Gangmen begin another day'€™s work. The box contains their stores. One can see pickaxes and rakes [not the wheeled variety this time :-)]. The long, silver item on the left is the 'gauge€™', this is used to set the standard between the two rails i.e. the track gauge. The 'gauge€™' is carried by the '€˜Keyman€™' who is senior to the gangmen. Alandi, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Members of Pune chapter (Ashish and Apurva) trekked uphill for 10 Kms from Shindavane to Ambale along the railway line through unbelievable ghat landscape - viaducts, tunnels, cuttings and the desolation of the lofty Sahyadri ranges. This is the beginning, the Pune WDG-3A # 13063 starts the 1609 passenger after dropping us. Shindavane on the Pune - Miraj line, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

View of the now disused token hoop holders. The contraptions never worked properly and the section has always depended on human skill to hand over the token hoop to the crew. Shindavane on the Pune - Miraj line, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Pune WDG-3A #13150 screams down the Shindavane ghat using the dynamic brakes with a load of a BTPN rake. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A closer view of the Pune WDG-3A #13150 with the BTPN rake. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com)..

A distant shot of WDG-3A #13150 with the BTPN against the background of the mountains of the area. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com)

A typical scene - tall, rocky mountains , viaducts (one of the seven in the section) and tunnels (one of the three in the section). Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

An uplifting scene in the ghat section. The cool overcast weather and the sheer stark desolation of the area make this one of the best outings we have ever had. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A curve in the ghat section. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

KJM WDG 3A pair 14613 and 14660 approach a viaduct with a BCN rake. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A sequence of pictures showing the KJM WDG 3A pair # 14613 and 14660 hauling a BCN rake over a viaduct. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A sequence of pictures showing the KJM WDG 3A pair # 14613 and 14660 hauling a BCN rake over a viaduct. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A sequence of pictures showing the KJM WDG 3A pair #14613 and #14660 hauling a BCN rake over a viaduct. The assistant driver waves a greeting to us. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The BCN's caboose plunges into tunnel 2. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A view of the deep valley on the left of the while moving away from Pune. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A view of the lofty mountains along the railway line. This is the view to the right while moving away from Pune. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Ashish fixes breakfast for the Pune chapter - which on this outing, was only the two of us :-). Between Shindavane and Ambale. 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A look back at the "breakfast" point. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Two Plasser track maintenance machines leave tunnel 3. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The two Plasser machines pose in the ghat section. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

We now enter a section with deep cuttings and cathedral like silence. This section is unstable and small stones and mud were falling continously even as walked. Vigilant railwaymen are posted here round the clock to ensure that the track is unobstructed by falling rocks. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Ashish crosses one of the seven viaducts in the section. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A view of one of the seven viaducts in the section. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Note the white arrow on the first pillar - this is the high flood level marker. The high level is amazing, considering the extreme gradient at the bottom of the abyss. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A sequence of pics showing Guntakal'€™s WDM 2s # 17218 and 17278 hauling a BTPN rake through the rock cuttings. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A sequence of pics showing Guntakal'€™s WDM 2s # 17218 and 17278 hauling a BTPN rake through the rock cuttings. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A sequence of pics showing Guntakal'€™s WDM 2s # 17218 and 17278 hauling a BTPN rake through the rock cuttings. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).