IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 4081 - 4100
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re:Fw: Locomotives on a pedestal
Date: 05 Nov 1998 20:37:16 -0500
CS 776, Miss Muffet was seen at DLW, Varanasi as late as August '98. I
don't
think it has been moved to JMP Gymkhana as you say.
HARSH
-----Original Message-----
From: Rajat Bhargav <rbhargav@iimb.email
To: Harsh Vardhan <champa@del3.email
Cc: Indian Railway Fan Club Association <irfca@cs.email
Date: Friday, November 06, 1998 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Locomotives on a pedestal
>
>The CS 776 is now plinthed at the Jamlpur Gymkhana. 'Miss Muffet' by
>Jamalpur legend was not the loco but the articulated car.
>
>It was a usual place for gymmies (Jamalpur walas) to rest on their
hectic
>visits to the shops.
>
>Miss Muffet was scrapped before we joined JMP.
>
>
>Rajat Bhargav
>_______________________________________________________________________
____
____
> J-310, IIM, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, India 560 076
>
>On Fri, 6 Nov 1998, Harsh Vardhan wrote:
>
>> Can anyone provide details on how and when CS 776 was christened
`Miss
>> Muffet'. to me it seems that this is not an absolute original choice.
>> Jamalpur works has preserved for many years an articulated Rail Car
built
>> by `Motors' which had the name `Miss Muffet'. A visit to Jamalpur is
due
to
>> find out what has remained from its fortune.
>>
>> YDM 1 is the most threatened species and we trying to arrange one for
the
>> new museum at Madras from gandhidham where they currently work.
>>
>> HARSH
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Anne Ogborn <anniepoo@netmagic.email
>> To: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
>> Date: Friday, October 23, 1998 1:51 PM
>> Subject: Re: Locomotives on a pedestal
>>
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >Larry Russell wrote:
>> >
>> >> There are 2 ancient engines and a diesel on display at DLW plant
in
>> Varanasi.
>> >> The steam is "Hercules" (0-4-0), CS 776 "Miss Muffett" and diesel
>> >> "Mahalaxmi" GE 45 Ton. They had also promised me that they would
save
a
>> >> couple of the YDM3/ YDM5 (of the 3 that were left in Sabarmati)
when I
>> >> visited them in Feb. this year.
>> >> Larry
>> >
>> >I've fallen in love with CS 776 just from the name. A loco named
"Miss
>> Muffett"!
>> >That's great!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: Reply to Poras (+ request for favorite train journeys)
Date: 05 Nov 1998 22:04:37 -0500
> > >
> > > I once footplated on the Rajdhani WAP loco from Howrah (4pm)
> > > to Dhanbad (7
> > > pm)- the first halt after 3 hrs. The drivers
> >
> > That's neat!!! Did it require a formal written permission from the
> > authorities?
>
> Usually 'pataoing' the drivers is all that is necessary !
> They are nice guys in a boring job, usually they are glad to have an
> inquisitive, educated company.
I don't see that as a problem on regular sections, but aren't drivers
for
high-speed trains such as the Raj. more cautious about allowing
footplaters?
What if they get spotted by a higher authority who may not approve of
such
an act?
> They would be quite suspicious of a written permission which
> brands you out as
> 'Sahib ka aadmi' (Saheb's man) in front of whom they have to
> watch they say
> and generally put up a good image.
That didn't appear to be the case during my footplating on the Bhopal
Shatabdi Exp. The driver and asst. driver weren't the least bothered
that
the windshield wipers weren't operational and had to be manually
operated.
The fact that the loco. was traveling at 140 kmph. against torrential
rains
didn't seem to worry them.
Vijay
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: Homing at Chennai
Date: 05 Nov 1998 22:04:46 -0500
> >
> >And one more routing question: In going from Varanasi to
> Shimla, is it
> >necessary (or more time efficient) to go through Delhi? Or
> is there a
> train
> >that goes more directly to Kalka via Luchnow Moradabad and
> Saharanpur?
>
> It is shorter but not time efficient. Also there are no
> direct trains
> on that route. My recommendation is to take a taxi from Varanasi to
> Mughalsarai Junction (a distance of about 17 km and across the Ganga)
> and board the 2311 Howrah-Delhi-Kalka Mail. Lv Mughalsarai
> daily 0645
> Arr Kalka next day 0500 in time to catch one of the Kalka-Shimla hill
> trains. I don't have the schedules, maybe Vijay or
> Apurva have the Kalka-Shimla train timings? As you may realize, the
> Kalka Mail (as it is popularly known) is classified as a
> superfast train
> by IR. It should carry AC1, AC2 and AC3. If you are in a big group,
> you may want to book early, since the quota from Mughalsarai may be
> limited.
