Hill train from Marwar junction to Mavli

The once huge meter-gauge network in India is still operated by the Railways of India and connects Marwar Jn. And Mavli Jn.Once, this was part of the direct meter-gauge path between the ancient cities of Udaipur and Rajasthan. Now Rajasthan is a state of broad-gauge lines having scant reminders of its meter-gauge heyday. With two trains in a rural area a day, the line between these two stations needs to climb the escarpment of Aravalli Hills. The areas are tightly curved and steeply graded and pass through ecologically sensitive areas.

The track layout is pretty curious, having four parallel lines. Instead of being a thorough station, the tracks end in buffers and a headshunt. Here all locos detach and run around their trains before they continue onward. Now, the trains are hauled by the ubiquitous YDM4 meter-gauge diesel locos, 5 allocated to shed at Malvi. The track to Marwar, leaving the station, turns to the left sharply across the plains. The route up the cliff is on the right side, and starts to climb immediately. There is a spur along with a sand trap that protects the station from any runways.

Then the line climbs steeply across the escarpment’s front, following a massive hairpin alignment assisted by various small tunnels and large viaducts. A mid-way halt has been thronged by the monkey waiting for treats from the visitors to one isolated temple nearby. This climb keeps continuing through the jungle along with mesmerizing views out over the Rajasthan’s plains. The lines, then at the crest, turns away from the jungle to one harsh rocky plateau before it arrives at Kambli Ghat, another small town.The abandoned housing and the extensive yard of the place’s former railway colony point to it once being a vital point on the line.The government of India has ear marked this route for possible tourist development.