Wednesday 29 January 2014

The Amazing Race : Indian Railways Style...

          Well, Its always a dream for rail-fans to see two trains racing each other. I had a similar dream of seeing two trains at a special place during one night. It turned into reality when i was traveling to Khandawa on the Karnataka Express along with Bangalore rail-fans to cover the Akola Ujjain Meter gauge section. We were approaching Manmad, running late by 1 hour. I remembered about my dream and soon took out Samit's atlas to get an idea about the track layout just before Manmad and looked at the small section of parallel lines just before Manmad. I understood the complete layout of Manmad only then, went to the door with my camera hoping for the best. The SCR line was visible and we slowed down as we approached Ankai to take the loop line. The culprit being the freight on the main line. As the end of the freight was approaching, i closed my eyes on fear of seeing a red on the SCR line ( we were on the CR line ). I slowly opened my eyes to find it green. Got very excited and at the same time started wondering which train could it be.The Alco twins for my train wasted no time after clearing the loop and accelerated madly. We were almost approaching Ankai killa, still no signs of the other train.Out of nowhere, a honk and twins WDM3A curved towards my train........................................................................................................


Well its better to see it as an video than in words... 



What more can i say. Dreams do come true. 


Wait a minute this is not the end of Ankai Killa, A new dream was born during that race. The Killa Instinct....

Now coming to the details.
Nanded Amristar Sachkhand SF Express led by Twin MLY WDM3A twins #16476 & #16201 chases my Karnataka Express also led by MLY WDM3A twins #16549 & #16579. 

Layout from Ankai to Manmad

My train Karnataka Express entered Ankai on the CR line while Sachkand entered Ankai on the SCR line. The trains move away from each other after Ankai killa. The advantages of this layout is that a train coming from Nanded side and going to Daund side need not undergo rake reversal. (12729, 57515 etc use this way). Trains coming from Mumbai towards Daund also avoids reversal (12131). Few trains from Pune also use this unique layout to reduce the loco change time at Manmad (Diesel to Electric change,12221 etc). Trains change directions on at Akali. Manmad Ankai is a block section on SCR line while there are 2 blocks on the CR line with Ankai killa in between. Will upload a trip report about my Ankai Killa trip ( The Killa Instinct ) soon. 


Sunday 26 January 2014

Amazing Konkan Railways

26th January 1998.
                      A special day for the people of Karnataka, Goa and Maharastra. Thokur, near Mangalore and Roha in Maharastra were connected by rail through Goa.  Konkan Railways was born. More details
Today it completes 16 years.
Sharing my pictures and videos which i have taken on this beautiful stretch.. :)

                                                          Welcome to Konkan Railway...


                                                                Mangaon , Maharastra.

                                       Bread and Butter of Konkan Railways, RORO ( roll on roll off )





                                               Murudeshwara , Karnataka as seen from a train..


                      One of the important train on this section, Dadar Madgaon Jan shatabdi Express

                                                                   Madgaon, Goa




                                                                        Suravali, Goa




 Hope you all liked the pics. Here is a video compilation from the Konkan Region.



Trains in the video

 1. Superstar of KR, Trivandrum H.Nizammudin Rajdhani Express led by GOC WDP3A #15524. GOC  WDM2 with roro is seen as well. Suratkal, Karnataka.
 2. Coimbatore Bikaner AC Express led by LKO WDM3A #18551. Mangaon, Maharsatra.
 3. Roro led by ED WDG3A twins #14902 & 14795. Suravali, Goa.
 4. Howrah Vasco Amaravati Express led by GY WDM3A twins #14041 & #14032. Suravali, Goa.
 5. H.Nizammudin Trivandrum Rajdhani Express led by GOC WDP3A #15517. Suravali, Goa.
 6. Dadar Madgaon Jan shatabdi Express led by ED WDM3D #11179. Suravali, Goa.
 7. Diva Swantavadi Passeneger led by ERS WDM3A #16457. Mangaon, Maharastra.
 8. BCNA led by UBL WDG4 twins #12004 & # 120xx. Suravali, Goa.
 9. Ratnagiri Diva Passenger led by KYN WDG3A. Mangaon, Maharastra.
10. BCNA led by GOC WDG3A twins #13562 & # 13449. Suravali, Goa.
11. Lokmanya Tilak Kochuveli Garib rath Express led by ERS WDM3A #18536 meets Mangalore  Madgaon Passenger led by GOC WDM2 # Padubidri, Karnataka.
12. Madgaon Mumbai CSTM Konan Kanya Express led by KJM WDP4 #20040. Suravali, Goa.
13. Mumbai CSTM Mangalore Express led by KYN WDG3A #13497 meets Mangalore Madgaon  Passenger led by GOC WDM2 #
14. Trivandrum H.Nizammudin Rajdhani Express led by GOC WDP3A #15515 overtakes Madgaon  Mumbai CSTM Mandovi Express led by KZJ WDG3A twins #
15. Vasco Kulem Passeneger led by GY WDG3A #14551 departs Survali, Goa.
16. Madgaon Mumbai CSTM Mandovi Exprees led by KJM WDP4 #20030 meets Madgaon bound  Mandovi Express led by KJM WDP4B #40066. Bhoke, Maharastra.
17. Ernakulam Jaipur Marusagar Express led by BGKT WDP4B #40073. Suravali, Goa.
18. Kochiveli Chandigarh Kerala Sampark Kranti Express led by GOC WDP3A #15524. Mangaon,   Maharastra.
19. ED WDM3D #11105 running light.
20. Madgaon Dadar Jan shatabdi Express led by GOC WDP4D #40105. Suravali, Goa.
21. Eranakulam Lokmanya Tilak Duronto Express led by KYN WDM3D # 11243. Suravali, Goa.
22. Madgaon Dadar Jan shatabdi Express led by ERS WDM3A #16459.
23. BOXN led by Unstopable WDG4 twins #12087 & #12111. Suravali, Goa.
24. Howrah Vasco Amaravati Express led by GY WDM3A twins #14032 & #14023. Suravali, Goa.
25. Madgaon Mumbai CSTM Konan Kanya Express led by KJM WDP4 #20062. Suravali, Goa.
26. H. Nizamuddin Eranakulam mangala Express led by GOC WDM3A #16405. Mangaon, Goa.
27. RORO led by UBL WDG4 #12119 Nataraj. Suravali, Goa.
28. Washing of Konkan Kanya Express with KJM WDP4 #20040 at Madgaon. Onboard Kulem Vasco Express led by GY WDM3A #
29. Mangalore Madgaon Passeneger led by GOC WDM2 # crossing the sharavati river at 110 kph. Honavar, Karnataka.
30. Mumbai CSTM Madgaon Mandovi Express led by KJM WDP4B #40066 crossing the Panvel viaduct. Ratnagiri, Maharastra.

                                             Thank you for travelling on the Konkan railway....