There is the Shivalik Exp. that departs from Kalka at 5.30 am to reach
Shimla at
10.15 am. If you miss this one, you can catch the Mail at 6.20 am that
reaches Kalka
at 11.25 am. The only inconvenience is having to leave Varanasi at a
very
early hour -
around 5.15 am or so.
If you don't mind changing trains twice, you can leave from Varanasi
itself at a decent hour: board the daily, superfast Shramjeevi Exp. at
3.20
pm to arrive
at New Delhi the next day at 5.20 am. Then catch the Himalayan Queen
Exp.
at 6.00 am to
reach Kalka at 11.05 am. There is an express train that leaves Kalka at
11.50 am and reaches
Shimla at 5.20 pm. Haven't they extended the Chandigarh Shatabdi to
Kalka
on some days? If so,
then you travel on the Shatabadi that leaves New Delhi at 7.30 am and
pulls
into Kalka just behind the Himalayan Queen Exp.
If you are not too comfortable with a 40 mt. layover at New Delhi,
then
you can board the daily Lichchavi Exp. from Varanasi at 3.00 pm and
reach
Delhi at 4.15 am. But you would have to commute to New Delhi by taxi -
am
not sure how convenient that is. Maybe, Delhi folks can
shed more light on this.
Vijay
From: Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Homing at Chennai
Date: 05 Nov 1998 22:04:54 -0500
Hello Annie,
Thats a WG, sister engine to the WP.
I think the same pic appears in Heinreich Hubbert's web page or
something.
Best regards.
Shankar
At 09:30 PM 11/2/98 -0800, you wrote:
>>
>> What is a WP4 ? Surely you do not mean the WAP 4 ? Please put up the
jpg
of this loco
>> for all of us to have a look.The 'grill' is known as the 'Cattle
guard' -
used very
>> frequently in India !
>>
>> Apurva
>
>Posted as <A HREF="http://www.netmagic.net/~anniepoo/irfc/wp4.html">http://www.netmagic.net/~anniepoo/irfc/wp4.html</A>
>
>It's the same image I gunged about somebody including (at 113K! - I
compressed to 20K)
>in an email and
>posting on this list. (It's a nice image, I just didn't want it in the
middle of my
>email).
>
>I'd appreciate if somebody would properly identify this loco.
>I know it's not a WAP4 - I can tell by the panto 8^)
>
>
>
>
>
>
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: NRM NEWS UPDATE.
Date: 05 Nov 1998 22:05:01 -0500
November 3, 1998
Dear Friends,
Not many of you may be aware that Aswani Lohani, the former Director of the Museum has moved on deputation to the Ministry of Tourism as Director-Tourism. Iam quite sure that he would be in news in that office as well and will definately do his bit to boost rail tourism(including revival of steam) as well. In his place now is Rajesh Agarwal(IRSME '82) who comes from WR and his last posting was the Vatva diesel loco shed at Ahemedabad as Sr. DME. Like his predecessor, he has also taken keen interest in the salvaging the IR heritage and is currently working on revival of steam including the Fairy Queen excursion trips between Delhi-Alwar for this season. His direct Telefax No. is 91-11-6880804.
After the success of last years' operations, Fairy Queen makes 9 trips this year on 30.10.98, 14.11.98, 28.11.98, 12.12.98, 26.12.98, 09.01.99, 23.01.99, 13.02.99 and 27.02.99. Museum's email address is nrm@nrm.email <mailto:nrm@nrm.email
XE 3634(2-8-2 William Beardmore 422/1930), Ex-ER formerly XE 22541, arrived at NRM in Sep '98 by mistake! It was planned to take it to the new museum at Madras as the first exhibit but some lack of communication(?!!?) between concerned officials ensured that it landed at Delhi. FNRM is now canvassing support for retaining it at Delhi instead of taking it again on a long journey to Madras which might damage it also. This locomotive was purchased by Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board(Coal Transport Division) from IR in the 70s for working 1000 ton coal trains over 10 Km industrial line of the Manikpur Coalliery where it was working till Sep '97 when diesels took over. XE was the largest and heaviast unarticulated locomotive(200 ton in working order) to work on IR and initially the tunnels and bridges on the BG were size according to this class.
