During the Pune chapter’s four trips to the Monkey Hill area, we had never spotted a down (climbing) train using the bi-directional middle line before. Pune bound 1021 Indrayani Express does just that at Monkey Hill. Monkey Hill, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

About a km downstream of Monkey Hill, a pair of WCG-2 bankers emerges from the raw, unfinished portals of the tunnel 22. Bhore ghats, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The 117/4 is the km marker from Mumbai (which is Km 0). Monkey Hill is Km 119, Khandala is Km 123 and Lonavala is Km 127. Bhore ghats, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

This side of the tunnel was beginning to get the Mumbai style muggy climate. Bhore ghats, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The 2127 Mumbai – Pune Intercity arrives at Km 117. Bhore ghats, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The bankers of the 2127 disappear in to tunnel 22. Note the two aspect permissive (the “P” plate on the signal post) distant signal for the Monkey Hill home. As this signal is green, the MHC home is also green. In case the MHC home is red, this signal would be yellow. Bhore ghats, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Pune bound 1007 Deccan Express slows to a stop at Monkey Hill. This is one of the few trains that halts at all the installations in the ghats to transport the shift workers. In case you have not noticed, the Bheran plateau with the “tree” looms behind. Monkey Hill, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The 7032 express arrives at Tata Bridge - note the concrete structure that envelopes the massive water pipes that carry water from the Valvan dam to the Khopoli hydel generation station. The driver of the ’32 Up was very cross with us for taking pics of his train. Tata Bridge, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The 6012 Chennai – Dadar express emerges from Tunnel 26 and moves to plunge into the Tunnel 25. The tunnel 25C is inside the hill on the right. The service shaft for the tunnel 25C is located on the other side of the 3rd coach. Although this is a very hot and dry season, note the perennial waterfall caused by the water leaking from the Tata pipelines. This serves as a water source for the villages in the valley. Tunnel 25/26, 2004-04-17. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Hrishikesh “Sandwich” Moghe, Monkey Hill King Apu, Sheikh Ashish Kuvelkar, Harsh “Bullet” Pathak, and Praveen “still awake” Kumar contemplate the ride back to LNL using the Q “systeem”. KAD, 2004-04-17. Photograph by John Mani.

view of ventliator shaft in tunnel 25 c. Tunnel 25 C Bhore Ghat. By Hrishikesh Moghe.

WDM 2 hauled Cement rakes. By Hrishikesh Moghe.

MumBai Bound DQ entering tunnel. Bhore Ghat. By Hrishikesh Moghe.

Locolites hang on Pune Bound Deccan Exp Bankers. Monkey Hill. By Hrishikesh Moghe.

Deccan Exp approaching Monkey Hill. Monkey Hill. By Hrishikesh Moghe.

the \"tree\" stands sentinel on Bheran plateau as the Mumbai bound DQ enters Tunnel 22. Monkey Hill MHC, April 17 2004. By John Mani.

Summer morning sunshine bathes the eastern side of Bheran plateau and the Mumbai bound Pragati Express, between Tunnel 23 and Tunnel 22. Monkey Hill MHC, April 17 2004. By John Mani.

Six pairs of envious eyes and some cameras might have unnerved this young lady riding on the buffer beam of the trailing WCG2 banker returning to Karjat. The guy of course, seemed bent upon proving his simian skills. Monkey Hill, MHC, April 17 2004. By John Mani.

View of the catch siding at Monkey Hill. The Bougainvillea in the foreground is hand reared by janata from the Monkey Hill cabin – the plantation is lovingly tended with water brought from the nearby cabin in cooking pots. Monkey Hill, 6th March 2004. By John Mani.

Mumbai bound Deccan Queen speeds past the catch siding at MHC. While the structure near the viewer is used to terminate the OHE catenary, the structure seen further is used to carry the traction supply from the Monkey Hill substation located left of this place to two older lines on the right. Monkey Hill, 6th March 2004. By John Mani.