#11028

Ending 2018 at a snail’s pace – Part 2

True to the title of this blog, the year 2018 was ending at a snail’s pace; in a journey by the supercrawler 11028 Chennai Mumbai Mail 😛 . We were halfway through – at Wadi, where the electric locomotive that had hauled us all the way from MAS would be replaced; with a diesel taking over till Pune. For the journey so far, please refer Part 1: https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2019/01/06/ending-2018…

Ending 2018 at a snail’s pace – Part 1

2018 had been a largely eventful year. Sometimes the year is so memorable that you are sorry to see it end. Hence I took the slowest train (11028 Chennai Mumbai Mail) to return to Mumbai; after a rather enjoyable trip to Chennai. Just kidding; I booked 11028 because I couldn’t get reservation in the other trains! 😛 On the night of the journey (29th Dec), I left my grandparents’ home in…

We departed at 15 10 (10 mins late), after a halt of half an hour. The power for the tanker train in the right was twin ALCOs – leading: Pune WDG3A 14904. We overtook Twin WDG4Ds (leading – 70512 of VSKP) and also crossed a BOXN freight headed by KZJ WDG4 12913 and KZJ WDG4D 70594.

The perennial Kagina river was, as ever, a sight for sore eyes 🙂 .

The 2nd pic is currently my laptop wallpaper 😉 . Strangely, our LT horn sounded like an electric-type horn found in many EMDs! After Shahabad, there were many stone huts and cottages, plantains, a rather dry Shahabad Nallah; and Shahabad Cement Works factory. This was followed by forests; there were many trees behind the wall of the AIDYO Foundation – there were even huts in villages, in which ‘AIDYO’ was marked. An orange ALCO crossed us with a BOXN rake before Hirenanduru. There were two lines going to factories. Gangmen were standing on the top of an OHE Inspection Car with a pantograph – most probably to inspect the electrification progress. Then there were rows of coconut trees, tent houses and a college; as well as a TSR of 95 kmph. The sights of a coaching depot, a battery charge room and a coaching complex indicated the arrival of GR (Platform 1) at 15 50, 8 mins late.

There was a big crowd here, and a few families got in. After a 3-minute halt,  we departed with a short as well as a long blast of the HT horn. As we exited, there were BCNA freights on the right; followed by a temple, huts and cottages, a road underbridge, Willco Enterprises, a huge portrait of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on top of a house 🙂 , more buildings, a highway across us, Mother Teresa English Medium School, Fincare; and Mother Teresa College of Science. Then there was the usual countryside scenery – bovines being shepherded to graze, eucalyptus trees, corn fields, bushes, shrubs and meadows; and huts and cottages. We had an unscheduled halt at Sawalgi for 9 mins. On the far left, there was a BOXN  rake led by twin EMDs – in the same direction as us. In the main line in between; a BCNHL freight hauled by KZG WDG4D 70456 and KZG WDG4 12852 crossed us at a good speed, honking hard.

Then there was a road underbridge, followed by arid, burnt land; with trees here and there. After Hunsil Hadgil, there were coconut trees, a road underbridge, shanties; and share autos and Tata Sumos waiting. At GUR, there was a good crowd.

There was a BCNA rake led by EMD in the same direction as us; on the far left. In the mainline in between, 18520 LTT-VSKP express crossed us at MPS; headed by a madly honking KYN WDP4D 40372. We left at 16 40 (28 mins late), after a stop of 9 mins. There were coconut groves, lambs and goats grazing, and a dry river with stagnant patches of water; before Gaudgaon. Then there were lots of trees, corn and sugarcane fields, huts and cottages, a road underbridge, and a BCNA freight on our right; as we pulled into Kulali for another unscheduled halt – of 5 mins. A car carrier freight led by UBL WDG4 12141 with a sore-throat honk accelerated past us. Here is a compilation of all our 3 crossings in this single-line section:

Meanwhile, I noticed that our coach had last been POHed in March 2017. The Western toilet at the rear was dirty 😦 . In terms of the landscape, there was no drastic change – the usual cows being shepherded to graze, neem trees; and desert plants in arid, burnt land. We were held up at Dudhani home signal for a minute, before pulling into the station at 17 14; 35 mins late. There was a decent crowd here, and some people got in. A freight arrived on the left side, and we departed after a halt of only a minute. After the usual countryside scenes of corn and sugarcane fields, bullock carts, cows grazing, coconut trees, and men and women busy working in the fields; there was some construction work with lorries and excavators. Then there was a factory, a lorry dumping jellies on the road, tractors; and wheat being loaded into another lorry.  There was also a TSR on another bridge over a dry river with a few stagnant patched of water.

