Steam locomotives in the Darjeeling Train Yard (India)

The two locomotives in the back (#788 "Tusker" and -#782 "Mountaineer") are warm and ready to work. One of them will be used to pull the next train, while a spare one is kept ready in case of last-minute problems with the main one. Because it takes hours to heat-up the steam boiler, the two steam engines must be warm and ready hours before the train is scheduled to leave. A railroad worker is staying up all night and feeding coal in their furnaces to keep both engines warm.

The locomotive in the front (#804 "Queen of the Hills") is undergoing maintenance. It will get new wheels.

View more photos of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, locally known as the "Toy Train", is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling (India). It is still operated by vintage British-built B Class steam locomotives. Operations between Siliguri and Kurseong have been temporarily suspended since 2010 following a Landslide at Tindharia (view photos of the landslide).

For more info about the DHR steam locomotives, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHR_778_(locomotive) and www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/dhr-locos-full.html.

For more information about the Darjeeling Steam-powered Train, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railway.