IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 5221 - 5240

From: Jayant S <>

Subject: DHR QUERY

Date: 30 Jan 1999 23:49:40 -0500


Hi All:

Just heard it on the grapewine from Darjeeling:
Apparently the future of the DHR is under review
after the damage sustained in the last monsoon.
There seems to be a school of opinion which wants
to truncate the line, presumably closing the
section between Kurseong and Sukna.

Does anyone know anything more ?

--
Jayant S : ID Studio : Tata Technologies India Limited
Telco Premises : Pimpri : PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA
TEL 91(20)702534 : FAX 91(20)773191
--

From: GOODWIN ALCO <>

Subject: Re: Indian Alco WDM 2 sounds

Date: 31 Jan 1999 14:02:01 -0500


Juan M Celorio wrote:
>
> Apurva,
> Why not make an ALCO forum - anything like this exists /
>
> Juan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
> To: rodsmith@werple.email <rodsmith@werple.email
> 101713.213@CompuServe.email <101713.213@CompuServe.email
semartin@idx.email
> <semartin@idx.email petan@ion.email <petan@ion.email
> nswsrca@ozemail.email <nswsrca@ozemail.email
> PWormald@alco.email <PWormald@alco.email
> rayrae@ngc.email <rayrae@ngc.email photoray@alphalink.email
> <photoray@alphalink.email railcrew@nbnet.email
<railcrew@nbnet.email
> renfe@hotmail.email <renfe@hotmail.email celorio@idt.email
<celorio@idt.email
> jafflez@wr.email <jafflez@wr.email flappy@kis.email
> <flappy@kis.email alco@planet.email <alco@planet.email
> Joe_Inserra@cargill.email <Joe_Inserra@cargill.email
iti@giaspn01.email
> <iti@giaspn01.email alco@acay.email <alco@acay.email Brian
> Alcock <kestrel@wr.email Stratton.Chris.CP@bhp.email
> <Stratton.Chris.CP@bhp.email mcmullen@istar.email <mcmullen@istar.email
> eichorn@eagles.email <eichorn@eagles.email
davlan@melbourne.email
> <davlan@melbourne.email s9763278@minyos.email
> <s9763278@minyos.email
> Date: Monday, January 18, 1999 1:19 AM
> Subject: Indian Alco WDM 2 sounds
>
> >Folks,
> >
> >I would request you go through some WDM 2 sounds in the MP 3 format
> >on my site.
> >Go to: <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~ApuB/index.htm">http://members.tripod.com/~ApuB/index.htm</A> and check the sound
> >section.
> >I am trying to send this mail to as many Alco lovers as I know of.
> >If this mail or the subject does not interest you, please let me
> >know
> >and I would leave your name out in the next posting. My apologies in
> >advance if you find this an unsolicited mail, for it really is that.
> >
> >Apurva Bahadur
> >
> >Pune /India
> >
> >

There is an Alco forum from my Alcos International website. There is
much Alco chit-chat going on there.
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html">http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html</A>
Brad

From: Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E, Heath <>

Subject: Re: DHR QUERY

Date: 31 Jan 1999 17:16:09 -0500


Dear Jayant,
Let's hope the whisper is wrong. It would decimate the line, and
drastically reduce its utility as a transport mode, let along its
attractiveness to tourists. It might be more cost-effective to crack
down on
deforestation, which is especially bad in the region of the worst slips,
around Paglajhora.
UNESCO are currently considering DHR for World Heritage listing,
and I
have heard informal comments that the Railway board are keen to maintain
it.
Last info I had was that Kurseong-Darjeeling had opened in October
(can nyone confirm?) and that Sukna-Tindharia was due to open the same
month. Work on the cart road continues and is supposed to be complete by
March; reinstatement of the railway is to follow shortly after.
I am always keen to have reliable, up-to-date information on the
DHR,
so if anyone has more data, please let's have it.
Cheers to all,
Ken Walker


-----Original Message-----
From: Jayant S <sank@telco.email
To: IR List <irfca@cs.email
Date: Sunday, 31 January 1999 6:03
Subject: DHR QUERY


>Hi All:
>
>Just heard it on the grapewine from Darjeeling:
>Apparently the future of the DHR is under review
>after the damage sustained in the last monsoon.
>There seems to be a school of opinion which wants
>to truncate the line, presumably closing the
>section between Kurseong and Sukna.
>
>Does anyone know anything more ?
>
>--
>Jayant S : ID Studio : Tata Technologies India Limited
>Telco Premises : Pimpri : PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA
>TEL 91(20)702534 : FAX 91(20)773191
>--
>

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Sighting.

