The three lines!

Krishnarajapuram's WDG-3A #13261 climbs a gradient as it gets ready to enter the loop at Hanakere near Mandya with the Mysore-Bangalore Passenger. (Pawan Koppa)

A view of the new Shmisha bridge on the left and the condemned old BG single line bridge on the right at Maddur. (Pawan Koppa)

A closer look at the old BG bridge over the Shimsha. Having served the BG trains for decades, it now rests in peace. (Pawan Koppa)

Fresh out of Paint Job UBL WDP4 20020 with Bird hit comes charging on the newly commissioned line with the SUR-MYS Golgumbaz Express! (Shishir Jairam)

The train with its new EMD link blasts through Hanakere - KJM WDP-4B #40017 hauls the 16518/16524 Kannur/Karwar-Yeswantpur Express effortlessly (Pawan Koppa)

The Gol Gumbaz quickly disappears over the bridge and enters Maddur station which is just after the bridge. (Pawan Koppa)

Early morning MYS~SBC Passenger service glides past the Shimsha Bridge. (Kunal.S.Doddanavar)

Hubli's original imported EMD WDP-4 #20006 cruises past Hanakere with the "Mysore Sandal" livery Chamundi Express bound to Bangalore. (Pawan Koppa)

A small station near Mysore is abuzz with activities upon the arrival of first service of the day. (Kunal.S.Doddanavar)

Newest kid on the KJM shed smokes as it pulls a 23 coach load of Tippu SuperFast Exp towards MYS! (Sant Kulk)

The alco leaves a plume of smoke as it pulls out of Nidaghatta with the Bangalore bound passenger. Vendors get out quickly and prepare to cross over the tracks to take the next Passenger bound to Mysore. (Pawan Koppa)

No sooner had the passenger bound to Bangalore left, another one in the reverse direction appeared - this was the Bangalore-Mysore Passenger hauled by KJM's WDG-3A #13038 (Pawan Koppa)

It is always a sight seeing twin alcos all charged up blasting through! GTL Diamonds WDM3A's blasts past Niddaghatta.H with the MYS-JP Superfast Express. (Shishir Jairam)

Twin WDP4s power the Hampi Express to Mysore near Pandavapura. (Sant Kulk)

There are few things better to see for a railfan than a single alco, horns blazing, both green flags stretched out pulling a 24-coacher up a mild gradient and blasting past at MPS! KJM WDG-3A #14660 blasts past with the Bagmati Express bound to Darbhanga.

KJM WDP4 effortlessly pulls the Gol Gumbaz Express towards SBC! Location - Nidaghatta (Sant Kulk)

The SBC-MYS Shatabdi with its distinct Silver-Blue coaches glides past Pandavapura. (Kunal.S.Doddanavar)

The effects of doubling. This was what Nidaghatta looked when we visited it 3 years back! (Pawan Koppa)

Change is the only thing constant and this picture proves it. Compare it with this photo of the same place...

An overnight express service from Madras nears Mysore with a super clean dippy in charge. (Kunal.S.Doddanavar)

The MYS - SBC Chamundi Exp with its old livery proceeds towards its destination - SBC. Location - Settyhalli (Sant Kulk)

The quickest train on the section lives up to its mark as it rips past Nidaghatta! Hubli's WDP-4 #20008 takes a stroll with the puny 13-coach load of the Shatabdi Express bound to Mysore :-) (Pawan Koppa)

Old Warhorse WAM4 from AJJ 21320 comes snaking into BWT with the Big Blue aka SBC-MAS Shatabdi Express. (Shishir Jairam)

The Lalbagh Express bound to Chennai blasts past at flat 110 kmph hauled by Royapuram WAP-7 #30367 (Pawan Koppa)

The brightly painted Kolar-Bangalore Cantt. DEMU provides some contrast against the greens around at Marlahalli. (Pawan Koppa)

The Shatabdi Express bound to Mysore never gets tired of climbing gradients - be it under Diesel or Electric traction. Here it races past hauled by RPM's WAP-1 palindrome #22022 (Pawan Koppa)

The Shatabdi Express disappears into the rocky terrain with RPM WAP1 at its helm. (Shishir Jairam)