Black Beauty - First ride behind a Steam Locomotive...

          2002, a year which is very special to India. It was exactly 150 years ago that the first official train from Bombay to Thane ran. It was the month of August when many inter school competitions takes place. I choose to give it a try at drawing which was to be held on 23rd August 2002 at Tata institute, little did i know that i will not participate in that event. Reason being my dream, a run behind a steam locomotive. On that day i came home after giving my name for the competition, i was wondering what topic will i be getting. My Appa* returned home in the mean time and gave me a surprise by saying that Black Beauty will run through Bangalore just like how it ran in Mumbai some time back. I was like wow.... Then i asked him about the date of the run, the answer made me feel like a coin tossed up in the air not knowing on which side i would fall. After getting suggestions from my parents and friends who obviously wanted me to go for the competition, the naughty railfan in me went against all their wishes. My Appa agreed to me as he knew that trains were always my first priority.

           22nd August 2002, A day before the special run. My Appa came early that evening and took me to Bangalore city station to have a look at the WP. After reaching the station, we went to see the WP which was undergoing some decorations. I was shocked at seeing the height of the wheels, they were taller than me. We moved after seeing the loco around only to see her moving tomorrow by herself through Bangalore.

Malleswaram - Yelahanka : The maiden run

           The Magic day arrived, my Appa left early in the morning promising me that he would return by 9:30 hrs to take me for the special ride. I was ready by 9 after finishing all my morning rituals, evry minute after that turned out to be a tense moment. Time was 9:40 and no signs of my Appa, i was like a coin lost in thin air. At 9:45 hrs, my Appa finally came and asked to get moving as it was already late. We reached Malleswaram at 10:00 hrs. The train was supposed to start by 10hrs  from Bangalore city. We went to ticket counter to buy tickets but was surprised to find that tickets will not be issued and the ride is free. We made our way to the center of Platform 2 after getting to know that the train would be arriving there. It was 10:20 and still there we no signs of train, finally i was able to hear the sounds chiku bhku and the whistle as the steam loco curved into Malleswaram. The loco and coaches were neatly painted and there was music on the trains too. We squeezed into the available space, started moving out of Malleswarm, we soon came to halt at Yesvantpur home signal. Here i saw few people taking pictures of the beauty and i was like ' wish i could do that too '. We finally started moving towards Yesvantpur, i was surprised to see that we were taken on the newly build platform 6. We departed after sometime from Yesvantpur, The then minister ( railway minister of state affairs ?) AK Moorthy came and distributed cholocates to everyone and shook hands with everyone. I was like such a big guy shaking hands with everyone. We made few stops in between Yesvantpur and Yelahanka. At Yelahanka, i got the chance of a life time, got into a live steam locomotive. I just remeber seeing the buring coal and shaking hand with the sweating locopilots. ( Hats off to all the loco pilots who worked on these beauties ) Then we saw a diesel loco getting itself atached to the rear of our train. we got to know that it would be taking us till Krishnarajapuram from where the hissing beauty would continue its heritajge journey to Bangalore city. We got into a different coach to try our luck at getting a window seat, but it was not to be. I was so mad that i started crying, an elderly person on seeing me cry asked his sons to give me some space next to the window. Finally watching a steam loco from the window will be achivied.


Yelahanka - Krishnarajapuram : The Mad diesel run

           As we departed from yelahanka, a lady started distributing sweet boxes,it had variety of sweets, being a lover of coconut barfi ( cake ) i went for it. The Diesel loco was showing its might to the WP. The connecting rodes and wheels of WP were moving at very high speed, i got scared that the loco might come apart. We stopped at Chanasandra for few minutes and moved towards Krishnarapuram. Here my Appa asked me to move from that place, but my selfish mind did not agree as i feared that i would loose this golden window seat which is on the action side towards Bangalore.


Krishnarajapuram - Bangalore : The Last run

          After we departed from Krishnarajapuram, i got to know one more thing about steam locos which i was not knowing early. The burnt coal particles are thrown in the air and there are chances that it might land up on our eyes which did happen in my case.The irritation made me difficult to see for some time ( The saying that you should listen to elders came to my mind). Soon Baiyapanahhali and Bangalore East was passed after stopping. My eyes strated getting back to normal by now. We reached Bangalore cantt. After few minutes, the whistle signifiedthe last part of my steam journey. Finally arrived Bangalore. I dont remember much about this part as my mind was more concerned about my eye. 

Pictures from this run can be seen here : http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Steam/heritageruns/WP-Bangalore/

All the pictures taken by IRFCA members..
Hope you all liked it. Forgive me for the mistakes in my English.. :)

Steam Locomotive fans, have a look at this site as well - http://indiansteamrailwaysociety.in/current-steam/steam-locomotives-at-rewari-shed/

*Appa ( South Indian langauge ) means Father .