As you might have guessed I was born and raised in India I immigrated to the US and currently stay in Florida. I have fond memories of taking the train from my boarding school at Gwalior 'Scindia School". The special school coaches from Gwalior to Delhi or where ever my family was at the time were usually attached to a speedy 'mail' train invariably hauled by a steam locomotive, usually the magnificent WP.
Growing up I had a small Lionel layout in 'O' gauge at home (Meerut) which I cherished, it had one locomotive a Pennsylvania RR K4 Pacific 4-6-2. The layout was small but gave me numerous hours of enjoyment. My trains and control-wire model aircraft were my playthings, other hobbies included Fixed Wing Gliding at the Delhi Gliding Club at Safdarjung Airport in Delhi; I look back at that period of my life with great memories and fondness.
Long train journeys from Delhi to Madras (Now called Chennai, but I still call it Madras) 40+ hour, were the norm about two to three times a year to attend college (Institute of Hotel Management). All those trains were hauled by steam locos (Usually a magnificent WP). I was fascinated by the locomotives and the various shunting activities and all the aspects of life (Indian Railways has lots of life) around the stations & countryside on my long journeys.
My layout features mostly steam locos with a couple of early Indian diesel engines. I have a special place for the WP and have a number of these models in my locomotive collection. I have tried to recreate the locomotives from India, using available stock.
Alas steam is no more in India, but I have tried to create the wondrous beasts of my youth. Indian Railways is like no other and I still ride the trains whenever I visit India.
Growing up I had a small Lionel layout in 'O' gauge at home (Meerut) which I cherished, it had one locomotive a Pennsylvania RR K4 Pacific 4-6-2. The layout was small but gave me numerous hours of enjoyment. My trains and control-wire model aircraft were my playthings, other hobbies included Fixed Wing Gliding at the Delhi Gliding Club at Safdarjung Airport in Delhi; I look back at that period of my life with great memories and fondness.
Long train journeys from Delhi to Madras (Now called Chennai, but I still call it Madras) 40+ hour, were the norm about two to three times a year to attend college (Institute of Hotel Management). All those trains were hauled by steam locos (Usually a magnificent WP). I was fascinated by the locomotives and the various shunting activities and all the aspects of life (Indian Railways has lots of life) around the stations & countryside on my long journeys.
My layout features mostly steam locos with a couple of early Indian diesel engines. I have a special place for the WP and have a number of these models in my locomotive collection. I have tried to recreate the locomotives from India, using available stock.
Alas steam is no more in India, but I have tried to create the wondrous beasts of my youth. Indian Railways is like no other and I still ride the trains whenever I visit India.