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!
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!