Date: 31 Jan 1999 17:56:32 -0500



Hello Gang,

At 6am today I sighted a WCAM2 hauling a dead WAP1 and two A/c Blue and
Cream inspection coaches rush past at Andheri.

Viraf.

==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrej.email
==========================

From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>

Subject: Re: Need index page for my images

Date: 01 Feb 1999 07:52:21 -0500


> No Problem! Since I already have links to your 5 pages of
> photos and also
> your info/links page alll that is needed is a new page to replace the
> outdated info... ...just E-mail me the details or
> replacement page and
> I'll put it up.
>

Thanks Steve (and Anurag) for offering to host the index page. Shanku
has
already volunteered to put up an index page on the IRFCA site itself.

Vijay

From: Jayant S <>

Subject: Re: DHR QUERY

Date: 01 Feb 1999 19:06:42 -0500



> so if anyone has more data, please let's have it.
> Cheers to all,
> Ken Walker

Apparently there is a lot of pressure to close the
section. My brother is a member of the Landslide
Committee that has been formed to evaluate the
reconstruction of the road in that section, and
the tipoff came from him. I am trying to get more
information. The International Steam News page says
that the Kurseong-Darjeeling school train is running.
Presumably the Sukna-NJP section is also open.

Is it possible to put in as much pressure as we can
from the IR fan group ?

--
Jayant S : ID Studio : Tata Technologies India Limited
Telco Premises : Pimpri : PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA
TEL 91(20)702534 : FAX 91(20)773191
--

From: Krishnan Anand <>

Subject: New Shatabdi

Date: 01 Feb 1999 19:56:47 -0500



Hi all,
A news article in yesterday's Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad edition

says that a new Shatabdi would be introduced between Secunderabad and
Rajamundry. Its almost a 9.00 hour running time for a superfast express
train on this route. How viable would it be to run this train as i
really do not know the patronage here in Andhra for such trains. Another

B'lore-Hubli scenario i guess for the sake of running a Shatabdi in
Andhra Pradesh.

Kind regards,
Anand.K

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: New Shatabdi

Date: 02 Feb 1999 05:06:45 -0500




Krishnan Anand wrote:

> Hi all,
> A news article in yesterday's Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad
edition
> says that a new Shatabdi would be introduced between Secunderabad and
> Rajamundry. Its almost a 9.00 hour running time for a superfast
express
> train on this route. How viable would it be to run this train as i
> really do not know the patronage here in Andhra for such trains.
Another
> B'lore-Hubli scenario i guess for the sake of running a Shatabdi in
> Andhra Pradesh.

I guess every state capital would like to connect the No2 city by a
Shatabdi. I am surprised that AP was so late in getting one. But then is
there a daily morning traffic in this route to justify the train ?

Apurva

>
>
> Kind regards,
> Anand.K
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: DHR QUERY

Date: 02 Feb 1999 08:48:16 -0500


To All friends of DHR,

No, what you say is only partially true. At least there is no move from
IR
yet to close this section. A team from UNESCO visited the site mid last
month and were quite impressed. Hopefully the WHS status should come
fast
and that will secure DHR's futures for many more decades. There was an
article in the Calcutta Statesman in August last year(of which I have a
copy
but alas, no scanner) which propagated(what were the recommendations of
the
Geological Survey of India i.e. GSI) that it is the line which is
causing
damage to the hills and should hence be closed. But was perhaps just a
case
of people wanting to get some publicity at the cost of the DHR. The
Geological survey was entrusted with the job of finding the cause of
repeated damage every year to the Hill Cart Road(which obviously
concerns
more than the toy train) and they pointed their fingers at the toy
train.
When the truth is exactly the oppossite.


> Last info I had was that Kurseong-Darjeeling had opened in
October
>(can nyone confirm?) and that Sukna-Tindharia was due to open the same
>month. Work on the cart road continues and is supposed to be complete
by
>March; reinstatement of the railway is to follow shortly after.

