After freshening up at the hotel, Alok and I went back to Nagpur railway station.
We roamed around some and then caught a narrow gauge train to Motibagh station, the station immediately after Nagpur.
We went to the narrow gauge platforms, which is adjacent to Platform 1. There are three lines on the narrow gauge,
two that have platforms. The narrow gauge rakes were much cleaner than the ones seen around the eastern zone. The
coaches were clean and well lit. There were toilets too and a small two seat unit right next to the toilet and
blocked by the door.
We got off the train at Motibagh, a charming station. And walked across the yards, past the narrow gauge loco shed
and around to the main road… to the Narrow Gauge museum. The ticket counter outside now has one counter for computerized
reservations too. The museum ticket counter was closed, and we had to go into the museum and buy it from the office
itself. The museum itself has some manicured lawns, with one steam loco outside. The main museum is housed in an
old steam shed, renovated and very airy. Down the middle are tracks on which there is another loco and a saloon,
flanked by rooms on two sides and panels with various exhibits. Unfortunately photography was prohibited and we
couldn't get any photographs. So we walked around, a little dismayed by the quality of exhibits, and a lack of
representation from beyond the area. There was an entire gallery dedicated to blown up images of postage stamps
featuring trains from around the world. The Railways needs to take this museum seriously and do it up, and make
an effort to ensure it represents the narrow gauge heritage of our railways in a very comprehensive manner. We
spent a lot of time talking to the manager of the museum, and then proceeded for lunch.
Post lunch saw us back at Nagpur station. We roamed around watching the trains. Saw a brand new WAP-4 # 22598 on
the way to being delivered to Lallaguda shed. The quality of paintwork and finish was disappointing. The paint
job was scruffy and unfinished. The body finish was nothing to write home about either. After walking around, we
headed for the Food Plaza and relaxed for a while. Unfortunately the air conditioners had been turned off and it
was hot. This Food Plaza also does not serve non-vegetarian food. After that, we caught another narrow gauge train
and got down at Itwari, the station immediately after Motibagh. We had somehow convinced Zubin to meet us there
and take a 'slow' narrow gauge ride back, but the train was late and eventually we had to take an autorickshaw
back as Zubin had to catch the Jnaneshwari express back to Badnera to get home.
The next morning, I checked out of the hotel and met Alok at the station. Our plan was to take the narrow gauge
train to Saoner, 44 kilometers from Nagpur. We asked the driver of the ZDM3 whether he would allow us to footplate
and he refused, which meant we had to occupy the regular coach. We got ourselves seats and settled down. The train
got very crowded and we dawdled along. The section has a maximum permissible speed of 50 km/h beyond Itwari, once
the slums alongside the tracks are crossed. The train was speeding along rather well. We halted at all stations
en route, and found that after Itwari, and after crossing the broad gauge main line going towards Calcutta, there
was a single broad gauge electrified track on either side of our narrow gauge track. These are to serve the two
power plants / coal mines in the region. Clipping along at a decent pace, we reached Khaparkheda, which has a large
thermal power unit. Beyond this station, there was only one broad gauge line and it was unelectrified. A little
later it crossed over to the other side. After a couple of hours run, we had reached Saoner.
Walking around the town we found a dhaba where we had a vegetarian lunch. Suprisingly Thumsup is usually not available
around Nagpur; most stores selling Pepsi, which to me, is rather annoying. This dhaba did have Thumsup, but it
was not chilled. Post lunch, we headed back to the station and got talking to the deputy station superintendent.
A very warm and generous person and that meeting turned out to be a great experience. Saoner station is a small
two platform one. It has one main line and two loops. The total station staff wouldn't probably exceed 5 people.
The Dy SS was also in charge of selling tickets. We looked around, seeing the token block instruments and the telephones
and then we were invited by him to sell tickets. We took that up with gusto, but sad to say, we crumpled each cardboard
ticket we inserted into the date punch machine. He insisted we handle the cash too, which showed how trusting and
good-natured people in the area are. He showed us the working of the token instrument, and then insisted we make
the station announcement. Alok refused but I took up the challenge, and in my broken Hindi, I read out what he
had written for me, announcing the very train that was to take us back to Nagpur. I did it twice, to ensure Alok
captured it on my digital camera!
