[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Index of Questions and Topics

The Indian Railways FAQ

Indian Railways FAQ: Index of Questions and Topics

Index of the IR FAQ

IRFCA - Help for members, guidelines, etc.
- Q. What are the web addresses for the mailing list?
- Q. How do I unsubscribe from the mailing list?
- Q. Can I get messages in a daily digest form?
- Q. I'm travelling or on vacation, and would like to suspend my subscription for a while, or read the messages just over the web.
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- Q. How do I access the image files or other documents at the Yahoo Groups site?
  Or, Why do I get a message saying I am not a member of IRFCA when I try to access files? Or, Why does the Yahoo Groups site say I have to sign in when I try to access files?
- Q. I haven't received IRFCA mail for several days! Or, I received a reactivation request from Yahoo -- now what do I do?
- Q. Is there an online chat / IM channel for IRFCA?
- Q. Where can I get an IRFCA sign-up box for my web page?
- Q. What about copyright issues?
- Guidelines for participation in the mailing list
The IRFCA chat guide the web
- How to participate in the IRFCA online chat sessions.
Pointers to information sources on the web
- General railway resources
- IRFCA member pages
Books, videos, etc.
- Q. What are some books that I can find on or related to Indian Railways?
- Q. What are some bookstores that carry these books listed above or others having to do with IR?
- Q. How do I subscribe to the "Indian Railways" magazine?
- Q. What about other periodicals, especially covering earlier periods?
- Q. Where can I get the "Bradshaw" for Indian Railways?
- Q. Where can I get "Trains at a glance"?
- Q. Where can I get the Thomas Cook timetables?
- Q. Where can I get a copy of Rail Duniya?
- Q. What are some videos available on Indian trains?
- Q. Where can I find maps of railway networks in India?
Museums
- National Rail Museum in New Delhi
- Rail Museum in Mysore.
Organizations & Groups interested in IR or related topics
Locomotives: General Information
- Q. What do the designations such as "WDM-2" mean?
- Q. What is the history of the current classification scheme for locos?
- Q. How many locomotives does IR have in its fleet?
- Q. Does IR have push-pull operations?
- Q. What do the notations such as "2-4-2" mean?
- Q. What does "Bo-Bo" or "Co-Co" mean?
- Q. Where can I find pictures of various kinds of locomotives?
- Q. Were Garratts used in India?
- Q. What about other articulated locos?
- Q. Where were/are locomotives used in India manufactured?
- Q. Which were the earliest diesels used in the Indian subcontinent?
- Q. Which were the earliest electric locos used in India?
- Q. Other than diesels, were there any other internal-combustion locos used in India?
- Q. What's the method that IR uses to couple together multiple locos? Or, what's "Locotrol"
- Q. What's the "tractive effort" of a loco?
- Q. What's the cause of the characteristic jerk or momentary loss of power felt when a WDM-2 accelerates?
- Q. Were/are battery-powered electric locos used in India?
- Q. How are/were locomotives numbered in India?
- Q. Where can I get diagrams of locomotives?
Multiple Units and other self-propelled vehicles
- Q. What are multiple units?
- Q. What kinds of electric multiple units does IR operate?
- Q. Does IR operate diesel-electric multiple units of any kind?
- EMU/DMU formations
- Q. Where are railbus or railcar units operated?
- Other self-propelled vehicles.
Preserved Locos, Named Locos
- Q. Where can I find plinthed or preserved locos in India?
- Q. Where can I find locos transferred from India to other countries?
- Named locomotives
Locomotives: Specific Classes
- Steam locomotives
- Diesel locomotives
- Battery locomotives
- DC locomotives
- AC locomotives
- AC-DC locomotives
Specifications of Diesel and Electric Locomotives
Additional specifications of Electric Locomotives
The last of steam in India
- Q. Are steam locos being manufactured in India?
- Q. What is the state of steam in India today and its recent history?