Services between Kurseong-Darjeeling, Darjeeling-Ghoom and Siliguri
Junction-Tindharia have been restored from Nov-Dec 1998. Hill Cart Road
was
open full stretch in October. Repairs on the damage at lower and upper
Pagla
Jhora have also begin but might take some time(say march-april) before
the
full route is open.


>>Just heard it on the grapewine from Darjeeling:
>>Apparently the future of the DHR is under review
>>after the damage sustained in the last monsoon.
>>There seems to be a school of opinion which wants
>>to truncate the line, presumably closing the
>>section between Kurseong and Sukna.


That's simply impossible. Where will Tindharia go then? And they will
require to build two new workshops. If DHR has to go, it will have to be
the
full section or nothing at all. At present it is the latter which
favours
more.

Harsh

From: Anne Ogborn <>

Subject: Re: DHR QUERY

Date: 02 Feb 1999 13:25:58 -0500


Harsh Vardhan wrote:
>
> To All friends of DHR,
>
> No, what you say is only partially true. At least there is no move
from IR
> yet to close this section. A team from UNESCO visited the site mid
last
> month and were quite impressed. Hopefully the WHS status should come
fast
> and that will secure DHR's futures for many more decades. There was an
> article in the Calcutta Statesman in August last year(of which I have
a copy
> but alas, no scanner) which propagated(what were the recommendations
of the
> Geological Survey of India i.e. GSI) that it is the line which is
causing
> damage to the hills and should hence be closed. But was perhaps just a
case
> of people wanting to get some publicity at the cost of the DHR. The
> Geological survey was entrusted with the job of finding the cause of
> repeated damage every year to the Hill Cart Road(which obviously
concerns
> more than the toy train) and they pointed their fingers at the toy
train.
> When the truth is exactly the oppossite.

Harsh, how is it they're claiming the train is damaging the cart road?

From: Jayant S <>

Subject: Re: DHR QUERY

Date: 02 Feb 1999 19:56:52 -0500



> Harsh, how is it they're claiming the train is damaging the cart road?

The road lobby in Darjeeling putting in an oar ? For a long time
now commercial vehicle operators on the DJ-SGU route have wished
for 12-tonne GVW trucks and full-length buses. Darjeeling is the
only major Indian hill town which severely restricts the size of
commercial vehicles, resulting in a larger number of vehicles, more
congestion and higher operating costs. The reason is, of course, the
road bottlenecks at Paglajhora and Giddhapahar where the railway
takes up much of the potential road carriageway. Having travelled
on countless bus journeys on the route I know how road drivers
feel about it: how the hazards of mountain driving on a treacherous
road (often in dense fog) are compounded by the added danger
of meeting a train without warning, or trying to overtake a train
only to suddenly find it crossing the road in front of you....
And no place to escape to on either side.

In the seventies there was an attempt to build a totally new road
to Siliguri by way of Pokhreboong, which stopped after some work
was done. Possibly politicians in Kurseong objected ?

The problem is greater than meets the eye. Yes, the DHR is an
essential part of the ethos and heritage of Darjeeling. But the
needs of a burgeoning population also demand essential goods supply
as well as the capacity to handle large tourist volumes. For all its
charm, the DHR in its present form simply cannot handle more than a
small fraction of this traffic. Recognition of the railway as an
environmentally friendly mode of transport, and reengineering it
to be contemporary (sacrilege !) may work ?? I wonder. I love the
railway as I grew up with it, and its decline would hurt me, but
preservation cannot only be for the sake of preservation, it must
also answer other, more essential, questions that affect the
local population.

--
Jayant S : ID Studio : Tata Technologies India Limited
Telco Premises : Pimpri : PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA
TEL 91(20)702534 : FAX 91(20)773191
--

From: poras p.saklatwalla <>

Subject: Re: New Shatabdi

Date: 02 Feb 1999 20:12:50 -0500


Hi Gang,
I am sure there must be some sort of achievement in running a Shatabdi.
But the main thing is when a cesspool of politicians come in the
picture.
They increase the halts of such superfasts and spoil the very beauty of
a
shatabdi or Raj. Look at what happened to our very own Ahmedabad
shatabdi. Infact the Madras - Mysore Shatabdi is the best as it goes
direct between Madras Central and Bangalore city and you reach there
in
flat 4 hrss. A shatabdi must be introduced where there are two tracks
or
wwhere the traffic is less like the Chandigarh - Kalka route where the
train goes really at a good speed.

