IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 6501 - 6520

From: Dr. M S M Saifullah <>

Subject: Difference between WAM and WAP locomotives

Date: 30 May 1999 22:28:26 -0500


What are the principal technical differences between WAM and WAP
locomotives? WAP are speedier and have a greater acceleration than WAM;
at
least that is what my experience shows when I travelled between Chennai
to
Bangalore by Lalbagh Express.

Regards
Saifullah

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Wankaner

Date: 30 May 1999 23:59:49 -0500


That is correct, I confused between 100 Kms and 1 hour from
Rajkot.

hvc wrote:

> Just for the sake of putting the record straight. Wankaner is just 42
Km
> short of Rajkot on the mainline - 1 hour ride on most trains.
>
> Harsh
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
> To: tmwake@warwick.email <tmwake@warwick.email
> Cc: irfca <irfca@cs.email
> Date: Monday, May 31, 1999 1:46 AM
> Subject: Re: Wankaner
>
> >Wankaner is located North West of Ahmedabad in Gujrat. It is some 100
Kms
> short of
> >Rajkot which should be indicated on the map. My website on WKR
contains a
> railway map
> >of the region.
> >
> >Apurva
> >
> >Tim & Anita Wakeman wrote:
> >
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> Where abouts is Wankaner.I nor my wife had heard of it.
> >>
> >> Regards,Tim
> >
> >
> >

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Question for our American friends

Date: 31 May 1999 00:07:41 -0500


> Quite difficult. Most avid railfans have managed it once or twice, but
it's rare.
> Our model railroad club has a member who'se a driver for Caltrain, and
even so only
> once did another member get to go with him - that in exchange for some
favor done.
> The penalty if he had been caught would have been dismissal.

Even in India, by the rulebook any non railway person is not allowed
onto the footplate. But
fortunately the rules are not that strictly applied. If the
administration on a section is
strict and throwing the rulebook around, no driver would allow you onto
the footplate in that
section. However most drivers are not against you coming onto their
footplate.

Apurva


>
> Annie

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Question for our American friends

Date: 31 May 1999 00:07:41 -0500


> Quite difficult. Most avid railfans have managed it once or twice, but
it's rare.
> Our model railroad club has a member who'se a driver for Caltrain, and
even so only
> once did another member get to go with him - that in exchange for some
favor done.
> The penalty if he had been caught would have been dismissal.

Even in India, by the rulebook any non railway person is not allowed
onto the footplate. But
fortunately the rules are not that strictly applied. If the
administration on a section is
strict and throwing the rulebook around, no driver would allow you onto
the footplate in that
section. However most drivers are not against you coming onto their
footplate.

Apurva


>
> Annie

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Unusual double-headed sightings in SR/SCR

Date: 31 May 1999 03:12:50 -0500


> b. WAG5A(LGD)-WDM2A(KZJ) heading a coal load at Bibinagar (near
Hyderabad)

What is this ? A diesel and electric MUing together ?? I have
never heard of this or even thought of this (except just now
!). I am not even sure if the MUing protocols for the two
types of locos is compatible. Were both locos MUed or whether
they were just coupled together. Next time you have a sighting
like this, please keep eyes peeled for the MU cable.
Recently I did see a TRIPLE WDM 2 freighter, but I could see
that although two locos were lashed together, the third one
was just coupled without the MU cable. After crossing the
Dapodi bridge, the leading driver just raised his hand and all
the locos opened up simultaneously.

> c. 6319 Dn Chennai-Trivandrum Mail double headed with a WAP1(ERODE)
leading and a WAM4 (Arakonam) just behind it. May be there was a
shortage of A/C Locos at the Erode end and they had to transport it this
way. But how do they decide which train can take the Additional loco.
Any criteria for this. Super rail-beings please clarify this for me.

Again the presence of the MU cable would decide whether the
two locos were working together or not. Was the trailing AKJ
loco live (with panto up) ?

> d. WAG7(Ajni) heading a very long formation of RMS+Motorvan
carriages. This is the second that i have noticed. Around 6 months back
i saw a similar formation. Those were SR/WR carriages. This one had
carriages from almost all zones but mostly NR/SER/SCR ones.