The locomotive was given a facelift by the Bhillai locoshed team before it started its journey. At present it is languishing at the siding of `Delhi Safdarjung Rly. station' outside the NRM. I can send a picture to anyone who has a scanner and can then email it for the friends.
Sincerely,
HARSH
From: Shankar <>
Subject: Re:Fw: Locomotives on a pedestal
Date: 05 Nov 1998 22:24:22 -0500
At 12:29 AM 11/6/98 +0530, you wrote:
>Excuse me but I too think the term is `plinth' and not palletizing.
Could
>someone throw any light on the identity of the two more locomotives
behind
>Pune diesel trip shed as mentioned by Apurva.
I THINK THEY TOO MUST BE 'F' CLASS, AS APURVA HAS SAID 'TWO MORE SUCH
LOCOS'. APURVA, ARE YOU LISTENING?
>
>And same for the FMA class locomotive at `Vishweshvaraya museum' at
Banglore
>mentioned by Shankar. I always thought that the FMA class at NRM was
the
>same engine and had been moved here!
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS ANOTHER FMA AT THE VISWESWARAYA
INDUSTRIAL
MUSEUM. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED BOTH OF THEM SEPARATELY DURING MY LAST INDIA
TRIP.
THE CHOCOLATE BROWN ONE AT THE NRM IS FM 37302. THE ONE IN BANGALORE IS
COLORED ASH GREY AND IS NUMBERED
FM-A 037311.
THE NRM GUIDEBOOK SAYS THAT THE FMs WERE LATER RE-BUILT AS FMAs WITH
ENHANCED COAL CAPACITY.
APPARENTLY THE NRM ENGINE IS AN ORIGINAL FM, AND THE ONE IN THE
VISWESWARAYA
MUSEUM IN BANGALORE IN A RE-BUILT FM-A. HOW INTERESTING IT WOULD BE IF
BOTH
COULD BE PLACED SIDE BY SIDE AND COMPARED!
BEST REGARDS.
SHANKAR
>
>HARSH
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
>To: Apurva Bahadur
>Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
>Date: Thursday, October 22, 1998 8:46 PM
>Subject: Re: Locomotives on a pedestal
>
>
>>Hello friends,
>>Interesting. I mean the stored ones part. I did photograph the engine
at
>the
>>IRICEN complex entrance though, during my last trip to Poona in Dec.
1997.
>>Some of the plinthed engines are open to the public, some are not.
>>Here is a list I know of. The ones that cannot be freely photographed
are
>>marked @@.
>>
>>-A MTR ng engine at the NR headquarters, Delhi.@@
>>-A 'B' class 2' ng engine of the DHR outside the Rail Bhavan (IR
>>Headquarters) in Delhi@@
>>-A ng engine outside Rail Nilayam:SC headquarters at Secunderabad@@
>>-A YCG/1 mg electric outside the mg emu car shed at Tambaram in
Madras@@
>>-A Garratt at Kharagpur loco shed@@
>>-A MLR ng engine on the hilltop at Matheran station.
>>-A Baldwin tank engine at the Bhadravati Steel Works HQ@@
>>-Fairy Queen's sister 'Express' at Jamalpur workshop@@
>>-A ng engine from the SE outside Bangalore City station.
>>-An FMA class 0-6-0 mg engine at the Visweswaraya Industrial Museum in
>Bangalore
>>-A 2' ng 4-6-2 steamer from the Kishanganj branch of the DHR, and a
WCP/1
>>electric along with a horse drawn tram and a 1907 electric tram at
the
>>Nehru Science Centre in Bombay
>>These are all I can think of at the moment. Will post if I think of
>anything
>>else.
>>Best regards.
>>Shankar
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>At 07:13 PM 10/22/98 +0530, you wrote:
>>>Gang
>>>
>>>There was a recent mail about the locomotives mounted on a pedestal
>>>outside the stations and such - I think the term used was
'palletizing'
>>>(?). There is a narrow gauge (2'6" gauge) Nasmyth & Co F class loco &
>>>its tender outside the Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering
>>>(IRICEN) which itself is in the Pune station complex. The number is
724.
