During the last weekend, couple of friends and I were visiting folks at Raybag [RBG] near Miraj [MRJ]. Traveling to this place 700 km away from Bangalore, Train was the obvious mode of transport and we had only one choice Rani Chennamma Express. The 6589 / 6590 pair is the only train that stops here although 1018 / 1019 Chalukya too travels this route.
Since it was Friday, we went straight to the station and hence plan was that Dinner would be at a hotel en-route or some arrangement at the Bangalore City station [SBC]. From Krishnarajpuram [KJM] we traveled to SBC on the Madras – Bangalore SF 2609. The train was on time, however we were held up at the Outer in SBC for close to 15 mins, that ensured that we were late by 15 mins. On PF 2, we had a quick bite of biscuits & puffs and carried onto PF 8, where 6589 was stationed. PF 5 had a BZA WAM4 stationed there and was basking in the mild lights of the evening.
PF 8 was fully loaded with the passengers for 6589 and PF 7 had another major crowd waiting in anxiety for the 213 MYS – TPTY passenger, the train came in with a WDM of KJM. As soon as the train was motionless, the people were just rushing into the same and I was kind of shocked to see the same. From my observation and regular travel on this passenger train, Fridays seem to be the most crowded day, wonder why although.
For dinner, since there was nothing apart from small packets of Lime rice & Puliyogare that was available on the platform, we decided to try out the food at COMESUM. The experience has left us in bad taste. Firstly the billed items, we realized were out of stock after waiting for about 5 mins and further the quantity and quality was awfully short of need. The chicken kadai literally tasted like Coriander powder juice and the vegetable fried rice was half boiled. Hence we had to purchase Biscuits, Fruits & also some snacks to keep us alive till next day noon.
While making these purchases, 6732 pulled onto PF 6 and the Loco on duty was ED WDM3A #11101. Our train 6589 was commanded by Mr Dippy of UBL, WDP4 # 20007. All excited about the first travel on a train commandeered by a WDP4, I was at the doors wanting to see his hood at each turns. Exactly at 21:15 the bugle sounded its might and we edged out of the station, travel upto YPR was almost at crawling speed. At YPR we almost made a halt, however it wasn’t to be and from there darkness took over and I retreated to my seat with the might of P4 in play on our train. I must say that the speed all along was quite good and we made in time at HUBLI [UBL]. At this station to my great surprise a team of cleaning staff quickly washed the toilets, washbasin and the door walkway, dried it up with a vacuum cleaner and also sprayed Phenyl. It’s a great service and gave a good scented air and also cleaner surroundings.
Loco Performance
At UBL the train had a 15 min stoppage and the cleaning crew made best use of this long stay. From here our journey all the way upto Kyarkop [KRKP] seemed fine but then we pulled onto the loop-line to give way to a passing train and that was a bad stoppage for the train. The Loco 20007 failed, it refused to start-up and finally had to be abandoned here. To our luck I must say there were twins WDG3A of PUNE waiting on the other loop line with a BOXN load. Immediately the controllers swung into decision making and the twin locos came over to our line, removed the dead beast, moved him over to the other line… came back took charge of our train. In an hour’s time, we were on the track again and at an amazing pull & run. It was completely different when we were on the WDP4 as against the twin WDG3A. The acceleration out of platforms were so quick, that I almost missed my steps at Alnavar Jn [LWR], considering that stops at stations after Hubli are less than a minute and that a station is at every 20 – 30 kms, I felt the twin locos were a good choice J to have replaced the WDP4 at that point. The performances of the locos were quite good to have ensured that we maintained the 1 hr delay all throughout till Raybag, where I alighted.
Stations en-route
The route is still a single line and this provides for lot of crossings. Almost all stations wear the remote looks, low & short platforms, and station masters office below platform level. Also, the roof above the platforms are just to cover probably few coaches… even AC coaches would have to stand Sun & Rain J. Ghatprabha has two platforms however only one seems to be used. I could spot the old model towering water tanks fully made of granite blocks at many stations. The customary bell ringing to warn and start trains were prevalent everywhere and it was a nice experience to hear them, each station gong having a peculiar tone. Belgaum station seems to be most utilized after Hubli station on this line I must say.
On our way back, the Raybag station was quite crowded and people were waiting for Hubli – Miraj passenger, hauled by a Green PUNE WDM2 #17694. This train is a hugely utilized one on this route and has a pretty complex rake sharing arrangement. Once the train moved out of the platform a modified WDM3D 11224 of PUNE came in light from Belgaum side towards Miraj. The pilot blasted my ear drum I must say. Our train 6590 was on time, behind WDP4 20026, I am not sure if this loco belongs to KJM or UBL sheds. Brief stops and we were on our way with spurts of high speed across the curvaceous and sparsely covered barren land. We were soon at Chikkodi and another passenger train was waiting for us to cross. Our run was quite a decent one and almost at all stations, we were before time hence 10 mins early at Alnavar Jn, 15 mins early at Hubli and thereafter we were still running early but surprisingly post that we reached 1 hour late at Yesvantpur where the trains stops while coming to Bangalore and not while going to Kolhapur. Since i was travelling on this line first time, was quite surprise to see many a WDG4's in twin consists.
The Tumkur – Bangalore line from Hirehalli is almost doubled. We were made to wait at Hirehalli for the crossing Janshatabdi, which fired past us behind KJM WDM3A #14028
Since it was Friday, we went straight to the station and hence plan was that Dinner would be at a hotel en-route or some arrangement at the Bangalore City station [SBC]. From Krishnarajpuram [KJM] we traveled to SBC on the Madras – Bangalore SF 2609. The train was on time, however we were held up at the Outer in SBC for close to 15 mins, that ensured that we were late by 15 mins. On PF 2, we had a quick bite of biscuits & puffs and carried onto PF 8, where 6589 was stationed. PF 5 had a BZA WAM4 stationed there and was basking in the mild lights of the evening.