Maybe this was actually carrying cars from the new factories
(Ford, Hyundai etc) around Chennai to the rest of the country
?

> f. A passenger train, i think Gudur passenger, hauled by a
WAP1(LGD) somehwere near Nayudupeta on the Chennai-Gudur trunk line.
This was most surprising of all my sightings. Just 6 old junk carriages
with a loco capable of pulling 4 times more of its load. Totally
unwarranted !!!!

My friend, a retired ghat driver once hauled the dead WDS 4
loco + 3 carriages of the Khapoli - Karjat passenger with his
triple coupled WDM 2 set !
Maybe this was a neat way for the LGD power to return home
from Chennai in the absence of a suitable link.

> g. A fairly bright looking WDP1(15014 i think) standing at perhaps
the same spot where i had taken a snap of a sleeping WAM4 in Sec'bad
station. To my surprise it did not have any markings of any Shed on it.
All it had on it was Built and maintained by DLW, Varanasi. This is the
first time in the last 1-1/2 years stay at hyderabad that i am
witnessing a WDP1. Maybe it has been a new entrant and would in all
possibilities be given to the KZJ shed which has been housing the
WDM2Cs. It has a light maroon with Cream band in the middle. Any idea
which shed has this livery ? Again the services of super railnuts needed
!!!

DO you have a pic of this WDP 1? Is it similar to the one I
have on my website ? How was the sound of the loco and could
you go inside the cab ? Next time you get a chance to do so,
please confirm whether there is passage between the two cabs
inside the hood like a WAM 4.

High time you got a scanner.
Keep those observations coming !

Apurva

From: poras p.saklatwalla <>

Subject: Re: I am going to Madras (fwd)

Date: 31 May 1999 04:31:21 -0500


As far as I know Whenever I have travelled by 1063 it has halted at
Gooty!
so where is the question of it skipping.
Where is the krishna bridge ? after which stn ?
PORAS P.SAKLATWALLA
TEL :5773535/3636
EXT :4226/4232/4237

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From: Vijay Balasubramanian <vijay_642@hotmail.email
To: pps@godrej.email irfca@cs.email
Cc: pushkar_apte@hotmail.email
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 07:58:02 PDT
Subject: Re: I am going to Madras

>
>Fun as it would be I am just thinking if I am able to stay awake on the
>pune - sholapur run and enjoy the non stop ride. I am in S-9 coach,

I hope this does not spoil your fun but the ride is not non-stop -
the Chennai exp. stops for 1-2 crossings in between. Have to check
my CR WTT for the details.


which
>means only at Pune and at Renigunta will I be able to go near the loco
and
>see a loco change. ELECTRIC (DC)- DIESEL- ELECTRIC (AC)
>The group is invited to send their interesting observations which I can
>see at wayside stns at Pune- Wadi - Guntakul - Gooty- Cuddapah and
>Renigunta. On my previous two visits I got a WAP 4 from Ghaziabad and
>once on 6011 got a WAM 4 from Arakkonam Jn.

Here are some things to look forward to -
1. Crossing the double-headed Karnataka exp. just before Gulbarga.
If you are lucky, you may meet this train at Gulbarga itself.

2. Crossing the double-headed Udyan Exp. just after Wadi. Again if
your train is late by 15-20 mts. and the Udyan is on time, you will
meet this train at Wadi itself.

3. Doubling in progress between Daund and Gangapur Rd. (anything
happening here?)

4. Electrification in progress between Guntakal and Renigunta (have
the poles been laid out?)

5. Crossing the Chennai-Tirupati Exp. between Renigunta and Arakkonam
- this train should be a Push-Pull rake with distinctive livery.

6. Crossing the Krishna river just after Krishna station and
encountering the Thermal power plant after the bridge.

7. Watching the soil color change to brown-red somewhere between
Raichur and Adoni because of significant iron content - laterite
soils.

8. Guntakal - WDM2 loco shed, MG rolling stock.

9. Gooty - WDG2(?) loco shed.

10. If you are like me, you would be elated by important stations
being ignored by this train - Daund, Gooty and Arakkonam.


