Thank you for uploading such a moving video. When I was a child , I definitely watched this documentary on TV in Japan with the title of "Kisya to Indo-jin(The Steams and Indian People)". About 20 years have passed since then, however, I clearly remember scenes of Palur station and Pondicherry Special even now. Today, I finally found this video and felt so emotive. Mr. Vudayagiri, I give you a sincerely thank from Japan :-)

Proud to be associated with The Great Indian Railways. ( As a worker in Parel Work Shop ) From 1981 TO 2011.

Watched this video as a kid in 1996 in national geographic. It was called the Great Indian railway. Nostalgic. I'm 35 now.

"Nothing evokes the romance of the railways like a steam engine"... I couldn't agree more.

This is called documentry, what a masterpiece

This was one MAGICAL DOCUMENTARY FILM by NATGEO !!!!! made every railway lover emotional.... what a story of the stn.Master of Palur ......

@ 9:34 station master and steam driver emotional looks to each other

I am being a native of Palur village on the Chengalpet to Arakkonam line the video reminds of memories down the lane running and recollecting my childhood travel by train used run with the support of Steam Loco leaving behind the smoke of coal and beautiful horn. In those days these trains catered the needs of the population of several villagers to commute to Chengalpet and Kanchipuram and Arakkonam. The ticket cost was very meagre. The vegetables, milk and other products from the villages in this route were transported by these trains only. Palur station has got unique reputation that hundreds of Tamil movies were shot in this station. This Palur station was considered to be a lucky spot to commence the shooting. All leading Tamil Heroes right from 1950 had been to Palur station. Thank you very much for making this video and reminded of my native place and taking it to world level. The milk and vegetables were taken to all leading hotels in the then Madras. First Kanchipuram and Second Kanchipuram were famous trains during my college time in 1980s. Employees of ICF , Railway, Madras High court, Secretariat and industries in Madras used to travel by these trains only. Great posting.

Now palur station is being serviced by suburban trains and Pondicherry passenger still runs

As a son of a retired Indian Railways employee, this made my eyes teary. The love we have for railways in India, is unmatched. Long live Indian Railways..

I am retired railway person , now 62, I travelled a lot in steam-driven trains , after the journey your whole dress and your body will be black with ashes , still I loves. one thing I still remember collecting water from the stations , no bislery or mineral water available. but we didn't have any dysentery or like that it was a day

I have experienced this kind of life in my Village. We had a small station which was made by britishers. Vintage style station, chairs, gates, window grills, all were vintage. At night train comes with huge fog and there was just one lantern at the station. We used to wait in the old waiting hall in chilly winters. No money, no world class hotel can match that level of leisure and nostalgia.

This documentary deserves to be awarded.

I feel sometimes 1970 s and 1980 were golden era coz life was easier with out competition, hatred, greediness, technology , internet etc .

It was just by accident that I came across this documentary today. It made me cry. With the steam engine had gone people of great noble character. Their love for their job and devotion to duty make such people exceptional. With them went the heartbeat and echo of the hills and valleys. Sad. Very sad. Sydney, Australia

Life during those days may have been harder but was much more peaceful, simpler, and satisfactory.

So sad .. that our childrens will never be able to experience such an amazing journey with steam engines .... but we are fortunate enough to travel such class ...

Palur station is reopened after GC & now it is electrified also. Missing steam.

My grandfather was a station master .Takes me back to his old train stories !!

The last scene always made me cry.... happened again !!!!! burst of emotions ....

a proud feeling to be associated with the Indian Railways as it down my Dad's life serving the Eastern Railways as a special A grade guard....have very fond memories... my grandparents too both ways mum's n dads both served the Indian Railways...

I don't know why my heart was heavy and tears rolled out of my eyes when watching this documentary.

"Nothing evokes the romance of the railways like steam engine" .... Very Nostalgic statement ....

One of the best documentaries in the world. This makes us cry over an inanimate object like trains

Looks clean with out plastic garbages..

Seems straight from Malgudi days. South India has the different feeling which cannot be expressed in words.

This is by far the best railway documentary, depicting the golden age of steam engine in India, i remember it seeing on NatGeo when i was 15 yrs old, only i am 33 yrs old, 18 yrs have passed still this documentary make me so emotional, such a great narration and editing.

My salute to thouse loco pilot who drive steem locomotive. Its a very very tough job as we are now driving diesel and electric loco.

As the grandson of two Station Masters with Southern Railways, I found this clip quite moving. The clip transported me to another time and place. A time and place lost forever.

The fact that Indian railway, economy and the whole country changed completely now when compared to the time when this video was released 🔥

The last scene when train's last coach passes by it clearly expressed how a railway station looks without train "miserable", and empty stations with empty track and feeling of there will be no train arrival anymore END OF AN ERA!