PF 8 was fully loaded with the passengers for 6589 and PF 7 had another major crowd waiting in anxiety for the 213 MYS – TPTY passenger, the train came in with a WDM of KJM. As soon as the train was motionless, the people were just rushing into the same and I was kind of shocked to see the same. From my observation and regular travel on this passenger train, Fridays seem to be the most crowded day, wonder why although.
For dinner, since there was nothing apart from small packets of Lime rice & Puliyogare that was available on the platform, we decided to try out the food at COMESUM. The experience has left us in bad taste. Firstly the billed items, we realized were out of stock after waiting for about 5 mins and further the quantity and quality was awfully short of need. The chicken kadai literally tasted like Coriander powder juice and the vegetable fried rice was half boiled. Hence we had to purchase Biscuits, Fruits & also some snacks to keep us alive till next day noon.
While making these purchases, 6732 pulled onto PF 6 and the Loco on duty was ED WDM3A #11101. Our train 6589 was commanded by Mr Dippy of UBL, WDP4 # 20007. All excited about the first travel on a train commandeered by a WDP4, I was at the doors wanting to see his hood at each turns. Exactly at 21:15 the bugle sounded its might and we edged out of the station, travel upto YPR was almost at crawling speed. At YPR we almost made a halt, however it wasn’t to be and from there darkness took over and I retreated to my seat with the might of P4 in play on our train. I must say that the speed all along was quite good and we made in time at HUBLI [UBL]. At this station to my great surprise a team of cleaning staff quickly washed the toilets, washbasin and the door walkway, dried it up with a vacuum cleaner and also sprayed Phenyl. It’s a great service and gave a good scented air and also cleaner surroundings.
Loco Performance
At UBL the train had a 15 min stoppage and the cleaning crew made best use of this long stay. From here our journey all the way upto Kyarkop [KRKP] seemed fine but then we pulled onto the loop-line to give way to a passing train and that was a bad stoppage for the train. The Loco 20007 failed, it refused to start-up and finally had to be abandoned here. To our luck I must say there were twins WDG3A of PUNE waiting on the other loop line with a BOXN load. Immediately the controllers swung into decision making and the twin locos came over to our line, removed the dead beast, moved him over to the other line… came back took charge of our train. In an hour’s time, we were on the track again and at an amazing pull & run. It was completely different when we were on the WDP4 as against the twin WDG3A. The acceleration out of platforms were so quick, that I almost missed my steps at Alnavar Jn [LWR], considering that stops at stations after Hubli are less than a minute and that a station is at every 20 – 30 kms, I felt the twin locos were a good choice J to have replaced the WDP4 at that point. The performances of the locos were quite good to have ensured that we maintained the 1 hr delay all throughout till Raybag, where I alighted.
Stations en-route
The route is still a single line and this provides for lot of crossings. Almost all stations wear the remote looks, low & short platforms, and station masters office below platform level. Also, the roof above the platforms are just to cover probably few coaches… even AC coaches would have to stand Sun & Rain J. Ghatprabha has two platforms however only one seems to be used. I could spot the old model towering water tanks fully made of granite blocks at many stations. The customary bell ringing to warn and start trains were prevalent everywhere and it was a nice experience to hear them, each station gong having a peculiar tone. Belgaum station seems to be most utilized after Hubli station on this line I must say.
On our way back, the Raybag station was quite crowded and people were waiting for Hubli – Miraj passenger, hauled by a Green PUNE WDM2 #17694. This train is a hugely utilized one on this route and has a pretty complex rake sharing arrangement. Once the train moved out of the platform a modified WDM3D 11224 of PUNE came in light from Belgaum side towards Miraj. The pilot blasted my ear drum I must say. Our train 6590 was on time, behind WDP4 20026, I am not sure if this loco belongs to KJM or UBL sheds. Brief stops and we were on our way with spurts of high speed across the curvaceous and sparsely covered barren land. We were soon at Chikkodi and another passenger train was waiting for us to cross. Our run was quite a decent one and almost at all stations, we were before time hence 10 mins early at Alnavar Jn, 15 mins early at Hubli and thereafter we were still running early but surprisingly post that we reached 1 hour late at Yesvantpur where the trains stops while coming to Bangalore and not while going to Kolhapur. Since i was travelling on this line first time, was quite surprise to see many a WDG4's in twin consists.
The Tumkur – Bangalore line from Hirehalli is almost doubled. We were made to wait at Hirehalli for the crossing Janshatabdi, which fired past us behind KJM WDM3A #14028
As we reached a station called Dodbele, we were again to give way for a crossing 1018 Chalukya Exp, the train was hauled by PUNE 17616.
This station is at the lower end of a valley I must say, to both ends, [ TK or YPR ] you have to climb an up-gradient. We soon reached Chikbanavar where the Hassan line is almost ready and the bridge on river Arkavathy is visible from the TK line.
We finally pulled into Yesvanthpur [ YPR], where we alighted and spotted KJM WDM3A # 14047 connected to YPR – TATA and in sometime the HWH – YPR came onto PF6 hauled by KJM 17995.
Photos : http://railtraction.fotopic.net/
Videos : http://is.rediff.com/searchresult.php?query=irfcavib
Good one man... i dont think this is too big given it is a 2-way trip! nice reading
ReplyDeletesriram