We crossed the stationary 57133 BJP-RC passenger hauled by Kurla WDM3A 16367R at Boroti, and blasted through the usual countryside scenery again.

We also blasted past a waiting 11301 CSMT-SBC Udyan express (on the left) at Nagansur. JCBs were, as ever, a sign of the doubling work going on. There was also an unmetalled road with underbridges, an old lady carrying sticks on her head and shepherding a herd of lambs and goats (with a man right at the back), and an LC with two wheelers and a Tata Magic School van; before we pulled into Akkalkot Road – a scenic station with a lot of trees, including two with magenta flowers. The MPS here was 100 kmph.

As we departed, there was a Plasser machine leading a Camping coach.

Our deemer chugged its heart out, and accelerated well.

Before Tilati, there was a factory in the right; with a giant chimney billowing smoke. Then there was the Zuari Cements factory at Tilati.

An express led by an EMD crossed us at MPS, followed by a coconut trees and a mosque. We overtook vehicles on a road giving us company on the right. There was another factory on the right; from which a line emerged. The full moon could be seen clearly! :O Then there were huts, cottages and shanties before Hotgi. As we left, there was a small school; followed by families in small tents, corn and sugarcane fields, tractors with two carts loaded with people, more tractors with huge haystacks, an LC with vehicles, a sugar factory, and villages and little towns; before Tikekarwadi. Then there was another highway across us and a road underbridge, before the approach to SUR. The rake of 11051 SUR-KOP express was parked in the yard.

Pune WDM3A 16215R was heading a solitary coach with quite a few passengers in the opposite direction – this was probably the S11 slip coach to be attached at the end of our rake at SUR; to proceed till Daund, and then get attached to 11039 Kolhapur Gondia Maharashtra express. There was a bike parking lot in the right, followed by the rake of 22133 SUR-YPR superfast headed by UBL WDP4B 40046; as we pulled into SUR (PF3) at 18 20, only 10 mins late – thanks to some slack. There was a big crowd as usual. Here, I had an early dinner of fried rice; duly delivered by https://www.railyatri.in/ 🙂 . The taste was just ok though 😦 .We left after a halt of 16 mins, with a short HT horn; followed by a long blast of the LT  horn, as well as a long blast of the HT horn.

Now it was too dark to notice much outside the glass windows. I settled into reading the book ‘My Father Baliah’ by Y.B.Satyanarayana – a heart-warming true story about a Dalit family in A.P and Telangana; that I had been reading. At around 8 pm, as we departed from Kurduvadi; I retired to my SUB. After sleeping for a while, I was woken up by an urge to use the toilet. We were having a long halt at Daund. 12026 SC Pune Shatabdi overtook us at MPS with pure EMD honking. Though I had clambered back to my berth, I couldn’t sleep immediately. We had a fast run to Pune, which was reached by 23 32; 7 mins late. Quite a few people got in. After this, I had a more successful sleep. When I woke up again, we had just departed Thane. The coach was now half empty. I brushed my teeth, as we had a blistering run to Dadar; our e-loco having a steam-like HT toot.

Finally pulled into CSMT at 03 55, 10 mins late; on PF14. As I got down, I observed that our coach was being inspected for damage by staff using torch lights – there were big cracks near the rear door and small cracks below the window 😦 . Our loco from Pune was KYN WCAM3 21899. I then boarded the 04 15 Slow local to Kasara (first Local to leave CSMT in the morning) , and took an auto from Vikhroli; to reach home by 05 10. The whirlwind trip had finally come to an end. Thanks for patiently reading this long blog! 😀

Technical Terms

HT – High Tone

LT – Low Tone

APU – Auxiliary Power Unit (specifically for charging the loco batteries when it is idle)

EMD – Electromotive Diesel (and a modern class of diesel engines)

ALCO – American Locomotive Company (and a class of diesel engines of the 1960s)

OHE – Overhead Equipment

TSR – Temporary Speed Restriction

LC – Level Crossing

MPS – Maximum Permissible Speed

POH – Periodic Overhauling

Station Codes

VSKP – Vizag

KZJ – Kazipet

GR – Gulbarga

LTT – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (or just Kurla Terminus 😛 )

KYN – Kalyan

UBL – Hubli

GUR – Ganagapur Road

BJP – Bijapur

RC – Raichur

CSMT – Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai CST with the ‘Maharaj’ 😛 )

SBC – Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru (or just Bangalore City 😛 )

SUR – Solapur

KOP – Kolhapur

YPR – Yeshwantpur

SC – Secunderabad

I got down at the point where the bus terminated; which was near Egmore station. Then I had dinner at Buhari Hotel and took an auto to Central station to board my train. This blog post will describe my journey by 11028 to Mumbai – or at least  the first part of it! 😀 As usual, please refer to the legend right at the bottom for all technical terms (I won’t promise to cover all of them!) and station codes.  The train was waiting (as usual) on Platform 1. My coach A1 was of a very old 1993 make (the AC 3 Tier coach B1 had slightly better luck, being of a 2000 make 😛 ); and 5th from the loco – AJJ WAP1 22042.