>>>It was built at Nasmyth & Co, Manchester in 1921. It was introduced
in
>>>1923 on the Kurduwadi - Pandharpur section of the Barsi Light
Railway.
>>>It was transferred to the Murtajapur - Yewatmal section in 1983. It
was
>>>finally retired in full steam on the 13th April 1994 after 73 years
of
>>>service. It was 'rested' in the IRICEN campus on the 23rd December
1995.
>>>There are two more such locos in storage behind the WDS 4 trip shed
in
>>>the Up yard of Pune Jn.
>>>
>>>Apurva Bahadur
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
From: Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Tidbits from early IR issues -Part 2
Date: 05 Nov 1998 22:24:24 -0500
At 12:21 PM 11/5/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi Folks,
>
> Continuing on my extracts.....
>
>
>
>-Sonepore's distinction of having the world's longest platform till
that
>time (2320 feet) was passed over to Storvik, Sweden, with a platform
length
>of 2320 feet. [How long is Kharagpur's longest platform? Correct me
if I
>am wrong but it has the 2nd longest platform in the world with Fleet
St.,
>Chicago suburban railway, being the longest in the world. What are
their
>respective lengths?]
>
>
I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT FLEET STREET BUT KHARAGPUR IS 2733 FT. LONG. IT
APPEARED
FOR A WHILE IN THE GUINESS BOOK AS WELL.
SOME FRIENDS HAD ONCE TOLD ME (CASUALLY) THAT ALLAHABAD
HAS A PLATFORM LONGER THAN KHARAGPUR: NOT THE MAIN STATION, BUT THE ONE
WHERE THE KUMBH MELA TRAINS HALT.
I DO NOT THINK THIS IS TRUE.
POONA STATION (Pune Jn.) HAS PLATFORM I AND 7 COMBINED INTO ONE REALLY
LONG
PLATFORM: A CLOSE COMPETITOR TO THE CONTENDERS FOR THE LONGEST PLATFORM.
ANY VIEWS, APURVA?
BEST REGARDS
SHANKAR
From: Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Hot news/Mystery Steam Loco
Date: 05 Nov 1998 22:24:25 -0500
Hello,
The engine which reached the NRM under her own steam was the heavyweight
Decapod L-2 from Hindalco, which entered the museum under her own steam.
This was a bg engine, a tank. As Apurva assures us that this his dad say
a
mg engine, its not likely to be it.
Probably this was the Royal Orient, as others have surmised.
Incidentally, the Hindalco engine was very probably one from a batch
which
was used to bank trains up the ardous Bhor and Thal Ghats on the
erstwhile
GIP Rly
PRIOR to electrification. A crude pic of one of these tanks appears in
the book
"Indian Railways-100 years".
Any views, Harsh?
Best regards.
Shankar
At 06:46 PM 11/5/98 -0800, you wrote:
>
>
>Steven Brown wrote:
>
>> Could it have been the Royal Orient? Scheduled to arrive 7:40 and
depart
>> 1500 on Wensdays only. Maybe steam never completely left the
capital!
>> As I understand it this weekly train only is steam hauled part of the
>> journey.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Steve
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email
>> To: IRFCA <irfca@cs.email
>> Date: Wednesday, November 04, 1998 8:02 PM
>> Subject: Hot news
>>
>> >Gang !
>> >
>> >My dad is just back from New Delhi yesterday evening. On the way to
the
>> >airport he crossed a fly over over Delhi cant station (?) and he saw
a
>> >meter gauge steam engine heading a passenger train ! He is not very
sure
>> >whether it had smoke deflectors but it is most likely to be a YP or
a
>> >YG. Steam hauled trains are still on in the capital of the country !
>> >
>> >Apurva Bahadur
>
>Strange - this is precisely where I saw a steamer last december. Of
course, I
>couldn't
>see much from crowded auto, and crowd had no interest in coming round
for a
>second
>look 8^( . that evening on the news (again I was with guru & couldn't
stop)
>there was
>news on TV about new engine going into NRM, so I assumed that was it.
>
>
>
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re:Fw: Locomotives on a pedestal
Date: 06 Nov 1998 02:01:00 -0500
That's some news. I look forward to arranging a trip to Banglore as soon
as
possible. It is due for 10 years now! The news for you however is that
the
locomotive at NRM is also an FM`A' class 37302. I have enquired further
and
got the news that this engine was earlier plinthed at Hubli station
before
being brought to NRM. It still bears a decorated crown on the chimney
which
reads `Hubli'.
