A collection of photographs from a day-trip undertaken by Anindya Roy and Ritadhi Chakravarti aboard the Howrah Barbil Jan Shatabdi Express, traveling right into the heart of the Saranda forests, located in south-eastern Jharkhand and the north-western tip of Odisha. In addition to the distinct features of the Indian Railways in this region, the images attempt to capture the sublime beauty of the Saranda range, iridescent in multiple hues of green courtesy the monsoons. Beneath the rocky soil lies a fourth of India's iron and manganese ore reserves, making this area subject to a heavy volume of freight traffic, with WAGs of various design ruling the roost. Also starred in this set is the Kharagpur-Tatanagar section catering to a heavy volume of passenger and freight traffic, replete with innumerable small gradients, picturesque sal forests, pretty curves, and the Chhota Nagpur Hills bordering the distant horizons in the south and the north.
We arrived at Barajamda under overcast condition.Bara Jamda serves as a conjunction for the Barbil and Gua lines, which diverge at this point.(Ritadhi Chakravarty) (Anindya Roy)
Santragachi WAP4 is returning for attaching itself to the other end of Janshatabdi.(Ritadhi Chakravarty) (Anindya Roy)
The sole platform of Barbil. (Anindya Roy)
Beautiful SRC WAP4 in charge of Howrah bound Janshatabdi. (Anindya Roy)
Janshatabdi is waiting for the starter at Barbil. (Anindya Roy)
Rain soaked Barbil yard.Incidentally Barbil is the fifth largest deposit of irone ore and manganese ore in the world. (Anindya Roy)
Another view of Barbil Yard with hills at a distance in partial haze. (Anindya Roy)
Lush green Saranda forest after Bara Jamda in the backdrop of hills in the distance. (Anindya Roy)
Dangoaposi is an important station in this route.An electric loco trip shed can also be seen.(Ritadhi Chakravarty) (Anindya Roy)
Janshatabdi is in the process of aligning itself to the TATA NGP main line at Rajkharswan Jn.(Ritadhi Chakravarty) (Anindya Roy)