I had my ticket checked, before we departed at 00 02 (7 mins late); with 2 whistles and a long HT horn. I had already clambered into my SUB even before my ticket was checked – that tired I was; as a result of the bus journey! Having a seat right at the back of the bus certainly doesn’t help, especially in a Volvo! 😦 Even the comfort of the reclining facility (and the AC!) wasn’t good enough to make up for the rough, bumpy ride. Thus, I was determined to have as much rest as possible; in the AC 2 Tier comfort of the train back to Mumbai. True to my plan, I had a really long sleep with some weird dreams. I would wake up a few times in between – each time it would take me at least a minute to realize that I was travelling in a train!! 😛 Then I would promptly close my eyes and drop off to sleep again.

By the time I finally decided to clamber down from my berth, it was already well past 9 30 am. We were having a really long halt at GTL (PF5) ! I washed my face and brushed my teeth, before getting out of the coach for some much needed fresh air. Then I had some coffee. In a siding, APU-fitted GY WDM3A 14040R was coupled to its shed-mate WDM3D 11385.

In the distant right, I could see GD WDM3A 16062 next to a coal-laden BOXN freight headed by EMDs (leading – UBL WDG4 12043). By the time we finally departed, with two long blasts of the LT horn; it was 10 10, and we were running 1.5 hours late!! There was an RVNL OHE Inspection Car in the distant right, as we exited the junction. There was a blue wall on the right, housing Indian Oil and HP tanker rakes. Gangmen were busy at work. We crossed 16613 RJT-CBE express – it had 4 AC coaches; and an extra AC 3 Tier coach at the rear. There were gangmen pushing a trolley full of people on the rails! :O Elderly people were sitting on the dry, dark brown fields. There were stagnant little ponds as well. A WDG4 crossed us with a tanker freight having a BOXN wagon. Nearby, there was a tractor and a HP tanker lorry. Construction work was going on, indicated by a pit.

At Nemakallu, there were again gangmen busy at work, as well as bikes on the platform. Then there was some classic countryside scenery, in the form of men and women working in the fields, lots of goats and sheep being shepherded; and hay being loaded into lorries. After Molagavalli, there was a TSR of 75 kmph; and we were surrounded by huge windmills for a while. After Aspari, there was a temple; followed by cottages, bushes and shrubs. The sights of gangmen and labourers carrying cement indicated the arrival of Nagarur at 10 49, 1 hr 40 mins late. Then there were a lot of buildings, cottages and huts; and an LC  before Adoni. As we exited the station, a tall freight hauled by a WDG4 and a WDG4D crossed us at MPS. There were rocky man-made hills in the right, as well as forests; and palm and coconut trees.

The effect of the AC made me doze off. When I opened my eyes, we had arrived at Kosigi. There was a lot of crowd on the DOWN line platform; and quite a few people crossed the tracks. We departed after a halt of two minutes, with a long as well as short blast of the LT horn. There were temples, cottages and huts, an LC; and some trash and sewage. Then there was scenery in the form of coconut and palm trees, sunflowers and white flowers. Again, there were a lot of gangmen busy working at Iranagallu; after which 57631 SUR-GTL DEMU crossed at a good speed. The sights of men and women working in the fields, followed by bushes and shrubs; signalled the arrival of MALM (PF3) at 11 47, 1 hr 38 mins late. The station had a decent crowd as usual, again with quite a few people crossing the tracks! A family got in here.

During the halt of 11 mins, I had a plate of Capsicum Bhajjis; which was just passable. Then came the Tungabhadra river.

After Matmari, there was an LC with a bus and some two-wheelers; followed by another TSR of 75 kmph. This was again followed by charming countryside scenery in the form of a lot of goats and sheep being shepherded, more LCs, ponds, women busy at work in the fields; and bushes and shrubs. There was yet another TSR of 75 kmph before Marichethal, followed by corn fields. We crossed a long train with quite a few AC coaches hauled by an EMD. This was followed by a lot of buildings and cottages in the distant right. Then, the sights of an FCI factory, GY WDG4 12858, two solitary BCNA wagons, KJM WDP4 20057, ED WAG7 27633, and BPCL lorries in the distant right; signalled the arrival of Raichur. As we departed, I noticed that a red flag had been placed on the track next to us.

