Vintage trains have always held a special place in my heart. Some of my fondest memories, from three or four decades ago, are of watching drivers toss coal into the blazing engine, pull the whistle, and hearing that massive, vibrating sound as a child. Traveling on these beauties—watching smoke trail from the engine, feeling bits of smoke particles settle on me, and peeking out the windows and doors—was a big part of my childhood and even my BFA college days.
For a long time, I’d wanted to paint the vintage locomotive engine displayed in front of ITPL, Bangalore. But with constant metro construction, the busy, narrow road made it nearly impossible without attracting a crowd. Finally, on January 25, 2018, during the Bharath bandh, I found my chance! With empty streets, I set out that evening to capture the dusty, beautiful engine in warm sunlight. After getting permission from a nearby security guard, I set up my easel, and he kindly kept checking on my progress. He even took a picture of himself and me with the painting, which he later shared via WhatsApp—his excitement really showed through in his gestures.
Today, the engine is mostly hidden behind a wall, making it hard to see or paint.
I’m so glad I trusted my instincts back then—capturing that full, sunlit scene wouldn’t be possible today!
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