IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 2061 - 2080

From: Larry Russell <lrussell@direct.email

Subject: Agra to Varanasi

Date: 21 Dec 1997 16:56:00 -0500


Anybody able to tell me if there is a train on Fridays from Agra to Varanasi?
Train 4864 the Marudhar express runs 2,3,5,7 the internet timetable says,
but which day is considerdd Friday... 6 or 5? I'll be in India in February
and need to know.
Larry Russell

From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email

Subject: Re: Agra to Varanasi

Date: 22 Dec 1997 09:13:00 -0500


larry,
'5' is definetely Friday and '6' is a saturday on the IR timetabling,so
the marudhar does run on a Friday as per your internet timrtable info,
Regards,
Bharat Vohra

From: Pushkar Apte <apte@spdc.email

Subject: An excellent article & pics: check it out!

Date: 22 Dec 1997 10:46:00 -0500


<A HREF="http://www.rediff.com/travel/jul/17ranchi.htm">http://www.rediff.com/travel/jul/17ranchi.htm</A>
--

Regards,
Pushkar
-------

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: An excellent article & pics: check it out!

Date: 23 Dec 1997 18:21:00 -0500


Well, nice article but......as I did point out to the Rediff lot, the
pictures are COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to the story. As far as I
can identify them:

1. Heavy freight hauled by three BG WAG-type lococs.
2. WG class steam loco (my favorite kind)
3. DHR B-Class loco at Batasia (I know: I grew up there !)
4. Which station is this ?
5. MG Beyer-Garratt
6. Nilgiri Railway loco

Wish people would get their information straight at least..........

--
Jayant S*ID Studio*TTIL*TELCO
Pimpri*Pune 411 018*INDIA*tel:91-212-774261 exn 2534
Email me at "sank@telco.email. Do NOT use your "reply" button !

From: Prakash Tendulkar <prakash@us.email

Subject: IR drivers

Date: 27 Dec 1997 14:06:00 -0500


> Come to think of it, what is the drivers' payscale on IR today ?

I would not be surprised to know that they earn between 11K to 15K a
month, including mileage.

> Shed personnel claimed that this was to prevent the driver from dozing off

A flimsy excuse. In my time, it was customary for Asstt. driver the announce
signal like "Outer green, home orange" and driver would acknowledge it by
saying "all right". Chances of both driver and his asstt. dozing were very
remote. In fact, majority of drivers were extremely alert when on duty.

Another piece of information. On WCAM1 locos, driver's seat was like a bar
stool mounted on shaft. This was due to scarcity of space. AC locos
on the other hand, had a nice seat with a good backrest. Nevertheless, the
best seats those days were in WCMx on CR, made by Hitachi. They had a very
pleasant two tone horn too.

Prakash

Notes Address: Prakash Tendulkar/Santa Teresa/IBM@IBMUS
VM Address: IBMUSM50(PRAKASH)
Internet Address: prakash@us.email
Phone: (408)463-3536

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: IR drivers

Date: 28 Dec 1997 19:36:00 -0500


Prakash Tendulkar wrote:

> I would not be surprised to know that they earn between 11K to 15K a
> month, including mileage.
>
> > Shed personnel claimed that this was to prevent the driver from dozing off
>
> A flimsy excuse. In my time, it was customary for Asstt. driver the announce
> signal like "Outer green, home orange" and driver would acknowledge it by
> saying "all right". Chances of both driver and his asstt. dozing were very
> remote. In fact, majority of drivers were extremely alert when on duty.
>
> Another piece of information. On WCAM1 locos, driver's seat was like a bar
> stool mounted on shaft. This was due to scarcity of space. AC locos
> on the other hand, had a nice seat with a good backrest. Nevertheless, the
> best seats those days were in WCMx on CR, made by Hitachi. They had a very
> pleasant two tone horn too.
>
> Prakash
>
> Notes Address: Prakash Tendulkar/Santa Teresa/IBM@IBMUS
> VM Address: IBMUSM50(PRAKASH)
> Internet Address: prakash@us.email
> Phone: (408)463-3536

I think the practice of verifying signals by the co-driver is
still prevelant: it is a part of the rule book and I saw it being
carried out when I took cab-rides; even on shunting locos.
Among the recommendations I made then was the absolute
necessity for comfortable seats IN THE INTEREST of safety,
as an uncomfortable driver would actually be less alert.