As we exited, I observed quite a few sights such as ML Nair Auditorium, an amphitheatre, a highway across us, a temple in ruins, a mosque; and huts and cottages. Then the industrial area began, with CHUDI and SLNRI factories; and an unelectrified line branching off towards the right. There were two Plasser machines at Yermaras; after which we had an unscheduled stop for a minute. I saw labourers loading gunny bags into lorries at the factory on the right. This was followed by KB Shreeji factory, gangmen at work (yet again!), a lorry, an excavator; and a new line (probably freight) being constructed – again branching towards the right. We overtook a KZJ WAG7 27744 with an SLR plus wagons carrying rails; through the loop line at Chiksugur – the guard waved the green flag at us.

Then came the iconic cooling towers of the RTPS.

At Yadalapur, we had another unscheduled halt of a minute. There was an ACC cement rake on the right. This was followed by the Krishna river.

After Lingiri, there was again the usual scenery – corn fields, bovines grazing, men and women busy at work in the fields, bushes and shrubs; and a stagnant pond. We overtook some vehicles on the road parallel to us. 11027 Mumbai Chennai Mail crossed us led by a WAP4. The sight of a lot of buildings and cottages indicated the arrival of Yadgir at 13 49, 1 hr 35 mins late. A few people got in during the 3-min halt here. Then we crossed the partly dry and partly moss-filled Yadgir Nallah. This was followed by a highway across us, corn fields, tar being laid on an unmetalled road, a lot of men and women busy at work in the fields (yet again!), women leading bovines to graze; and the usual bushes and shrubs. After Thangundi, there was a big distance between the UP and DOWN lines; as well as a big curve to the right.

There was a lake, as well as a few rocky hills and huts and cottages; before Shampurhalli. After Nalwar, there were neat rows of small coconut trees; followed by the usual bovines and corn fields; as well as some construction work going on in a pit. There was also a cycle with a load parked near the DOWN track. There was a perceptible change in the (now becoming monotonous) scenery with some eucalyptus trees as we approached Wadi – the end of SCR and the beginning of CR. From the Halakatta line, a coal-laden BOXN freight crossed us hauled by twin WAG7s (Trailing – 28022 of ED). There was a tanker rake next to us, as we arrived at Wadi at 14 40 – 15 mins before time; thanks to some ridiculous slack! 😛

Here, the lunch I had ordered through https://www.travelkhana.com/ was duly delivered 🙂 – 2 chapatis with Egg curry. The packaging was imperfect, with some of the curry spilling out; but the Egg curry was spicy and delicious! 😀 By the way, our electric engine would be detached – for a diesel loco to do the duty till Pune. Also, I will resume my account of this journey in Part 2. Hope I haven’t bored you so far! 😛

Technical Terms

HT – High Tone

LT – Low Tone

APU – Auxiliary Power Unit (specifically for charging the loco batteries when it is idle)

EMD – Electromotive Diesel (and a modern class of diesel engines)

OHE – Overhead Equipment

TSR – Temporary Speed Restriction

LC – Level Crossing

MPS – Maximum Permissible Speed

DEMU – Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (diesel local train 😛 )

SLR – Sitting-Cum-Luggage Rake (attached to both ends of a train)

RTPS – Raichur Thermal Power Station

Station Codes

AJJ – Arakkonam

GTL – Guntakal

GY – Gooty

GD – Gonda

UBL – Hubli

RJT – Rajkot

CBE – Coimbatore

SUR – Solapur

MALM – Manthralayam Road

KJM – Krishnarajapuram

ED – Erode

KZJ – Kazipet

We departed at 15 31 (31 mins late), after two long blasts of the mellow LT horn (the HT horn was shrill). KZJ WDG4s 70048 and 12814 were heading a BCNA rake in the right. The loopline speed for freights was 10 kmph. There were red MFD vans on the right (don’t know for what purpose). We stopped very briefly, before our deemer started chugging away (once we crossed the yard limits) and accelerating.

The DOWN track was on a higher level for a while.

Then we crossed the perennial Kagini river (a sight for sore eyes always! 🙂 ), made even more charming by the presence of bovines grazing nearby.