- Q. Which steam locos in operation today are the oldest ones?
- Q. What were the longest steam runs in India?
- Q. What were the highest steam speeds in India?
Steam Loco Sheds of the 1970s
Rolling stock
- Q. How are passenger coaches classified by IR?
- Q. How are passenger coaches numbered by IR?
- Q. What are the common configurations of IR coaches?
- History of passenger stock and accommodations
- Q. Where are IR coaches manufactured?
- Q. What's an "integral" coach?
- New lightweight coaches from Alsthom LHB.
- Q. What are the marks and annotations on passenger coaches?
- Q. What are the dimensions of passenger coaching stock?
- Q. How many passenger coaches does IR have in its fleet?
- Q. Are there any double-decker coaches in use today in India?
- Q. What other, special-purpose, coaches exist?
- Q. When was air-conditioning introduced in IR?
- Q. Are there any NG AC coaches?
- Q. When were vestibuled rakes introduced?
- Q. What are the 'X' or circular marks on the ends of wagons?
- Q. How are freight cars classifed by IR?
- Q. How many freight cars does IR have?
- CONCOR container consists
- Q. Where are freight wagons manufactured?
- Q. What types of braking systems are used for coaches and freight cars?
- Q. What types of braking systems are used by locos?
- Q. What kinds of couplers are used on IR's trains?
- Q. How is power generated for the coaches and cars on IR trains?
- Air-conditioning
- Q. What does "not to be loose shunted" mean?
- Q. Where can I see some preserved coaches, wagons, and other rolling stock?
Train Working Systems
- Q. What kinds of signalling and train working systems are in use in India?
- Q. What's "route interlocking"?
- Q. How do non-interlocked (NI) stations work?
- Q. What are modified non-interlocked (MNI) stations?
- Q. What kinds of track circuit are used by IR?
- Q. What are the last-vehicle indications that IR uses?
- Q. Does IR have axle counters, hotspot detectors, etc.?
- Q. Are there any in-cab signalling methods used by IR?
- Q. What methods of signal control and reporting are used by IR?
- Q. What's "absolute block" train working?
- Q. What's a token system or a tokenless system?
- Q. What kinds of block instruments are/were used?
- Q. How do block instruments work?
- Q. How does the Neale's ball token system work?
- Q. What happens if a station runs out of tokens?
- Q. What is the bell code used for communicating between signalboxes at the ends of a block section?
- Q. What are single-line block, twin single-line block, etc.?
- Q. What is an "Intermediate Block Section"?
- Q. What are "block station", "halt station"?
- Q. What are "block post", "block hut"?
- Q. What's a "moving block" system?
- Q. What's a "automatic block" system?
- Q. What is "permissive" block signalling?
- Q. What is the "authority to proceed"?
- Q. What is a "private number"?
- Q. What's the "clearing point" or "fouling point"?
- Non-block systems of train working
Signalling Systems: General
- Q. Why are multiple aspect signal systems used?
- Q. What kinds of signals: semaphores, lamps, etc., does IR use?
- Q. What kinds of signalling systems does IR use?
- Q. What kinds of semaphore signalling does IR use?
- Q. What kinds of colour-light signalling does IR use?
- Q. What are the rings, bars, etc. fitted to signals?
- Q. What do the terms ahead/behind/advanced/retarded/front/rear mean when referring to signals?
- Q. What are co-acting signals?
- Q. What are running signals and subsidiary signals?
- Q. What are the white lamps fitted at the rear of signals
- Q. How do signals refer to specific lines at junctions where many lines converge or diverge?
- Q. What kinds of signalling control methods are used on IR?
- Q. What are 'fixed signals'?
- Q. How is failure of signals guarded against?
Signal aspects and indications: Principal running signals
- Stop signals: semaphore, colour-light
- Warner signals: semaphore, colour-light
- Distant signals: semaphore, colour-light
- Placement of signals: distance, visibility, signal types
Signal aspects and indications: Subsidiary signals
- Calling-on signals
- Shunt signals and indicators
- Repeating signals
- Points indicators
- Trap indicators
Signs and Symbols, Hand Signals, etc.