I have been keeping track of all your mails and have been keeping mum,
but
the introduction of the Varanasi - Patna Rajdhani according to me is a
waste. If the IR has so many spare bogiies then why dont we have a RAj
type train between MuMBAI and say Hyderabad or say Madras or Bangalore.

In mid 80's there was a train of this type between Mumbai and Ahmedabad
known as A/c express. It used to run as 151 dn and used to run on
those
days wwhen there was no Raj to Delhi, as in those days it used to run
twice or thrice. Viraf or Appu might be knowing about this.

Appu you also wrote that the erstwhile Minar Express used to run non
stop
between Poona Jn. and Sholapur, but the present Dadar Madras Chennai Exp
(1063) runs non stop. IT skips daund, Kurduwadi. Appu correct me if I
am
wrong.

Now I remember that in 1975 when I travelled to Madras I travelled by
the
Madras Janata Express, I don't recollect the no of this train but if I
am
not mistaken it was 13dn/14up and used to be the best train to go to
Madras as it used to take lesser time than the DAdar Madras Express
(11dn)
and of course the ssuper slow mail. Today we have the Bangalore Udyan
express departing at 7.55 am instead of the Madras Janata Express. So
even though we have a decent 1063 dn run by the CR ( the other two
trains
are run my SR, and we dont even feel like entering the coaches) we do
neeed a fully A/c train to STart from V.T. ( I hate this CSTM and hope
the
name is changed) to Madras covering the distance in about 22hrs.

Why was the Minar Express scrapped and this Konark started. If at all
they wanted theY could have changed the timing as the Konark also goes
to
Secunderabad and Minar also used to go to Bhubaneshwar. Can't figure
out
the thinking of the Mandarins in CR.

Now Viraf spotted a WAP 1 so does that mean that they are taking trial
runs ? Appu when will Pune - sholapur - Wadi be electrified and what
will
be the type of electric locos be used ? WAM's and P's or these WCAM'S.

Appu can we as citizens send suggestions to the CR Pro thru emails ? If
yes then what is his mail id ?

The Madgaon Shatabdi is coming in this Budget, this is inside info.
Will
start from V.T. in the morning at 5.35 and will reach Madgaon at 1.15

return will start at 2.45 and will arrive at 10.35 p.m. With halts at
DAdar Ratnagiri and Madgaon. I may be plus minus 1/2 an hour on
timings.
So Happy Journey to all the enthusiastic rail fans to Goa.

COme on friends a Positive feedback is needed.

PORAS P.SAKLATWALLA
TEL :5773535/3636
EXT :4226/4232/4237

From: P Y JOSHI <>

Subject: RO-RO

Date: 03 Feb 1999 00:43:26 -0500


Today there is an article in "Maharashtra Times" with photograph abuot
trial run of the Koakn Railway's RO-RO service

From: Joydeep Dutta <>

Subject: Dyamic Braking Tips for WDM2

Date: 03 Feb 1999 03:43:05 -0500


Dear Friends
I am just sorry for not being in touch for a long time since I joined
in. Recently there have been a lot of discussion on the train driving
simulators.Let me tell you that I have the experience of driving in a
real WDM2 simulator at the railway technical school at Kharagpur. Since
all of them knew that I had a lot of real life driving expereince so
they asked me to do exactly the way I would have done it on real road. I

drove in my usual style. I was given a load of 40 BTPN wagons with 85%
brake power (quiet silly never happens in real life). I got a meager 6%.

In fact many special grade drivers at Kharagpur got less than that. I
have preserved the report. I think Harsh has seen that. In fact after
being trained on the simulator a driver was asked to work the Howrah -
Bhubaneswar Dhauli express. According to his training he should open the

each notch by wating for five seconds. But the train lost time in the
Kharagpur itself and so he reverted back to his old style.
There are few drivers who really use the dynamic brakes to their full
potential. All of you must have observed that in air braked trains the
train stops with a jerk which I feel clumsy about. This could have been
eliminated by application of the dynamic brakes. From 100km/h to 70 km/h

the train can be slowed by A9 but after that upto 30km/h on e should
apply the dynamic brakes since that allows proper bunching and stops the

couplers from slacking.
My next mail will be on how to apply dynamic brakes as a driver. Those
of you who havent driven the great WDM2, just try it out once. I bet it
will be the greatest treat of your life.