Then there was an OHE Inspection Car (probably for checking the progress of electrification in this stretch). The sights of stone roofed huts, temples, a Plasser machine carrying rails and some people sitting on the rightmost track ( O! ) indicated the arrival of Shahabad at 15 47, 35 mins late. After a halt of 2 minutes, we departed – again with two blasts of the LT horn. There were mounds of stone waste, a moss filled pond, pits, plantains,a mosque, huts, cottages and another Plasser machine after the partly dry Shahabad Nallah. Then there were big factories on the right, followed by a variety of scenery – in the form of woods within the factory compounds, farmers (men as well as women) at work in the fields, plantains, trees, bushes and shrubs, meadows; and cows and grazing, led by shepherds.

There was again a lot of distance between the UP and DOWN tracks after Martur, and trees largely occupied the space between the tracks. After Hirenandaru, there was a line (on which poles were being erected) branching off to the right – wonder what line is this? meant for freights perhaps? Then there were a lot of cottages in neat rows and coconut groves in the distant right. There was a TSR of 95 kmph and then a PSR of 10 kmph, before a Coaching Complex and a road underbridge signalled the arrival of Gulbarga (Platform 1) at 16 13, 31 mins late. A few people got down here. The station had a lot of crowd as usual. 

On PF4, there was an SCR train standing with Pune WDM3A 16215R (idling) – probably the 57628 GR-SUR passenger that we were to overtake (before it even started! 😛 ).

Soon, on PF2; a BOXN rake led by twin GY WDG4s (Leading – 12752) skipped the station (in the opposite direction), sounding its LT horn. Thus we had the first single line crossing in the journey! 😀

We finally departed at 16 23, after a halt of 10 mins. There was another road underbridge, followed by Wilco Enterprises and cottages – including a house with a huge portrait of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on top :). Then there was a highway across us, followed a Group of Mother Teresa Institutions, Fincare (a small Finance bank) and a tractor attached to a cement mixer on the road. Then the line to Bidar curved away to the right.

Then there was some beautiful countryside scenery – various fields, buffaloes grazing and eucalyptus trees.

After Hunsil Hadgil, there were a lot of tourist vehicles (especially Tata Sumos), a road underbridge, villagers; and scenery — in the form of woods, coconut trees, bushes, shrubs and meadows. GUR station was reasonably crowded. There was a water tank and a board – “Alight here for Shri Dattatreya Temple”. A tanker train crossed us led by Raipur WDG4 12467, honking continuously.

Bells were then sounded, followed by two LT horns; as we left after a halt of 16 mins – only to stop again. Then the LP sounded many short blasts and a long blast of the LT horn, as we finally pulled out at 17 03, 51 mins late. We had a fast run through charming countryside scenery – different kinds of fields, a bridge over a dry river with a few stagnant patches of water, farmers at work, sugarcane fields and coconut groves; before Gaudgaon. After Gaudgaon, there was another bridge over a dry river, tent houses, a road underbridge, meadows, bushes and shrubs. We overtook an ACC Cement rake hauled by a WDG4D and a WDG4 at Kulali. There were gradients as the track went up and down alternatingly. Then there were desert plants, trash, shanties and huts, women carrying bundles of stick on their heads; and some construction work (probably related to doubling?) before we pulled into a fairly crowded Dudhani at 17 23, 44 mins late.

The pattern of sounding two long LT horns for the departure continued (this time, there was a gap of 1 minute between each note 😉 ). There were coconut trees, an LC with many vehicles, huts, a cart pulled by two bullocks, a road in parallel; and an excavator – indicating doubling work, again? There was also a factory in the distant right, followed by a bridge over another dry river with a stagnant patch of water, bovines led by shepherds to graze, huts and shanties, various fields and meadows before the ghost station Nagansur. The excavators, bulldozers and rails stacked up were indicative of the progress in doubling. There was another crowded LC as well as some huts as we pulled into Akalkot Road at 17 50, 36 mins late. Here 11301 CSMT-SBC Udyan express was waiting for us with Pune WDP4D 40157 – the AC 2 Tier coaches were all old. It left before we departed, after a minute’s halt.

On the road parallel to us, a bike overtook us. There was a tractor with two wagons and a small tanker lorry near a hut! :O Then there were sugarcane and maize fields, a lot of trees here and there, cow sheds with cattle, excavators for construction work, a pond, another packed LC; and a brightly lit factory at Tilati – with lines branching there. Then there were coconut trees, meadows, another road in parallel with lots of lorries and tractors loaded with hay; and a brightly lit factory in the right – before we pulled into a charming and old-school Hotgi Jn. (with lots of trees and a track-level platform) at 18 12, 37 mins late. A few families got in. Then there were lots of stray sleepers and rails as well as huts and cottages. We overtook a few bikes before an orange ALCO crossed us with a short train – probably 57133 BJP-RC passenger.

