Just in Time - Late running Rajdhani & Duronto at Makali

                  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

Video :

 Suggestions and comments are most welcome.. :)

The Slow and Steady Metre Gauge Ride - 2

Continuing from Part 1

                                      This guy is a one hell of a smoker, watch him smoking madly here

                               We stopped at a place and it had few people, these were the houses seen

                                                                             The Dulghat Spiral

 

 This guy made good business in our coach, Dulghat

                                                                  Here is the snack, Bhel puri

                                                      The next crossing happened at Thukaithad

                                                          Cattles everywhere for the next few kilometers

                         Our next interesting halt was at Jirwan, A cricket match in progress. Spot the ball !!

                                                       Kids wave at our train as we accelerate out of Jirwan

                                                                                  Overloaded

                                                        Trains always draw attention wherever they go

                                                                             Lost with Time, Khandwa

                                        Soon this section will also be taken over by the big boys, Khandawa

                                                             Entering Khandwa Juntion. BG on the right

                                                                   Bhol bhol Bhel bhol at Ajanti

                It was time for crossing which gave me time to explore. Normal meeting point for these boys i guess

                                                     The side view of the beauty waiting for crossing

                                                                                    The Endless wait !!

                                     Monkeys had a great time getting food from the passengers

To be continued in part 3

2 Days at Patalpani - YDM4's Galore !!

Day 1

                Time hits 6:15 and my alarm goes off. We get ready in the next hour and start our journey to Patalpani. We board the Indore - Mhow private bus which are making a good business now due to the closure of Indore - Mhow Metre gauge for gauge conversion. The journey takes about 60 minutes and we finally land at Mhow station. We purchase our tickets which is Rs.5 per person and go straigth to a local vendor to have poha which is one of my favorite breakfast dish in the north. The day looks great with white clouds and no chance of rain for some time. Our train starts and soon enough we land up at Patal pani station. I will post a separate trip report after some time which contains some exciting moments with once in a life time experience - fear of an accident 

10:13 - Patalpani cant get much busier than this. Akola bound passenger meets Khandawa - Mhow passenger

10:17 - Akola Passenger departs from Patalpani after receiving the token 

10:19 - Akola Passenger going down the ghats

 

10:58 - Turn of the banker to go down the ghats now, patalpani falls in the background 

 

11:56 - 6 hours late running Akola - Mhow Passenger climbs the ghats

12:12 - Banker going down the ghats again for its next train.

13:05 - Mhow Akola Passenger going into tunnel 2

 

14:08 - Banker near Tunnel number 3

 

02:43 - 6 hours late running Mhow - Khandawa Passenger

Thats end Day 1 and we return back to Indore

YG kept infornt of Indore station

 

Day 2 - It was lot difficult on the 2nd day as it was raining all day and high speed winds which made it difficult to shoot

08:15 - Khandawa Passenger departs after break test before tunnel number 3

 

10:03 - Khandawa -  Mhow passenger with hard working YDM4's crosses Ravine viaduct in heavy rain

 

11:01 - Banker going down for its next train

12:03 - The second train coming uphill !! Akola - Mhow passenger

14:59 - YDM4 takes a nap at Kalakund

 

15:33 - Mhow bound passenger arrives at Kalakund

 

With this the trip ended for us, Will share the full videos soon. Meanwhile you can watch the teaser from this trip here :

                                     

Comments and suggestions welcome.. :)