Pakistan - Rails to the North West Frontier - English • Great Railways
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- Опубликовано: 12 апр 2025
- One of NICK LERA’s finest documentaries is this 1990s account of a great railway adventure from the Baluchistan mountains to the legendary Khyber Pass. We start with vintage 1950s cab unit diesels of the Alco DL500 World series on the 4% grades of the rugged Bolan Pass. Then visit the meter gauge enclave of the former Jodphur Railway at Mirpur Khas to ride 1920s steam veterans across Sind. Back on the 5ft 6in broad gauge we find ex-Canadian War Dept 2-8-2s plying the Cholistan desert before heading to the northern Punjab for an Edwardian timewarp where inside cylinder 4-4-0s and 0-6-0s still serve the lines they were built for. Steaming across the Indus on the mighty Attock Bridge, we arrive at the gates of the Khyber Pass where powerful 1920s 2-8-0s from Britain’s Vulcan Foundry storm up mountain switchbacks to forts and battle lines built in defense of the former British Raj. The summit station at Landi Kotal is walled in with an iron gate and the ticket window is a machine gun post. You couldn’t make it up!
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My father travelled on these railways as a small child around 1930. He said it was his earliest memory, being on a train near the Khyber Pass. His father was a regular in the British army and part of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. He remembered that the regiment was being moved and the colonels wife (responsible for the families) checking on his whereabouts before the journey began. Thereafter Dad grew up until the age of seven in the Delhi area. Sounds like he might even have been transported on one of these trains.
Pita jee zanda hay
I am from Khyber and live in UK for three years
🎉
My great-grandfather was the engineer who was contracted to lay the railway tracks between Peshawar, NWFP, and Dina, Punjab
Some of the best steam footage anywhere on the internet. Incredible scenes.
Jbhgg
AAAA
I am from Pakistan Railways
.I am a huge Rail fan too my father also served Pakistan Railways for 31 years now i am also serving since 2008
Very blessingly nostalgic. Time seems to have stopped.
This is so soothingly nostalgic. I feel like it’s the ‘90s and I’ve borrowed the VHS tape of this educational British documentary about trains from the public library. Everything is normal again.
Dear Mr 'Semi-skimmed'. A very interesting comment on my film - my thanks for characterising it so accurately, especially as it was indeed first released on VHS!
I have traveled all over the world but I have never seen a country as beautiful as Pakistan.It's stunningly beautiful 😍
Railways our grand heritage. Now damaged to the core much like our Airline, Shipping and much more. I served for a while in the Railways and was appalled by the corruption of some (not all) politicians egged on by a few Railway officials. I thought the bulk of the officials were dedicated professionals. Shakil Durrani
An excellent documentary.
I have the privilege to maintain Khyber Railways for over three years (1987-1991) when fit for train operations and then reconstruct the washed away bridge and restore it for train operations (2003).
The Khyber Railway was opened to traffic on 2nd November 1925 and will complete 💯 years on 2nd November 2025. We the rail enthusiasts will celebrate the occasion at Peshawar/Landi Kotal Insha Allah and will welcome all those interested to participate.
Khyber Railways is the marvel of engineering and needs to be restored and protected as world heritage site.
Thankyou Saeed Khan, you have answered the question I just asked in my comment above.
I will retire soon from French Railways and would love to visit Pakistan's steam railways. I love steam and have worked on tourist railways in both Britain, France and Australia.
Are steam engines still working in pak railway
@@rajraina2914 no, they have been decommissioned and replaced with diesel locos.
These people are amazingly resourceful, being able to fix almost anything on site. Kudos.👍
Wonderful documentary, exquisitely filmed and edited, and excellent commentary. People will be enthralled by this forever.
Mr. Robinson would be proud of the fact that his 8K 2-8-0's,broad Guage version were still able to put in a good days work! The irony,in Britain,the GCR/WD versions went extinct! Pity,that the only extant versions were in India,or Pakistan! What the world has missed,due to so much short sightedness! Beautiful scenery,rugged mountains and that engineering marvel,that constitutes the,now Pakistan Railways! How does one,not stand in awe,of the Victorian engineering,and those laborers who made it possible! Thank you 😇 😊!!
