IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 2501 - 2520

From: Shrinivas Bhatwadekar <shrinivas@rocketmail.email

Subject: Re: Indian Railways sets sights on Internet services

Date: 30 Apr 1998 22:09:00 -0500


I fully agree with Dr. Dhiraj Sanghi that Indian Railways should stick
to their core competency.

The whole idea of a Railway company starting ISP activity is absurd.
If IR want to improve profitability then they should take innovative
measures in their area of operation & not by going in for
"diversification".They should try to add value to their services and
ask price for it.

One of the measures may be trying to compete with airlines whereever
short distances are involved.(Mumbai-Pune, Delhi-Agra etc.)They may
follow example of European Railways ( expamples like Intercity
Expresses in Germany, Switzerland; X2000s on Swedidsh Railways ) which
aggressively try to attract airline customers to their fold by
offering value-added services on their trains.

=======================
SHRINIVAS BHATWADEKAR




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From: Sridhar Shankar <msshanka@gsbmba2.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 01 May 1998 15:17:00 -0500


Apurva,

Thanks for the wonderful description of the Jumbo loco. I agree
wholeheartedly that this loco looks incredibly ugly, especially
considering that the WDM2 is such a handsome beast.

Do you know if the "streamlining" was necessitated by design/engineering
requirements or was it done for other reasons?

Also, which zones operate these locos?

> DLW has made only a batch of these
> locos and reverted back to the standard model ever since.

I derive a lot of satisfaction though from the last two lines.

-Sridhar


****************************************************************
Sridhar Shankar 5345 S.Harper Apt. 205
GSB'99 Chicago, IL 60615
University of Chicago (773) 752 1131
*****************************************************************

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: Horse shoe curve at Adarki

Date: 02 May 1998 17:46:00 -0500


> ......... memorable curves on the IR.

My favorite one; though a little out of the way: Just after leaving
Barsoi Jn on the NFR, moving towards Siliguri, there is a complete
180 deg curve, on BG and MG. The MG curve is much sharper than the BG
curve (does this particular MG line still exist ?). I used to
travel this way frequently thru the 70s and 80s: never missed a chance
to ogle at the locos.

--
Jayant S : IDStudio : TTIL : ERC : TELCO
Pimpri : Pune : 411 018 : INDIA
tel - 91(212)774261 exn 2534
--

From: Shrinivas Bhatwadekar <shrinivas@rocketmail.email

Subject: Re: Konkan rly, credit to non-Cong govts

Date: 01 May 1998 18:25:00 -0500


The credit for Konkan Rly.,in my opinion should go to the then Railway
Minister, George Fernandez in Vishwanath Pratp Singh's cabinet.George
Fernandez separated the entire project from Indian Railways and created
an autonomous body called Konkan Rly. Corpn.(KRCL).

Once an autonomous body, the corporation was free to have to take its
own financial and administrative decisions regarding budget,resource
planning,fund raising programs and execution plan.Being separate
entity the beaurocrats in Indian Railways could no longer influence
decision making process and impede the work.

This idea itself was quite a bold step indicating action oriented
approach on part of George.It is the first corporation floated by
Govt. of India on BOT ( Build, Operate and Transfer) basis.Due credit
should also be given to Mr. VP Singh for his approval of the idea.

By the way, the talk of Konkan Railway had always come up for
discussions ever since independence.The socialist MPs from
Rajapur in South Konkan, Nath Pai and Madhu Dandavate had always been
vociferous in parliament on demand of Railway in Konkan Region.( Mumbai
to Goa)However the demand was always phoophooed by Congress
Governments in the Centre due to lack of political will.Also if you
remember, the "famous" railway minister in Narasimha Rao government
was hell-bent on derailing the Konkan Railway.

Yes, it's very true that credit for Konkan Railway needs to be given
to non-Congress Governments in the Centre.Also one must not forget the
admistrative skills of Mr. Shridharan for successful completion of the
project.

