India - Darjeeling Railway 2006. Part 2 - The Climb Begins

Taken from 12 year old tapes. Please excuse any quality issues.
This is a look back at the second part of my second visit to this fascinating narrow gauge line. In 1881, the line was completed from Siliguri junction, on the broad gauge main line, all the way up into the Himalayan foothills to the summer camp of Darjeeling. In its 55 mile length, the line rises from 100 metres above sea level to around 2300 metres above sea level. The 2ft gauge 0-4-0 saddle tanks are surprisingly powerful and make a very distinctive sound as they blast their way up the mountain sides.
In this sequence, the powerful little B Class tank loco starts the climb up into the Himalayas. The track twists and winds its way up the mountain side, through the forests of the lower foothills, with the sound of the steam loco echoing around the valleys.
Part 3 can be found at -    • India - Darjeeling Railway 2006. Part...