Hats off😇
Yes, the HGS 2-8-0s did resemble the 8Ks to some extent, but they were more to do with BESA rather than the Great Central, and adopted outside Walschaerts valve gear rather than Stephenson.
This video was made may be in 1980 or 1990s. These engines are extinct even on these routes since late 1990s
These aren't just simple old machines. These are relics of an empire at its peak. The pinnacle of the industrial revolution in science, manufacturing and engineering. Thank you so much for sharing these visuals. Love from Pakistan
Nostalgically enthralling. Thank you for your efforts and wonderful cinematography.
I was in kohat in my child hood it was 1963 to 1972 when ever we traveled from kohat to rawalpindi we always travel by pakistan railway and we enjoy the steam engine sound and much much more.
What a magnificent and majestic railway works.
It's amazing how places just carry on overcoming the most difficult hurdles which here in the west stop us altogether. Like the cracked frame on the steam engine which in the west would condemn the loco to a static life or the scrapyard. All the steam locos were oil burners because all the coal was in India. The Alco diesels are very similar to the Australian 44 class which were also 2000hp.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this video. Love old steam engines, and the era they represent. Tha you.
By coincidence, I have just looked through some old family albums from my grandfather and grandmother time in India/Pakistan. The main subject is the building of these railways and I believe that my grandmother is the “Mary Jane” of the eponymous tunnel.
Mary Jane is stated in retired NWR civil engineer's book 'Couplings To The Khyber' p171 to have been the wife of F L O'Callaghan, engineer of the first railway in the Bolan Pass. Is this correct?
@@NicholasLera-kd5tjyes it's true still existed
Beautiful
Amazing documentary. Thanks for making it available here.
No Doubt this is a great Effort making and releasing this Documentary a very much informative video, Thanks a Lot.
Beautiful, fascinating and exciting. Best video I've seen about PR history until now. Many Thanks
Great, thanks for sharing this wonderful documentary!
Never seen NW Rly but heard about it. Thanks for the video. Early days Steam Engines played vital part in the railways.
NICK thank you for uploading such a historical viewing of a long colonial past that has been preserved for future generations to marvel at and the dedicated staff the keep these locos and running stock in service with limited resources they are highly skilled and ingenious to maintain the trains,,ALSO thanks to british colonial governers that built these vast tunnels and bridges and network in hot and dangerous enviroments a true testament to the pakistani people and their culture ..LOVE EVERY BIT OF IT IF ONLY I CAN BE THERE IN PERSON,,
I wish Pakistan could come out of its self inflicted crises. Its a beautiful country with tourism attractions for a varied audience. These steam train lines could be tourist attraction, for example. A beautiful documentary. Good work indeed.
Railways are haram
Frankly, what Pakistan needs to do long before it becomes a tourist atrraction is start builidng their OWN locos. Modern ones and electrify its rr network. This is no way a modern country should look like. Get the Chinese to help you, but build up your own infrastucture. You're relying on lines the Brits build a hundred years ago and on stone age trains. This is shameful. Not nostalgic. I am aghast at the backwardness of the rr infrastructure. Doesn't Pakistan know that a modern rr infrastructure is where development starts? India outclasses you by a mile and their rr infrastucture isn't stellar either.
Self inflicted that's the one OMG
@@kingrichards9295OMG
@@wkgurr have u been to pk railways
Thank you for this excellent documentary. Subscribing now.
This is super amazing.. You're lucky to witness this.. Its a treat to watch.
Fascinating absolutely fascinating. I can almost smell the smoke from the steam engines. A very well done documentary!
Thank you to the uploader. More than Engineering marvel, I think this is an Art.
Wow ❤
Outstanding!
Thanks for 📽️ filming
Many Thanks for sharing ❤
❤it
0:28 to 0:33 this shot was taken at "Hirok" Railway Station in the Bolan section,
I use to visit there for filming railroad,
It's not easy to film nowadays with modern gadgets..... But you filmed it very well at least 3 decades ago 👍❤️
Faheem bhai golden days of our Railways are long gone. Apni zindagi me Bahawalnagar section bhi wapis active dekhne ko mil gaya to woh bhi ek Miracle se kam nahi hoga!!