Happy Railroading
Joydeep Dutta

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

From: Rajan Mathew <>

Subject: Re: New Shatabdi

Date: 03 Feb 1999 07:52:52 -0500


The shortest distance between SC and RJH is 473 km and I believe the halts would be Guntur and Vijaywada. The train would run via Nadikude since the earliest train is the Tenali Nagarjuna Exp. from SC at 0650. Otherwise also there is no morning superfast train to Vijaywada. I was anticipating such a train which leaves SC in the morning and connects three cities of Guntur, Vijaywada and Rajahmundry. No other trains exist and this train will be popular with the business community in AP especially those from the capital bound for these other important commercial centres. This is evident in the already large number of trains on the SC - BZA - VSKP stretch which have AC accommoodation.
While Rajahmundry and Vijaywada have airstrips (for light aircraft) which are not utilised, the deluxe train will fill up this gap comfortably.  
 
Thus I would say that the train would be a viable venture.
 
I was exploring the possibility of a SC - VSKP train, distance 674 km - however the lines are not exactly high speed lines with too many speed restrictions. 
 
Rajan
 
>Krishnan Anand wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>        A news article in yesterday's Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad edition
>> says that a new Shatabdi would be introduced between Secunderabad and
>> Rajamundry. Its almost a 9.00 hour running time for a superfast express
>> train on this route. How viable would it be to run this train as i
>> really do not know the patronage here in Andhra for such trains. Another
>> B'lore-Hubli scenario i guess for the sake of running a Shatabdi in
>> Andhra Pradesh.
>
>I guess every state capital would like to connect the No2 city by a
>Shatabdi. I am surprised that AP was so late in getting one. But then is
>there a daily morning traffic in this route to justify the train ?
>
>Apurva
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> Anand.K

From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>

Subject: Re: New Shatabdi

Date: 03 Feb 1999 07:56:38 -0500


> Krishnan Anand wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> > A news article in yesterday's Deccan Chronicle,
> Hyderabad edition
> > says that a new Shatabdi would be introduced between
> Secunderabad and
> > Rajamundry. Its almost a 9.00 hour running time for a
> superfast express
> > train on this route. How viable would it be to run this train as i
> > really do not know the patronage here in Andhra for such
> trains. Another
> > B'lore-Hubli scenario i guess for the sake of running a Shatabdi in
> > Andhra Pradesh.
>
> I guess every state capital would like to connect the No2 city by a
> Shatabdi. I am surprised that AP was so late in getting one.
> But then is
> there a daily morning traffic in this route to justify the train ?
>
> Apurva
>
As long as there are politicians who can use this train who cares about
the
traffic?!
Visakhapatnam is the no. 2 city for AP so this train falls short by
about
200 kms.
The 2704 Falaknuma Exp. takes 8 hrs. between Secunderabad and
Rajahmundry
(since it uses the shorter route via Nadikude-Guntur) and the 2703
Falaknuma
Exp. takes about 8 hrs. 40 mts.
This Shatabdi would probably take around 7 1/2 hrs. and have two halts
at
Guntur and Vijayawada. Maybe a third one at Eluru.

Vijay

From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>

Subject: Re: New Shatabdi

Date: 03 Feb 1999 08:18:48 -0500


> Hi Gang,
> I am sure there must be some sort of achievement in running a
> Shatabdi.
> But the main thing is when a cesspool of politicians come in
> the picture.
> They increase the halts of such superfasts and spoil the very
> beauty of a
> shatabdi or Raj. Look at what happened to our very own Ahmedabad
> shatabdi. Infact the Madras - Mysore Shatabdi is the best as it goes
> direct between Madras Central and Bangalore city and you
> reach there in
> flat 4 hrss.

Couldn't agree with you more. Pushkar and I have been lamenting about
the
current state of the ADI Shatabdi and are hoping (against hope) for a
2nd
Mumbai-ADI Shatabdi that stops only at Surat and Vadodara. Note that
the
Mysore Shatabdi does not encounter any major stations between Chennai
and
Bangalore City; neverthless, it's run is commendable.

