Exalted Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the capital of Andra Pradesh, and was formerly the centre of the Princely State of Hyderabad, ruled by His Exalted Highness, the Nizam. The twin City of Secunderabad was the site of the British cantonment, and developed as an important Railway Junction.

The metre gauge system here, on a North-South alignment, was home to what was probably the world's last extensive suburban service to be worked by steam traction.

When these photographs were taken in 1984, there were 50 daily trains in the suburban section, and more than half were steam hauled. Twelve 2-6-4 Tank engines of the YM class had been built for these services in 1956, but increasing loads had seen them replaced by standard YP painted in a blue livery.

Locomotives in 1984 on the Broad gauge were WG 2-8-2 painted in the SCR passenger livery of green and red, as well as goods service black. A few WP 4-6-2 did work in on passenger trains from Pune, but these were not photographed. Longer distance Metre Gauge trains were worked by green and red YP 4-6-2 and YG 2-8-2. Some of the Purna based YPs had extended coal bunkers.

This web site is divided into four pages. This page has some North side photographs; the second page has photographs of the Secunderabad Junction area; the third page has images of a banking drama in the northern hills ; while the fourth page contains photos of a river location on the south side, as well as links to other web pages. Click on any of the buttons to change pages.

**1.Northern Side**
Bolarum, 20 kms from Secunderabad, is the northern limit of the suburban trains. On the left is a YP arriving with the #573 SC-Nizambad pass, with a suburban on the right.
A bucolic sylvan afternoon scene as a YP departs Cavalry Barracks on the downhill run to Secunderabad, and then Kacheguda with #581 the Fast Passenger from Ajmer.
The sylvan surrounds belie the fact that the Hyderabad conurbation boasts a population of over 4 million. The photographer appreciated the quiet and calm of this area, and spent two pleasant afternoons here in January 1984.
The Kacheguda ( south Hyderabad)-Ajmer route saw two trains which were probably the longest steam-hauled trains in the world at that time: 887 miles or 1326 kms. The bi-weekly Express traversed this section at night. The daily #582 Fast Passenger climbed the northern grades in the late afternoon.
The 1 in 133 grades were taxing, as the load on #582 was heavier than the suburban trains but the train stopped at all stations in the Secunderabad-Bolarum section.
It is a very attractive section, with overbridges and well ballasted tracks.
A blue YP drops down the grade from Alwal in its sylvan setting.
The MB dargah (mosque )dominates a hill to the north of Secunderabad. The railway curves and climbs at 1 in 133 to the station at Cavalry Barracks where a tender-first YP is restarting its train.
A late afternoon suburban train on the second day leaves Cavalry Barracks. The MB Dargah is visible on the right; and the loco is watched.
A loco first YP arrives at Cavalry Barracks, while a goods is refuged in the centre loop.
The 1 in 133 grades of this northern line produced hard loco work. The suburban trains were 7 car rakes when steam hauled.
The green and red passenger livery confirms that this YP is hauling #582 Ajmer Fast Passenger rather than a suburban service.
On this second afternoon, all northbound trains were operating chimney-first; they had all been tender-first on the first day.
By 1984, red cars had stared to replace the blue suburban livery.
The second afternoon saw #582 in the charge of double-headed YPs. The inclusion of an Inspection Car pushed the load over the maximum for a single loco on this line.
The double YPs provide a spectacle in the afternoon: the Inspection Car is leading.
A YP departs on the last part of its journey to Secunderabad, where another loco will take over for the short, final leg to the Kacheguda terminus of # 581 Fast Pass from Ajmer.
Climbing out of Cavalry Barracks under a dramatic sky, a tender first YP.
The blue livery was certainly attractive on the suburban locos.
The sky darkened in the late afternoon; almost a sunset on the suburban steam services of the world.