View from the tracks

McDonald, a former freelance photo journalist began photographing trains plying in hill regions of India three years ago, while living in Dharamshala. 8220;I started with trains on the Kangra valley network which runs through regions in Himachal Pradesh. I was intrigued by the functioning of this archaic rail network and how a dedicated workforce of engineers kept it functional. When the trains go by, the past comes alive,8221; explains McDonald. He has previously exhibited works on Tibet and Maldives in his home town Melbourne.

Be it a quiet moment between a married couple in a train compartment with eavesdroppers crowding around or a cow ambling across the tracks as a train chugs to a halt, McDonald8217;s exhibition illustrates the historical importance of these trains. 8220;The scenery, even the people on these trains are so different from anywhere else in the world,8221; he says, pointing to his favourite image of a train emerging from the dense jungle cover along an elevated railway bridge. His collection of images can be seen on his website hilltrainsofindia.com.

McDonald8217;s favourite heritage train in India is the Kalka Railway recently named a World Heritage Site. 8220;The Kalka railway is 77-years-old and offers the best scenic views,8221; he says. He will return to Australia soon to work on a book about landscapes there.

The exhibition is on till December 24.