The Great Indian Railway. Part 2

Your Playlist:

Description

Separated by a subcontinent, the Pondicherry Special and the Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway are nevertheless united. They both embody the fading grandeur of India's steam-engine era, when trains were ornate masterpieces and locomotives announced their coming with thrilling, vaporous song. This program examines India's "living museums" of steam-powered transit, which still draw throngs of passengers and admirers wherever they operate. Viewers encounter other parts of the technological spectrum as well, such as Mumbai Central, where electric commuter trains are packed to dangerous, sometimes fatal levels; the main trunk lines connecting big cities, where riders disembark into seas of combative porters and taxi drivers; and a no-frills rural line that uses a surprisingly effective token system to coordinate track use.