- Q. What do the various symbols and signs found by railway tracks mean?
- Q. What are some of the whistle / horn codes used for communication between the crew of a train and with the ground staff?
- Q. What is a stone throw message?
- Hand, flag, and lamp signals
Railway Operations
- Q. What is an "A" driver, or a "B" driver, etc.?
- Q. Who is the guard?
- Q. Who is the train superintendent?
- Q. How are drivers assigned to different trains?
- Q. What determines when the crew for a loco is changed?
- Q. How are crew requirements worked out for freight trains?
- Q. Where are loco drivers trained?
- Q. What are slip coaches and through coaches?
- Q. What are passenger, ordinary, express, fast passenger, etc.?
- Q. What are superfast trains?
- Q. What are local trains?
- Q. What are mail trains?
- Q. What are fast, semi-fast, and double-fast trains?
- Q. What are superfast trains?
- Q. What are ladies special trains?
- Q. How are loco changeover points determined?
- Q. How are trains scheduled?
- Q. What are the "booked speed" and "commercial speed" of a train?
- Q. Why do trains halt at stations not marked on the timetable?
- Q. What's the "maximum permissible speed" of a train?
- Q. What's the "minimum running time"?
- Q. What's the "normal running time"?
- Q. How do trains sometimes arrive on time even if they are delayed along the way?
- Q. What else is in the working timetable?
- Q. Why do trains sometimes slow down on various sections?
- Q. What are caution orders?
- Q. What are restrictions?
- Q. What are line blocks, power blocks, etc.?
- Q. How are trains run when tracks are flooded?
- Q. How are trains run when there is fog?
- Q. When can trains be run without brake-vans or guards?
- Q. How are trains worked in case of accidents?
- Q. How are runaway vehicles and out-of-control trains handled?
- Q. How is train parting handled?
- Q. What are catch and slip sidings?
- Q. How are trains scheduled?
- Q. On which side of the tracks do trains run?
- Rake sharing by trains
- Q. How many rakes does a train require?
- Q. What are the telecommunications systems that IR uses?
- Q. How do ground staff, loco crew, and signalmen communicate?
- Q. What are CONCERT, PRS, IMPRESS, IVRS, POET, SPTM and UTS?
- Q. Why are bankers used?
- Q. How do the banker drivers communicate with the leading locos' drivers?
- Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair
Electric Traction
- Q. What are the voltages used for electric traction in India?
- Q. What's the history of electric traction in India?
- Q. How does electric traction work? AC & DC systems, catenaries, etc.
- Q. How do the new 3-phase AC locos (WAP-5, etc.) work?
- Q. What are the notches and transitions of traction motors?
- Q. How do locomotives handle phase breaks?
- Q. How are DC locos swapped for AC locos at the point where traction power changes from DC to AC?
- Q. How do the AC-DC locos (WCAM series) switch from one power source to another on the run?
- Q. What happens if the wrong selection has been made at the wrong time ?
- Q. What happens if the pantograph isn't lowered when the loco enters the dead zone?
- Q. When does the pantograph have to be lowered and raised on the run?
- Q. How does regenerative braking work?
- Q. Where can I learn more about electric traction?
- Q. What are ignitrons and excitrons?
Permanent Way
- Q. What are the different classes of lines (A, B, Q, etc.)?
- Q. What weights of rails does IR use?
- Q. What are the common lengths of rails?
- Q. Who makes rails for IR?
- Q. What are the neutral temperatures for CWR?
- Q. What equipment does IR use for track destressing?
- Q. Where are the oldest rails to be found?
- Q. What kinds of rail fasteners does IR use?
- Q. What kinds of sleepers does IR use?
- Q. What sleeper spacings does IR use?
- Q. What sleeper dimensions does IR use?
- Q. What kinds of ballast does IR use?
- Q. What tolerances of gauge does IR permit?
- Q. What is the 'Raksha Dhaga'? How does IR warn trains of landslides?
- Q. How is track maintained?
- Q. Does IR use mechanized means for track laying and track maintenance?
- Q. What are the small vertical pieces of rails embedded near the tracks?
- Q. Why are some rails painted?
Jargon and Technical Terms
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Geography
- Q. How many regions or "zones" does IR have?
- Q. When were the new zones created?
- Q. What are the headquarters and divisions of the various zones?
- Q. How big are the various zones?
- Q. How were the zones created out of the former independent railway networks?
Maps
- Current IR network maps
- IR suburban maps
- Historical maps of India
- Physical maps of India
- Rail temperature zones
Geography: International
- Q. Are there rail connections to Pakistan from India?
- Q. Are there rail connections to Sri Lanka from India?
- Q. Are there rail connections to Bangladesh from India?
- Q. Are there rail connections to Nepal from India?
- Q. Are there rail connections to Myanmar (Burma), China, or South-East Asia from India?
- Q. What is the possibility of a rail link to Singapore?
- Q. Are there rail connections from India to Afghanistan, Iran, and thence to Central Asia or Europe?
Gauges in India
- Q. What gauges are used in India? Information on BG, MG, NG, and more obscure gauges.
Railway Stations
- Station codes, with a list of the more commonly encountered codes
- Extensive list of station codes (names to codes)
- Extensive list of station codes (codes to names)
- Suburban station abbreviations
- Q. What are the different classes of stations?
- Q. How many stations does IR have?
- Q. Why are so many railway stations named "[something] Road"?
- Q. Why are there so many express and long-distance trains to or from obscure locations like Manduadih, Habibganj, etc.?
- Q. What is the difference between Vadodara and Baroda, Or, what stations have changed names?
- Q. How many railway stations does IR have?
- Q. What's the history of Victoria Terminus?
Railway Yards and Loco Sheds
- Q. How can I tell which home shed a loco belongs to?
- Q. Where are the loco sheds? A list of the more important loco sheds in the various zons.
- Q. Where are the important marshalling and stabling yards?
Production Units and Workshops
- Diesel Loco Works
- Chittaranjan Loco Works
- Integral Coach Factory
- Rail Coach Factory
- Diesel Component Works
- Wheel and Axle Plant
- Jessop & Co.
- Burn & Co.
- Jamalpur Workshop
- Alambagh Workshop
- Charbagh Workshop
- Ajmer Workshop
- Tindharia Workshop
- Coonoor Steam Shed
Train Numbers
- Q. Is there a system behind the numbering of trains? An explanation of the 4-digit train numbers for long-distance trains.
- Q. Trains are often referred to as going "up" or "down" -- what does this mean?
Train Names
- A list of train names
Freight Trains
- Q. What are typical freight loads?
- Q. How are freight trains numbered?
- Q. What are CONTRACK trains?
- Q. How heavy are the heaviest freights carried by IR?
- Q. What is the state of intermodal transportation in India?
- Parcel vans
- Q. What are jumbo and super-jumbo rakes?
- Q. Where are the important goods sheds of IR?
- Container traffic and CONCOR
Non-IR railways in India
- Q. Are there railways other than IR in India today?
Selected Trains Assorted bits of information about particular trains, including tourist and railfan attractions, IR's premier services, and suburban services.
- Palace on Wheels
- Royal Orient
- Ooty Rack Railway
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
- The Grand Trunk Exp.
- The Frontier Mail
- Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
- Patiala State Monorail
- Ooty Rack Railway (Nilgiri Mountain Railway)
- Rajdhanis
- Shatabdis
- Kangra Queen
- Desert Queen
- Janata, Jansewa, Matribhumi Exps.