> Appu you also wrote that the erstwhile Minar Express used to
> run non stop
> between Poona Jn. and Sholapur, but the present Dadar Madras
> Chennai Exp
> (1063) runs non stop. IT skips daund, Kurduwadi. Appu
> correct me if I am
> wrong.

You are correct. The Dadar-Chennai Exp. is the only train to run
non-stop
between Pune and Solapur in both the directions. The Dn. Konark does
this
as well.

>
> Now I remember that in 1975 when I travelled to Madras I
> travelled by the
> Madras Janata Express, I don't recollect the no of this train
> but if I am
> not mistaken it was 13dn/14up and used to be the best train to go to
> Madras as it used to take lesser time than the DAdar Madras
> Express (11dn)

Not true. As far as I can remember, the Madras Janata Exp. used to be
about
3 hrs. slower than the Dadar-Madras Exp. I have traveled on this train
once
from Madras to Dadar (summer of 1974) and it was steam-hauled between
Madras
and Pune, whereas the Dadar-Madras Exp. was diesel-hauled (blue WDM2).

> are run my SR, and we dont even feel like entering the coaches) we do
> neeed a fully A/c train to STart from V.T. ( I hate this CSTM
> and hope the
> name is changed) to Madras covering the distance in about 22hrs.

Right again. If not a fully A/c train, we atleast need a superfast
train
between Mumbai and Chennai. Maybe, this'll happen once the
Daund-Ganagpur
Rd. section gets doubled.

>
> Why was the Minar Express scrapped and this Konark started.
> If at all
> they wanted theY could have changed the timing as the Konark
> also goes to
> Secunderabad and Minar also used to go to Bhubaneshwar.
> Can't figure out
> the thinking of the Mandarins in CR.

The Minar and the Konark used to share rakes with just a name change at
Secunderabad. About 3-4 coaches were meant for
Mumbai-Rajahmundry/Bhubaneswar passengers. A couple of coaches used to
get
attached/detached at Pune. Then the Minar Exp. was renamed as the
Hussainsagar Exp. (what is wrong with the name 'Minar'?) and restricted
between Mumbai CST and Hyderabad. The Konark Exp. was extended till
Mumbai
CST with change in timings.


>
> The Madgaon Shatabdi is coming in this Budget, this is inside
> info. Will
> start from V.T. in the morning at 5.35 and will reach Madgaon
> at 1.15
> return will start at 2.45 and will arrive at 10.35 p.m. With
> halts at
> DAdar Ratnagiri and Madgaon. I may be plus minus 1/2 an hour
> on timings.
> So Happy Journey to all the enthusiastic rail fans to Goa.
>

Looks like they decided to have a Madgaon superfast from Mumbai CST
after
all. What about the Panvel-Madgaon superfast exp. Is the Shatabdi
going to
take the place of this train? How come the Shatabdi doesn't have a halt
at
Panvel to serve New Mumbaikers?

I am not too pleased with the Dadar halt. Dadar is too close to Mumbai
CST
for warranting a Shatabdi halt. They have already messed around with
the
Pune Shatabdi. Look at Bhopal Shatabdi or the Shatabdis from
Kalka/Chandigarh/Amritsar. No halts at Nizamuddin or Subzi Mandi.

Vijay

From: Auroprem Kandaswami <>

Subject: "Triple" Crossing on IR!

Date: 03 Feb 1999 11:23:09 -0500



Friends,

I wanted to share with you with a very interesting and unique
IR experience I had in December 1998 during my visit to India.

I was travelling by 6011 Chennai-Madras Express (the 11 down
Dadar Express, prestigious train of the 70s) and at Raichur the
train was late by 90 minutes. Definitely not something uncommon
on the Wadi-Renigunta miserable line on SCR!

At approx. 7 kms after Raichur, our train was diverted to the loop
line (siding at) a small wayside station, Matmari (a village). I
thought it was a conventional crossing. It was certainly not.

About 15 minutes later, I saw a train coming from behind
us (Raichur side), and I could not take it. Someone trying to
overtake us? As the train came beside us (it had slowed down
considerably) I recognised it was H.Nizamuddin - Bangalore
Rajdhani Express. Had maybe 8-10 coaches. I expected the
Rajdhani to proceed without stopping. It stopped right on the
platform of Matmari station. I guess the train had totally ran
out of drinking water and IR was giving the thirsty, elite passengers
coming all the way from Delhi a chance to drink some tap water
and along with enjoy some fresh morning air as an extra deal!

