Bangalore Rajdhani was running later by 5 hours and a plan was made by railfans to capture it at Makali. I and Santhosh started around 7 by bus to Dodballapur ( DBU ). We were expected to reach DBU by 8 but as luck would have it, we reached there only by 8:45. Main reasons for the delay were the bus driver taking his own time for the run and Hindupur Passenger at Dodballapur Level crossing. Around the same time, Nikhil who had just reached Bangalore in the morning after returning from IRFCA convention and Shashank decided to join us in the bike so we decided to have breakfast at DBU and waited for them. We spotted Secunderabad - Yesvantpur Garib Rath, Gorakpur - Yesvantpur Express, Bangalore Cantt - Vijayawada Passenger and a BCNA during the wait. We started from DBU around 9:30 and reached Makali just in to time to witness Raj roaring through the ghats. We then spent roaming around the location for the next 4 hours. I and Santhosh decide to stay near the bridge. Nikhil and Shashank decide to climb. Harris decided to stay near the station itself, he had come by Vijayawada Passenger. We all met around 14:30 for lunch. After lunch we returned back and caught few trains as well. A last minute planning made us enjoy the day with some good captures which can be seen below. Hope you all enjoy it..
Road over bridge work near Dodballapur
GTL WDG3A twins take the loop line at Dodballapur
Reflection seen at the start of our 4 hour session at Makalidurga
After capturing the late running Rajdhani Express
We sat next to these tree's for our next catch
Shashank can be seen capturing Prasanthi Express, this loco had a funny honk
Some random shots in between trains - 1
Some random shots in between trains -2
A small flowing water path crossed en-route to the bridge
ALCO twins with Mysore bound Jaipur Express
Light running KJM WDG3A
Some random shots in between trains -3
Santhosh gives a pose while taking a rest under the tree
Some random shots in between trains - 4
Santhosh thinking about something - I was on top of a tree :)
My video partner..
Shot from the tree : Yesvantpur - Indore Express with RTM WDM3D
Well deserved Lunch break to these hard working women
KJM WDP4D with late running Delhi - Yesvantpur Duronto Express
Wide angle shot of KJM WDP4D with late running Delhi - Yesvantpur Duronto Express
It always wonderful to start the new
years with trains and it went again the same way. I got up around 5:30 and was ready
by 6:30. I went to Malleswaram where I met Nikhil who had come to capture a
rare combo of WDG4 & WDP4D working together. Here’s my video of the same
combo taken on 30th
We had planned to go to
Bangalore cantt and join our friend Rohit and board Bangalore Cantt – Vijaywada
Passenger but plan was changed at the last moment. We decided to head to
Rajankunte by bus to get our morning breakfast and afternoon lunch at a hotel
next to the Rajankunte Station. We reached there around 8:15 and the train had
made its way upto Chanasandra by then. We decided to have our breakfast here and it was
hot idlies and vada dipped in Sambar. We then bought 3 packets of Rice bath for
lunch and a vada for our friend who was traveling in the train and giving us
live updates. As we walked towards the station 2 trains were standing, one was
Coimbatore – Rajkot express and the other was Hindupur- Bangalore Passenger
with Classic ALCO WDM2 twins. Both the trains cleared the line at the same
time. We went towards the end of the platform of Dharmavaram side and Rohit had
reached Yelahanka by now. After 5 minutes the level crossing gates closed and we
expected the passenger to arrive but instead it was the Secunderbad –
Yesvantpur Garib rath Express. KZJ WDG3a was in the lead and it skipped at a good
speed. The next 20 minutes was spent talking after which the gates closed
again. The Basava Express from Bagalkot arrived first into the station and stopped
indicating that the passenger is due in a short while. The passenger arrived
behind a rebuilt WDG3a, yes Rebuilt WDG3A. WDG3A are being rebuilt now.
Bagalkot - Mysore Basava Express led by UBL WDP4B, Rajankute
Bangalore Cantt - Vijayawada Passenger arrives led by a Rebuilt GTL WDG3A & derated KJM WDM2
We boarded the SLR next to the
loco where our friend was also waiting. We started soon and chugged towards our
next halt Dodballapur. On entering Dodballapur we were able to see a mixed
freight with WDG4 twins in the lead. As soon as we stopped at platform 1 of
Dodballapur, WDP4 came roaring with KacheguaYesvantpur Express. We moved out after the Express went out of sight,
loco pilots of WDG4 twins were getting ready indicating that the freight will
soon depart. A maintenance vehicle
KZJ WDG4 twins with a mixed freight at Dadballapur
We wait as GOC WDP4D starts to accelerate with Nagercoil Express
shed has been built up at Dodballapur. The
next halt for us will also see a crossing as we had checked the status of 16339
Mumbai – Nagercoil in NTES. As expected as soon as we stopped at Oddaharalli,
GOC WDP4D started accelerating madly after waiting for home signal for us to
enter loop. Next up is Makalidurga where we would be spending the next few
hours over there to celebrate the New Year. As soon as the train stopped at
Makalidurga, I ran down the bridge to get a wide angle shot of the locos.