1991-97 வரை தினந்தோறும் இருமுறை இதே பாலூர் நிலையத்தைக் கடந்து சென்ற பழைய நினைவுகள் ... பெரும்பாலும் அமைதியான சூழல்.. அற்புதமான ஊர்

I feel very emotional when ever I watch this video. Not only humans, we, sometimes deeply attach to certain daily activities which directly or indirectly influence changes in our lives and one of them is the train and railways. The narrator very beautifully pictured the entire episode in such a way that he/she keep holding the emotions of the viewers continuously without giving a scope for any kind of deviation.

I wasn't even born when this documentary was made but it is crazy getting to know the level of transformation has taken place with electrification, meter to broad gauge and much more on the cards ... Just wow ...

Proud grandson of railway man. My grandfather was steam engine driver during British Raj.

This station has developed a lot now.

This documentary made me cry😭

What a documentary. Truely inspiring. The invention of James Watt is what I consider the greatest by mankind. I used to travel by TataNagar Express from Chennai, India hauled by a steam locomotive and I still consider those trips every year as the most memorable in my life. The railways ought to have retained this fleet as they could have always served as an alternative to depleting petroleum products......MISSING THEM REALLY....VAIDYNATHAN, CHENNAI, INDIA

It's very sad when decisions that affect the lives of so many people are made primarily on the basis of profitability. This documentary is exactly the kind that I find so fascinating. Thanks to National Geographic.

So youtube recommends this after 10 years 😅

The intersection of the two stories of two railway employees brought tears to my eyes in the end... Great job.

I love my motherland. This documentary made me cry. The steam engines our heritage

This documentary on steam engines of their times is so beautifully made. Thanks to NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and their team for the good work.

I watched this as a kid… fell in love with steam trains and even cried when I watched the documentary towards the end because the soundtrack really got to me. Many years later I am watching this again and I still feel emotional after watching it. :,)

I have no words to express the love I have for this country

This is how media used to be back then. Bring out beautiful and genuine content that people needed to know. This documentary connects through your emotions so well although you are not a part of this place. But unfortunately the evolution and growth of media has become a lethal weapon to create contents that start rivalry, hatred, bitterness and wars among people. Sadly, the worst is yet to come

A heart wrenching short film, with a calm voice over .. though more than 2 decades have gone , feel sorry for the Station Master and his Assistant ..

Very beautiful_ 💟, It felt like a Ruskin Bond / Malgudi Days story .... thank you for this awesome work_ 🙏

Thanks for the movie clip! In Russia, these frames were shown together with the film "Love These Trains" by ational Geographic's in 2001, I remembered this film for the rest of my life, then I searched for the disc in stores for a long time, but I never found it. But in my life I was lucky to admire steam locomotives, near my house in Moscow a depot with steam locomotives for tourist flights was restored. That is why I hear steam whistles and sounds of steam engines every day. I often go to admire the live locomotives.

8:34 classic..the rush of nostalgia is making my heart heavy..what a beautiful sight

My dad started off his journey as a station Master in a small station in 1986, although initially he didn't enjoy his job, as he wanted to work in a bank but eventually he enjoyed the bond that he had developed over his entire course of his journey with the Railways.

A train video made me sad and cry. Am I so weak emotionally ?

Searching for this documentry for past several years. I first watched it on national geographic 15 years back when I was a kid. Didn't know if I will ever see it again. And there I am, at 3 am watching it again like a dream. Splendid. Moments like these are rare, but memorable. Thank for posting this here.

Really sad story.. I hope this should come back to life.. One day..

Nostalgia and tears!

Proud to say that I lived in that era while in high school. Trust me, we enjoyed such trains with full heart. Now having seen most modern trains in India and Europe also there is special love in my heart for such trains. If ever there is a time machine I love to visit those days again, and again and again.

What a beautiful and magnificent and devoted their duties and beautiful job and this moment I have seen this away remember that remain in my memory as my four generation served to my Indian railway.I love my railway management who took works from their heart.my salute always remain for railway

My Grandfather was also a station master.......Superb Documentry......Also got a chance to see steam locomotives in Chennai ICF museum....From a railway lover.....

whenever I hear the sounds of steam engine my heart so melts and tears flow from my eyes automatically...my father (D.Arulraj) who was a Mechanic of Steam engine in Madurai Loco shed.

Highly emotional video. Thanks for highlighting this. I salute Govindarajan, Thandapani and other support staffs who worked tirelessly in Indian Railways.

Man thats emotional ! Was on the verge of rolling tears

i feel proud that how much we have changed we have done lot of hardwork. we are going and going we r not going to stop.