-- Shrinivas

========================================================
SHRINIVAS BHATWADEKAR

Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy.
-- Robert Heinlein



---Auroprem Kandaswami <kandaswa@apple.email wrote:
>
>
> Courtesy: Deccan Herald
> MUMBAI, April 30
>
> India`s biggest rail project of this century, the 760-km-long Konkan
> railway (KR) being dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Atal
Behari
> Vajpayee at Ratnagiri tomorrow, is being termed as a baby of
non-Congress
> governments.
>
> The over Rs 3,400-crore project which connects the country`s
> north-western part to the southern, is actually Asia`s longest rail
line
> project constructed at one stretch in a mere span of about 10 years.
>
> Of the total length of 760 km, 382 km is in Maharashtra, 105 km in
Goa
> and 273 km in Karnataka.
>
> Interestingly, the project always got the boost during the tenure of
> non-Congress governments, and also being dedicated to the country by
a
> non-Congress prime minister.
>
> The dedication ceremony coincides with the Maharashtra Day and
> International Workers` Day tomorrow.
>
> Since years, the people of Maharashtra, especially Mumbai, have been
> demanding a rail line connecting Goa from the Konkan region.
>
> But the task was difficult because of rough mountains and valleys in
the
> region. Huge budget was also another problem.
>
> Actual work at the KR commenced at 12 places simultaneously on
> build-operate-transfer (BoT) basis.
>
> The 760-km-long rail line has 169 big and 1670 small bridges, and 88
> tunnels.
>
> Another fact is that during the construction of KR, over 150 persons
lost
> their lives, according to the records of railways. Maharashtra
Janata Dal
> general secretary and president of Konkan Janadhikar Samiti Prof
Gopal
> Dukhande
> says a memorial should be built in their memory.
>
> The project remains incomplete, till a memorial is constructed, he
said,
> adding that a museum of Konkan railway should also be constructed,
which
> will throw light on the enormous task completed by thousands of
workers.
>
> The dedication ceremony will be attended by Railway Minister Nitish
> Kumar, Minister of State for Railways Ram Naik, Information and
> Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj, Maharashtra Governor Dr P C
> Alexander and Chief Minister
> Manohar Joshi.
>
> ***
>

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From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 03 May 1998 09:15:00 -0500


Dear Sridhar,

What is wrong with the standard WDM2 ? Nothing, believe me, it is a great
loco. But if the sahib want's to show off his creative skills, who is to
stop him ? The vision from a standard WDM2, short hood leading is superb. Of
course my favourite position (in the footplate) is long hood leading where
you can hear the rasping rumbling engine clearly and the fragrant smoke
blows into the open cab at every nudge of the throttle. Also when running
long hood leading, there is the short hood side 'platform' just outside the
cab, where one can go and stand to look really cool when the loco is moving
slowly !
There is also a super streamlined 'nose cone' on a WAM4 or a WAP1 somewhere
near Jhansi. It is crudely executed job, more fit in a Nautanki Mela photo
stand than on the tracks of the Indian Railways. More ambitious Sahibs their
busy wicked work. Has any one of you seen this 'imitation of the German ICE
or Indian Space shuttle on tracks' loco ? I remember a photo of that
somewhere.

Similarly the relatively new, superbly ugly WDG 1 & 2 loco with a rounded
balding forehead is a clear indication of the lack of any aesthetic sense
within the DLW.
Instead of playing around with just looks, the DLW could improve creature
comforts to the drivers, cushioned seats with back rests (just see the look
of horror on DLW's face !), electric fans, cup holders (like the ones in the
passenger coaches), even a clip board to hold the various pieces of paper
like 'caution order' etc., sun shades on the front glass and on the side of
the windows, padded arm rest for the window, windows that close properly,
cab lights that can be dimmed or covered partially during a run in the
dark, the list can go on. Most of the electric locos have these comforts
but not the WDM2. The new ABB WAP 4 has even cabin air conditioning !
One small step that the DLW has taken to improve the comfort of the drivers,
is to relocate the horns on top of the cab, from the normal position just
above( and very near the Driver's face) the windsceen glass. Most of the
newer (and rebuilt, specially from Erode [ED] and Krishna Raja Puram [KJM] )
locos sport this measure.

Apurva Bahadur

Sridhar Shankar wrote:

> Apurva,
>
> Thanks for the wonderful description of the Jumbo loco. I agree
> wholeheartedly that this loco looks incredibly ugly, especially
> considering that the WDM2 is such a handsome beast.
>
> Do you know if the "streamlining" was necessitated by design/engineering
> requirements or was it done for other reasons?

No reason that I can think of !

> Also, which zones operate these locos?

A few locos at Pune, lots from Gooty, which we have seen at Pune station.
Rest of the country, I have very little idea, can you guys fill in the
blanks ?