HARSH
-----Original Message-----
From: Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
To: Harsh Vardhan <champa@del3.email
Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Friday, November 06, 1998 10:33 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Locomotives on a pedestal
>At 12:29 AM 11/6/98 +0530, you wrote:
>>Excuse me but I too think the term is `plinth' and not palletizing.
Could
>>someone throw any light on the identity of the two more locomotives
behind
>>Pune diesel trip shed as mentioned by Apurva.
>
>I THINK THEY TOO MUST BE 'F' CLASS, AS APURVA HAS SAID 'TWO MORE SUCH
>LOCOS'. APURVA, ARE YOU LISTENING?
>>
>>And same for the FMA class locomotive at `Vishweshvaraya museum' at
Banglore
>>mentioned by Shankar. I always thought that the FMA class at NRM was
the
>>same engine and had been moved here!
>
>I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS ANOTHER FMA AT THE VISWESWARAYA
INDUSTRIAL
>MUSEUM. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED BOTH OF THEM SEPARATELY DURING MY LAST
INDIA
TRIP.
>THE CHOCOLATE BROWN ONE AT THE NRM IS FM 37302. THE ONE IN BANGALORE IS
>COLORED ASH GREY AND IS NUMBERED
>FM-A 037311.
>THE NRM GUIDEBOOK SAYS THAT THE FMs WERE LATER RE-BUILT AS FMAs WITH
>ENHANCED COAL CAPACITY.
>APPARENTLY THE NRM ENGINE IS AN ORIGINAL FM, AND THE ONE IN THE
VISWESWARAYA
>MUSEUM IN BANGALORE IN A RE-BUILT FM-A. HOW INTERESTING IT WOULD BE IF
BOTH
>COULD BE PLACED SIDE BY SIDE AND COMPARED!
>
>BEST REGARDS.
> SHANKAR
>>
>>HARSH
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
>>To: Apurva Bahadur
>>Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
>>Date: Thursday, October 22, 1998 8:46 PM
>>Subject: Re: Locomotives on a pedestal
>>
>>
>>>Hello friends,
>>>Interesting. I mean the stored ones part. I did photograph the engine
at
>>the
>>>IRICEN complex entrance though, during my last trip to Poona in Dec.
1997.
>>>Some of the plinthed engines are open to the public, some are not.
>>>Here is a list I know of. The ones that cannot be freely photographed
are
>>>marked @@.
>>>
>>>-A MTR ng engine at the NR headquarters, Delhi.@@
>>>-A 'B' class 2' ng engine of the DHR outside the Rail Bhavan (IR
>>>Headquarters) in Delhi@@
>>>-A ng engine outside Rail Nilayam:SC headquarters at Secunderabad@@
>>>-A YCG/1 mg electric outside the mg emu car shed at Tambaram in
Madras@@
>>>-A Garratt at Kharagpur loco shed@@
>>>-A MLR ng engine on the hilltop at Matheran station.
>>>-A Baldwin tank engine at the Bhadravati Steel Works HQ@@
>>>-Fairy Queen's sister 'Express' at Jamalpur workshop@@
>>>-A ng engine from the SE outside Bangalore City station.
>>>-An FMA class 0-6-0 mg engine at the Visweswaraya Industrial Museum
in
>>Bangalore
>>>-A 2' ng 4-6-2 steamer from the Kishanganj branch of the DHR, and a
WCP/1
>>>electric along with a horse drawn tram and a 1907 electric tram at
the
>>>Nehru Science Centre in Bombay
>>>These are all I can think of at the moment. Will post if I think of
>>anything
>>>else.
>>>Best regards.
>>>Shankar
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>At 07:13 PM 10/22/98 +0530, you wrote:
>>>>Gang
>>>>
>>>>There was a recent mail about the locomotives mounted on a pedestal
>>>>outside the stations and such - I think the term used was
'palletizing'
>>>>(?). There is a narrow gauge (2'6" gauge) Nasmyth & Co F class loco
&
>>>>its tender outside the Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering
>>>>(IRICEN) which itself is in the Pune station complex. The number is
724.
>>>>It was built at Nasmyth & Co, Manchester in 1921. It was introduced
in
>>>>1923 on the Kurduwadi - Pandharpur section of the Barsi Light
Railway.