- Lifeline Express
- Samjhauta Express
- Great Indian Rover
- The Imperial Indian Mail
- The Boat Mail
- The Deccan Queen
- The Flying Ranee
- The Punjab Mail
- The Presidential Saloon
Metro - Urban - Suburban Systems
- Mumbai suburban system
- Calcutta
- Chennai MRTS
- Pune Light Railway
- Delhi Metro
- Bangalore Elevated Light Rail
- Hyderabad-Secunderabad
Train Liveries
- Passenger train colour schemes
- Steam locomotive liveries
- Miscellaneous notes on diesel/electric locos, etc.
History of railways in India
- Q. When did the first train run in India?
- Q. What was the Guarantee System?
- A chronology of railways in India, including:
  - Origins
  - Various early railway companies
  - Early train services
  - Establishment of railway routes
  - 1900-1947
  - 1947-1970
  - 1970-present
Guide to Historical Research
- Information on reference sources, periodicals, etc. useful for research into railways in India in days past.
Modelling
- Q. I'm interested in modelling; are there hobbyists' groups or associations that I can get in touch with to get info? ... Or to buy models?
- Q. What are the best ways to approach modelling Indian trains? Which scale works best? Are there kits available? Some general considerations and suggestions.
- Q. Are there any periodicals of interest to Indian modellers?
- Q. Where can I find diagrams to help me model Indian railways?
Games
- Q. Where can I find train-related games? Loco simulators? Etc.?
Travelling by train in India
- General information on train travel
- Reservations, Reservation against Cancellation, and Wait Lists.
- Tatkal Scheme
- Credit cards
- Q. Is there any place on the web where I can look up schedule information?
- Q. I'm in [some country]. Where can I buy tickets or make reservations for train journeys?
- Q. Are there any discount passes available for tourists?
- Q. What is an IndRail pass?
- Circular Journey tickets
- Tourist Bureau contact information.
Trivia
- Shortest station name
- Longest station name
- Longest run (time)
- Longest run (distance)
- Longest non-stop run (distance)
- Longest non-stop run (time)
- Shortest run
- Fastest train
- Fastest long-distance train
- Slowest train
- Gauge trivia
- Longest distance between consecutive passenger halts
- Fastest non-stop run between consecutive halts, short run
- Fastest non-stop run between consecutive halts, long run
- Highest number of halts
- Busiest stations
- Longest train (number of coaches)
- Shortest train (number of coaches)
- Direction reversals
- Multiple traversals of sections
- Least punctual train
- Oldest trains still running
- Trains sharing names
- Northernmost railway station (in India, in the subcontinent)
- Westernmost railway station (in India, in the subcontinent)
- Southernmost railway station in India
- Easternmost railway station in India
- Highest railway station
- Longest tunnel
- Longest bridge
- Steepest incline
- Longest platform
- Station oddities
- Stations with 3 gauges
- Junctions with the highest number of converging lines
- Q. Was MG rolling stock in Assam oriented the "wrong way"?
- MG unidirectionality
- Q. Are there any rack railways in India?
- Q. Are there any funicular (cable) railways in India?
- Q. How many passengers does IR carry?
- Q. How much freight does IR carry?
- Q. How many people does IR employ?
- Other statistics: bridges, stations, locos, wagons...
- Food at stations
Odds and Ends
- Curve measurement
- Rack railway systems
- The Jackfruit Letter
- Fear of trains
- Diesel vs. Electric
- Timekeeping on the railways
- Organizational structure of IR
- Mean sea level
- IR Organizational structure
- The GRP (Government Railway Police) and RPF (Railway Protection Force).
Railfanning in India
- Q. Where can I see steam locos in India today?
- (Not ready yet...) Where to see WCAM locos, WDP2's, WAG9's, etc.
- General suggestions
- Q. How should I proceed with photographing or videotaping trains, locos, etc.? How do I get permission for this? Is permission really needed?
- Q. How can I estimate how fast a train that I am in is going?

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