> > DLW has made only a batch of these
> > locos and reverted back to the standard model ever since.
>
> I derive a lot of satisfaction though from the last two lines.
>
> -Sridhar
>
> ****************************************************************
> Sridhar Shankar 5345 S.Harper Apt. 205
> GSB'99 Chicago, IL 60615
> University of Chicago (773) 752 1131
> *****************************************************************

From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: WR to CR to KR transfer point

Date: 03 May 1998 09:26:00 -0500


The stretch of tracks from Kalyan to Diva (imagine that you are
tavelling from Pune to Mumbai -then you are on the track4 - Fast Up
track) is very intresting indeed. Immediately After crossing Dombivali a
lattice bridge goes over the all the CR tracks towards Vasai. This is
the BSR track (Bassein Road - old term for Vasai). The train coming from
Pune and going towards the WR like Pune Ahmedabad Ahimsa Exp. will enter
the BSR
track by a diversion on track 4 within a few hundred meters after
Dombivali station. This track is joined by the Dn track diversion
(Track 3 - Fast Down track) at a triangle to the left (east) of track 4.
The combined track now curves like a corner of a clover leaf for a KM so
that it emerges now much higher and leading to the overhead bridge
mentioned earlier. Now this track proceeds to Vasai and to the WR.
The exit to Konkan railway is located futher towards Mumbai at Diva
Jn., 6 kms away. The Konkan Railway begins at the Diva Jn platform and
then curves towards Panvel towards the east in the Dn direction. This
nascent KR track is soon joined at a triangle a few hundred meters from
Diva station by another track that runs parallel to the CR's Track 4 all
the way from the Dombivali Diversion. This (5th ?- single - non
electrified) track will transfer all the trains coming from the WR
directly to KR and vice versa without coming on to the CR tracks at all.
Thus a train from WR to KR will never have to stop at Diva either. I
have seen WDM2 hauled freight trains using this track. I do remember a
Ratlam WDM2 hauling a train of converted passenger coaches with dummied
(glass removed- steel sheet in place)windows, which I believe contained
Maruti cars being taken towards Jawahar Nehru Port Trust at Navha Sheva
off the KR route.
This relationship of tracks is well illustated in the map in the centre
page
of the CR suburban time table. My scanner is coming very soon, when all
these maps will be uploaded in the very near future.
Thus the NDLS-TVC Rajdhani will never come onto the CR tracks but
instead will run parallel to it for a few KMs. Please sit on the left
side of any train coming from Pune to Mumbai to see for yourself the
farsight and good design of the layout.

Apurva Bahadur

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 03 May 1998 18:07:00 -0500


> Similarly the relatively new, superbly ugly WDG 1 & 2 loco with a rounded
> balding forehead is a clear indication of the lack of any aesthetic sense
> within the DLW.
> Instead of playing around with just looks, the DLW could improve creature
> comforts to the drivers, cushioned seats with back rests......

Ahhh, but so much in this direction could be achieved if DLW/RDSO/IR
went
the way of many other railway administrations in setting up an
industrial
design department: to address precisely these issues of ergonomics and
aesthetics. There are a large number of Indian industrial design
professionals emerging from NID and IDC every year who are capable of
handling such work with competence. Indian industry already employs many
of them (self included !): IR should follow suit if it really wants a
smart image in the oncoming age of airline competition and
service-orientation.

--
Jayant S : IDStudio : TTIL : ERC : TELCO
Pimpri : Pune : 411 018 : INDIA
tel - 91(212)774261 exn 2534
--

From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: Indian Railway Magazine

Date: 04 May 1998 06:28:00 -0500


Gang,

I hope you are aware about the this mag, published by the Railway board.

This seems to be the only regular publication of the IR which us
commoners can easily aquire. The annual subscription is Rs 50 (in India
- Rs 45 for Railwaymen). Abroad it is Rs. 300 (by sea mail) or Rs 700 (
by air mail). The poorly produced issues are late and often combined
(like October - November) and contain a lot of 'social objectives' of
the railways. Sometimes you get no issued, sometimes you get three
copies of the same issue. But between the lines are nuggets of
information and technical articles that only the railways can provide.
As their policy you can subscribe only for one year and no more. I hope
once us enthusiasts subscribe in large quantity, we can make the management see it our way. We want them to be aware that there is a sizable
population who read their rag from cover to cover (and drool on the
cover too - when it contains - pictures [what else ?] ). We will force
them to take their mouth piece (or is it their organ ?) seriously and
make this mag a real success.
The addresses you need:
Editorial Correspondence:
The Editor: (Manohar D. Banerjee), Indian Railways Magazine, Room No.
411, Rail Bhavan, New Delhi 110001, Tel: +91-11-3383540, Fax:
+91-11-3384481, Railways tel: 3416
or
Business Correspondence:
S.C. Sharma, Business Manager, Indian Railway Magazine, Room No. 311,
Rail Bhavan, New Delhi 110001. Tel: +91-11-3382531/3303665, Fax:
+91-11-3384481, Railways tel: 3665

Go for it !