>>>>It was transferred to the Murtajapur - Yewatmal section in 1983. It
was
>>>>finally retired in full steam on the 13th April 1994 after 73 years
of
>>>>service. It was 'rested' in the IRICEN campus on the 23rd December
1995.
>>>>There are two more such locos in storage behind the WDS 4 trip shed
in
>>>>the Up yard of Pune Jn.
>>>>
>>>>Apurva Bahadur
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Hot news/Mystery Steam Loco
Date: 06 Nov 1998 04:02:31 -0500
Is the Royal Orient a MG train ? It was a wednesday and it was 1500
Hrs and this was the Delhi Cant station. Dad told me that this was an
ordinary MG loco - drab and may not be looking like the stud that
hauls a train like RO. One more issue - I always thought that Sarai
Rohilla was the terminus for MG. Is the Delhi Cant station downstream
of Sarai R ? Harsh in NDLS is requested to go to Delhi Cant at 1500
Hrs at just ask the station staff - some them also miss the steamers
and the 'grand old days'.
Apurva
Steven Brown wrote:
> Could it have been the Royal Orient? Scheduled to arrive 7:40 and
depart
> 1500 on Wensdays only. Maybe steam never completely left the capital!
> As I understand it this weekly train only is steam hauled part of the
> journey.
>
> Cheers
> Steve
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email
> To: IRFCA <irfca@cs.email
> Date: Wednesday, November 04, 1998 8:02 PM
> Subject: Hot news
>
> >Gang !
> >
> >My dad is just back from New Delhi yesterday evening. On the way to
the
> >airport he crossed a fly over over Delhi cant station (?) and he saw
a
> >meter gauge steam engine heading a passenger train ! He is not very
sure
> >whether it had smoke deflectors but it is most likely to be a YP or a
> >YG. Steam hauled trains are still on in the capital of the country !
> >
> >Apurva Bahadur
> >
> >
> >
> >
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re:Fw: Locomotives on a pedestal
Date: 06 Nov 1998 04:03:36 -0500
>I THINK THEY TOO MUST BE 'F' CLASS, AS APURVA HAS SAID 'TWO MORE SUCH
>LOCOS'. APURVA, ARE YOU LISTENING?
I am listening and spending a huge amount of time on this forum rather
than working ! The two locos are indeed Nasmyth F class from the Barsi
Light Railways. I can get pictures and other specs - the PRO - Pune
has already told
me to go ahead with the pics. Back with details in a while. Only doubt
that has
been raised about these locos is by Doug, who noted that these were
actually
Hunslet locos. These locos are not on a plinth but in storage.
I also have a catalogue of the Mysore Rail museum somewhere - I could
list the locos on plith in that museum once I get to that document. As
the Mysore museum is right outside the station, I found that the
action
(in 1986) inside the station yard with lots of doe eyed YPs and YGs
huffing around more interesting than the dead collection of locos in
the museum. Now of course any steam loco is better than none at all
-plinthed, picture anything at all.
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: [Fwd: Sharing of rakes
Date: 06 Nov 1998 04:14:35 -0500
From: Madhav Acharya <>
Subject: Re: Tidbits from early IR issues -Part 2
Date: 06 Nov 1998 05:26:23 -0500
Hi
I can testify to the length of the KGP platform - we pulled in behind
another train
and both were contained within the length of the platform - and these
were
long
distance trains (at least 18 bogies). one thing I noticed was a
switch/point
on the track somewhere halfway along the platform length - presumably
to
allow the loco of train 2 to be uncoupled and move onto the adjacent
track
in case another train was in front.
Madhav
Shankar <shankie@emirates.email on 11/06/98 01:24:24 AM
To: "Balasubramanian, Vijay" <vbalasubramanian@noblestar.email
cc: irfca@cs.email (bcc: Madhav Acharya/EastCoast/Mobil-Notes)
Subject: Re: Tidbits from early IR issues -Part 2
At 12:21 PM 11/5/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi Folks,
>
> Continuing on my extracts.....
>
>
>
>-Sonepore's distinction of having the world's longest platform till
that
>time (2320 feet) was passed over to Storvik, Sweden, with a platform
length
>of 2320 feet. [How long is Kharagpur's longest platform? Correct me
if I
>am wrong but it has the 2nd longest platform in the world with Fleet
St.,
>Chicago suburban railway, being the longest in the world. What are
their
>respective lengths?]