About 15 minutes later, when the Rajdhani passengers had all
quenched their thirst, a long goods train came from Adoni
side (towards Raichur). It was travelling slow but nevertheless
had the right of way. It crossed both the Rajdhani and our good
old 6011 Express and proceeded towards Raichur without stopping.

Now 5 minutes later, I could see the Rajdhani pulling away from us
towards Adoni side. I could not find where it stopped for the next
crossing. I guess the next official (scheduled) stop is Guntakal.

Our train (6011) has always been trained and raised to be very
patient. It quietly sat there at Matmari for another 20 minutes,
(enjoying the rural settings), thus ensuring a safe clearance from
the Rajdhani and then moved out.

This is what I call a "triple" crossing. Or maybe it was just
a double crossing(?). Anyway, our train lost a straight 52 minutes
because of this one stop and now it was 2 hrs, 22 minutes. We finally
reached MAS at 20:30 hours (approx. 4 hours late). At
Tiruttani, there was more fun. A Tiruttani-MAS SR local train
was allowed to go before us (after we reached Tiruttani).
I think that is a typical IR approach - 6011 is late anyway,
so why delay the local train which is right on schedule.

What a great way to manage traffic and to run a Rajdhani!!

Comments welcome

Auro

From: Rajan Mathew <>

Subject: Step into MacDonalds - opposite Bombay VT

Date: 03 Feb 1999 11:39:56 -0500


THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT !!!

MacDonalds, the international fast food chain has set up shop BANG
opposite
Bombay VT station from November.

A special treat for Fastfood lovers who love trains too ... a classic
wood
interiors with some excellent pictures of classic trains / Steam
Locomotives
with captions and framed well - a must visit for every rail fan ... like
an
exhibition many of them from the time of the Raj and the railways of the
Princely states. Maybe some can be found at the NRM also today, which I
will
need to verify.

Rajan

From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>

Subject: Re: "Triple" Crossing on IR!

Date: 03 Feb 1999 12:32:26 -0500




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Auroprem Kandaswami [mailto:kandaswa@apple.email
> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 1999 2:23 PM
> To: Indian Rail
> Subject: "Triple" Crossing on IR!
>
>
>
> Friends,
>
> I wanted to share with you with a very interesting and unique
> IR experience I had in December 1998 during my visit to India.
>
> I was travelling by 6011 Chennai-Madras Express (the 11 down
> Dadar Express, prestigious train of the 70s) and at Raichur the
> train was late by 90 minutes. Definitely not something uncommon
> on the Wadi-Renigunta miserable line on SCR!

This means that the 6011 Dn. must have reached Raichur around 6.15 am,
right?


>
> About 15 minutes later, I saw a train coming from behind
> us (Raichur side), and I could not take it. Someone trying to
> overtake us? As the train came beside us (it had slowed down
> considerably) I recognised it was H.Nizamuddin - Bangalore
> Rajdhani Express. Had maybe 8-10 coaches. I expected the
> Rajdhani to proceed without stopping. It stopped right on the
> platform of Matmari station. I guess the train had totally ran

That's interesting! The Aug. 1998 TT indicates that the
Nizamuddin-Bangalore Raj reaches Raichur at 11.45 pm. This means that
the
Raj was a whopping 6 1/2 hrs. late!! Have the timings been changed
recently?

Did the livery of the WDM2 loco. match that of the coaches (red-n-white)
or
did it have some other color?


> Now 5 minutes later, I could see the Rajdhani pulling away from us
> towards Adoni side. I could not find where it stopped for the next
> crossing. I guess the next official (scheduled) stop is Guntakal.
>

The next stop for the Bangalore Raj. is Anantapur.


> Tiruttani, there was more fun. A Tiruttani-MAS SR local train
> was allowed to go before us (after we reached Tiruttani).

Was this a regular passenger train or EMU? As far as I know, the EMUs
do
not go beyond Tiruvallur.


> I think that is a typical IR approach - 6011 is late anyway,
> so why delay the local train which is right on schedule.
>

This happens all the time to Mumbai-bound trains that fall within
suburban
peak hours.


Vijay