The train came in on time. It was sad to leave the station, as we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves. But leave
we must for I had to catch the Gitanjali Express from Nagpur at 1915 hours, and I was totally dependent on this
train to get me there. If this train was delayed, I would miss my connection.
The 2NHJ Jabalpur Howbagh Nagpur Passenger rolled in on time. The ZDM4A #207 hauled 8-coach rake even sported first
class accommodation. We went up to the driver and asked him about foot-plating and he immediately agreed. We climbed
aboard in glee and the train started off. The driver assured me we would reach Nagpur on time and I wouldn't miss
the Gitanjali.
The driver was a calm character while his assistant was more temperamental. They made a good pair! We rode along
well, the driver pushing the train and kept at the speed limit throughout. The ZDM has a control wheel unlike the
levers on the other locos and I found the driving positions rather uncomfortable. But they definitely looked more
spacious and offered better views ahead than the ZDM5 I had foot-plated earlier.
We stopped for a long time at Khaparkheda for a crossing, and then carried on our way. This loco had a digital
speedometer, sporting bright red LEDs to show how fast we were going. The fact the tracks here are well maintained
contributed t the fact that quite zippy schedules are possible on these routes. We were again halted at Itwari
for some time before gliding into Nagpur station well in time for us to say bye to the friendly crew, and then
for me to retrieve my bag from the cloakroom and switch over to platform where the Gitanjali was expected.
An exhilarating day indeed, made so special by the warmth of the Dy SS at Saoner, who so welcomed us and made us
feel a part of the railways, and to the terrific crew of the train who made us their guests.
All the trips we IRFCAns make, especially where we are given access and insights into railway facilities and practices,
are indeed a great tribute to the these people, who make our railways more than just a mode of transportation.
I ended off the by getting into my SL coach of the Gitanjali Express. Once again the train was not particularly
clean. I had a middle berth this time, the only lap where I wasn't able to secure a side lower berth, something
I was dreading traveling. Luckily the journey wasn't too long. The train left on time at 1915 and we were scheduled
to reach Howrah the next afternoon at 1335. I was pretty tired by then and after a tasteless dinner of partially
cooked omlettes at Gondia, I headed off to a not too pleasant sleep. Woke up early the next morning and looked
about. There was not much train spotting to do. The day rolled on and I was willing the time to pass quickly so
I could be home. The train didn't disappoint. The reasonably new red liveried Santragachhi shed WAP4 and its crew
kept to schedule.
Somewhere on the way I spotted a WAG-9, but before I could get my camera ready to snap it up, it was already quite
distant. Saw nothing else particularly exciting, and the weather wasn't very accommodating. It was cool enough
but it rained almost through the morning, necessitating closing of the windows off and on. The stations passed
in quick succession, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar and finally we were at Kharagpur and it felt like I was
nearing home. The familiar sight of the EMUs always evoke a sense of homecoming. We maintained a steady steady
clip, without wasting too much time and approached Howrah. Fortunately, we were not delayed at the approach to
the station and we entered the platform on the new station well on time. I headed out, stopped at the Comesum Food
Plaza for a quick meal and took a taxi home.
Thus ended a exhilarating, exciting, strenuous and experience-filled journey. |
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A solitary semaphore guards the line as the sun sets
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The BG-NG diamond crossing at Motibagh
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The Bangalore Rajdhani crawls into Nagpur station.
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A brand new WAP-4, #22598, on way to being delivered to Lallaguda shed.
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The engine reverses out on the NG at Nagpur station.
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Another ZDM-4Aloco, this one of a different livery.
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A NG train on its way, near Motibagh.
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Me with the Dy SS at Saoner station.
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Handling the token interlocking instruments. I did refuse to communite on the phone with the other side. Wouldn't
have known what to say!!!
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Issuing tickets at Saoner. Never could get the perfect hang of it.
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The driver with his loco.
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Note the digital speedometer/speed recorder.
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ZDM-4A undercarriage details
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Exposed machinery!!!
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Waiting at Khaparkheda for a crossing.
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The crossing.
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A driver's eye view ahead.
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And a view of the train behind :)
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A NG guards van in a rather nice livery. Goods services are no longer run on this
section. The disused rakes are all parked at Itwari.
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ZDM-3A #169 of Motibagh shed.
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One of the stations on the Nagpur - Saoner section.
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The driver intent on his job.
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Old vacumn braked coach, scarred.
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