July 17th, 2009
Train Stories of India
We were taking lunch at a Dhaba near the railway station at Barog when at one point this tractor had a bumper sticker inviting everyone to honk tht was parked nearby. I got annoyed when people honk at me. I mean I believe tht honking is bad manners, but apparently all these Tractor people did not. But, at least, spotting the Crimson Sunbird at the station made a very pretty picture and was a pleasure to watch, but not easy to photograph.
I was heading back to my Palace Hotel India, taking the steps down the terrace fields when I was overwhelmed by the trees filled with birds. They filled every corner of the trees, every branch. An astonishing site. So, I decided to spend more time at the Barog Station and watch. Someone told me that Barog is home to the longest tunnel on the Kalka Shimla route which is just over a kilometer long. I was chatting with a railway official and he said there were no trains coing into the station until 11am. So, I decided to walk inside the tunnel and cross it. It was dark only after a few meters inside. I switched on the light of my cell phone and placed it close to the tracks. I could see faint outlines of the tracks. I walked for what seemed like must be mid-way of the tunnel when I heard a train coming. I moved my light from my cell phone around to see if I could seek shelter. Luckily, there was an arch right next to where I was standing. I hurried into it just as the train past by me. As soon as it past, I got the heck out of there.
I headed for the tea stall and asked for a very hot tea. The proprietor saw that I had just come from the tunnel and asked me what happened inside the tunnel when the train came. I told him that the arch was right next to me, so I hopped into it just in the nick of time! The proprietor was amazed that I was allowed to walk inside the tunnel. Then he told me to go party tonight because I just had a very close call. I told the proprietor that that suggestion was it self a good call, that I will indeed make a party of it tonight.
Related posts: