This travelogue is 2781 words long
My eyes were too heavy to open, when my mom woke me up at 0530. I had hardly slept the previous night due to two reasons - power failure, and attack by a mosquito army! They bit at all possible places, and kept me alert due to their sirens! I was all set and ready by 0600. Quickly had a cup to tea, and took out my brother's Innova from his garage, and loaded all our baggage into it. We left his home at around 0615. My brother lost a turn near Kempegowda Circle , and we landed up near Wilson Garden. We somehow managed to get back to Kempegowda circle, and managed to get into the right road. To our horror, we realized that Sampige road was closed, and we had to take a long detour. On the way, I saw Malleshwaram Station. We roamed through small streets and finally landed near Yeshwantpur BMTC Bus depot. We took the flyover and entered the Tumkur road, and thence to the Yeshwantpur Station.
In the entire process of roaming and diversions, we lost a lot of time and the time was 0700 by the time we reached Yeshwantpur - that is just 20 minutes to spare for the departure of my train. I parked all the baggage inside our coach, and rushed off to see the power. The loco for the day was WDM3A #16041R of Pune in DCW livery. The platform was full of GRP & RPF personnel. Later on, I discovered that a Karnataka State minister was traveling in our coach, and all the policemen were on security duty!
My coach was WGACCW 88051 (A1) built by ICF in 1988, and rehabilitated by Bhopal Workshop in 2002. The coach was just 2 years younger to me!!! The train pulled out at 0725 from Platform 6. The rake of the Karnataka Sampark Kranti was on platform 5, and the Guntur Passenger on Platform 1. I had purchased breakfast from a stall at Yeshwantpur station, and we (Dad, Mom and I) had our breakfast shortly after the train entered into the Arsikere line.
The TTE came around, and checked our tickets shortly after that. One end of the coach had heavy police presence, while the other end was empty. I stood at the door for some time, while the train slowly pulled into Tumkur. We arrived Tumkur at 0826, early by 2 minutes and Departed at 0832 - delayed by 2 minutes! Tumkur station is under Bangalore division, while Mysore division begins near the advanced starter (kilometres 70/5). The run from Tumkur till Nittur was smooth, and the train kept a good pace. We were made to wait at the Nittur home signal for some time. Later on, we moved in and ran through the Main line. The Vasco-Yeshwantpur Express was waiting for us on the Main line. The loco in-charge was WDM3A #14041 of Gooty. The train had about 5 General Coaches, 9 Sleeper class coaches, one each of AC2T and AC3T in addition to the mandatory couple of SLR coaches.
We wee made to wait again at Ammasandra home. One interesting thing that I noted of most station on the route is that, the platform is situated on the Main line itself. So in case of a crossing, or an overtake - the faster train will have to crawl through the loop line! This is a pretty good arrangement for a Railfan! Minutes after we stopped near Ammasandra home, the signal turned Amber with a Route indication to the loop line. The Shimoga Town - Bangalore passenger was waiting for us at this station. The loco in charge was WDM2 #17598 of Krishnarajapuram. Just as my coach neared the starter, the passenger train also smoked its way out!
The run from Ammasandra to Arsikere Home was done in style. The loco was a good performer, and she ensured that I was never disappointed by the speed! We had a brief halt at Tiptur (0950/0954). We were delayed by about 24 minutes while departing from Tiptur. We had to wait for a few minutes at Arsikere Home for clearance. We pulled into Arsikere at 1022, with a delay of 17 minutes. The minister who was traveling in our coach got down at Arsikere, and he was welcomed to the place by a huge contingent of political leaders with garlands and praises! The minister & party cleared the platform quickly. I had a look at the Refreshment room, and hot Idli-Vada was up for sale there!
The Idli was tastier than the one at Yeshwantpur, and the vada was crispier! On the adjoining main line, a tanker train hauled by Twin MU-ed Krishnarajapuram WDM2s was waiting. The Locos were #17311 (leading) and #17476. At the coach sidings, about 2 passenger rakes were seen. One rake had about 7-8 coaches, and had new SLRDs which does not have the luggage compartment (New classification: GSRD). I guess that these coaches can do a better job on such passenger trains where luggage booking is poor! We left Arsikere at 1033, with a delay of 23 minutes. The run out of Arsikere was smooth, and the new pilots were notching up quickly!
We were loop lined at Banavar for a crossing. A long BOXN rake was blocking my view of the main line. Some minutes after stopping, a WDP4 hauled train (The Hubli-Bangalore Intercity Express) rushed past. We moved out of the station minutes after the crossing. The BOXN rake was hauled by twin WDG4s! The leading loco was #12092. We halted briefly at Devanur for clearance. We next stopped at Kadur. The platform was on the main line itself, and hence my train could speed in, and speed out! We left Kadur at 1120 after a very brief minute long halt! We next pulled into Birur.
