Rhysj17
Welcome to India
Indian Railways has always been regarded as one of the great railway networks, but with the country being so vast it seemed like a far off prospect to actually visit it. Where would you start after all? However, the pace of change over the last few years has been incredible with metre gauge railways being wiped out in favour of broad gauge and electrification advancing rapidly, seriously diminishing the areas where the popular ALCo's worked passenger duties. It was with that knowledge that 3 intrepid enthusiasts finally decided to take the plunge and head to India in November 2022 to experience the last few remaining pockets of interest before they disappeared for good.
We flew from Heathrow to Delhi with Virgin, arriving at around 01:00. There followed a long wait and a final beer (Gujarat being a dry state) before catching a domestic flight at 05:45 with SpiceJet to Rajkot in order to save around a day. We were heading for the Veraval-Amreli-Junagadh Junction metre gauge but had the morning to spend around Rajkot Junction. One of our party had worked out there was a Veraval Junction bound ALCo soon after we landed so we walked to the lineside near the airport and set up shop at a level crossing for our first shot of the trip. WDM3A no.14097 duly made its presence known and is seen shortly after departure from Rajkot Junction at Bhomeshwar Main Rd with train no.09513 to Veraval Junction on 1st November 2022.
Welcome to India
Indian Railways has always been regarded as one of the great railway networks, but with the country being so vast it seemed like a far off prospect to actually visit it. Where would you start after all? However, the pace of change over the last few years has been incredible with metre gauge railways being wiped out in favour of broad gauge and electrification advancing rapidly, seriously diminishing the areas where the popular ALCo's worked passenger duties. It was with that knowledge that 3 intrepid enthusiasts finally decided to take the plunge and head to India in November 2022 to experience the last few remaining pockets of interest before they disappeared for good.
We flew from Heathrow to Delhi with Virgin, arriving at around 01:00. There followed a long wait and a final beer (Gujarat being a dry state) before catching a domestic flight at 05:45 with SpiceJet to Rajkot in order to save around a day. We were heading for the Veraval-Amreli-Junagadh Junction metre gauge but had the morning to spend around Rajkot Junction. One of our party had worked out there was a Veraval Junction bound ALCo soon after we landed so we walked to the lineside near the airport and set up shop at a level crossing for our first shot of the trip. WDM3A no.14097 duly made its presence known and is seen shortly after departure from Rajkot Junction at Bhomeshwar Main Rd with train no.09513 to Veraval Junction on 1st November 2022.