Palur is now on electrified broad gauge, hosting 6000HP engines

Palur is my uncle native place... I enjoyed my child wood days.. steam engine riding very enjoyable..Best and beautiful village.. memories remember

I grew up during the age of steam engines. Have picked up coal that had fallen off the engine from the station trackside near my village in TN as I saw the steam engine trains go by. Came back home covered in black coal dust every time! Make no mistake; these engines did pollute quite a bit. I am nostalgic about those simpler times but going electric was necessary. My village station vanished 30+ years ago and even 20 years ago there was no sign that it ever existed..

I was moved by the documentary and did a quick check. Happy to announce that the Palur station is functional today with couple of trains having a stop 🙂

If its of any consolation, Palur station is newly built and running now!

Never searched for trains in India literally ever KZfaq in 2020: take this nearly 11 year old video to educate yourself on the subjec of Palur

Moving experience to watch this. Steam engines inspired awe and veneration, and also love. Compared to the diesel and electric monsters, they looked so human. Each engine had a personality! We loved to stand and watch them. As schoolboys, we would always wave hands and salute the engine drivers! And most would reciprocate. Those were lovely days. Now everything is impersonal/ inhuman in the name of progress!

We were residing at Railway Quarters at Palur near station ! My father was PWI inspector and was in charge of track from Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram during 1972 to 1980 ! I use to go to college by Second Conjeevaram passenger and return by first conjeevaram ! Now the quarters where we lived was demolished and Rail Neer factory is constructed !

Myself as station master now , really gread golden days were then,but I was unlucky to born early 😊to work earlier,just saw them as childhood those steam engines and red coaches,very heart breaking documentary and nice presentation, brought tears in eyes.😰

That was some top class narration and direction! This whole scene felt like a poetry!

Trains have been so very close to my heart since my childhood. A Train journey can teach us lot of things for life.

This documentary displays the true magic of the 90's which was possible to be narrated by a video, which was human connection, no extra effects no BS. We can actually feel how well the scenes were filmed, even by watching this video without audio once can actually make out whats happening, excellent direction.

their is different pleasure in watching these type of documentaries. I feel different vibes ☺️☺️

Am I the only one wit tears ?

Like Mlgudi days..

Very Very Touching. There was a certain romance which has come to an end. The station master and the driver too have retired. And the station is closed. Certainly Indian Railways played a great great role in connecting people to Very remotest places. With change of times, they will only be a part of history. So very touching and a deep sense of nostalgia. Thank you for this video.

I am from Pondicherry, now the station running. This documentary make me warm..💐💐💐

Don’t know why, but that just brought tears to my eyes - maybe because I have had so much emotions with steam locomotives and once upon a time was part of this railway journey and romance with small railway stations

Very emotional.. Made me feel like crying.

Kamakshi one of the many humans unknown to the world. Really moving

Railway not only connects places but more importantly people ........ That's Bon voyage

I watched this documentary when it aired on National Geographic the first time, with my entire family in Chicago. It left us all spellbound. This is one of the best documentaries on Indian railways ever produced IMO. Simply brilliant.👌👍👍👍🙏

their style of narration and documentary can make cry even in cool birthday party 😅

Compare this to the dribble documentaries we have now a days

I am very much grateful to National GEographic for making this beautiful documentary on Indian Railways and Palur station in part. Brings back fond memories of they years I spent as a child in steam engines I being born in the late 60s we were a part of the scene and traveled a lot in these trains. Unforgettable memories we carry still in our hearts and soul. Thanks again NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC for this very beautiful documentary which is award worthy. A special thanks to all involved in the making of this documentary. THANKS AND GREETINGS FROM INDIA

Did this video make anyone else also cry? I don't know why...

Loss for them who have steam in their soul. These lines dampened my eyes.

Well if it helps, Palur is back in operation. But there are major changes. Its now an all electric station on the Chenglepet sub urban line to Chennai. It has a lot more hustle bustle and the staion building is better but the charm......

I remember watching this video as a child. I am so happy that I came across this yet again. I will never forget the beautiful direction and the lives of the people at Palur station.

My village palur I impressed.thank you so much

I am soo glad this came into my Recommendation. 🙂

Steam engines lived and had spirit. They were temperamental and had a heart beat and they commanded (and still do command) so much awe and inspiration that no diesel or electric train can ever hope to. What folly by govt to condemn most of them to the cutting yards. For me, I'de condemn governments to the cutting yards and bring back these steam beauties.

पुराने समय में कितना अच्छा लगता था ।पुराने रेलवे स्टेशन देखकर

After watching this documentary I felt like my childhood came back and so are the memories. Thanks

Great-Great footage

Lol, I am from NJ, almost cried too..

Every station in Indian railways has a story with lots of emotions Thank you KZfaq for recommending this video in 2020

I got recommended after 13years 😍