Sad to see that YD 522 was standing like there in shed in your video and running fine here in this one
Sir, You have shown a lot of railway history in your videos. It includes many stations, rail tracks, trains, and locomotives that have now become a part of history. But watching this video feels like you have traveled back to the era about which you talk in your videos. Especially the areas of Bolan Pass, Cholistan, and Landi Kotal Sections.
Wonderful to see this excellent documentary and to listen to the impeccable old-school narration. The voice of a professional, expressing the respect and dignity that these old trains and the people who run them deserve.
Fascinating! Absolutely love this.
Good documentary and useful for young generation
Absolutely brilliant - thanks!
Excellent video,Thanks for presentation, from Germany
Great Effort!
Spectacular Video
My great grandfather would have known some of these lines, he was a senior nco in a Scottish Highland Regiment stationed there in the 1890's
Those days gone forever but fragrance of yesteryears is still existing.6/8/24
I am a UR / EAR person, but this is wonderful and captures the atmosphere perfectly. Thank you PR!
What a brilliant film, I did not know this was still happening.
I wish it was still happening! But I'm glad you like the film. It was shot in 1994 and 1997. Enterprising European tour operators occasionally charter a steam loco to cross the mighty Attock bridge, but not often. Last time was around 2017 I think. The steam locos need lots of tlc to keep them running but the expertise to apply it has almost died out now.
@@NicholasLera-kd5tj perhaps not dead, rather sleepeth
Niesamowicie wspaniała kolej.
What a beautiful golden days of Pakistan western railways, very memorable days of Pakistan western railways, what a beautiful golden years when steam locomotive in operations.
Very true❤
It was Pakistan Railways after 1973.
Just amazing train journey to Landikotal via Khyber pass. Many kudos to Pakistani engineers for maintaining such vintage British steam engines. Not sure if the line is still operating in 2025.
Very well made video. All i can say is many many thanks.
What a wonderful memories ☺️ ❤❤❤great content 👏
That was a spectacular video. Thanks for posting.
Just incredible!
Keep steaming, no matter what. 😮❤
Seeing the movement of the steam trains over the dangerous section my heart beat increased. Thanks for the video uploaded herein.want more such video of bygone era.
New experience, Thanks
Among the many blessings of British Raj in the Indian subcontinent are the Railways which provide cheap transportation for both people and goods over long distances , further also providing connectivity and access to isolated and remote , hard to reach hamlets and towns over a harsh terrain , as is the case with Sibi Quetta Chaman Raiway line which with it’s 22 tunnels (and as many bridges) and impossible track alignments through mountains and gorges , is a marvel of engineering .
Just amazing
Great video indeed
Love steam locomotive's , thanks a lot ❤❤❤
Wow excellent video ❤❤❤
Fabulous ❤time
My late grandfather Khodayar age 10yrs in 1919 walked and rode on donkey from Sharifabad Iran to Baluchistan border.Took 82 days. From border to Bombay by train it took 10days
Where are you now ?
We are on 0-1 point...... (lund + phuddi) ha ha haa hahaha.
Landikotal ka tour mai ne bohot1 bar lga chuka hon...v v nice
Great documentary indeed! It was a histotical sentimental journey for me as I have seen many portions of these railway lines and stations as well.Simply Superb job done! Kudos!!
Thank you, Sir, for your kind comments. It was hard work to do but pleasing to see it is appreciated.
@19:30 The steam powered crane is just as rare a sight if noy more so.
@28:17 Engine crew is protected by a teenager armed with an AK-47.
@35:30 more armed guards at the bridge crossing fort.
@40:23 The railroad should have included at least a flat car for locals to sit on instead of riding on the pilot of the loco.
@45:00 There must be a Wye or Loop track for the #2215 to get turned around.