Please note that I have most of the time tables of zonal railways
(except Northern Railway and a South Central of this year ) and will be
glad to look up info that any one of you may want.

Apurva Bahadur

From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 04 May 1998 06:29:00 -0500


Larry Russell wrote:

> <snip>
>
> The newer American locos(that have a door in the nose) that have a full
> width * I guess the loco will be with us for atleast 10 -15 years
> more,before they are scrapped. DLW has made only a batch of these locos and
> reverted back to the standard model ever since.*
> >
>
> I've seen a proper american style lo nose on a new Loco that DLW built in
> Ahmedabad, but didn't get close enough to get the number or class. At DLW,
> there were a couple under construction as well.
>



Larry, What is this loco you have mentioned ? We seem to have no news
about
this loco. There are rumours of a new GE loco being imported, I think it
is a
modified SD 45. It is going to be homed at Hubli (UBL) on the South
Central
Railway. But it has not landed in India as yet.
Are you sure that you did not see the WDS6 at Ahmedabad and in DLW ?

Are you the right person to answer the following queries about the
American
locos with a door in the short hood (SD60, AC44 etc ?).How does the door
lead
to the driver's cab ?
There seems to be a lot of difference in the height between the entry
level
and the driver's seat level. Is there a web site which shows the
internal view/
arrangement/cross sectional diagramm of these locos ?
Do I understand correctly that Alco, that is no more im existence, is
merged
into General Electric which makes these 'door in the nose' locos ?
Which locos does the other big loco manufacturer 'General Motors- EMD'
make ?

Are 'door in the nose' locos ever driven long hood leading ? What are
the
statistics of these locos ?
What is meant by the term 'Comfort Cab' which seems to associate with
the
newer American locos. Does it mean that the earlier cabs lacked comfort
?
Please do your best to answer these queries. Alternatively let me know
if a
website will anwser all these questions.
Also tell me web sites where the world equivalent of the WDM2 and YDM 4
exist.
I have gone through the following :
AlcoHauler Home Page
(<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/AlcoHauler/home/alcohaul.html)">http://members.aol.com/AlcoHauler/home/alcohaul.html)</A>
The Canadian MLW / ALCo Page
(<A HREF="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/john_reay/cdnmlw.htm)">http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/john_reay/cdnmlw.htm)</A>
and the ALCo WORLD web page (<A HREF="http://alcoworld.railfan.net/)">http://alcoworld.railfan.net/)</A> but am
unable to
find the exact loco anywhere in the world except in India.
Can you can guide me to site where the sounds of Alco locos (engine,
horns)
can be downloaded.
I have gone through the site Diesel Locomotive Sounds
(<A HREF="http://www.spikesys.com/Sounds/diesel.html)">http://www.spikesys.com/Sounds/diesel.html)</A>, but there is no WDM2 horn
in
there.
What about sites showing locos with thick black smoke ? The smoky diesel
loco
also seems to be a thing of the past, except in India of course !.

Many thanks

Apurva Bahadur

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@fpk.email

Subject: Re: Horse shoe curve at Adarki

Date: 03 May 1998 13:45:00 -0500


sank@telco.email wrote:
>
> > ......... memorable curves on the IR.
>
> My favorite one; though a little out of the way: Just after leaving
> Barsoi Jn on the NFR, moving towards Siliguri, there is a complete
> 180 deg curve, on BG and MG. The MG curve is much sharper than the BG
> curve (does this particular MG line still exist ?). I used to
> travel this way frequently thru the 70s and 80s: never missed a chance
> to ogle at the locos.

That one is my favorite to. I still remember sitting in the 18th coach
of a 22 coach MG Assam Mail many years back and watching the YDM4
pulling the train facing in a direction almost opposite to the direction
the coach was moving! Quite a sight.

Jishnu.