>
>
I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT FLEET STREET BUT KHARAGPUR IS 2733 FT. LONG. IT
APPEARED
FOR A WHILE IN THE GUINESS BOOK AS WELL.
SOME FRIENDS HAD ONCE TOLD ME (CASUALLY) THAT ALLAHABAD
HAS A PLATFORM LONGER THAN KHARAGPUR: NOT THE MAIN STATION, BUT THE ONE
WHERE THE KUMBH MELA TRAINS HALT.
I DO NOT THINK THIS IS TRUE.
POONA STATION (Pune Jn.) HAS PLATFORM I AND 7 COMBINED INTO ONE REALLY
LONG
PLATFORM: A CLOSE COMPETITOR TO THE CONTENDERS FOR THE LONGEST PLATFORM.
ANY VIEWS, APURVA?
BEST REGARDS
SHANKAR
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: Tidbits from early IR issues -Part 2 (long platforms)
Date: 06 Nov 1998 07:49:45 -0500
> >
> I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT FLEET STREET BUT KHARAGPUR IS 2733 FT.
> LONG. IT APPEARED
> FOR A WHILE IN THE GUINESS BOOK AS WELL.
I have been through Kharagpur several times and three trains (EMUs?) can
berth end-to-end
on its longest platform.
>
> SOME FRIENDS HAD ONCE TOLD ME (CASUALLY) THAT ALLAHABAD
> HAS A PLATFORM LONGER THAN KHARAGPUR: NOT THE MAIN STATION,
> BUT THE ONE
> WHERE THE KUMBH MELA TRAINS HALT.
> I DO NOT THINK THIS IS TRUE.
Not true. Allahabad has five platforms and none of them handle more
than
one train
at a time.
>
> POONA STATION (Pune Jn.) HAS PLATFORM I AND 7 COMBINED INTO
> ONE REALLY LONG
> PLATFORM: A CLOSE COMPETITOR TO THE CONTENDERS FOR THE
> LONGEST PLATFORM.
>
Ahmedabad also has long platforms with a crossover point in the middle
so
that a train at the rear can switch to the middle track and proceed
ahead.
In fact, the station 'signpost' appears
thrice during the entire length of the platform. Another interesting
thing
to observe was that
some of the platforms had three-rail tracks obviously to accomodate both
BG
and MG rolling stock. Wonder whether this still exists after the
conversion.
Vijay
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Hot news/Mystery Steam Loco
Date: 06 Nov 1998 07:56:23 -0500
>
> The engine which reached the NRM under her own steam was the
heavyweight
> Decapod L-2 from Hindalco, which entered the museum under her own
steam.
What is a decapod and can we have a picture please ?
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: More rules from the WR tt
Date: 06 Nov 1998 08:10:30 -0500
Gang !
Here are some rules from the 1998 WR timetable. They are worthy of being
entered in Annie's 'What does it mean' contest.
I have copied the entry in toto for your reading pleasure.
Page 213 : General Information to Intending Travelling Passenger
13. Carry only extra - minor - child while on RAC ticket or having
confirmed ticket to avoid displeasure from your co-passenger. ( what
does this really mean ??)
14. Do not occupy berth or seat meant for 'Ladies" only. (rules meant
for ladies as well ?)
page 212: Rail Travel Concessions
5. Article clerks: II class - 50 % (what is an article clerk ?)
9. Industrial Labourers in parties of not loss (sic) than 20 sponsored
by Labour Deptt. to visit River Valley Project: II class - 25 %
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: The long platform thread
Date: 06 Nov 1998 08:20:45 -0500
> SOME FRIENDS HAD ONCE TOLD ME (CASUALLY) THAT ALLAHABAD
> HAS A PLATFORM LONGER THAN KHARAGPUR: NOT THE MAIN STATION, BUT THE
ONE
> WHERE THE KUMBH MELA TRAINS HALT.
> I DO NOT THINK THIS IS TRUE.
No, this may be true - but that platform / station is temporary in
nature. My dad (who has seen the Kumbh mela long ago) says that (maybe)
upto 5 trains could have lined on one platform - but this is not
Allahabad - it is on the opposite bank of Ganga at Prayag. Dad also
speculates that Jhansi has a quite a long platform.
