Journey In The Deccan Queen!!!

7 September 2014:

Preface:
This was the journey I was looking forward to from a long time. It was planned and scrapped a no. of times, but finally the day came. It was a sudden planned trip. A relative sparked the fire to come over on the occasion of Ganpati. After convincing my mother I finally landed up in Pune. The journey to Pune was in a bus journey but I made sure that the return journey is a train one and one in DQ.So, tickets were swiftly booked (unfortunately in AC CC).


Journey:
So, I reached Pune station at around 635-40 and at around 645, the rake was shunted by a derated blue Pune WDM 2. My coach was C4, just besides the Dining Car. I started walking towards the first coach and as I reached there I could see the loco. After the Lonavala local left, the loco started its movement towards us. It was 21897, a Kalyan WCAM 3. The loco soon coupled with the rake and did a pull-push to see if the rake is coupled properly.

WCAM 3 #21897 

I started my return, reached my coach and took my seat. At around 717 am the rake moved. The coach was nice,clean with a couple of paintings and pictures on either ends. The seats were all in journey direction. Meanwhile, a WDM 3D and a WDG 3A had come in the middle line (the line next to Pf 1 line). Also WDP 4D 4015x was moving to join towards station. The electric loco tripshed had a WCAM 2 and a couple of WCAM 3s. We soon negotiated the turnouts and started accelerating.


We skipped stations one by one, overtook Sahyadri  and were cruising at MPS. We crossed Pune - Jaipur which was with a WAP 4. Also met a BCNA rake in the way. Suddenly, the MPS run was cut short and we were moving at a moderate speed. Since my side was trackside, I could see Indrayani river running parallel to us, looking kind of muddy due to rain.
We reached reached Lonavala yard where a couple of freight trains were seen. As we entered the station 166xx loco was with Indrayani Express which departed as soon as we arrived. Surprise came here when I saw the AC converted WCAM 2 6P(?) 21876 in the chocolate WAG 5 livery doing banking duty. The loco looks yuck as compared to the awesome LHB livery.

Monkey Hill..

In a bid to take its picture I went to dining car. I couldn't take its picture but decided to stay there and have something. I had heard a lot about the Cheese toast of DQ. So, I decided to order that one first. That one came quick and I started eating it. The train had departed Lonavala and had reached Khandala for a brake testing halt. Around a minute and whoosh! Brakes released and we depart. Meanwhile, I finished the toast and ordered the omelette. I was in full mood to eat as much as I can but.... *burp* the stomach was full... We cleared the Monkey Hill halt and kept moving down the middle line.

Cheese Toast!

The monsoon is the correct time to visit both the ghats on CR. The deep valleys, water falls - small and large, the scene is always exciting,  and treat to eyes. I returned to my coach popped a Mentos and sat watching the beautiful scenes. Twists and turns and tunnels - it was wonderful. We went through a left curve and kept going down crossing Palasdari. Karjat was next and was skipped at near MPS speed. We were in local territory which meant no more MPS run and was true. We had slowdowns and moderate speeds but no MPS except for some stations. In some time we reached Kalyan, made a parallel entry with local. We slowed down near the middle of platform to go through some turnouts. The yard had some freight trains but only I could see was their tails.


After going through turnouts we passed Thakurli at good speed then came Dombivali and then Kopar after which we slowed down at Diva. WCAM 3 was doing a lovely job (of course the LP responsible for such a wonderful job). This was the first time that I really liked riding behind a WCAM 3. We quickly went through the Parsik tunnel and reached Thane. We had an unscheduled halt there. I thought of getting down at Thane but then who wouldn't like to continue such a journey when you can.. So I dropped the idea and glued myself to the seat. A minute or so later we departed. Locals were giving tough competition to DQ but DQ managed to speed past them! Some time later I heard chugging, I thought  what could be it.. Honks and Kalyan Shakti sped past with Mangalore - CSTM SFE! It overtook us from sixth line!And we overtook it again!!! The tom and jerry soon finished and we blasted Kurla at MPS. Reached Dadar pretty much on time and thus the journey ended and I made my way towards WR to go back home.

Deccan Queen!!

Sangli Return!

