PR Steam (Terry Case)

neighbors

the railways in Pakistan

by: S.SHANKAR

[Home] [P.R Steam] [Terry Case's PR steam pics] [Peter's PR Steam Pics] [Intl.Steam Pak. page] [PR steam:asstd pics] [PR Diesel] [Larry Russel's Pak diesel page ] [Rolf Stumpf's PR diesel page] [World Diesel Loco Pak.page (you need a yahoo id and join WDL to log in ] [PR Electric] [PR general Views] [Indo-Pak Train: Samjhauta Express] [ PR Atmosphere!] [PR Official website] [ PR Links ]

HIT 'BACK' ON YOUR BROWSER TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE. ALTERNATIVELY, RIGHT CLICK ON LINK AND SELECT 'OPEN IN NEW WINDOW' TO CONTINUE VIEWING THIS PAGE UNINTERRUPTED.

A treat for steam fans: here is a page full of Pakistan steam, kind courtesy of Terry Case.

Pakistan steam, 1984

I first visited Pakistan in December 1984, whilst the photos show steam locomotives at work it should be made clear that even at that time most of the system was diesel operated. New diesels had been purchased in sufficient numbers in the 1950s to have restricted steam to secondary duties, subsequent diesel orders had seen them marginalised.
It was incredible that some of the oldest steam designs lingered on into the mid 1990s. Pakistan became a meca for steam fans seeking the older ex Indian designs still at work.

HYDERABAD

A broad gauge Jn on the Karachi - Lahore line, from here a line ran to MIRPUR KHAS Jn, which in turn had metre gauge lines; once part of the Jodhpur Railway. The system was operated by elderly 4-6-0s and YD class 2-8-2s.
The YDs had been sent from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1954 and 1962.

1. YD3 517 on pilot duty at Mirpur Khas, 13-12-84. The loco was built by Vulcan Foundary (VF) in 1929.

2. YD5 734, one of the batch built by Nippon in 1952 and delivered to East Pakistan transferred in 1962 to Mirpur Khas. Seen arriving on a passenger train. 12-12-84.

3. Mirpur Khas was served by a fast steam service to Hydrebad in 1984. The old XA pacifics had replaced diesels(that were needed elsewhere), they sounded terrific with a sharp exhaust as they whirled along on these light trains. XA 2670 (V.F.1931) is seen arriving from the shed. 12-12-84.

4. Back at Hydrebad XA 2693 is seen on a Mirpur Khas to Kotri train on 11-12-84. All Pakistan steam locos were converted to oil firing, notice the glare under the boiler from the fire.

5. Another steam survivor was this SGC 0-6-0 (North British 1913) seen leaving Hydrebad on the Tando Adam - Kotri train. 11-12-84.

MULTAN:

After an overnight journey from Hydrebad on the Lahore mainline I reached Multan, another oasis of steam power.

6. XA 2653 (V.F. 1929) backs off the shed to work a passenger train to Kundian. CWD 5089 (Canadian Loco 1945) is prepared for its return working to Samastipur. 15-12-84.

7. SGS 4294 (North British 1912) leaves the depot to take the Dera Ghazi Khan passenger duty. 16-12-84.

8. SGS 0-6-0s and HGS 2-8-0s were often found on pilot duties, Multan used both types and 2237 (Kitson 1919) is seen on 15-1-84.

9. Pakistan Railways used oil firing for its steam locomotives, CWD 5080 leaves Multan, making a smokey exit for Samastipur. 16-12-84.

WAZIRABAD:

A junction on the Lahore - Lala Musa -Rawlapindi line. I made a half day visit here, travelling out and back from Lahore on 21-12-84. It was my first chance to see the elegant inside cylinder 4-4-0s of SPS class at work. These classic machines survived on secondary cross country duties until the end of broad gauge steam in the mid 90s.

10. SPS 2988 (VF 1914) departs Wazirabad for Sialkot Jn. Note the fine array of signals and a gurgling Alco in the background.

11. The SGC class 0-6-0 had become rare by 1984, here 1174 (V.F. 1909) heads out along the mainline for Lala Musa with a pick up goods in tow.

12. The SGS was a superheated rebuild version of the Standard Goods 0-6-0, once the standard power throughout much of India, they survived till the end of b.g. steam in the mid 90s in Pakistan. 2378 was built by Vulcan Foundary in 1914 and was on pilot duties.

This page shows some examples of the Pakistan steam scene in 1984.(Terry Case).

[BACK TO TOP]

HIT 'BACK' ON YOUR BROWSER TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE. ALTERNATIVELY, RIGHT CLICK ON LINK AND SELECT 'OPEN IN NEW WINDOW' TO CONTINUE VIEWING THIS PAGE UNINTERRUPTED.