Pakistan, 1996: Malakwal again: To Khewra

Two trains ready for departure from Malakwal station in the morning. On the left is our sleeping car train, to be hauled by the SPS on the long distance trip to Haranpur, 9km away. On the right, a local train, presumably the morning train to Gharibwal, hauled by an SGS loco.

24 January 1996

Arriving in Haranpur, we await the crossing with another local train, probably the R435 to Malakwal from Lilla, which like almost all the local trains runs as a mixed train.

24 January 1996

At the loading track in Haranpur timber is delivered for loading and weighed. The effort spent on handling this small amount of trunks and branches shows how forest-poor this country is, and how rare the timber is (see Changa Manga).

In the background the hills of the Salt Range can be seen.

24 January 1996

Back in Malakwal.

Major track work is seen at this crossing. The numbers of supervisors and workers are roughly equal.

24 January 1996

The mechanical interlocking at the western end of the station serves the lines to Kushab (towards the Salt Range), to Sargodha, the branch line to Bhera, and the tracks to the depot. It is equipped with the standard English design linkage mechanism, which requires the full strength of one's body when operating it.

24 January 1996

Meanwhile, the sun has unfortunately hidden behind the clouds.

The local train that is arriving is probably R443 from Bhera, hauled by an SPS.

To the left can be seen the crossing and the work being performed on it.

24 January 1996

In the English style mechanical interlocking technology the points are operated by rodding and the signals by (single) wire. The interlocking happens at the points as can be seen in the picture (compared to the standard German system where the interlocking of points and signals happens right at the signal cabin).

To keep such a system operating requires not only a lot of oil and grease but also a lot of labor for maintenance.

24 January 1996

As might have been foreseen, our next train ride would be delayed until the afternoon. So it was time to take a look at the nearby train station area. Almost immediately next to the railway premises is the market of Malakwal.

The fruit stand shown here is but one example of the colorful variety on offer in this market. My attempt to buy some oranges after taking this photograph is only partially successful. Although I can get some oranges in a plastic bag here, when I try to pay for them my payment is firmly rejected. Indeed, the vendor is delighted to be able to give this stranger the fruit as a gift.

24 January 1996

Finally, we set off again. The level crossing on the western side of the station is often closed, building up long traffic jams. Automobiles have penetrated even to this area, but are not yet dominant on the streets.

24 January 1996

Worked by SGS 2470 the afternoon mixed local special to Khewra, 24km from Malakwal, is approaching. The branch line here diverges from the line Malakwal - Kushab at Chalisa Junction, which is the next station after Haranpur and comparable in importance to it.

Unlike the road to Gharibwal, this line actually climbs a few meters. The wagons are all empty, so that our locomotive has no problem in tackling the modest slope.

24 January 1996

Technically Khewra is not the end of the track. The track continues a further 3km to Dandot. But here the real mountains begin. On the slopes (directly behind the tender) the road can be seen. The railway runs through a cutting - somewhere in the middle of the picture in the background. The route through this cutting has probably been hit several times by landslides, so it is official closed now.

The white deposits on the ground are not remnants of snow or ice (although it was quite chilly outside), but salt. The salt is mined in the mountains here and loaded on to the railway.

24 January 1996

The driver can be persuaded, however, to cautiously enter the closed section to Dandot -- with just our passenger coaches, leaving the goods wagons behind. (In British railfanning slang such ventures are called "Rare Track Bashing".)

However, uncoupling and shunting the wagons is not done cautiously at all. Speeding on the rough loop track leads to this derailment. In view of the mishap, the driver now has very serious reservations about further movement, and after some back and forth the action to Dandot is called off. Meanwhile, it is also almost dark.

Instead we head back to Malakwal again, and the freight cars including the derailed ones remain back in Khewra.

24 January 1996

It will be the last supper our cook prepares in the kitchen of the restaurant car. For the last few days of the tour remaining, we will get hotel food.

Although various people have been suffering minor digestive problems, there are no reports of any extensive problems with the on-board meals.

24 January 1996