There was a brightly lit sugar factory in the right before Tikekarwadi – whose stench (of molasses) was overpowering (even inside the AC coach) 😛 .Then there was a stagnant pond before the brightly lit town of Solapur approached. There was a highway across us and a road underbridge, as well as Kurla WDM3A 16049R with a solitary coach after the yard – probably the slip coach (S11) to be attached to our rear, which would go till Daund and then get attached to 11039 Kolhapur Gondia Maharashtra express. We pulled into Solapur (PF3) at 18 31, only 21 mins late – due to slack.

Quite a few people got down, and an almost equal number of people got in as well 😀 . The coach was cleaned thoroughly. On PF2, 11032 BJP-SUR express arrived behind Pune WDM3A 18612R – with the same LT horn as that of ours! 😉 22133 SUR-YPR  superfast departed from PF4 with a long HT horn. We left after a long halt of 17 mins at 18 48, 28 mins late. There were tall buildings, a road underbridge, cottages and huts; before we crossed a freight with an EMD – before Bale. There was a factory at Pakni. Since the loos in the front end of our coach were occupied, I used a Western bio toilet in the B1 coach ahead-alas, very less water gushed out! 😦 . We crossed another freight hauled by an ALCO after Mundhewadi.  An LHB train crossed us at Mohol – probably 11017 LTT-KIK express. We crossed yet another EMD-led freight at Malikpeth.

An ALCO-hauled train that was waiting for us at Madha, departed after we entered. There was a BCNA freight in the distant right. At Kurduvadi, there was a train waiting on the right side (with the mainline in between); as we entered. This train departed. I had a decent dinner of Veg. Biryani. At Kem, a train chugged past us led by an ALCO having a pure EMD horn. When we left, it was 20 42; and we were running 46 mins late – but I knew we would make up some time because of the slack ahead. I decided to call it a day and lie down on my SLB. However, I was not able to sleep immediately. I heard a sharp thunk! as a stone was thrown at the glass (before the Bhigwan bridge) – indicative of the stone-pelting that goes on in the notorious dacoity-prone section between Kurduvadi and Daund.

When I finally woke up, we were already pulling into CSMT. It was 04 03 when we were berthed on PF17, 18 mins late. Our electric loco from Pune was maroon-brown liveried and AC-converted KYN WCAM2-6P 21876. On PF16, an LHB special to Karmali was waiting behind Pune WDM3D 11224. Behind the rake were twin KYN WDG3As 13426 and 13496. I took a local to Vikhroli and then an auto to reach home at 05 20. Hope I haven’t bored you with this long monologue of a report!!

Technical Terms

LT – Low Tone

HT – High Tone

OHE – Overhead Equipment

TSR – Temporary Speed Restriction

PSR – Permanent Speed Restriction

LP – Loco Pilot

LC – Level Crossing

ALCO – American Locomotive Company (and a class of diesel engines of the 1960s)

EMD – Electromotive Diesel (and a modern class of diesel engines)

LHB – Linke-Hoffman-Busch (German company whose technology is used to produce modern coaches – mostly seen in Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Durontos)

Station Codes

MAS – Chennai Central

CSMT – Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai CST with the ‘Maharaj’ 😛 ! )

KZJ – Kazipet

GR – Gulbarga

SUR – Solapur

GY – Gooty

GUR – Ganagapur Road

SBC – Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru (or just Bangalore City 😛 )

BJP – Bijapur

RC – Raichur

YPR – Yeshwantpur

LTT – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (or just Kurla Terminus 😛 )

KIK – Karaikal

KYN  – Kalyan

On PF3, 12676 CBE-MAS Kovai express came behind RPM WAP7 30398.

11028 was on PF1. My coach A1 was a very old 1993 make coach (The AC 3 Tier Coach B1 being of 2000 make) – and 5th from the loco – RPM WAP7 30394.

I got my seat (30, an SUB) exchanged to 6 (another SUB, next to the door), as a gentleman who had been allotted seat 6 wanted to be with his family near seat 30. My ticket was checked – the TTE asked for my ID; I showed him my Pan Card. He told me that it was not original (it was apparently a colour copy); hence I had to show him my Driving License instead – that was thankfully original! 😀 We departed at 23 57, 2 mins late; with a standard whine of the white beast (this one had a HT as well as LT whine 😉 ). I had a long sleep – though I woke up 2-3 times in between; when I finally got down from my berth, it was well past 8 am. We made 3 unscheduled stops (the first of them being a long one) before pulling into GTL (PF 5) at 08 42, 12 mins late. Here I spotted GY WDG3A 14627 coupled to its shed-mate 14625R (APU-fitted), as well as a shining LGD WAP4 22594.

