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.. :)

Nervous 90’s I – A Romantic Thriller!!…..

This trip report is about nervous 90 minutes that I faced in order to see a special visitor and all the events leading to that. Few railfans are involved as well, will be using their nick names here..

09:30 - Wonderful Beginning….. 

Mr.YDM4 calls Mr.20065 to find out the exact position of the train that they are supposed to take

Mr.YDM4: Did you board the train ?

Mr.20065: Nope, the train is yet to arrive from Mysore, I am on platform number 10 waiting for it.

Mr.YDM4: Oh ok, I am on the Yesvantpur side of the Malleswaram station. Call me once you depart from Bangalore city.

09:35 -  Malleswaram…

A loud honk is heard and Mr.YDM4 gets ready with his camera to capture the train. Surprise, GY ALCO twins enters in style with what appears to be Golgumbaz Express, as the train passes it is found out to the Tumkur Bangalore Express. Mr.YDM4 calls up Mr.20065 to inform about this offlink.

09:40  

Once again a honk is heard from Yesvantpur side and Mr.YDM4 once again gets ready with his cam. This time instead of a muscular locomotive entering the view finder, a beautiful girl appears. But wait she does not look happy at a camera pointing towards her. Citing trouble, Mr.YDM4 drops down his camera onto his bag to be safe. The girl is now directly looking at Mr.YDM4 and her every step towards him scares him. Within slapping distance from each other, she smiles at him brining a relief to Mr.YDM4. A louder honk is heard and Mr.YDM4 goes back to his business to capture the train. Hindupur Passenger arrives behind a handsome hunk. Being an male, its natural and Mr.YDM4 turns around to look for that beauty now, guess what she was just standing 10 feet away from him watching his activities all this time. Stares continue to happen Mr.YDM4 is starting to float…

10:00 

One more honk from Yesvantpur side, Mr.YDM4 looking at girl takes out the camera again. She smiles and waves her hand, As Mr.YDM4 decides to smile back, a demon passes him with waving her hand. Realising that he is fooled Mr.YDM4 turns around. He is saved partially by his favourite machine; an Alco enters with Chickballapur Passenger. Clicking the Alco gives him some breathing space. Completely embarrassed, he turns around to find that the girl is already half a kilometre past him and that brings relief to him.

10:11

Not knowing what to do Mr. YDM4 calls Mr. 20065 to find the status.

YDM4 : has the train arrived. ?

20065 : Yes, in fact it has departed from Bangalore City and will arrive in few minutes to your place.

YDM4 : ok, what is your position ?

20065 : I am at the end of the train

YDM4: Oh, why didn’t you board the front coaches? Ok, I will try to come as far as possible. Even you start walking towards the locomotive.

10:14

Mr YDM4 decides to board the train form wrong side and goes to the opposite platform. As he is walking towards Bangalore side. He notices those 2 girls (Angel + Demon) walking straight at him. The Passenger train is seen entering the station as well. Mr.YDM4 decides to stop there and plans to jump at the nearest door when the train stops. After entering the train Mr.YDM4 calls Mr.20065 to inform him that he is on the 5^th coach and will meet him at YPR. The train departs and he turns around to sit, guess what those girls are sitting right there. Mr YDM4 sits on the seat next to her and Tamil romantic songs start involving Shankar’s direction starts.  The song is interrupted by Mr 20065’s call. The train has stopped as well.

20065 : Where are you ? I am right next to the loco

YDM4 : I am still in the 5^th coach, come we have place to sit.

20065 and YDM4 greet each other and enter the 5^th coach.

A loud honk is heard again from Yesvantpur side, now both realise that their train has been made to wait at Yesvantpur home to let the Golgumbaz express clear the lines at Yesvantpur. We start as soon as the Golgumbaz roars past us. We soon enter Yesvantpur. The sight of different locomotives takes over my soft corner and the railfan has been woken up again. With Hard heart, YDM4 and 20065 enter SLR to enjoy Alco music. My passenger train was hauled by a rebuilt Alco locomotive.

10:52 -  Soldevanahalli…

They are greeted into Soldevanahalli by Shimoga Bangalore Passenger. They get down and watch both the trains depart simultaneous in opposite direction. What a lovely site to watch 2 Alco’s nothing up at the same time. Both YDM4 and 20065 start moving towards Tumkur side to be distracted by a famous person whom they knew very closely….

 To be continued.....