>
>Coming to the regular mails that I have been reading MCT- ADI Shatabdi
is
>the slowest Shatabdi in this country. The problem is Gujrat Express

It is nowhere close to the slowest - it is only one among four Shatabdis
in the country to touch 120 kmph. speeds (Bhopal, Kanpur and Bokaro
Shatabdis go till 130/140). It manages to cross the 70 kmph. mark as
far as commercial speed is concerned - not all Shatabdis do that. It's
only 'blackmark' is the overdose of halts - 7 halts for just 492 km.

If one goes by the commercial speed, the slowest Shatabdi is the Pune
Shatabdi - 57.6 kmph - understandably so b'coz of the Ghats. Next is
the Dehra Dun Shatabdi at 58.15 kmph.


>
>I suggest that a train to ADI be started from MCT at 6.50 so that it
can
>reach ADI in 7hrs and return the prestigious Shatabdi to its normal
>status. On the return this train can Start from ADI at 3.30pm and
reach
>Mumbai by 10.30 pm.

Amen to that!!!

Vijay


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From: poras p.saklatwalla <>

Subject: A/C. Ist CLASS FARE 1999-2000 ....! (fwd)

Date: 31 May 1999 04:32:08 -0500




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

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From: KURUSH F ENGINEER <kfe@godrej.email
To: ELAVIA S N <sne@godrej.email "poras p.saklatwalla" <pps@godrej.email
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:26:18 +0530 (IST)
Subject: A/C. Ist CLASS FARE 1999-2000 ....! (fwd)

ACK 270599092618


DEAR FRIENDS, (Useful for Mumbai based employees)

May be this table will be useful for you, to claim tax rebate for LTA
This one is according to the latest fares released by Indian Railways.
Worked out at 14.4 times more than the fare of 2nd class of
Mail/Exp.trains.

DESTINATION Kms. Ex Mumbai A/C. Ist CLASS FARE (Rs)

AMHEDABAD 0492 1526
MADGAON/GOA (KONKAN RLY.)0769 2683
UDAIPUR 0789 2174
SECURANDABAD 0790 2174
HYDERABAD 0800 2189
BHPOAL 0837 2275
DURG 1092 2693
JHANSI 1128 2780
BAYANA 1168 2794
JAIPUR 1170 2794
MANGALORE (KONKAN RLY.) 1200 3528
BHARATPUR 1209 2851
BANGALORE 1210 2851
GWALIOR 1225 2880
BILASPUR 1240 2880
MATHURA 1243 2880
MADRAS 1279 2909
AGRA 1344 2952
ALLAHABAD 1373 3010
NEW DELHI 1388 3010
VIZAG. 1513 3168
ROURKELA 1545 3182
ERNAKULAM (KONKAN RLY.) 1600 4014
COCHIN (KONKAN RLY.) 1608 4014
CHANDIGARH 1632 3254
PATNA 1654 3254
JAMSHEDPUR 1709 3413
NAINATAL 1743 3442
SHIMLA 1752 3442
TRIVANDRUM (KONKAN RLY.) 1825 4355
PATHANKOT 1872 3514
AMRITSAR 1900 3586
KANYAKUMARI (KONKAN RLY.)1900 4483
TIRUNVELI 1928 3614
CALCATTA 1960 3629
JAMMU TAWI 1973 3629
ASANSOL 1987 3629
GUWAHATI 2507 4046
DARJEELING 2614 4277
DIBRUGARH 3464 4939

Add Rs. 35/- as Reservation Charges & incase of New Delhi fare Add Rs.
50/- as Surcharge if travelling by Rajdhani or Aug.Kranti the fare is
Rs. 4180

Note that Konkan Rly fares are more by 25% , please refer fares of
Mum-Amritsar & Mum-Kanyakumari.

The fares are for one person , one way.


USE THIS TO CLAIM REBATE

A N D

ENJOY ! YOUR TAX FREE HOLIDAY EARNINGS



(Any corrections are welcome, can mail me for further improvement)a
========================================================================
=======

From: Anand Krishnan <>

Subject: Re: Trip to the south!