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 04 May 1998 18:11:00 -0500


> There are rumours of a new GE loco being imported, I think it
> is a modified SD 45.

SD45 is a GM model and not from GE. I have heard rumors of GM and
GE locos arriving soon in India though: can anyone elaborate please ?



--
Jayant S : IDStudio : TTIL : ERC : TELCO
Pimpri : Pune : 411 018 : INDIA
tel - 91(212)774261 exn 2534
--

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: Horse shoe curves

Date: 04 May 1998 18:14:00 -0500


Has anyone seen the two curved sections that exist on the line from
Gwalior to Jhansi on CR ? That too only on the Up line (travelling
towards Jhansi).

--
Jayant S : IDStudio : TTIL : ERC : TELCO
Pimpri : Pune : 411 018 : INDIA
tel - 91(212)774261 exn 2534
--

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: [Fwd: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 04 May 1998 18:59:00 -0500


--
Jayant S : IDStudio : TTIL : ERC : TELCO
Pimpri : Pune : 411 018 : INDIA
tel - 91(212)774261 exn 2534
--

From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 04 May 1998 19:06:00 -0500


Larry Russell wrote:

> >Larry Russell wrote:
> >
> >> <snip>
> >>
> >> The newer American locos(that have a door in the nose) that have a full
> >> width * I guess the loco will be with us for atleast 10 -15 years
> >> more,before they are scrapped. DLW has made only a batch of these locos and
> >> reverted back to the standard model ever since.*
> >> >
> >>
> >> I've seen a proper american style lo nose on a new Loco that DLW built in
> >> Ahmedabad, but didn't get close enough to get the number or class. At DLW,
> >> there were a couple under construction as well.
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >Larry, What is this loco you have mentioned ? We seem to have no news
> >about
> >this loco. There are rumours of a new GE loco being imported, I think it
> >is a
> >modified SD 45. It is going to be homed at Hubli (UBL) on the South
> >Central
> >Railway. But it has not landed in India as yet.
> >Are you sure that you did not see the WDS6 at Ahmedabad and in DLW ?
>
> No, this is not a WDS6 (I saw those in Mughal Sarai and Calcutta), It looks
> like a WDM2 with a low nose American Style (not full width as on the small
> group of WDM2's ...I saw one of those in Calcutta Sealdah)
> >Are you the right person to answer the following queries about the
> >American
> >locos with a door in the short hood (SD60, AC44 etc ?).How does the door
> >lead
> >to the driver's cab ?
>
> Actually, there are 2 doors. The nose door and another in the cab that
> leads down steps to the nose door. Usually a toilet is also in this nose.
>
> >There seems to be a lot of difference in the height between the entry
> >level
> >and the driver's seat level. Is there a web site which shows the
> >internal view/
> >arrangement/cross sectional diagramm of these locos ?
> >Do I understand correctly that Alco, that is no more im existence, is
> >merged
> >into General Electric which makes these 'door in the nose' locos ?
> >Which locos does the other big loco manufacturer 'General Motors- EMD'
> >make
>
> GE & GM both make the new style nose.
> Be on the lookout for the new WGD4 class of GM's late this year. GM 4000hp
> locos. I will have a pix on my web page of the test loco in a few days.
>

Would love to see a picture of the loco. Give me the address to your web page.

> >Are 'door in the nose' locos ever driven long hood leading ? What are
> >the
> >statistics of these locos ?

What are the statistics ?

> >What is meant by the term 'Comfort Cab' which seems to associate with
> >the
> >newer American locos. Does it mean that the earlier cabs lacked comfort
> >?
>
> Comfort cabs are the designation of these new cab/nose styles. Cabs have
> soundproofing and are isolated by rubber mounts from the body.
>
> >Please do your best to answer these queries. Alternatively let me know
> >if a
> >website will anwser all these questions.
> >Also tell me web sites where the world equivalent of the WDM2 and YDM 4
> >exist.
> >I have gone through the following :
> >AlcoHauler Home Page
> >(<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/AlcoHauler/home/alcohaul.html)">http://members.aol.com/AlcoHauler/home/alcohaul.html)</A>
> >The Canadian MLW / ALCo Page
> >(<A HREF="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/john_reay/cdnmlw.htm)">http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/john_reay/cdnmlw.htm)</A>
> >and the ALCo WORLD web page (<A HREF="http://alcoworld.railfan.net/)">http://alcoworld.railfan.net/)</A> but am
> >unable to
> >find the exact loco anywhere in the world except in India.
>
> Sri Lanka has WDM2's from DLW, there are other Alco's that are similar.
> See Alco World for updates. I can supply other info later if needed.
>
> >Can you can guide me to site where the sounds of Alco locos (engine,
> >horns)
> >can be downloaded.
> >I have gone through the site Diesel Locomotive Sounds
> >(<A HREF="http://www.spikesys.com/Sounds/diesel.html)">http://www.spikesys.com/Sounds/diesel.html)</A>, but there is no WDM2 horn
> >in
> >there.
> >What about sites showing locos with thick black smoke ? The smoky diesel
> >loco
> >also seems to be a thing of the past, except in India of course !.
> >
>
> Larry

