A less than stellar safety record -
http://news.yahoo.com/indian-train-accident-kills-least-30-leaves-50-132623691.html
You only need to watch a few video’s on YouTube to see why their railway is so scary and dangerous. The video’s are interesting to watch, but you won’t find me on one of those trains ever.
Tank car train in India:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm9A-2VCV84
Considering observations of other Indian trains - I am surprised that there are buffer cars between the engine, caboose and the train proper. I am also surprized that there is a caboose (or whatever the Indians call it) on the train. Definately not a dry day.
I see those transfer-like cabooses on all their freight trains. It is interesting that the tank cars have a main frame feature that is integrated with the tank.
I don’t know if India railroads have poor safety record or not when it is based on train miles. They run a lot of trains. What I would expect is a large number of pedestrian and animal strikes. People and animals seem to be in every run-by video, and the people seem rather casual about the proximity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kk6MMeG9-4
Surprisingly long passenger trains 25 cars and more. Some engines seem to be equipped with knuckle couplers as well as hook type couplings; great savings on window glass in ‘coach’; appears that a high number of trains have ‘power cars’ as both the l