>
>
> POONA STATION (Pune Jn.) HAS PLATFORM I AND 7 COMBINED INTO ONE REALLY
LONG
> PLATFORM: A CLOSE COMPETITOR TO THE CONTENDERS FOR THE LONGEST
PLATFORM.
Pune platform 1 + 7 is not very impressive - it would barely accomadate
a 22 coach train.
Latest news on platform is that there now is a platform 14 in Mumbai
CSTM. It used to be the old parcel siding near the St. George hospital.
Apurva
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: The long platform thread
Date: 06 Nov 1998 08:26:49 -0500
>
> No, this may be true - but that platform / station is temporary in
> nature. My dad (who has seen the Kumbh mela long ago) says
> that (maybe)
> upto 5 trains could have lined on one platform - but this is not
> Allahabad - it is on the opposite bank of Ganga at Prayag. Dad also
> speculates that Jhansi has a quite a long platform.
True! Jhansi has three platforms and Platform #1, the main one, can
accomodate
two trains. In fact, when Pushkar and I went to board the Punjab Mail
(after our
memorable Shatabdi footplating trip) we had to walk quite a distance to
hop
into our
First Class coach. The train was stationed at the rear end even though
there was no train
at the front side. Wonder why?!
Vijay
From: Kartik Pashupati <>
Subject: Suri transmission/ indigenous technology
Date: 06 Nov 1998 09:28:53 -0500
Railfans!
In the 1970s (and even early 80s), when people bemoaned the
unwillingness
of the Indian bureaucracy to absorb indigenous developments in
technology,
one would often hear the story of MM Suri, who indigenously developed
some
kind of transmission for (diesel-electric?) locomotives, but was forced
to
market it overseas.
This raises the following questions. I would prefer non-technical
answers:
1. What exactly is the Suri transmission all about? How much of a
breakthrough
was it?
2. When was it developed? Is it still in use in some form?
3. Which "foreign" company ultimately purchased the patent? Is it true
that
IR ultimately had to license it back at a cost substantially higher
than what
initial adoption might have cost?
4. Given that most innovations in locomotive design still come from
Europe,
the US and Japan, are there instances of technology developed in
India
that
has successfully been exported to other countries?
Kartik.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
"This message brought to you on 100 percent recycled electrons"
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Florida State University, Department of Communication
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Ph: 850-644-1809; Fax: 850-644-8642
From: Shanku Niyogi <>
Subject: Re: More rules from the WR tt
Date: 06 Nov 1998 11:12:25 -0500
Ah, the pleasures of Inglish...
I'll take some guesses at #13 - perhaps "Carry only" is meant to be a
verb,
i.e. if you have a confirmed or RAC reservation, and have a minor with
you,
you must carry the child with you rather than have them sit on someone
else's seat. Or maybe if you travel with more than one child, the
"extra"
child must have a confirmed or RAC seat. I wonder about the stigma of
being
branded the "extra" child in the family!
An "article clerk", sometimes also known as an "articled clerk", is a
solicitor trainee. (Picture an intern in a law firm.)
I am amused simply by the term "intending travelling passenger". A
phrase or
sentence formed by stringing together verbs is not something I encounter
frequently. Perhaps someone who arrives at the station to find his
reservation screwed up and his seat lost becomes a "Complaining
Intending
Travelling Passenger." :) Or, hmmm, how about "Intending Retiring
Waiting
Impending Connecting Travelling Passenger"?
-----Original Message-----
From: Apurva Bahadur [mailto:iti@giaspn01.email
Sent: Friday, November 06, 1998 8:11 AM
To: IRFCA; Anne Ogborn
Subject: More rules from the WR tt
Gang !
Here are some rules from the 1998 WR timetable. They are worthy of being
entered in Annie's 'What does it mean' contest.
I have copied the entry in toto for your reading pleasure.
Page 213 : General Information to Intending Travelling Passenger
13. Carry only extra - minor - child while on RAC ticket or having
confirmed ticket to avoid displeasure from your co-passenger. ( what
does this really mean ??)
14. Do not occupy berth or seat meant for 'Ladies" only. (rules meant
for ladies as well ?)
page 212: Rail Travel Concessions
5. Article clerks: II class - 50 % (what is an article clerk ?)
9. Industrial Labourers in parties of not loss (sic) than 20 sponsored
by Labour Deptt. to visit River Valley Project: II class - 25 %
Apurva