been and where we were heading as the railway wove its way back and forth across the hillsides and spurs.
As we gained height it became colder and wetter, as we went in and out of clouds.
At the half way point (Tindharia), we crossed the downward train and also were visited by one of the line's steam locos.
Communities have grown up alongside the railway and road and as space is tight, all three have to share the same small bit of mountain shelf.
Ultimately, we reached our destination. Our AirBnb was a wooden 'cottage' built into the hillside. Our host, Rapden was excellent - giving us tailored tour of the locality and the town and taking us to places which ordinary tourists would never know existed.
It took a bit of effort, but I can honestly say that organising our own trip was not only cost effective - it enabled us to mix in with the locals and see a side of India which we wouldn't have seen if we'd gone on an organised trip.
Rik
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Hi Jon
Over 600 photos - it's all right, I've narrowed them down to make an album and went into Boots today to have the shortlist of 264 printed off. I'll put a few collections together and post them in phases.
I saw a couple of Mr Portaloo's before we set off - the second one featured the Shimla which whetted the appetite nicely. I must admit, I knew little about the KSR before we went and was really impressed by its 107 tunnels and 864 bridges. I also love the layout of the station at Shimla - how to squeeze a quart into a pint pot.
I wished I'd booked on the Railbus when I got there, but as it turned out, the train we booked on for the downward journey included food - so I didn't feel too bad. (sorry the picture is a bit blurry but it was night time and I hate using flash when near other people so I had to use a long exposure)
Rik
