Shindawane Trip - June 2005 - Apurva Bahadur

Date: 2005-06-23
Owner: Gallery Administrator
Size: 42 items
gangmen_ALN_11june2005_001.jpg

Gangmen begin another day’s work. The box contains their stores. One can see pickaxes and rakes [not the wheeled variety this time :-)]. The long, silver item on the left is the ‘Key’, this is used to set the standard between the two rails

PA13063_SHIV_11june2005.jpg

Members of Pune chapter (Ashish and Apurva) trekked uphill for 10 Kms from Shindavane to Ambale along the railway line through unbelievable ghat landscape - viaducts, tunnels, cuttings and the desolation of the lofty Sahyadri ranges. This is the beginning

tokenholders_SHIV_11june2005.jpg

View of the now disused token hoop holders. The contraptions never worked properly and the section has always depended on human skill to hand over the token hoop to the crew. Shindavane on the Pune - Miraj line, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

PA13150_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

Pune WDG-3A #13150 screams down the Shindavane ghat using the dynamic brakes with a load of a BTPN rake. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

PA13150A_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A closer view of the Pune WDG-3A #13150 with the BTPN rake. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com)..

BTPN1_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A distant shot of WDG-3A #13150 with the BTPN against the background of the mountains of the area. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com)

scene_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A typical scene - tall, rocky mountains , viaducts (one of the seven in the section) and tunnels (one of the three in the section). Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

scene2_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

An uplifting scene in the ghat section. The cool overcast weather and the sheer stark desolation of the area make this one of the best outings we have ever had. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

scene5_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A curve in the ghat section. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

KJM14613A_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

KJM WDG 3A pair 14613 and 14660 approach a viaduct with a BCN rake. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

KJM14613C_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A sequence of pictures showing the KJM WDG 3A pair # 14613 and 14660 hauling a BCN rake over a viaduct. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

KJM14613E_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A sequence of pictures showing the KJM WDG 3A pair # 14613 and 14660 hauling a BCN rake over a viaduct. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

KJM14613F_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A sequence of pictures showing the KJM WDG 3A pair #14613 and #14660 hauling a BCN rake over a viaduct. The assistant driver waves a greeting to us. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

Caboose_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

The BCN's caboose plunges into tunnel 2. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

valleyside_SHIV_ALE_11june2005.jpg

A view of the deep valley on the left of the while moving away from Pune. Between Shindavane and Ambale, 2005-06-11. Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).