After the train moved out we decided to climb the hill to have a wide view of
trains
The Vijayawada Passenger departs from Makalidurga
tackling the ghats. First up was Prasanti Express led by KJM WDP4 and
some time later the WDG4 twins seen at Dodballapur came. We decided to shift
our base to some other point where the real trouble started. The grass have
grown so tall over here that it was difficult to walk through them, on top of
that there were lot thorn like projections which were causing lot of issues as
we were walking past. Finally after lot of struggle we got down on the MG
alignment which may not be visible in future as doubling work will done along
this path at some stretches. We then climbed the next hill
This fellow had claimed on to me when we were walking past the grass
Kazipet WDG4 twins with mixed rake goes down the ghats
One more view of the same train
Big spiders were spotted on the hill
Saw many boys like them heading home after new year night out at the hill
and the view turned
out to good enough and we settled down there for the next 2 hours. The
trains that was seen in that time were Jaipur – Mysore Express, Karanataka
express, Wainganga Express all led by ALCO twins and a Cement rake. We had our
lunch ( rice bath ) after that and as we decided to get down, we heard a weird
horn and it was a track maintenance machine.
Gooty twins with Cement rake departs from Makalidurga after a crossing with an Express
We had to go through bushes like these to get down
We finally reached the MG alignment and followed it to the station
After 30 minutes of struggle to
found a way down and reached station. Check on the NTES indicated that our
return train Vijaywada – Yesvantpur Passenger will be seen only after 15:30
hrs. We started heading out to have some refreshment from the near by shop and
we heard an ALCO horn. A quick run back to the rails indicted a proceed on
the mainline and a turn towards the ghat told that it was indeed an ALCO and
light one too which made it a lucky capture here. We then headed out and had
cold milk before returning back to station to see a proceed on the mainline again.
This time the honk was of electric type and we were totally confused before the OHE
vehicle made its appearance.
The Erode WDG3A skips Makalidurga at ease
Monkey's are used to humans here, they come and sit right next to you
A Father with his kid watch Prasanthi Express slow down for a crossing
Lucky these beautiful arrangements will not be disturbed for doubling, The 2nd track is expected to use the old MG alignment at the station
Mangoes on the way soon
We then settled down next a monkey gang who were
clearly waiting for the passenger to arrive so that they can get something to
eat. Next 30 minutes were spent watching the monkey playing and waiting patiently
for the train and we headed back to the station to get the tickets. 2 tickets
were bought to Bangalore city, the friendly Station Manager said that he cannot
guarantee the connecting train and we said that we will take care of that,
thank you. The Prasanthi Exress from Bangalore arrived first and was made to
wait on the Mainline for the crossing with the Passenger. Our return train
arrived with GTL WDG3A and it had a powerful short hood horn. The return run was pretty amazing with
constant chugging and it was the best music after a tiring day. We were again
in the SLR next to the engine, Yesvantpur – Kacheguda tri weekly was waiting
for us at Oddharahalli. The next halt was a surprise as we were put into
platform 2 at Dodballapur and Yesvantpur – Kachedgua Daily express led by KJM
WDP4D blasted past. The next halt Rajankunte was a quick stop. After
rajankunte, land levelling work has begun on the right side while proceeding
towards Yelahanka side. Look like this has been given high priority as the work
seems faster. Next stop was Yelahanka and Coimbatore – Lokmanya Tilak Express
crossed us here. The station layout has changed completely. A new platform has
come and one more is under construction. The section between Yelalhanka and
Chansandra is double and it look like once the wiring is completed, CRS will
come for inspection. We then entered the Chennai – Bangalore main line and we
crossed Kochuveli Express at Baiyapanahalli. We skipped Bangalore East at good
speed and were made to halt at Bangalore Cantt Home to let Bangalore Nagercoil
Express pass. As luck was on our side, the Kolar – Bangalore passenger was
behind us which allowed me and Nikhil to board it Bangalore cantt ore city
while Rohit went home form here. We got down at Bangalore home and thus ended a
perfect start to the new year.
Mainline proceed at Makalidurga for us
KJM WDM3A waits with Yesvantpur Kacheguda Triweekly for us at Oddarahali
GTL twins wait at Yelahanka with BOXN rake
Erode WAP4 with Kochuveli Express crosses at Baiyapanahalli
We were made to wait at Bangalore cantt home to allow Bangalore - Nagercoil Express
We finally enter Bangalore cantt as sun goes down
Dead End at Bangalore Cantt
Kolar - Bangalore DEMU waits at Bangalore home for clearance