Date: 31 May 1999 05:18:55 -0500


Hi all,

>This is not to say that SR operates at 99.99% punctuality. I
>think the particular section on SR that you happenned to travel,
>MAQ - Podanur Jn. (anybody knows the code?) which is single-line
>for most part, and has a tremendous traffic density, might have
>a lower or mediocre punctuality. Doubling of SRR (Shoranur)-MAQ
>is in the works, do not know how far it is completed. This whole
>section is under Palghat (PGT) Division, which was Olavakkot division
>for decades, just renamed within the last 10 years.
I for one is totally with Mr.Kandaswami. The problem lies
almost in the whole of Malabar belt. Most of the stretch is single
expecting the stretch between Shoranur and Ernakulam. Again after
Ernakulam upto Trivandrum it is single-line only. The doubling work have
very recently been started. It has been a long standing complaint that
the 6319 Dn Trivandrum mail loses time after Ernakulam.

>
>If you would like to witness and experience the dizzy, ecstatic
>heights of both Cleaniness and Punctuality at the same time, one must
>make it a point to do the MS-MDU section at least once in his/her
>life. Madras-Madurai sector covers three SR divisions, Madras,
>Tiruchichirapalli (TPJ) and Madurai divisions.
>
Again full support to Mr.Kandaswami. MG rakes have been kept
spic and span even today. The stop at Chingleput is just 3 minutes and
that would be more than sufficient to load the dinner for certain trains
in that miserly 3 minutes. All doors are locked by the TTs and they take
it as their responsibility to see to it there are no unreserved
passengers travelling in reserved compartments. But there are a softer
lot too.I knew of a person who was very politely asked to leave the
compartment. Underline the word polite. TO my knowledge there have not
ben any RPF assistance in any of these MG trains.

regds,
Anand


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From: Anand Krishnan <>

Subject: Unusual double-headed sightings in SR/SCR

Date: 31 May 1999 06:48:25 -0500


Hi all,
Yes GOC shed is not as big as that of ERODE but the workshop is
just so huge. I had very been to Chennai for the last 3-4 days and i
will have to tell Apurva that this time it was almost a through and
through double headed weekend. Its a very strange coincidence that
Apurva asks about double headings and i saw very peculiar ones this
time.
a. Twin WAM4(Arakonam) heading a KCP Cement load towards Arakonam
side
b. WAG5A(LGD)-WDM2A(KZJ) heading a coal load at Bibinagar (near
Hyderabad)
c. 6319 Dn Chennai-Trivandrum Mail double headed with a WAP1(ERODE)
leading and a WAM4 (Arakonam) just behind it. May be there was a
shortage of A/C Locos at the Erode end and they had to transport it this
way. But how do they decide which train can take the Additional loco.
Any criteria for this. Super rail-beings please clarify this for me.
d. WAG7(Ajni) heading a very long formation of RMS+Motorvan
carriages. This is the second that i have noticed. Around 6 months back
i saw a similar formation. Those were SR/WR carriages. This one had
carriages from almost all zones but mostly NR/SER/SCR ones.
e. New coaches have been commissioned . I saw a weekly
Tirupathi-Sec'bad special with a majority of rakes in Light blue-Dark
blue combinations. All had their numbers starting with 99 which i guess
should point to its recent commisioning.
f. A passenger train, i think Gudur passenger, hauled by a WAP1(LGD)
somehwere near Nayudupeta on the Chennai-Gudur trunk line. This was most
surprising of all my sightings. Just 6 old junk carriages with a loco
capable of pulling 4 times more of its load. Totally unwarranted !!!!
g. A fairly bright looking WDP1(15014 i think) standing at perhaps
the same spot where i had taken a snap of a sleeping WAM4 in Sec'bad
station. To my surprise it did not have any markings of any Shed on it.
All it had on it was Built and maintained by DLW, Varanasi. This is the
first time in the last 1-1/2 years stay at hyderabad that i am
witnessing a WDP1. Maybe it has been a new entrant and would in all
possibilities be given to the KZJ shed which has been housing the
WDM2Cs. It has a light maroon with Cream band in the middle. Any idea
which shed has this livery ? Again the services of super railnuts needed
!!!