Thanks

Apurva Bahadur

From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: Re: Horse shoe curve at Adarki

Date: 04 May 1998 19:10:00 -0500


Jishnu Mukerji wrote:

> sank@telco.email wrote:
> >
> > > ......... memorable curves on the IR.
> >
> > My favorite one; though a little out of the way: Just after leaving
> > Barsoi Jn on the NFR, moving towards Siliguri, there is a complete
> > 180 deg curve, on BG and MG. The MG curve is much sharper than the BG
> > curve (does this particular MG line still exist ?). I used to
> > travel this way frequently thru the 70s and 80s: never missed a chance
> > to ogle at the locos.
>
> That one is my favorite to. I still remember sitting in the 18th coach
> of a 22 coach MG Assam Mail many years back and watching the YDM4
> pulling the train facing in a direction almost opposite to the direction
> the coach was moving! Quite a sight.
>

A single YDM 4 hauling 22 coach ? I know it is possible, I have seen a 20
coach Kittur Express from Arsikere to Miraj being hauled by a single loco
(long hood leading). Has the YDM 4 ever run double headed on any train ? I
have never seen it in that configuration. The very sight of the MG train is
half the magic !

Apurva Bahadur

> Jishnu.

From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 04 May 1998 19:24:00 -0500


Doug Cummings wrote:

> ----------
> > From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email
> > Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2
> > Date: Sunday, May 03, 1998 8:29 AM
> >
> > Are you the right person to answer the following queries about the
> > American
> > locos with a door in the short hood (SD60, AC44 etc ?).How does the door
> > lead
> > to the driver's cab ?
>
> The front door, off the front platform, leads into the nose of the
> locomotive, from there another door leads into the cab itself, and there
> are steps up to that. The nose is used for various electrical items, as
> well as storage of air hoses and other items.

Is there a web site with the photos of the cab and the various innards ? What
are the statistics of these locos (weight, HP, type of prime mover, tractive
effort etc)

> > There seems to be a lot of difference in the height between the entry
> > level
> > and the driver's seat level.
>
> True
>
> > Do I understand correctly that Alco, that is no more im existence, is
> > merged
> > into General Electric which makes these 'door in the nose' locos ?
>
> Alco has been out of business for years. Support for Alco products is now
> done by GE and Colt Industries.
>
> > Are 'door in the nose' locos ever driven long hood leading ?
>
> Yes, but you have poor visibility when doing so.
>
> > What is meant by the term 'Comfort Cab' which seems to associate with
> > the
> > newer American locos. Does it mean that the earlier cabs lacked comfort
> > ?
>
> No, the older cabs were not too bad but the newer ones are better by
> comparison. With the bigger engines they have tried to reduce the noise
> levels in the cabs, and make them more solid so crew members can enter
> through the front rather than the side as before. Comfort cab is almost a
> generic term used to denote the new cab style from the traditional one.>
> find the exact loco anywhere in the world except in India.

A picture is worth a thousand words !

Thanks for the reply

Apurva Bahadur

From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email

Subject: Re: Indian Railway Magazine

Date: 04 May 1998 19:30:00 -0500


PROTIP.DASGUPTA wrote:

> Hi Apurva!
> How does one apply for the subscription...does one have to do it from
> Delhi or can one do it form here in Bombay ie??
> Also will they allow correspondence by mail...snail mail ie?

Only snail mail/ send the man a Money Order for 50 bucks.

