Monsoon Magic – Trek to Dudhsagar Waterfalls
With the monsoon at peak, its right time to head to the magnanimous Dudhsagar falls, when it would showcase its glorious best.
Three railfans from Chennai and Hyderabad, Benher, Raghupathy and Harish Kumar decided to trek to Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Day 1: The three of us met at Hubli and from where we took Haripriya Express to Londa and a Autorickshaw to Castle Rock, from where we trekked to Caranzol. With the conditions really bad, the station master suggested us to head back to Castle rock or Londa for the night.
Day 2: We took 7311 directly to DDS and spent the whole day at the falls, before Ben left back home by Goa Express, while the other two of us decided to head to Panjim for the overnight stay.
Day 3: For the return journey we took Amaravathi Express to Guntakal and split from there.
KYN WDG-3A makes a grand entry while swinging along a super curve with the Bangalore bound Chalukya Express in tow, while WDM-2B 16694 from GTL acknowledges the passing train. Location: Somewhere between Alnavar and Londa. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Ku
Baldies have their own charm!
Flags flying, horns blaring, right in toe of Chalukya, the Howrah bound Amaravati express with the Handsome looking WDM-3a #14009 and its shed-mate, aggressively charging down the gradient. Location: Somewhere...
One of the sweetest sounds of chugging had this fellow!
WDM-2B #16694 chugs off from this wonderful location, after letting two trains to pass towards Londa. Location: Somewhere between Alnavar and Londa. Photo by Harish Kumar
(Harish Kumar)
Green blanket for Mother Earth – somewhere between Alnavar (LWR) and LD. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
The mood sets in as the sky showered raindrops. Photo by Raghupathy (Harish Kumar)
A man taking evasive action, while few others goes un-noticed about the beast sneaking in from the jungle behind. WDG-4 #12002 leads the pair of EMDs and the coal freight into Londa Junction. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
WDG-4 12002 in a nice yellow cream livery switches line as it pulls into Londa Junction on a chill, wet evening. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
The freight led by the twin WDG4s slowly slides through the rows of poles. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Many hands make work light!
Muscles behind IR, on the job. Londa Junction. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
Surprise first up: Erode Twins take rest under canopy, even as heavy rains pound Castle Rock. This pair was spotted by us three-times in two days at three different locations. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
Welcome to Braganza! The trek begins!!
What better way than the god of Ghat itself comes to greet us! Another yellow cream WDG-4 #12010 works hard as it completes the hard climb up the Ghats with a BCNA rake. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
The weather beaten wall of Old steam loco shed. Photo by Raghupathy (Harish Kumar)
Life on the rails! Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
We are ready to enter Tunnel No. 1, even as the clouds are getting ready for another burst.
Note the forest above the tunnel! Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
Mist covers up the entire surrounding as we proceed deep into the jungle of Dandeli. Benher, checks out his camera for moist. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Sweet smell of air and the constant chirp of birds kept us going as we walked down the Ghats!
The castle Tunnel, Braganza Ghats. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
OT: Nice looking waterfall near the mouth of Tunnel-3, Braganza Ghats. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Trekkers take a breather outside Tunnel 4, by the state border board. Left to Right: Raghupathy (Sitting), Benher and Harish Kumar. A self timer shot from Benher's camera (Harish Kumar)
After a long lull, twin WDG-4s roar with fully-loaded BOXN rake. The sound made by these beasts (lead locos) was deafening to say the least. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Banking triplets, trailed by WDG-4 #12113 screams hard as it pushes uphill. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
Sequence 1 of 4: A pair of headlight appears around the corner, from the misty jungle out there. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Sequence 2 of 4: Looks like a WDM with a passenger train. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Sequence 3 of 4: The powerful lights trying hard to penetrate the cloud cover at Caranzol. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Sequence 4 of 4: Finally could identify the loco and the train. It was WDG-3a #14554 from Gooty shed pulling the NZM bound Goa (Super) Express up the Ghats. The station master suggested that we take this train, either to Castle Rock and Londa, as he canno
Route Diverted #1
After reversal, RTM WDM-2A 17822 is ready with Kochuveli (KCVL)-Dehradun (DDN) Express at Londa. This means this loco would have crossed DDS with jumbo hood, what a miss?! Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
WDG-4 #12120 allows the Chennai - Vasco Express to overtake as it waits patiently at Tinaighat with a BOXN rake. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
Rain, train and men at Castle Rock. The train in picture is Chennai – Vasco Express. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
Recent comments
Thank you all for your comments and kind words. This really means a lot for us.
Posted by Harish Kumar on 2010 Nov 29 07:15:56 +0000
Awesome album. Superlative!!!!!
Posted by Sandeep Bhate on 2010 Aug 17 14:29:16 +0000
Excellent photos... Three cheers to the three musketeers who did this trek... Fantastic documentation of one of the finest scenic ghats in the world that too in Monsoon... Great work... Thanks a million for sharing the pics..
Posted by Gowri Sankar R on 2010 Aug 15 16:49:42 +0000