Dear 'Sugarmountaincondo'. To pick up on the items you mention; 19:30 steam cranes like this were once commonplace around Britain and its Commonwealth, but have almost entirely been replaced by diesel powered versions as you saw in the meter gauge sequence earlier. It was a real treat to find this steam original in good shape and still in active use. 28:17 The territory of the North West Frontier Province is a semi autonomous zone, between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the tribal communities rule. All outsiders are escorted by local armed guards, and can only visit in daylight hours, unless invited to stay, in which case they must remain indoors overnight. As for the cadet guard you point out, well, the next generation has to start somewhere, and what better than among a group of seniors in charge of a large group. I doubt his weapon carried live rounds. 35:30 Fort Maude by the road bridge is permanently manned. 40:23 The enthusiastic riders on the front of the locomotive were an ad hoc reaction to the first steam train up the pass for nearly 20 years. The youngsters had never seen a train before, a situation unique to this pioneer run which we recorded. As the scenario was unforeseen, no provision was made to accommodate them with a wagon or flat car. 45:00 The Khyber trains ran with a loco at each end, both facing outwards. So no wye or turn was needed. Some shots in the Khyber section of this film were taken on later trips, to achieve a fuller visual record of the line, hence an unavoidable lack of continuity in places. Thank you for your interest.
@@NicholasLera-kd5tj If there had been a flat car in the consist,there would have been 3 engines,instead of 2,as the load/gradient profile would have been exceeded! Considering that those Consols only had a tractive effort of about 30,000 pounds,those grades,would push them,right up to their limits! In the US,there are several ruling grades that,even today,push motive power to limits,an example- Cajon Pass,in California,and add the SP line over the Sierras,Donner Pass! Even the PRR got into the act,look at Horseshoe Curve,near Altoona,PA! Anyway,hopefully this will help put some items in perspective! Thank you for your attention! Thank you 😇 😊!
Just fabulous video about steam locomotives in Pakistan, video maker forgot one more line which was Tando Adam junction to Pad Eidan, there was town stations included, start from Tando Adam junction then Bhit Shah, Hala, Sabu Rahu, New Saeedabad, Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed, Daulatpur, Shahpur Jahnia, Moro, Naoshehro Feroz, Bhiria Station and in last stop was Pad Eidan
Dear Mashooq, Thank you for the 'fabulous' comment! Most generous of you. I am sorry however that what is clearly a favourite line of yours was not featured. My time was limited, and as one gets a better film overall by covering fewer lines in more detail, I decided to go with what my researches had revealed. It is worth bearing in mind also that there was no internet in widespread use at the time (1993/4). But you'll be pleased to know that in the course of my travels I discovered the steam branches out of Malakwal to the Salt Range, also steam in the Irrigation Dept quarries, and made a subsequent trip later in the 90s to film them. The results will appear eventually on Utube, God willing.
Very good video..oprasion.by Peshawar shed.driver.qazii....nizamuddin.shamshaddin.with fair man..ailtaf.Hassan.and ghfarid
What a beautiful golden days of Pakistan western railways Amazing documentary
I saw this documentary on BBC way back in 95.
This documentary has never been shown on television in any country, except perhaps illegally somewhere. It was released on VHS video in 1995, comprising the 1993 and 1994 footage. Some years later the DVD edition came out whlch included the SPS locomotive on the Attock Bridge recorded in 1997. That is the version posted here.
@@NicholasLera-kd5tjThank you for the information as I was very much intrusted to know the exact year of this video.
How did u manage to get these video clips. I am seeing this for the first time
A wonderful film! Thankyou.
28 years later what remains of Pakistani steam? Is the Khyber pass line still operational ?
TB was a common disease among Railway drivers. railway established a TB hospital in mountains of Quetta patients from all over India brought to Quetta for cure.
Wo TB nahi hota tha wo dust se hone wala bimari silcosis tha jo TB k jaise lagta tha us samay utna science devloped nahi tha aur TB maan k ilaaz hota tha maut nischit tha hone par par daily juggry khane se effect kam hota hai
@@jiwanpathak4209 maybe you are right But if you Know Quetta City now in Pakistan was a hill station with very dry climate was ideal for such patients There was Actually Two TB hospitals established. One by Indian Railway and the second was the British Indian Govt. Railway TB centurium was dedicated Only for Railway employees. Now the same building is used as a Women's university.
Yes. Very true. The surplus land available with this hospital was leased out for the women University
I am an Indian and i enjoyed watching this documentary. 👍
آپ کی کوشش قابل ستائش ہے جناب۔ بہت سی معلومات فراہم کی ہیں آپ نے
33:50 What's the firemen throwing into the firebox?
