⭐ WILDLIFE & RAILS ⭐

Not everywhere in Indian Railways one comes across such scenarios except the wildlife corridors or routes passing through national parks/wildlife sanctuaries. Not everyday one gets to see them hanging around the tracks as they are naturally repelled by the sound of the iron horses of IR but they do venture out when it gets quiet & sometimes by coincidence, they show up in spite of a train passing by !
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It's an absolute pleasure or rather a dream for many rail enthusiasts to frame the gigantic beasts & rails together at least once in their lifetime.

Presenting, scenes from the dooars route i.e. Siliguri - Alipurduar Junction section of Northeast Frontier Railway.

1) The first 3 pictures are from the interiors of Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary between Chalsa & Nagrakata. The elephant turned up just after the passage of sealdah bound 13150 Kanchankanya Express. It disappeared in a short while alarmed by the approaching 15484 Sikkim Mahananda Express to Alipurduar.

2) The last picture is from the outskirts of Chapramari on Nagrakata end near Jaldhaka Bridge. A lone tusker turned up after the passage of 15468 Bamanhat - SGUJ Intercity. Tuskers are often known for their anger & therefore, often roam isolated after they are expelled from their herd.

There's a funny thing about the last snap. The area was pole free even 2-3 hours before the snap was taken. Just 3 hours ago, I took a stroll & things were as usual. A beautiful pole free territory of Dooars with foliage thriving in abundance. Fast forward 3 hours, a Railway Electrification Works rake passed by headed by a Malda Alco & as soon as I returned to the spot, the looks had drastically changed by then ! We have heard poles coming up at places in a gap of weeks or months but go to witness the final few moments before & after such a change for the very first time.

Chapramari Railway Track & Wild life.
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This little film by Mr. Jasoprakas Debdas shows the beautiful wildlife in close proximity of railway line.
A preening peacock in front of a WDP4.
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majestic elephant standing over the track.
Also see the video for the elephant which lifts the railway gate and crosses.
Don't know why the railway personnel, in the starting of the video, bursts a cracker on the track. At first I thought he was tying a detonator.