I have wondered, though, what caused the accident that took
place near Delhi (Tughlakabad ?) earlier this year when a train
ran into the back of another one. Apparently the driver missed
successive signals: how come no action was taken by the
assistant driver (who also has his own control for the
emergency brake, I think)?


--
Jayant S*ID Studio*TTIL*TELCO
Pimpri*Pune 411 018*INDIA*tel:91-212-774261 exn 2534
Email me at "sank@telco.email. Do NOT use your "reply" button !

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: WAP1 in Bombay!!

Date: 28 Dec 1997 23:29:00 -0500


BHARAT VOHRA wrote:

> Guys,
> you wont believe this one but on Friday night at 9:30 pm, I spotted a
> WAP1, no 22053 of baroda Shed, WR standing at Grant Road Station parcel
> yard (East of the Suburban platforms)
> It was again seen by me the nxt morning and again last night at the same
> location!!
> I couildnt believe it......looked like it was in need of a POH...but
> nothing desperate otherwise...wish I had a camera to capture it in DC
> traction and of all places in Bombay!
> Regards,
> Bharat Vohra

Wonder how it got there.......................over DC-electrified tracks ??



--
Jayant S*ID Studio*TTIL*TELCO
Pimpri*Pune 411 018*INDIA*tel:91-212-774261 exn 2534
Email me at "sank@telco.email. Do NOT use your "reply" button !

From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email

Subject: WAP1 in Bombay!!

Date: 28 Dec 1997 12:42:00 -0500


Guys,
you wont believe this one but on Friday night at 9:30 pm, I spotted a
WAP1, no 22053 of baroda Shed, WR standing at Grant Road Station parcel
yard (East of the Suburban platforms)
It was again seen by me the nxt morning and again last night at the same
location!!
I couildnt believe it......looked like it was in need of a POH...but
nothing desperate otherwise...wish I had a camera to capture it in DC
traction and of all places in Bombay!
Regards,
Bharat Vohra

From: Prakash Tendulkar <prakash@jps.email

Subject: Train Timings

Date: 28 Dec 1997 07:40:00 -0500


Train timings

HUBLI: Train timings of the newly introduced train no SP-1 and
SP-2 Vasco-Kulem-Vasco Passenger service have been revised for
better train connection facilities to Konkan Railway trains at
Margaon with effect from Saturday. No SP-1 Vasco-Kulem passenger
will leave Vasco at 1300 hrs arrive at Margaon at 1350 hrs leave
Margaon at 1355 hrs and reach Kulem at 1510 hrs. SP-2 Kulem-Vasco
passenger will leave at 1215 hrs arrive at 1310 hrs and leave
Margaon at 1315 hrs and reach Vasco at 1420 hrs.

Source: Indian Express

From: Prakash Tendulkar <prakash@us.email

Subject: Re: WAP1 in Bombay!!

Date: 28 Dec 1997 14:58:00 -0500


Well! It could have been towed behind mail/Express train's loco
as a dead engine.

Prakash

Notes Address: Prakash Tendulkar/Santa Teresa/IBM@IBMUS
VM Address: IBMUSM50(PRAKASH)
Internet Address: prakash@us.email
Phone: (408)463-3536



sank@idnyx.email on 12/27/97 07:47:26 PM
Please respond to sank@idnyx.email @ internet
To: irfca@cs.email @ internet, bharat@giasbma.email @ internet
cc:
Subject: Re: WAP1 in Bombay!!


BHARAT VOHRA wrote:

> Guys,
> you wont believe this one but on Friday night at 9:30 pm, I spotted a=

> WAP1, no 22053 of baroda Shed, WR standing at Grant Road Station parc=
el
> yard (East of the Suburban platforms)
> It was again seen by me the nxt morning and again last night at the s=
ame
> location!!
> I couildnt believe it......looked like it was in need of a POH...but
> nothing desperate otherwise...wish I had a camera to capture it in DC=

> traction and of all places in Bombay!
> Regards,
> Bharat Vohra

Wonder how it got there.......................over DC-electrified track=
s ??



