Pakistan on 1676

Pakistan on 1676 is a photographic jouney through a small part of this little known country. It takes you along of some of the railway lines in the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghaninstan in the West and through Punjab towards Lahore in the East. The railways were build by the British collonial administraion in the broad gauge of 1676 mm. All images date from December 2021.

Stop – PHA20 8301 (Hitachi/Alco, 1989) at the depot in Peschawar.
Escort on the Khyber Pass in the province of. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The tunnels on the left are the remains of the Khyber Pass railway.
Soldier of the Khyber Rifles at Michni Fort. The tunnels in the back are the remains of the Khyber Pass railway to Afghanistan.
Ready for the Briefing – Briefing room of the Khyber Rifles at Michni Fort. About 4 km ahead in the cutting lies Torkham, the border to Afghanistan.
No one waiting – Bus stop on the Khyber Pass route.
Chowk Yadgar (Memorial Square) in Peshawar.
Porter in the bazar of Peshawar. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. 2021
Porter in bazar of Peshawar.
Meat merchant at Peshawar bazar. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. 2021
Peshawar’s former glory.
Street Cricket in Peshawar.
Arriving from Peshawar HBU-20 8034 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river at Attock Khurd.
Station Master Attock Khurd.
HG/S 2303 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river.
HG/S 2303 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river.
Sunset Poetry – HG/S 2306 has just crossed the Ghazi Brotha Railway Bridge en route to Attock Junction.
Morning mist near Kanjur.
HG/S 2306 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river.
The Long Shadow of Steam – HG/S 2306 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river.
Eveness and Rythm – Freight train with HG/S 2306 at Attock Khurd station.
The Crew.
Practising their religion is very important to many people. Nevertheless, they are very open to foreigners.
Across the Indus – HG/S 2306 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river.
Across the Indus – HG/S 2306 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river.
Waiting – HG/S 2306 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river at Attock Khurd.
HG/S 2306 on the Attock bridge over the Indus river.
To the other side – Attock Bridge road level. This was till 1979 the only fixed road crossing over the Indus for 755 km.
The girl in a red dress – Mixed roles, mixed generations.
Tickets – Khairabad Kund Station, Khyber-Pakthunkhwa.
Also simple games provide fun.
Tunnel and Railway Guard House before Khairabad Kund Station.
Light in Tunnel – Headlight of diesel engine 8319 in the tunnel between Attock Khurd bridge and Khairabad Kund. 2021
Encounter – HG/S 2306 to be passed by HBU20 8034 (Hitachi/Alco, 1982) at Rumian Station.
Old task, new habit – Trackwalker at Rumian station using his mobile phone while checking the tracks.
Clear – Attock City Junction – Basal Junction. Line.
Modes of Transport – HG/S 2306 crossing the bridge over the Shakadara Kas at Jhalar station, Attock Junction – Basal Junction line.
HG/S 2306 at Jhalar station, Attock Junction – Basal Junction line.
HG/S 2306 at Jhalar station, Attock Jn – Basal Jn line.
Station Master’s Office, Jhalar Station, Attock City Jn – Basal Jn. Line.
HG/S 2306 at Jhalar station, Attock Jn – Basal Jn line.
Arrival – HG/S 2306 at Suleman Abad.
Former Station Hotel, Basal.
Former Station Hotel, Basal.
Water Jugs
Evening Train – HG/S 2306 crossing the bridge over the Shakadara Kas at Jhalar Station, Attock Jn – Basal Jn line.
Arrived for the Night – HG/S 2306 at Attock City Junction.
HG/S 2306 at Attock City Junction.
Mail by Rail – Attock City Junction.
HG/S 2306 shunting at Attock City Junction.
Interest – HG/S 2306 at Attock City Junction.
Three Towers – HG/S 2306 at Attock City Junction.
HG/S 2306 at Attock City Junction.
HG/S 2306 at Attock City Junction.
Attock City Junction, Punjab, Pakistan. (on the right HG/S 2216).
C.Cabin and start and entry signals for Peschawar (far right) and Basal ( far left). Employed is the signalling system of the Great Western railway with the lower quadrant for clear.
Attock City Jn.
Early morning light into of the C.Cabin, Attock Junction.
Switching the Point – C.Cabin, Attock Junction.
Departure I – From the C.Cabin, HG/S 2306 leaving Attock City Junction.
Depature II – HG/S 2306 and entry signals from Peshawar (left) and Basal (right) at Attock City Junction.
Kids of non-settled families fight for their place on the picture.
Sensation – For the kids of non-settled families the appearance of railway photografers are the sentation of the day while HG/S 2306 leaving Attock City Junction in the background.
Improvised Barrier – Basal Sharif.
HG/S 2306 crossing the Haro River bridge at Kanjur shortly before sunset, Attock Jn – Basal Jn line.
HG/S 2306 on a bridge near Basal Sharif, Basal – Golra Line.
HG/S 2216 on the bridge and bee hives near Damal, Basal – Golra Line.
On the platform of Golra Sharif.
Little Model.
Kids of non-settled families want to get their share in the sensation of visitors from the West.
Purse and Pistol (H&K MP5K) go well together with these Railway Police ladies.
Curious Girl at Fateh-Jang, Punjab, Pakistan. 2021
Various tempraments and a hearty farewell.
Harvest – HG/S 2303 and 2306 near Awanpur.
HG/S 2216 crossing a bridge near Damal, Basal – Golra Line.
Betford Beauty and its driver.
Main Station, Lahore.
Lahore Main Station
No Cargo – Lahore Station.
Grandpa and Grandson. Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. 2021
Cargo for a different life – Freight Yard, Railway Station Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. 2021
Packaged goods are a common cargo in Pakistan and India.
Packaged goods at Lahore Main Station.
The luggage van are commonly full of pakaged goods. Lahore Main Station.
An autoriksha is still a common mode of transport in Lahore.
Lahore from the minaret of the Wazir Khan mosque.
Not to be seen – From the minaret of the Wazir Khan mosque.
Delivery services in Lahore.
Porter in the bazar of Lahore.
The toll of Polio.
Metal worker in the old town of Lahore.
Reading on the Roof.
Transport Upgrade – Chinese buildt this metro above Lahore’s roads. Not used by the masses, yet.
Lokomotive workshop, Pakistan Railway at Lahore.
Lokomotive workshop, Pakistan Railway at Lahore.
Lokomotive workshop, Pakistan Railway at Lahore.
Lokomotive workshop, Pakistan Railway at Lahore.
Beauty contest on the road.
Mosque supply.
Early driving school.
Brickworks.
Competition – Changa Manga Forrest Railway,
Changa Manga Forrest Railway.
Changa Manga Forrest Railway.
Finis – Khairabad Kund, Khyber-Pakthunkhwa.