We stopped on the Main line, while on the other loop line the Bangalore-Shimoga passenger (575). We reached Birur at 1128 (delayed by 28 minutes). At around 1130, the starter for the passenger turned amber and roughly about a minute later, the starter for my train too turned amber! Two trains getting their starters together!!! (Both of them would travel in the same direction, but on different tracks!). Surprisingly, the passenger started moving first, and my train started moving roughly a minute later at 1134. By that time, the SLR of 575 had overtaken the loco of my train. The loco pilot of my train was probably ashamed by that! He quickly notched up, and we pulled out with a mild jerk! Our loco smoked up heavily, and the moments ahead were really dramatic! Our train slowly and steadily picked speed, and my coach was at par with the SLR of the passenger train within moments. Soon, we were moving ahead and we overtook the loco! The loco pilot had a huge smile on spotting me with a camera! The loco was WDM2 #17335 of Krishnarajapuram! We picked speed faster, and our train was clearly ahead of the passenger in a few minutes!
Our train did not have any halts between Birur and Davangere, a distance of about 116 kms. The scheduled running time is 1 hour and 42 minutes. My train took an hour and 36 minutes!!! After leaving from Birur, we had a brief halt at Ajjampur for clearance, and then at Shivani Home - again for clearance! We were diverted to the loop line at Shivani. The 587 Bangalore-Hubli passenger was occupying the main line. We prepared for the second overtake of the day! The loco in-charge of the passenger train was WDM2 #17603 of Krishnarajapuram. We rejoined the main line, and the run ahead was very interesting. The climate outside the coach was cooler unlike the route via Dharmavaram. We once again entered the loop line at Chikjajur. This train does not have a halt at Chikjajur, but regularly crawls through the loop line!!!
We crossed the 582 Hubli-Bangalore passenger here. The loco in-charge was WDM3A #18599 of Krishnarajapuram. A Guntakal - Chikjajur passenger was occupying the other loop line. The loco was WDM2 #17611 of Guntakal. We also overtook a triple headed freight train here. The run ahead was dry till Davangere. We pulled into Davangere at 1310. I received a message from IRFCAn Ramdev Gowda that he was traveling on our pairing train, and was hauled by a brown Pune loco!
We left Davangere at 1312. We next stopped at Harihar (1324). We were welcomed into the station by WDM2 #17687 of Krishnarajapuram working the 538 Hubli-Bangalore passenger. Lunch was loaded and water tanks re-filled here, and we departed at 1331. The lunch platter had Chapatti, A dry Subzi, spicy gravy, Rice and Pickle. The train pulled into Ranibennur while I was busy munching down the rice! We left Ranibennur at 1355 (Scheduled 1325). I received a message from Ramdev that his train had reached Haveri, and at that time my train was at Haveri Home! Our pairing train had brown WDM3A #18688R of Pune. His coach was right in front of mine, but his train got its starter as soon as my train stopped! So, we could just wave to each other. (No problem Dude! We'll meet next time!).
We left Haveri at 1423, and overtook a long BCNA rake hauled by WDG4 #12013. The run ahead was fast. We were loop lined at Savanur. We had a short wait for the Bangalore bound Jan Shatabdi to blast past us! Jan Shatabdi had a very dirty looking WDP4 #20025 of Krishnarajapuram in charge. We pulled out of the station a couple of minutes later. It was getting a bit hot outside, and I settled inside the coach. The coach vibrated heavily each time the AC Equipment started up! We stopped at Kundgol home briefly, before running through the station. The 284 Hubli-Arsikere Passenger was waiting for us at the station. The loco in charge was WDM2 #17560 of Krishnarajapuram.
The train crossed over into Hubli division from Mysore division just a couple of kilometres before Hubli station. Just as we were closing in, I spotted a WDM2 (#18404) of Krishnarajapuram shunting out a short BCNA rake. About 3 EMD locos were seen inside the Diesel Loco shed. The yard was more or less empty.WDM3A #14045 of Gooty was sleeping off at the pit lines still coupled to the rake of Vijayawada-Hubli Amaravati Express, which it had brought in! WDP4 #20028 of Krishnarajapuram was waiting with the rake of the Bangalore bound Hampi Express. Kazipet's WDG3A #14939 was also spotted dozing off at the yard. We were received on Platform 2 of Hubli at 1553. Platform 1 had two trains standing back to back. One was the Bangalore bound 'Kurkure' Express with WDM2 #17780 of Guntakal in charge, while the other was the Londa bound "Link" Express with Pune WDM3A #18925R in charge.
Platform 3 had the rake of a Miraj-Hubli Passenger, with WDM3A #14041 of Guntakal in charge. The rake was shunted out by the same loco shortly after my train stopped. Hubli is now a "Clean Train Station". The toilets of our coach (and all other coaches too!) were cleaned, the wash-basin was washed, floor mopped and sprayed with disinfectant and the window glasses of the AC coaches were washed with a soap solution! The garbage bins were also emptied. The entire job is outsourced to a company - "A 2 Z group". We finally left Hubli at 1606, with a delay of 6 minutes. The loco of the Londa Link express was being tested by the loco pilots then!