Sand zu reinigen der Kesselrohre
In oil fired fired locomotives there is a tendency for tar residue drawn by the draft from the chimney to accumulate in the boiler tubes so that heat does not transmit properly to the water. When the fireman sees pressure falling he throws sand into the firebox which is drawn through the tubes and scours out the residue. This results in filthy oily black clag spouting from the chineys of oil-fired locos from time to time in the course of a journey.
Could you please mention which year this video was shot??
Filming years were 1993 and 1994, with the Attock Bridge sequence added in 1997.
Thankyou
Very interesting. My grandfather served in the NW frontier 100 years ago.
It is unfortunate that the bad press currently associated with colonialism obscures the many infrastructure investments that the host countries benefited from.
If Pakistan marketed this as a tourist ride on their airline itinerary they would make big money. Keep 3 firstclass cabins and import steam stains so many laying unused worldwide
Which year this documentary was filmed!??
The filming was done in 1993 & 1994, with Attock Bridge in 1997.
A great film
یہ ڈاکومنٹری کب بنائی گئی تھی کسی کو کوئی آئیڈیا تا رہنمائی فرمائیں
1994
Brilliant footage!I can't help thinking that the wife of the chief engineer may have not been too impressed to hear about the name of the tunnel portal.
💥💥💥💥💥💥
now
only bolan pass railway is working.
khyber pass railway,
meter guage railway
are abandoned 😢😢😢😢
and chhaper rift was washed away in 1940 and abandoned since..
Great 👍
Heel mooie en fascinerende beelden van niet eens zo heel lang geleden.
Zou u ook "Spoorwegen in Zwitserland" kunnen uploaden? Dat is een van de DVDs die ik helemaal heb opgespeeld.😆
When was this filmed?
Read the introduction on this site, listen to the narration and check the copyright date on the end!
1994
Almost all the material for this film was taken in December 1993 and January 1994. The SGS 0-6-0 locomotive on Attock Bridge was recorded in February 1997. The Khyber sequence is a combination of 3 trips, Dec 1993 as far as Shahgai, and twice in Jan 1994 to Land Kotal; hence the lack of continuity in the consist.
Thanks.
Hare Krishna.
Supreme Engineering.
in 1959 when i was first time travelled in indian rail
To those wondering, there are 2 known preserved SPS classes.
Love 💗 from Lahore Pakistan 🇵🇰
EXCELLENT!! DOCUMENTARY , Indeed! FROM, U.K. (2025).
PAK Railways has changed so much these steam locos are just for Fun only three steamers are in service right now ....We use beasts like GEUs, ZCUs AGEs , RGEs HMGUs these days
❤. Watching. From. W A H C A N T T . ❤
We should convey thsnks to British Raj for rail net work in India Bangladesh Pakistan and ......
And hatsoff to your video. How many days you spent for this. Thanks a lot.
Background music name please?
As an Indian how easy or difficult is it to get Pakistan Visa for tourism? I want to visit Pakistan and travel across those high lands of rest while India.
Kardeş Pakistan.. Allah yollarını açık etsin..
Kardes Turkei from Pakistan.
How old is this video.?
Filmed in 1994, except Attock Bridge 1997.
It was the British who set up the Indian railway system. They were famous world wide for their railways
Check out the films of Satyajit Ray
Old very old but nice
🥰 are there any more than these ?
Excellent countryside well captured. Weighing scale reads NWR means North Western Railway i.e. erstwhile Jodhpur State Railways ( India)before Britishers partitioned my Great Old Country Bharat ( India).
❤❤❤ پاکستان زندہ باد ❤❤❤
wonderful/.
Pakistan has not even moved inches forward since 1947. For a while I felt like I was in the preindependance era. Horrible state of affairs of Pakistan Railways. No wonder Pakhtuns and Baloch don't want to be in Pakistan .
WHEN WAS THIS VIDEO RECORDED?
The location videography took place in 1994 and 1997. The production into a documentary came a few years later. I hope you enjoyed the results. 30 years seems to have passed in the blink of an eye.