Comments awaited

kind regards,
Anand


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From: C.L.Zeni <>

Subject: Re: Unusual double-headed sightings in SR/SCR

Date: 31 May 1999 06:49:54 -0500


Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
> > b. WAG5A(LGD)-WDM2A(KZJ) heading a coal load at Bibinagar (near
Hyderabad)
>
> What is this ? A diesel and electric MUing together ?? I have
> never heard of this or even thought of this (except just now
> !). I am not even sure if the MUing protocols for the two
> types of locos is compatible. Were both locos MUed or whether
> they were just coupled together. Next time you have a sighting
> like this, please keep eyes peeled for the MU cable.
> Recently I did see a TRIPLE WDM 2 freighter, but I could see
> that although two locos were lashed together, the third one
> was just coupled without the MU cable. After crossing the
> Dapodi bridge, the leading driver just raised his hand and all
> the locos opened up simultaneously.

Here in the US back in the 1960s, the now-defunct Milwaukee Road had two
electrified districts in its transcontinental line. The electrification
was old and not able to meet the required loads but the road was not
able to afford new substations etc. They bought some electric engines
from General Electric in 1952, but in the 1960s, to meet capacity, found
a way to MU them with diesels. As Apurva notes, the MU systems were not
compatible so the railroad fitted miniature diesel control stands in the
electrics, next to the electric stands, and fitted the requisite diesel
MU cables etc. When they MUed the electrics and diesels, they'd have
the electrics on the point and, in the cab, simply slip a mechanical
link between the electric control handle and the minature diesel
handle. Voila - MU. Cheap and dirty and rather ingenious.
--
Craig Zeni - REPLY TO -->> clzeni at mindspring dot com
<A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html">http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html</A>
Kitty Haiku: The rule for today
Touch my tail, I shred your hand.
New rule tomorrow.

From: Anand Krishnan <>

Subject: Re: SR Punctuality

Date: 31 May 1999 07:22:13 -0500


Hi folks,

>The most common reason is, then the train arrives at Renigunta or >AJJ
a
>goods train/EMU will start in the same direction.
>
>Can anybody clarify this.
>
EMU traffic on this line starts from Tirutani onwards. Its a
feature
as far as the Chennai Superfast Exp is concerned since its timings at
Tirittani overlaps the Tiruttani-Chennai local in the evening i think
this
happens at around 5.30 p.m or so. But with regard to the 6012/11 or the
chennai mail i think this was not a problem at all. In general the
problem
lies in the Arakonam-Chennai sector and not Renigunta-Arakkonam. The
number
of EMUs on this line is much much higher than Renigunta-Arakonam. Infact
it
is at the maximum between Tiruvallur and Chennai. So there are chances
that
delay might be caused but the SR is now through with its extra line in
this
sector which can reduce such incidents to a great extent.

Kind regards,
Anand


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From: Anand Krishnan <>

Subject: Re: Unusual double-headed sightings in SR/SCR

Date: 31 May 1999 09:50:29 -0500



>
>What is this ? A diesel and electric MUing together ?? I have
>never heard of this or even thought of this (except just now
>!). I am not even sure if the MUing protocols for the two
>types of locos is compatible. Were both locos MUed or whether
>they were just coupled together. Next time you have a sighting
>like this, please keep eyes peeled for the MU cable.
>Recently I did see a TRIPLE WDM 2 freighter, but I could see
>that although two locos were lashed together, the third one
>was just coupled without the MU cable. After crossing the
>Dapodi bridge, the leading driver just raised his hand and all
>the locos opened up simultaneously.
May be u r right Apurva. I did not keep my eyes on the MU
cables. But this gives rise to another doubt in me. As u say in the
event of these 2 not being MUed then may be they would be returning the
deisel power to KZJ shed.


>Again the presence of the MU cable would decide whether the
>two locos were working together or not. Was the trailing AKJ
>loco live (with panto up) ?
In this case the panto was up . I again missed out on seeing
the MU cable. The engine was live and there was a motor man(only one)
also inside the cabin. I am sure this train does not warrant a WAP and
it has been WAMs that have regularly done duty. May be till ERODE the
WAP would have done duty. Upon reaching ERODE the WAP would have got
detached and returned to its home there and the WAM would have carried
it till PGT from where deisels take over. If they are still yet to
commission electric till PGT a WDM2 from ERODE would have taken over
there itself leaving both behind.