We had a long halt of 35 mins, during which I had breakfast – comprising 3 dal vadas; as well as some coffee. A BOXN freight hauled by a WDG4 and WDG4D (70459 of KZJ) pulled in on the right; from the opposite direction. Announcements were made for 16381 CSMT-CAPE express to arrive 1 hr 5 mins late; and for 12628 NDLS-SBC Karnataka express to arrive 4 hours late. As we left the junction, there was a blue wall with a dead end on the right – a tanker train was standing on its other side. The track crossover speed was 15 kmph. We passed a canal before a WDG4D hauled train crossed us. We moved to a higher level through a gradient before a TSR of 50 kmph; following which we were on a slightly lower level. Then there were some bushes, shrubs, corn fields, stagnant ponds and another TSR of 15 kmph before Nancherla, where we crossed a diesel-hauled express and a stationary tanker rake.

I dozed off for a while, and after I woke up; we pulled into Adoni (PF 4) at 10 12, 44 mins late. 12163 DR-MS ‘Super’ express arrived at the same time (27 mins late) as we started; behind RPM WAP7 30320, on PF 1. We stopped after starting, before proceeding again. Passed huts, an LC full of vehicles, a school, a highway across us, rocky man-made hills, cottages, a mosque and a TSR of 75 kmph (with good lateral separation between the UP and DOWN lines); before pulling into Kupgal at 10 31, 52 mins late. Then there was more scenery in the form of shepherds leading a huge flock of sheep and goats, palm trees, bushes and shrubs; and forests in the distant right. After another LC, an ALCO-hauled flatbed-cum-covered BOXN freight crossed us. There was a road on the right as well as gangmen at work before Kosigi.

We then passed an Indian Oil petrol pump, cottages, huts, temples, an LC, coconut and palm trees and a muddy pond; before another unscheduled halt at Iranagallu on the mainline for 2 mins – as a train led by an EMD crossed us. Then there was more scenery such as small trees, bushes and shrubs, a huge flock of goats grazing, farmers (men and women) at work in the fields, marsh land, and a factory in the distant right; before we pulled into MALM (PF 1) at 11 04, 55 mins late. Quite a few families got down here. 12628 KK express left from PF 3 at 11 07, now 6 hrs 17 mins late!! :O  Outside the station (on the right), there was a two-wheeler parking lot, as well as a share-auto stand; and a factory in the distant right.

On the left, a loaded BOXN rake led by AEB-fitted GY WDG4s 12493 and 12773 accelerated through the station without stopping (in the opposite direction); honking hard.

We finally left at 11 23 ( 1 hr 13 mins late), after a long halt of 19 mins. There were huts near the station, and two water tanks (each with a capacity of 36500 litres!!). Then there was the famous Tungabhadra river

There were different kinds of fields (with lots of white flowers blooming) and a TSR of 75 kmph – each before and after Matmari. Then there were farmers at work, a tractor, a rectangular pond, construction workers with a cement mixer, different fields (again with white flowers), more ponds, rocky hills in the distant right, bushes and shrubs, coconut trees, a tractor at an LC; and a dry canal. The sights of cottages, huts, bungalows, apartments in the distant right, FCI factory, a yard with lot of lines, a platform under construction in the distant right, KJM WDP4D 40534, BPCL plants and scooters parked in  shed; signalled the arrival of Raichur (PF 2) at 11 55 – 1 hr 12 mins late. A few people got in. From PF 1, 17621 AWB-RU express left behind GTL WDG3A 14784.

The exit from the junction was marked by the sights of cottages, a road underbridge, ML Nair Auditorium, a water tank, a stadium under construction, a highway across us, a lot of buildings, huts, a temple in ruins, a mosque and a stagnant pond. Then began the industrial sights such as MSPI and SLNKI factories. An unelectrified line branched off to the right. There was a TSR of 30 kmph after Yermaras. We passed KB Shreeji Factories before a freight hauled by GTL ALCO twins crossed us. Then there were more factories, refineries and plants with tall chimneys everywhere on the right. We overtook a bus, a car and a lorry on a highway on the right. Then there were some goats grazing before the cooling towers of the iconic Raichur Thermal Power Station loomed on the right

A line from the RTPS joined us on the right and then a train hauled by an EMD crossed us – probably 11013 LTT-CBE express. There were gangmen on the tracks before we made yet another unscheduled halt, at Yadalapur; for a minute – a family with children crossed the tracks. There was a red flag placed on the second track from the right. After we crossed the Krishna river, there were bikers waiting at an LC. The loopline speed there was 15 kmph. Then there were again different kinds of fields (yet again with white flowers!), meadows and a solitary woman working in the fields. A short LHB rake crossed us led by an EMD. We had the next unscheduled halt at Chegunta, a scenic station with a track-level platform; for half a minute.