9 April, 2014: 

I had been to Sangli for a vacation after my SSC exams were done. The trip hadn't started well due some technical reasons on CR but gradually it went on to become better. My relative's house was near to Vishrambag station and me and my brother had captured a lot of stuff there. So, I was happy to spot the rare EMD in WR-Mumbai (where I stay) were abundant there.. 

So, it was time to return after such an eventful trip. Koyna Express was the train to return. Though the train has halt at Vishrambag, we went to Sangli to board the train. The surprise or say the suspense of what loco would be leading was known to us a day before. We had spotted the train the evening before and since the same loco returns back to Mumbai, we knew about the link. 40036 it was! The WDP 4B that was damaged in the Hampi Express accident. The train arrived at Sangli around 20-25 minutes late. While it arrived, Gandhidham - Bangalore Express was waiting with another WDP 4B. As soon as Koyna stopped, GIMB - SBC left. After a couple of minutes halt, the train departed. The acceleration was awesome! Bhilwadi, Kirloskarwadi and then Takari. At Takari, Kolhapur bound Maharashtra Express met us with a Gooty WDG 4 in lead and Pune WDM 3D in the rear. It seemed that the 3D had some problems. We pulled out of Takari and again the loco showed some of its power.. 


Somewhere, some stations before Satara we crossed a WDP 4 led train. Don't know what the was. We arrived at Satara around half an hour late. Soon, we were cruising with no crossings or overtakes. The train halted at the stops one by one and went on.Through the rock cuttings, curves, etc. One could literally see the coach turning and going around a mountain. Passing through these stretches made me remember of Apurva Sir and Lalam Sir's pictures from here. As I waited for Koyna crossing we reached Jejuri and what did I see? Kolhapur bound Koyna waiting for us! WDP 4B 40066 was in the lead. Post Jejuri the Shindawane ghats started and the dry scenes could be seen from top. Little houses, patchy greenery, tunnels, bridges was story of that time.. We arrived Ghorpuri a couple of minutes before time. After the one minute halt we departed and passed by the Pune DLS. The sounds of EMDs humming, ALCos' chugging. Switching tracks we entered Pf 5 of Pune nearly 20 minutes before time!! As we arrived, Deccan Express departed for Mumbai and Jaipur - Yesvantpur Garib Rath Special arrived with Yellow WDG 4 12004. Pune - Jaipur was also seen on Pf 1.


After a long halt we finally departed Pune 5 mins late. Now it was time for the Udyan overtake. I quickly checked the status of Udyan and it was around 30 mins late. Shivaji Nagar, Chinchwad was quickly done and we were at Talegaon. Udyan had departed Pune and was chasing us. We halted at Talegaon for a long time but the Udyan overtake did not happen. The train was running fairly before time, might be that was the reason we were kept waiting. Again a good show and we were 2 mins before time at Lonavala. 5 mins late departure from Lonavala. We arrived at Khandala and departed after a quick halt. Slowly descending we reached Monkey Hill. There were put on the middle line! We quickly descended through the dry but beautiful ghats and reached Karjat 7 mins BT! Had a couple of Vada Pavs.. While I was busy filling my tummy, Udyan zoomed past us with a WDP 4B. Thought that the overtake wouldn't happen but it did happen..


We departed Karjat after the 5 mins delay. Saw Pragati Express getting bankers attached. Saw Deccan Queen waiting to get into Karjat. The non- stop run had ended and we were crawling.. Bhivpuri, Shelu, Vangani - passed them at slower speeds.. Badlapur- Kalyan was a speedy ride.. Got a parallel entry in Kalyan with Bhagalpur - LTT Express led by ET WAP 4. We departed before it and were speeding at MPS. The loco kept honking and the sounds were very well heard till the fourth last coach.. Just as we exited the Parsik tunnel some diesel led train chugged past us. We arrived at Thane very much on time and thus the journey ended! 

Journey in Madgaon Janshatabdi!