--
Jayant S*ID Studio*TTIL*TELCO
Pimpri*Pune 411 018*INDIA*tel:91-212-774261 exn 2534
Email me at "sank@telco.email. Do NOT use your "reply" button !

From: Prakash Tendulkar <prakash@us.email

Subject: Re: IR drivers

Date: 28 Dec 1997 15:34:00 -0500



>Among the recommendations I made then was the absolute
>necessity for comfortable seats IN THE INTEREST of safety,
>as an uncomfortable driver would actually be less alert.

I fully agree.

>I have wondered, though, what caused the accident that took
>place near Delhi (Tughlakabad ?) earlier this year when a train
>ran into the back of another one. Apparently the driver missed
>successive signals: how come no action was taken by the
>assistant driver (who also has his own control for the
>emergency brake, I think)?

Asstt. driver usually had a handwheel for manual brakes in front
of him but he could very well have shut the loco off.

I cannot explain the logic behind this accident. But let me give
you info on another freak accident in early 70's that claimed
close to 100 lives. It happened at Vasai Road Outer signal in down
direction on WR.

Naigaon-1----> Sig2 ----> Sig3 -----> Vasai Outer

Vasai outer was Red and suburban local had stopped there. Time
late evening and it was dark. Express train pulled by WCAM1 was
following the local train. Loco driver passed Naigaon-1 which
was Double Orange. He passed Sig2 at Orange. Sig3 that was
supposed to be Red but was blown (blank).

As I had mentioned some time back, loco drivers are not very
comfortable with suburban signals. So this driver did not
even know that he should expect a signal which has been blown.
All he saw was red Vasai outer that had just turned green.

The guard of suburban train knew about blown signal and he
realized what is happening. He took the following action to
draw attention of loco driver. He shut off the red tail
lamp and turned headlamp on and off. As the loco came fairly
close, the guard also applied emergancy brakes, stopped the
suburban train that had just started accelerating, and jumped off
from the cab.

The loco rammed the suburban train about 60 kms. Since the
suburban train has it's brakes applied, the last coach (ladies
compartment telescoped partially into RPC (Resistance Power
Control) compartment of motorcoach next to it, electrocuting
many. Other ladies were trapped in crumpled coach.

According to driver Martin, when he saw headlamp, he thought it was
of an approaching train. Had he seen tail lamp, which was not very
bright though, he could have taken emergancy action. Martin had
a spotless record and had only a year left to retire. He did
not drink, either.

Now it is upto you guys to determine, who should be blamed for
this accident?

FYI only, to confirm that loco drivers may not expect that
a signal is blown, well before passing it, Rzilway authorities
conducted experiment with the same signal a month later by
blowing it off deliberately. All motormen stopped at the
the signal. And all but one of the 24 Express/Goods trains
passed it without stopping it during that night.

Prakash




--
Jayant S*ID Studio*TTIL*TELCO
Pimpri*Pune 411 018*INDIA*tel:91-212-774261 exn 2534
Email me at "sank@telco.email. Do NOT use your "reply" button !

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <sncf@godrejnet.email

Subject:

Date: 29 Dec 1997 18:37:00 -0500


Hi Guys,

I too was thrilled to see WAP1 at Grant Road Parcels Depot on the
Christmas Day. It was a pleasant Christmas Surprise.

Wonder what surprise New Year's day has in store.

Regards
Viraf.


==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================

From: Prakash Tendulkar <prakash@jps.email

Subject: Railway News

Date: 30 Dec 1997 07:28:00 -0500


12-car trains to stop between Andheri and Borivli stations
Ashish Wagh (Indian Express)

MUMBAI, December 29: Starting January 1, 1998, 12-car rakes of the
Western Railway will stop on all stations between Andheri and
Borivli. Sources said while no new services have been added in the
WR's revised time-table, fast 12-car rakes will be operated up to
Borivli as the work of extending railway platforms on all stations
is over. Presently, 12-car rakes are operated only on the Virar
route, and the trains do not halt between Andheri and Borivli
stations.

