What are some good spots to see freight trains, multiple-headed operations, e.g. multiple WAG-5 freights, etc.?
Most big cities have freight yards (e.g. Shakurbasti for New Delhi, Wadala for Bombay) at nearby stations. In addition, at Bombay, Madras, etc. there are special freight yards for the port container traffic, oil depots, etc.; however, sometimes activity at these yards can be sporadic as it is geared towards shipping timetables. The ore-hauling sections of SER are the best bets for seeing “heavy-duty” freight rakes hauled multiple WAG locomotives, e.g. Kirandul-Kottavalasa section. Also, the sections around the Dhanbad area where there are many collieries and mines have a lot of freight traffic. These areas are the best bet for seeing some of the stranger or more unusual freight locos, often new models being tested out for performance under load, locos with non-standard gearing, etc. Watch out for the tell-tale strange suffixes, extra (sometimes hand-painted) numbers or other designations next to the model numbers on the locos, or new-looking locos fresh from the loco works or major ove
