The Satpura narrow - gauge network used to be the longest of its kind in India, stretching more than 1, 000km (620 miles). But it is now facing closure, writes Mark Tully.
There were once more than 100 narrow - gauge railways in India. They have often been written off as toy trains.
Unlike the name 'Toy trains', the narrow - gauge railways of India were built for very serious purposes.
The Satpura railways opened up a previously inaccessible hilly area of central India as part of the government's response to the Great Famine of 1878.
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