Sources also claimed the railways will extend its number of 12-car
services from 140 to 180 next year.The railways have not procured
new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) rakes to provide these new
services, but added three coaches to some of its 9-car trains.
``One motor coach and two trailer coaches have been added to a few
trains to make them 12-car ones,'' a senior official said. This
new development is slated to benefit nearly 10 lakh passengers who
travel from Borivli, Kandivli, Malad, Goregaon and Jogeshwari
during peak hours.
====================
20 hurt as Paschim Exp hits goods train

The Mumbai-New Delhi Paschim Express today rammed into the
detached rear portion of a goods train in very thick fog in Jhansi
Division of Central Railway, resulting in the derailment of three
coaches and minor injuries to at least 20 passengers, according to
reports received here. Preliminary inquiry has revealed that the
rear wagons of the goods train bound for Ghaziabad got detached
and were stationary on the track when the express collided with
them 10 minutes after being flagged off from Chata station, a
Central Railway official told PTI.

(Hindustan Times Dec 30 , Mumbai, Dec. 29 )
===================

From: Don Dickens <ddickens@e-z.email

Subject: Repost with correct link

Date: 02 Jan 1998 09:42:00 -0500


Gentlemen, (and ladies if such there be included here)
Please take a few moments to follow the link below and if you can
provide anything additional to this history or supply any contacts or
leads, use the reply form to help in this effort

<A HREF="http://www.e-z.net/~ddickens/monorail/">http://www.e-z.net/~ddickens/monorail/</A>

Thanks for your time
Don Dickens

From: Prakash Tendulkar <prakash@jps.email

Subject: WR celebrates 70 `electric' years

Date: 02 Jan 1998 15:25:00 -0500


WR celebrates 70 `electric' years

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, January 2: The Western Railway is set to celebrate the
70th year of electrification of its suburban railway system in
Mumbai. A week-long exhibition depicting the railways'
electrification process and also other important events will be
held in the passenger concourse at Churchgate station from Monday.
Speaking to press-persons at the Churchgate office, the WR's chief
electrical engineer V N Garg said the railways has been the key to
the city's development.

Speaking about the 70th year of electrification, he said the
suburban railway system has reached a saturation point in which
development is just impossible. However, he opined, conversion of
conventional Direct Current (DC) Electric Multiple Units (EMU) to
Alternate Current (AC) traction will help the railways improve the
service standards and an annual saving of Rs. 16 crore at current
rates. Projected to cost a whopping Rs 580 crore approximately,
the AC/DC conversion would allow the railways to run its trains
upto Dahanu, a demand which has come from all quarters of the
society for many years.

Elaborating on the salient features of the proposed new system
which awaits the Railway Board's approval, Garg stated that as
soon as the board approves the proposal, work will begin. However
the decision will take atleast three-four months, he added. ``In
the proposed new system the rakes will have better braking
facility as braking system is most important considering the dense
crush load conditions all through the day. Also, the new rakes
will be environment-friendly.''

The project is likely to kick off four months later and will take
at least seven years before it is commissioned, the Western
Railway official further stated.

R K Bhatnagar, Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer, gave details
of the railways' achievements on the energy conservation front.
``As all the rakes consume electricity which the railways buy from
suppliers one nine-car rake consumes about 30 units of power per
km,'' said Bhatnagar. The railways' annual power bill comes to Rs
64 crore, he added. ``The cost of the project is two-pronged - Rs
300 crore will be required to change the over-head equipment while
conversion of rakes will be done at the cost of Rs 4 crore each,''
Bhatnagr disclosed. On the extra load the existing Electric Motor
Unit rakes carry, Bhatnagar said that an EMU rake is designed to
carry only 1800 passengers while during its operation it carries
nearly 5000 passengers during the peak hours.

From: Pushkar Apte <apte@spdc.email

Subject: News

Date: 03 Jan 1998 21:31:00 -0500


Goa-Mumbai train will be flagged off on R-Day
[Features]
PANAJI: Direct train services between Margao
[Crossword] (Goa) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST),
Mumbai, and will begin from January 26 next.

The Mumbai-Sawantwadi Express would be extended
to Margao with the commissioning of the remaining
22-km stretch between Pernem-Sawantwadi of the
Konkan railway route on the same day, acting
managing director of the KRC B Rajaram said here
on Saturday.