>DO you have a pic of this WDP 1? Is it similar to the one I
>have on my website ? How was the sound of the loco and could
>you go inside the cab ? Next time you get a chance to do so,
>please confirm whether there is passage between the two cabs
>inside the hood like a WAM 4.
Yes it is very very similar to that on the web site. My train
was just pulling out of the platform when i noticed this. I was looking
out for the shed and the maintenance details. This had a different roar
altogether, not the usual WDM2 tone. It was more uniform and continuous.
The body was very very similar to that of WDM2C. I hads to double check
if it was 2C or WDP1. It was surely WDP1 like the one on the web site.
Another interesting info i wanted to tell was that, some WDM2C are being
mainteained at GOC. I noticed this in the inscription on the steel
plate below the driver's window. It had "Maintained by Golden Rock
Deisel Shed, Tiruchirapalli". The loco was a WDM2C(14034), from the KZJ
shed, that was scheduled to pull the Falaknuma Exp to Howrah from
Secunderabad.


Kind regards,
Anand


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From: Tim & Anita Wakeman <>

Subject: Re: Unusual double-headed sightings in SR/SCR

Date: 31 May 1999 10:33:47 -0500


C.L.Zeni wrote:
>
> Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> >
> > > b. WAG5A(LGD)-WDM2A(KZJ) heading a coal load at Bibinagar (near
Hyderabad)
> >
> > What is this ? A diesel and electric MUing together ?? I have
> > never heard of this or even thought of this (except just now
> > !). I am not even sure if the MUing protocols for the two
> > types of locos is compatible. Were both locos MUed or whether
> > they were just coupled together. Next time you have a sighting
> > like this, please keep eyes peeled for the MU cable.
> > Recently I did see a TRIPLE WDM 2 freighter, but I could see
> > that although two locos were lashed together, the third one
> > was just coupled without the MU cable. After crossing the
> > Dapodi bridge, the leading driver just raised his hand and all
> > the locos opened up simultaneously.
>
> Here in the US back in the 1960s, the now-defunct Milwaukee Road had
two
> electrified districts in its transcontinental line. The
electrification
> was old and not able to meet the required loads but the road was not
> able to afford new substations etc. They bought some electric engines
> from General Electric in 1952, but in the 1960s, to meet capacity,
found
> a way to MU them with diesels. As Apurva notes, the MU systems were
not
> compatible so the railroad fitted miniature diesel control stands in
the
> electrics, next to the electric stands, and fitted the requisite
diesel
> MU cables etc. When they MUed the electrics and diesels, they'd have
> the electrics on the point and, in the cab, simply slip a mechanical
> link between the electric control handle and the minature diesel
> handle. Voila - MU. Cheap and dirty and rather ingenious.
> --


Craig,
You took the words right out of my mouth. One thing we should note
about this operation,the Little Joes were used mainly to get the diesels
up to track speed, and quickly. This would have worked better if they
could keep the trains on the track.

Tim
> Craig Zeni - REPLY TO -->> clzeni at mindspring dot com
> <A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html">http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html</A>
> Kitty Haiku: The rule for today
> Touch my tail, I shred your hand.
> New rule tomorrow.

From: Mike Brooker <>

Subject: Re: Question for our American friends

Date: 31 May 1999 19:47:10 -0500


I asked for ride in the cab of the third to the last
>VIA "Canadian" westbound at Thunder Bay Ontario. The condutor told me
to
>ask the engineer. I did. He said to come up.After some talk the road
>foreman of engine climbs up. The driver introduced us and said I would
>be going to Kenora with them. The "white hat" said."WELCOME ABOARD!".I

VIA's Toronto -- Vancouver "Canadian" is still operating. I presume you
are
referring to the 3rd to last run of the old routing. Until early 1990
the
Canadian used to run daily and touch Thunder Bay, Kenora, and much of
the
north shore of Lake Superior. Then, in a round of VIA budget cuts, the
route was cut back to 3 times a week, and no longer serves Thunder Bay,
Kenora, or Sudbury, ON (The "Sudbury Jct." station is 10 km from
downtown
Sudbury ). BTW, the distance between Toronto and Vancouver on the
Canadian's post-1990 route is 4424 km

********************************************************************
Mike Brooker
99 Wychcrest Ave.,
Toronto, ON M6G 3X8
CANADA
(416) 536-7406
********************************************************************

From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>

Subject: Boulders on KR?