Then there was yet more scenery in the form of a big banyan tree, bushes, meadows, stagnant ponds; and farmers (men and women) busy threshing in the fields. The sights of LCs, roads starting from dead ends, huts, cottages, tempos, share-autos and tractors; signalled the arrival of Saidapur at 12 47, 58 mins late. There was a church on the right. After a halt of 7 mins, we departed with two blasts of the HT horn – really whiny and steam-like! 😀 A ballast-loaded BOXN rake hauled by twin WDG4Ds (Leading 70471 of BNDM) crossed us. Then there was more scenery in the form of cows, lambs and goats grazing, meadows; and trees here and there. I observed a line of solar panels, JCBs, lorries and cement mixers; before we overtook a BCNHL freight with blue ED WAG7 27486 at Lingiri. There were rocky hills yet again in the distant right, and a road on the immediate right.  Again there was freight action as a BOXN freight led by twin WDG4s crossed us.

There was lateral separation between the DOWN and UP lines, before the sights of a town in the right, a lot of short buildings and a warehouse in the distant right; signalled the arrival of Yadgir (PF 2) at 13 12, 58 mins late. Here we had a really long halt of 22 mins. I observed that the MPS of the station is 50 kmph.  The coal-loaded BOXNHL freight on PF3 left with a pure EMD horn. Another BOXN rake hauled by a KJM ALCO and (surprisingly) a WDP4D crossed at MPS. Then, the BCNHL freight that we had earlier overtaken at Lingiri; arrived on PF3.

As we left, I had curd rice for lunch. There was a school, a dome-shaped building in the distant right, camp houses, irrigated fields, a bridge over a marshy river and rocky mountains (as usual!) in the distant right; before we had the next unscheduled halt at Thangundi for about 10 mins, on the mainline. It was clear that we would be stopped as much as possible, to utilize the massive slack we had before Wadi – where we were supposed to arrive at only 14 55!! By the way, the gentleman who was using the SLB; had told me that I could exchange my SUB for his berth – what luck!! 😉 So, I slept on the SLB for a while. When I woke up, we were having a long halt at Wadi home signal! The loo on the left side had a really dirty washbasin 😦 .

After we finally departed, I observed a parrot on our right, and a TSR of 30 kmph. There was a highway across us before Halakatta – where a BCNHL rake was waiting to proceed towards SC. There were workers busy carrying sleepers in the distant right. Then there was a faded Pune WDM2 18720 as we finally reached Wadi at 14 58, 3 mins late. Our electric loco was detached – a diesel would take over till Pune. Time for me to finish this long blog post and resume in Part 2 – hope you have patiently read so far! 😉

Technical Terms

HOG – Head-on-Generation (Power transferred from the loco to the coaches via a cable)

HT – High Tone

LT – Low Tone

APU – Auxiliary Power Unit (specifically for charging the loco batteries when it is idle)

TSR – Temporary Speed Restriction

LC – Level Crossing

ALCO – American Locomotive Company (and a class of diesel engines of the 1960s)

EMD – Electromotive Diesel (and a modern class of diesel engines)

AEB – Auto Emergency Brakes

LHB – Linke-Hoffman-Busch (German company whose technology is used to produce modern coaches – mostly seen in Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Durontos)

MPS – Maximum Permissible Speed

Station Codes

MAS – Chennai Central

CSMT – Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai CST with the “Maharaj” 😛 )

CBE – Coimbatore

RPM – Royapuram

GTL – Guntakal

GY – Gooty

LGD – Lallaguda

KZJ – Kazipet

CAPE – Kanniyakumari

NDLS – New Delhi

SBC – Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru (just Bangalore City 😛 )

DR – Dadar (Central)

MS – Chennai Egmore

MALM – Manthralayam Road

KJM – Krishnarajapuram

AWB – Aurangabad

RU – Renigunta

LTT – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Kurla Terminus)

BNDM – Bondamunda

ED – Erode

SC – Secunderabad