Link of train

The other side of CR

Late but here it is..
 2 Nov, 2013:
         After a sleepless night I reached Dadar Station early at 430 am to board 12051 Madgao Janashatabdi Express. I was excited as it was the first time I was going to experience KR and JS. I walked into the station with luggage. The rake along with the loco was already at platform no. 7. I settled the luggage and decided to check the chart. All 9 names of my family members were there though there was problem in numbering ; it was all fine later. I took a picture of destination board and decided to go to loco. Walking through the half awake platform I covered the short rake and reached the loco. ERS WDM 3A 14051 'baldie' was the link. The shunting crew was still sitting waiting for the LP, ALP crew to take over. I stood there listening the the sound of loco. Soon the crew came and started checking loco. I took a quick picture and started walking back to my coach. Since it was D1, it was a pretty long walk. 525 am and the loco honked and pulled out of the station. Negotiating the turn-outs the train skipped Matunga six minutes later. Loco was a hell of a chugger. It chugged and honked all the way till Thane- the first halt. Like always this time too I found some confusion regarding the coach numbers and positions and saw the crowd was running helter-skelter. The train departed but again came to a halt. Finally after a long honk it accelerated. The coach was crowded with people at door, in the vestibules. We quickly covered Parsik Tunnel and halted at Diva Outer. We entered the station and found the Dadar bound Rajyarani accelerating. Diva - Madgao was at platform with some orange AlCo and another Mumbai bound train was behind it. We entered the Panvel line and skipped Datavali. Skipping stations one by one we came to an halt at Kalamboli but before we could completely stop the train started. 
              We crawled through Panvel outer and did parallel with a DC EMU. UBL WDG 4 12133 and KYN WDM 3A 16012 were seen resting while another UBL WDG 4 was waiting for clearance with BCNA. Bought a packet of Samosa. Rs 10 for one packet with 3 Samosas. They were small but were good. We pulled out of Panvel and found an ERS WDM 3A 16237 waiting for some duty. Busy with the samosas I realized that wires above had gone and we were in a diesel territory! Crossed Kalyan Shakti led Roha - Diva Passenger. And some moments later crossed another Kalyan Shakti led train.. We soon slowed down and entered loop at Apta and skipped it through loop line.. And whom did we overtake? A Yellow UBL WDG 4 12004 with a flatbed like consist! I was overjoyed to see a UBL WDG 4 that too a yellow one! Waiting for the train to enter KR, I slept. I woke up and the train had stopped at Kolad. We had entered KR! Curves, small bridges, and a foggy morning environment was a delight! The train skipped Mangao at MPS and was maintaining the MPS run! We pulled into Diwankhavati loop. I expected a RORO but what came was a Ratlam beauty with Kochuveli - Dehradun Express! We overtook a UBL WDG 4 12312 led BOXN at Khed and reached Chiplun. NZM bound Mangala Lakshadweep Express entered Chiplun with a Green WDM 3A did not get to see shed as there was a BOXN rake in between. 

Kolad 

               
              After a long halt we accelerated. The last leg of my journey had started. Finally I got tea at Chiplun after a long haltless journey.. It was a great relief! Skipping stations one by one, I was waiting for a RoRo to meet me. And finally it did! It was waiting for crossing at Sangameshwar! Tunnels, bridges, and no network was the story of that moment. We were literally cruising at MPS. Oh! I forgot that we met Ratnagiri - Dadar Passenger somewhere which was with a navy blue KYN AlCo. We negotiated the final tunnel and curve before Ratnagiri and we entered Ratnagiri! Found another RoRo with a fresh painted (may be new) WDG 4 and just besides it was a UBL duo waiting with BCNA. Both towards Mumbai. We got down and Mumbai bound Netravati arrived with ED WDM 3A.. Thus the journey to the land of mangoes in one of fastest KR train ended.

My verdict on the train -
My coach was D1. 103 seats in a JS coach was a cramped seating arrangement. But it did not feel as the seats were good. All over the journey was good. In whole journey from Dadar to Ratnagiri only a SAMOSAwala came. No tea till Chiplun where infact I got it from station than in train. No breakfast although the food was loaded at Dadar. Train was jampacked with WL pax all over the train (even in AC CC). I would only recommend this train if
- You are in a hurry
- You love high speed
- You can stay without food (you can  carry your own)
- You are ready to take very early morning trouble
I would rate this train a 4/5.

Overtaking yellow UBL WDG 4 led BRNA rake at Apta

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