Date: 31 May 1999 21:17:23 -0500



No Chance!!

Hi!

Report ,from yesterdays's Maharashtra Times, Mumbai edition.

The engineers on KR have covered the likely portions on the hillocks
along
the track on KR with 12 mm Dia. nets. The mesh is of 12" sq. each. And
the total are covered at various locations is reported to be around 2
lacs
sq. meters. The mesh are fixed on top of the hill by bolts & on the
slops
they are protected by plates & bolts. So less likelyhood of the boulders
coming down with gushing waters. And thereby saving lots of manhours &
money used for clearing these falling boulders..

One hopes during this monsoon onwards there will be no hold up for
trains
running on KR. This is common protection given to many rail networks in
mountain areas abroad, the report said.

Another feather in the KR cap.

The report is accompanied with a photograph of a typical slope held back
by such mesh.

Bye

Shrinivas

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: News over the last days

Date: 31 May 1999 22:28:05 -0500


Gang !

These is the topics in the news over the last many days.
 

Weekly tickets on the Mumbai Suburban Section: There is a new scheme to buy weekly tickets which are allowed anywhere in the Mumbai suburban section. These tickets are not valid on the Diva - Vasai  and the Diva - Panvel section. The tickets are for second class only and require an ID photo. It is a great idea for the occasional visitor to Mumbai. The rush in the ticket windows often match those in the local trains. Sometimes I buy a 1st class ticket (which can be bought separately from the side of the same window) to save time of standing in the ticket line.
Borivali Station building: The Borivali station (the 'real' home to much of Godrej ?)building is being extended (vertically !). The new building would be 9 stories high and will house commercial complexes along with various railway offices and computerized booking centers.


Apurva

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Re: Unusual double-headed sightings in SR/SCR

Date: 01 Jun 1999 00:13:23 -0500


>
> What is this ? A diesel and electric MUing together ?? I have
> never heard of this or even thought of this (except just now
> !). I am not even sure if the MUing protocols for the two
> types of locos is compatible.


One late evening last month I saw a mail/express(?) ready for departure
at Bombay central station which had a WCAM2 coupled to a WDM2. I didn't
trust my eyes then since I saw the train from my speeding EMU. But then
this double headed express overtook my EMU between Jogeshwari &
Goregaon.
Being dark outside I was not unable to read the name or the destination
board.

Viraf



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

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: [Fwd: new member test

Date: 01 Jun 1999 01:54:26 -0500


Thanks for the link Saif !

Gang, check out Saif's new website of JR pictures, his IR pics
will be put up soon.

Apurva

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Unusual double-headed sightings in SR/SCR

Date: 01 Jun 1999 02:00:25 -0500


> One late evening last month I saw a mail/express(?) ready for
departure
> at Bombay central station which had a WCAM2 coupled to a WDM2. I
didn't
> trust my eyes then since I saw the train from my speeding EMU.

Was the diesel loco in power ? I think this must be a 'heavy repair' or
'wheel turning' type job of a WDM 2 which was done at Parel and the loco
returned to its shed 'in path' using a passenger train rake. By the
timing
can you guess which train it was ? I could bet that this was a passenger
train, could not be a mail/ express.

Apurva

> But then
> this double headed express overtook my EMU between Jogeshwari &
Goregaon.
> Being dark outside I was not unable to read the name or the
destination
> board.
>
> Viraf
>
> ==========================
> Viraf Mulla
> C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
> Borivali (West)
> Mumbai 400103
> Tel: +91-22-8954510
> E-mail: sncf@godrej.email
> ==========================

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Re: Unusual double-headed sighting on WR

Date: 01 Jun 1999 02:23:15 -0500


>
> Was the diesel loco in power ? I think this must be a 'heavy repair'
or
> 'wheel turning' type job of a WDM 2 which was done at Parel and the
loco
> returned to its shed 'in path' using a passenger train rake. By the
timing
> can you guess which train it was ? I could bet that this was a
passenger
> train, could not be a mail/ express.


Yes Appu the diesel was in power and the train was mail/express since
between 20 - 21hrs there are no passenger trains.

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