The run from Hubli to Dharwad was dry and uninspiring! We pulled into Dharwad at 1626. A twin WDG4 hauled Container train was pulling into the siding. The locos were #12108 (leading) and #12088. We left Dharwad at 1631. The rake of the Dharwad-Mysore express is usually parked on Platform 3, but this rake was absent today! I was pretty surprised and eager to know where the rake went. The run ahead of Dharwad was more interesting! The weather was getting cooler, and there were plenty of sharp curves ahead!
We crossed the empty rake of the Dharwad-Mysore Express at Kyarkop! The rake had WDM3A #17902 of Krishnarajapuram coupled to it. WDG4 #12078 was also parked on the same line, behind the rake of Mysore express. My train kept leaping ahead, and the run was truly amazing! We were diverted to the loop line at Mugad. We crossed the Jodhpur-Bangalore Express here. The fellow came in speeding behind WDG3A #14566 of Pune! We pulled into Alnavar at 1721, and left at 1723 - delayed by 13 minutes.
We crossed atleast three 'twin-WDG4' headed freighters and the Tirupati/Hyderabad bound Haripriya Express on our way to Londa. We pulled into Londa at 1807. We were welcomed by WDG4 #12040 coupled to #12112 working a BOXN rake. We left Londa at 1810 - late by 5 minutes. Another WDG4 couple - #12090 coupled to #12045 - working a BOXN rake was spotted at the other end of the station.
The light was decreasing steadily, and I settled inside the coach for the journey ahead. A vendor from Londa Veg. Refreshment Room came around selling hot "Onion Vadas". The snack was crispy and really tasty! We pulled into Belgaum at 1900. The Bangalore bound Rani Chennamma Express was waiting on Platform 1, worked by an unknown WDP4. We were on Platform 2, while on Platform 3 was WDG4 #12044 standing light! It got darker by the time we left Belgaum (At 1908). The rest of the journey was in pitch darkness, and the heavy tinting of the coach windows made sightings very difficult!
We reached Ghatprabha at 1958. Our dinner was loaded here. We left the station at 2001. The dinner was served shortly after the train pulled out of the station. The dinner was served in Plastic Plates, and contained Chapattis, a dry Subzi, Rice, Dhal, Curd, Pickle and Papad. The food was tasty, and the presentation was pleasing! We reached Kudachi at 2048, and left the station at 2050. We reached Miraj at 2127 - early by 13 minutes. The Kolhapur bound Koyna Express was on Platform 3, while we were on Platform 1. We left Miraj at 2145, right on time.
I went to bed shortly after departure from Miraj. The train reached Sangli at 2159, and left at 2202. I slept shortly after this station. I woke up at somewhere around 0400. We had crossed Pune by then, and an unknown express crossed at a very high speed. I slipped back to sleep, only to get up again at 0500. There was no light outside, and the train was running. I had another nap, and got up at 0530. The toilets were still to be crowded, and I decided to finish off everything before that! We pulled into Neral at 0540, and halted briefly there.
The work on DC-AC conversion is progressing quite fast and old traction poles which had lesser vertical clearance have been replaced with newer ones! We crossed the Jaipur-Pune holiday special (the loco was Jhansi WDM3A #18880) somewhere near Badlapur. The run was fast till Ulhasnagar . We then crawled for some distance, and finally stopped at Vitthalwadi home. An EMU was running right ahead of us! A twin WCG2 (led by #20144) hauled BOXN rake crossed us while we waited for clearance to enter Vitthalwadi! We halted briefly at Vitthalwadi, and then crawled forward towards Kalyan. Just as we neared Kalyan, I spotted the Gorakhpur-LTT Holiday Special also crawling towards Kalyan. We were received on Platform 7 (at 0637) while the special was on Platform 5. We left Kalyan at 1639. The holiday special had WCAM3 #21937 in charge.
We crossed the Pune bound Indrayani express (WCG2 #20151) right outside the station. We crossed the Howrah bound Gitanjali Express near the Parsik Tunnel, and the Nanded bound Tapovan Express at Parsik Tunnel 'outer' signal. Tapovan had WCAM3 #21952 in charge. We crossed the Gorakhpur bound "Kashi" Express at Thane Home. We then crossed the Pune bound Intercity Express somewhere near Bhandup. We rushed through Kurla at a very good speed. We then crossed the Madgaon bound Mandovi Express (WDP4 #20030 of Krishnarajapuram) near Kurla Home. The Pune bound Deccan Express rushed past us at Matunga. We then had a brief halt at Dadar home signal.
We were finally received on Platform 8 at 0740 - with a delay of 20 minutes. A Pune WDM2 was sleeping off on Platform 7, and a WCG2 was dozing off ahead of the loco of my train (16041R of Pune). We then hired a taxi to reach our home in Belapur. It rained slightly on our way home! There ended a "pre-monsoon" trip to Bangalore !!!
I am eager to know how you liked this report! Please send in your comments and suggestions (brick-bats also welcome) to binaiks [at] gmail [dot] com