Mr Rajaram, who was accompanying the railway
minister, Ram Vilas Paswan for an inspection of
the Pernem tunnel, said `benching' work on only
nine metres stretch of the 435-metre long tunnel
is remaining.

``It was the most difficult tunnel and the last
to be completed,'' he told media persons at
Pernem. The tunnel took seven years to complete
and collapsed seven times and claimed eight lives
while the work was in progress.

Mr Rajaram said a proposal to operate another
express train between Mumbai-Goa like the
``Shatabdi'' was being examined by the railway
board and added that besides the Kurla-Mangalore
Netrawati Express, some more trains would be
diverted on the Goa route.

The total cost of constructing the 760-km-long
Konkan railway project had come to Rs 3,150
crore, which had overshot the initial budget of
Rs 1,800 crore, he said adding that the annual
interest burden was Rs 200 crore on the Rs 2,400
crore outstanding loan amount.

[Previous] The loan amount is expected to be paid within a
period of 10 years, he
[Next]
claimed. (PTI)


Western Railway plans dual-voltage rakes soon
[Features]
By Our Transport Correspondent
[Crossword]
MUMBAI: When commuters stepped into Churchgate
station seven decades ago, a strange sight met
their eyes. Instead of the usual steam-belching
Andheri fast, they found a sleek train that drew
power from overhead cables -- Western Railway's
first electric local.

The transition from steam to electricity produced
dramatic improvements as commuting time fell
sharply. But a section of the commuters were
hostile to the change -- they feared that the
move was actually intended to benefit the local
electricity company and put coal merchants out of
business!

Western Railway (WR) will commemorate the 70th
anniversary of electrification with an exhibition
at Churchgate from January 5.

Even as it observes the anniversary, WR is
preparing for a major change in its system of
electrification. A Rs 300-crore project to change
the mode of power for locals from direct current
(DC) to alternating current (AC) is expected to
be taken up later this year.

The change from 1,500 volts DC to 25 kilo-volts
AC will allow WR to effect savings of up to 25
per cent in its energy bill. It will also
facilitate WR to bear a greater service load,
chief electrical engineer V.N. Garg told
reporters on Friday.

``The DC system is inherently wasteful. The AC
system is more economical and also generates
power during the time of braking,'' Mr Garg said.
WR runs up an annual electricity bill of Rs 64
crore for its suburban services, which represents
a consumption of 30 units per running minute per
rake.

Another advantage of an AC system is that it
requires fewer traction sub-stations. DC lines
require a sub-station every two kilometres.

However, the conversion might cause temporary
disruptions to commuter services. ``The
conversion of overhead lines is bound to be a
painful process,'' Mr Garg said.

As the AC lines will carry a much higher voltage,
it will be necessary to allow greater clearance
between the lines and structures such as
buildings and roads. A survey has shown that
there may be problems on this account around four
or five road overbridges.

To facilitate the phased transition, WR intends
to convert its rakes to dual voltage rakes. This
will cost Rs 4 crore per nine-car rake.

The whole process is likely to take five to seven
[Previous] years after commencement. A detailed estimate has
been sent to the Railway board. The project is
[Next] not likely to have any effect on WR's fare
structure, officials said.

