Slow passenger to Adarki

A long stop at Phursungi (FSG). As the hot sun rises, the Pune WDM 3A # 18754R of our 1609A passenger is halted 22 Kms from home for a double crossing – Karanatak Sampark Kranti and a BTPN rake. The loop line lacks a platform, while the platform line, w

View of PUNE's WDM3A #18754R hauling the 1609A passenger, as seen from the guard's compartment

KJM WDM 3A # 14082 brings in the Nizauddin bound 2629 Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express at Phursungi. This train has four high speed parcel vans in the rake.

A little further down the line, we are stopped at Rajewadi (RJW) for yet another crossing – a BCN rake in this case. Expect more pictures from this picturesque station soon – the golden grass fields, the wide curve to the left, the dip in the tracks a

The BCN is hauled by two WDG3As consisting of Erode’s # 13222 in the lead. Pic by Bharath.

The khalasi is waiting with the token. The ceramic pipe next to the platform he is standing on, is used for extinguishing the 'mashal' used at night.

The assistant is about to pick up the token

What else – more crossings! We are halted for a long period at Valha (WLH) to cross with this BTPN rake arriving from Nira.

The BTPN rake is hauled by Maula Ali’s WDM 2 # 17679.

The BTPN has a live rear end – the Katni WDG 3A # 14978 pushes the rake as our 1609A passenger waits on the platform line at Valha. The WDG 3A carries a red flag denoting that this is the rear end of a loco as also the LV plate denoting that this is the

Loco Pilots exchange flags as Apurva clicks a picture of the Banker

Our 1609A passenger enters the loop line at Salpa (SLP) while a BTPN rake waits with Pune WDG 3A # 14676 in charge. Note the derailing point on the tracks ahead of us. Normally, this point is kept in the open position when no train is expected to safeguar

A BCN rake waits for us at Adarki (AKI).- here is a view from the famous omega shaped loop looking at the station yard.

The departing BCN arrives in the middle of the loop – this is the grand view from the Adarki platform. The pair of WDM 2s are from Ernakulam (!) with # 18420 leading and # 16293 trailing.
Date: 2007-04-08
Owner: Apurva Bahadur

After leaving the 1609A passenger at Adarki, I get into the position to record the departure of the Pune WDM 3A # 18754R. However that was not to be - the BCN rake that was waiting for us is started first. Note potable water being transferred by pipes fro

The Salpa bound locos turn a further right angle and more to illustrate that Adarki is an Omega and not a plain Horseshoe loop. Even on the other exit towards Wathar, the track turn almost 270 degrees, making this one of the most interesting tracks near u

From the return trip: Valha’s prize possession – a “No Thoroughfare” sign from the MSMR days – a message falling on deaf ears then and even now after so many tens of years.

The Pune WDM 2 # 17168 and our 1610 waits at Valha picking up even more heat from 40 degrees + day. We were halted for almost an hour (while it should have stopped only for two minutes) by a combination of a slow freighter ahead of us and two crossing (a