S.C. Sharma, Business Manager, Indian Railway Magazine, Room No. 311,
Rail Bhavan, New Delhi 110001. Tel: +91-11-3382531/3303665, Fax:
+91-11-3384481, Railways tel: 3665

Manohar D. Banerjee, The Editor , Indian Railways Magazine, Room No.
411, Rail Bhavan, New Delhi 110001, Tel: +91-11-3383540, Fax:
+91-11-3384481, Railways tel: 3416

Send him a strong letter with a cc to the Editor (or the other way
around) asking him for regularity of publishing and dispatch, great
pictures
(photographs without any cropping / addition of artwork lines, certainly
no line drawings) on the cover and inside, more emphasis on railway
articles
(natural cures for constipation can be had from elsewhere also !),
acceptance
of a longer period of subscription (possibility of life subscription ?)
etc.
You write and I will write too. Also bring up the fact that there is no
facility of email, after all the railways have a great ambition of being
a ISP.
They have a fax though.
Bharat, why have you stopped responding to my posts ?
Apurva Bahadur

> And how does one [pay them if we order the subscription form here?
> Also why is it that they only give u a year of subscription, thats a very
> odd rule, I mean surely they do want mor money every year?
> Thanks,
> Bharat Vohra

From: David Bloyed <dbloyed@airmail.email

Subject: Mumbai to Jhansi

Date: 03 May 1998 22:51:00 -0500


Can anyone tell me how long it would take to travel from Mumbai to Jhansi
and how much Rs it would be per person. Also, how about if one of the
passengers was a child. Thanks, David.

From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email

Subject: Re: Dynamic Brakes

Date: 05 May 1998 00:49:00 -0500


Apurva,

On Fri, 1 May 1998, Apurva Bahadur wrote:

> Dear Junta:
>
> There was a lot of discussion on Dynamic Brakes as I can see in the
> last years postings I am going through.
> South and East of Pune, this is WDM2 territory, who use a lot of DBs. I
> have seen the DB being used while on the footplate. We have WDM2
> drivers here who are 'artists' in the use of DBs.

Oh yes! The footplating trip I mentioned in one of the earlier DB mails
was on the KR line. That was where I received info on the working of DB's.
That was also my first WDM2 trip and I remember, when the driver revved
that gorgeous engine, I just couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.

> * Dynamic brake is also known in the railway pidgin as 'electric
> brake'.

Probably because of the fact that power is generated by the traction
motors.

> * The WDM2 has a 8 position throttle lever which is moved back to
> increase the engine power, this is near the driver's left hand

Have you also noticed that at startup, the driver does not move through
the notches in order. After rolling to a start he revs straight to a
higher notch and then comes down a couple of notches.

> * For applying the DB, the loco has to be faster than 40 KMPH to be
> effective.

That is not absoluely correct. I have observed DB being used at lower
speeds.

> * Thus stronger the DB action faster the blower speed - more the
> scream from the short hood !

Ya, that is another amazing sound from the WDM2 suite.

> * WCG2 has Dynamic Brakes: The half baked design of the loco allows
> the blowers for cooling the grid work all the time, even if the
> loco is not braking, and add to the deafening scream that the loco
> produces at all the time. The WCG2 is the noisiest loco anywhere in
> the world, I am sure due to this reason alone.Those in the gang who
> have seen WCG2 as well as locos abroad are requested to confirm the
> highest noise level of the WCG2.

Yes, this is a fact that we have noted. Explain what you mean by
half-baked design.

Siddhartha.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email

Subject: Re: Streamlined WDM2

Date: 05 May 1998 00:56:00 -0500


Apurva.

> Instead of playing around with just looks, the DLW could improve creature
> comforts to the drivers, cushioned seats with back rests (just see the look
> of horror on DLW's face !), electric fans, cup holders (like the ones in the
> passenger coaches), even a clip board to hold the various pieces of paper
> like 'caution order' etc., sun shades on the front glass and on the side of
> the windows, padded arm rest for the window, windows that close properly,
> cab lights that can be dimmed or covered partially during a run in the
> dark, the list can go on. Most of the electric locos have these comforts
> but not the WDM2. The new ABB WAP 4 has even cabin air conditioning !

You mean WAP6 surely ?

I am sure all of us would endorse the fact that driver comfort is
absolutely essential to running trains safely. IR seems to have some daft
ideas about driver comfort. They have to recognize the fact that loco
drivers are professionals handling some (very) expensive equipment. The
older electric locos(WCAM1, WCMX) do have some primitive heating
equipment (coils) but no air-conditioning! Obviously, IR believes that
keeoing its drivers warm in winter is important, keeping them cool in
summer is not!

Siddhartha.