From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email

Subject: Last of Indian Steam

Date: 05 Jan 1998 10:38:00 -0500


There has been some discussion over the last of steam in India.....a very
sad and dear topic to me and to lots of others.
The only Narrow Gauge system in the country running on steam is the
Darjeeling Himalayan railway of NFR. The 'B' class locos there are one of
the most beautiful and quaint steam locos ever to be used on IR. Lots were
produced and now only a handful remain, some dating upto 100+ years old
and still running. Me and a friend from work are planning to put up a site
on the DHR sometime this year and have lots of photos in our collection.
There is already a page on the DHR which can be reached from the
unofficial Indian Railways Homepage!
Apart from this I along with another member of the IRFCA, Siddharth Joshi
are planning on documenting on film (Black and White, Colour and Video,
along with recorded sounds) the last of steam on the Western Railway MG
system sometime in Feb of this year. We will also put up those snaps on a
page as and when it happens! We will be taking the required permit to
shoot and footplate on the locos.
Currently Western railway has a holding of only 34 steam locos all of
which are on the MG system.
They are based at Wankaner (Guj), Sabarmati (Guj), Jetalsar (Guj) and Mhow
(MP).
Out of these Sabarmati shed is only handling shunting duties for the busy
Ahmedabad yards of the MG system there. The others, especially Mhow are
even running passenger trains till this day!!!
We plan to go down to Mhow which currently has a holding of 12 working
locos, of which a few are earmarked for 2-4 Dn and Up passenger train runs
a day! They work the passenger trains between Khandwa and Chittaurgarh via
Indore, Mhow and Ratlam also serving the branch line to Ujjain!
Western railway happens to be the last hold of MG steam in the country and
not many days are left for that either.....march end onwards they will all
be put to rest.
English train enthusiast Lorrie Marshall has already secured his permit to
photograph at Mhow and other places! He has incidentally also published a
book along with PJ Bawcutt way back in the 70's titled Steam In India.
Western Railway did away with steam on the BG in the August of 1992 with
Udhna, Rajkot, Kota and Ujjain being the last steam sheds! It did away
with NG steam in 1996-97 and now all there sections are dieselised! MG
steam however still survives till today on WR and all those of you out
there who want the last of it get your cameras out and land up at any of
the locations mentioned! You have time till March of 1998......!
Regards,
Bharat Vohra

From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email

Subject: Average Speeds

Date: 05 Jan 1998 10:39:00 -0500


There was a discussion and querries raised about the fastest average
speeds of Indian trains.
The Bhopal Shatabdi is definetely the fastest train in the country doing
an average of 104 kmh between Dhaulpur and Gwalior. It was wrongly stated
that the Howrah Rajdhani was the fastest, it is not!
Bhopal Shatabdi also maxes a speed of almost 150 kmh at its fastest. The
rolling stock is designed for 140-150 kmh operation. The locos running it
are tested at 160 kmh oscillation trials
Regards,
Bharat Vohra

From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email

Subject: MG Expresses

Date: 05 Jan 1998 10:40:00 -0500


Some time back there was a discussion on Vaigai v/s Pink City expresses of
the SR and WR systems respectively. I would like to make a few points on
these to!
1. To start with Pink City Express was a much longer train as it was
amalgamated with the Gharib Nawaz express from Delhi to
Jaipur.....totalling upto almost 20 coaches. It was therfore double headed
to.
2. It also ran on a completely single track section except for the
Delhi-Rewari section, which was a small part of its journey.
3. On the topic of averages, yes the Vaigai did a faster sectional run of
64+kmh (avg) while the Pink City averaged almost 63 kmh on its fastest avg
sectional run!
4. Where the Pink City scores and was therfore called the fastest MG train
in the country was the fact that it did a top speed of 100+kmh!!! Vaigai
and other MG superfasts did close to 100 but not quite there. WR's tracks
were better maintained and could take a faster speed then any other in the
country!
The Vaigai is/was definetely an impressive train and was the fastest in
the country in terms of averages but in terms of top speed it was and
always will be The Pink City express(even though it no longer runs
today)as the fastest!
Regards,
Bharat Vohra

From: Pushkar Apte <apte@spdc.email

Subject: News and views

Date: 05 Jan 1998 12:11:00 -0500


Derailment hits rail traffic

NAGPUR: Vehicular traffic on the Howrah-Mumbai route was
on
Sunday disrupted with the derailment of 31 wagons of a
goods train
at Bhadi station between Bhusaval and Jalgaon. A
spokesman of
the Central Railway here said the derailment occurred
around 11.30
a.m. and blocked both Up and Down tracks.

Because of the derailment the Geetanjali Express was
diverted via
Jalgaon-Bina-Bilaspur section. Similary, the Howrah-Kurla
train was
diverted via Amla-Itarsi-Bhopal section. He further said
that the
Nagpur-Mumbai Vidarbha Express would leave about eight
hours
behind schedule and the Nagpur-Dadar Sewagram Express
would
leave two and half hours behind schedule. (UNI)

I am wondering about the above. How does one get from Jalgaon to Bina
while bypassing Bhadli/Bhusaval ? Via Surat-Nagda-Maksi? And I don't
understand the Amla-Itarsi-Bhopal bit at all!!! Anyone has insights?

Regards,
Pushkar
-------