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

Don't forget to read 'Mauke pe Chauka'

Journey in 12010 Shatabdi!! (BRC to DIC)

 27 May 2013:  I had been to Vadodara (BRC) on 25 May with my family on the occasion of thread ceremony of one of my cousins. We had boarded 12931 AC Double Decker Superfast Express from Mumbai Central. The report of it can be seen here. We spent 2 days there and on 27 May 2013 we were to return back to the city. We were to board 12010 Ahmedabad (ADI) → Mumbai Central (BCT) Shatabdi Express.

                We reached station at quarter to four and confirmed the platform at which my train was going to arrive from the large panel where the information is displayed. we entered the station and started walking towards our coach. I was with my family and hence we were all together 14 people. Due to holiday season we had got seats in 2 different coaches i.e. C4 and C5. My seat was seat no. 4 in coach C5.
             


                  The train arrived at 1605 i.e. 7 minutes before time. The link for the train was BRC WAP 5 #30046! We all went inside and settled everything. The train departed at 1620- 3 minutes late. It passed Ahmedabad Mumbai Passenger. The link for the passenger was BL WCAM 1 #21849. After clearing the turnouts, it accelerated well and passed Vishwamitri. We were given water bottles and the evening snacks by the time we passed Vishwamitri.  We crossed a Bondamunda (BNDM) WAG 7 #28265 led BCNA rake before Vishwamitri. We later crossed ED WAP 4 #22388 led 12656 Navjeevan Express after Itola. Later after Palej, we crossed 12925 Paschim which had GZB WAP 7 #30201 'Navkiran' as link. After Palej, we had an unscheduled halt at Varediya and soon after we accelerated from there we crossed LDH WDM 3A #18472 R led 22451 Bandra - Chandigarh Express.
           
           

                We reached Bharuch (BH) 10 mins late. After a quick halt we left BH and passed over the Mighty Narmada river and the bridge over it. After it we skipped Ankleshwar (AKV) at good speed. We met Indore bound special and Suryanagri Express somewhere in between. Bandra T. - Bhavnagar Special which was with BRC WAP 5 #30058 whizzed past us before Sayan.  12933 Karnavati Express met us after Kosad with BRC WAP 4 #22701.

        
           

   We skipped some small stations in no time and reached Surat where 12931 Mumbai → Ahmedabad AC Double Decker crossed us. BRC WAP 5 #30057 was gracefully pulling it into Surat.  After a 7 mins halt at Surat, we departed.  Soup was served just before Valsad. We went through small and big stations. 12951 Rajdhani Express with its  regular link crossed us after Pardi. In Pardi scrapyard there were many coaches and some 3 WCAM 1s. One of them was 21819.  We were cruising before VAPI when VTA WDM 3A #18610 led Bandra  - Patna weekly Express crossed us.

           
        We reached VAPI 1 minute late ( :P )  and met BZA WAG 7 #28072 with BOXN rake. We departed VAPI and then the BRC WAP 4 #22393 'Airavat' led Bandra T. - Jammutawi Special blasted at MPS! And after it at Umbargam we met  the Krantikari- August Kranti Rajdhani Express. The dinner was served by then and ice cream followed it.The train then covered the Dahanu - Virar stretch quickly and entered the suburban section. We skipped Vasai at MPS but crawled through Naigaon. Again MPS at Bhayandar. We slowly went through Mira Road and finally came to a stop at Dahisar. I took the advantage of it and got down at Dahisar. The train usually stops at Dahisar as it doesn't get entry into Borivali before 9 pm. The train left after a good 4 min halt and thus my journey was ended..

Journey in 12931 Double Decker! (BCT to BRC)

25 May 2013: Ah! The day had finally come when I was going to board 12931 DD to BRC. I was very excited for this journey as tired of everyday 6 hours of class without any holiday. Yes it is my SSC year but a break was needed.. The occasion to travel to BRC was thread ceremony of one of my cousins. I had gone there with my whole family. 2 months ago it was decided by all of us to go to BRC by DD. Hence tickets were booked. 

My seat was in C3 Upper deck and seat no 75ie track side, journey facing window! The journey started from Dahisar. I was going to board the train from BCT and hence took an EMU to BCT. Before that I met Saaluvesh- a MAS rf who had come to Mumbai. We did some spotting there and then I caught 1201 CCG EMU for BCT. The EMU was fairly crowded as it was a Saturday. I crossed 12925 Paschim with its usual link - GZB WAP 7. The EMU crawled till ADH and then again till BA. The run from BA to DDR was speedy but then again from DDR to BCT it crawled at snail's pace. It was 1250 by the time I reached BCT. I was expecting UP DD to reach behind me but it did not. It finally arrived at 1320. The link for 12932 was BRC WAP 5 30049. 
At BCT there was BRC WAP 5 30051 in AMUL livery. It had come with INDB-BCT Duranto Express. There was a WCAM 1, some 5 BRC WAP 4s, 3 BRC WAP 5s and 2 GZB WAP 5s. After a walk all around, I returned to the platform where my DD was and saw my relatives there. We all boarded the train and settled the luggage. After that I walked to the ADI end and saw that even though it was 1400 there was no sign of loco. But 5 mins later it came. BRC WAP 5 30055 was the one. Karnavati had left on time and the rake of 2961 Avantika had taken its place. Finally WAP 5 screamed loud and we pulled out of BCT at 1420. We cleared turn-outs and joined mainline. The train was doing good 70s , 80s and 90s. Soon we reached BVI the first halt of train. There entered a sea of people and choked the movement through coaches. I ran clearing through people and reached my seat before the train left as I had to take video of acceleration. WAP 5 accelerated very good and blasted Dahisar at 100kmph. We soon slowed down at MIRA as it has TSR of 75 and then again gained speed. Blasting through the remaining suburban stations we crossed VR and other stations. The train was going at speed from 120 to 126 in VR-DRD section. I decided to enjoy the feast that was brought after cruising through suburban section. We had slow downs at regular intervals. Th train finally reached VAPI half an hour late. After a 2 mins halt it departed. Crossed many freights and WAP 4 led trains. Crossed KZJ WDM 3A led RJT-CBE Express somewhere after VAPI. I decided to enjoy journey and leave spottings. Soon we reached ST outer. Crossing signal after signal we moved ahead slowly. I saw BRC WAP 5 led DDR-AII behind me. We entered ST 25 mins late and met 12010 Shatabdi there. It was with BRC WAP 5 30048. We left ST and were doing MPS. ST - BH run was quickest of all. Reached BH 10 mins late. Crossed UBL WDP 4B twins led 1.5 hrs late running JU-SBC Exp. We were soon 30 mins late and had reached BRC outer. We got entry into BRC at 2005 and I got down from the train. And thus the journey was ended. 

Over all the coaches were good. The seats had less foam which sometimes resulted in discomfort. The seats reclined very less. The seats on no pantry side were very cramped. Journey was fairly good. Only thing is that due to Karnavati being ahead and slowing down DD at many occasions. I would rate DD coaches 7/10.
Thank you!