IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 2301 - 2320

From: Larry Russell <lrussell@direct.email

Subject: IR sheds (2)

Date: 15 Mar 1998 18:48:00 -0500


Anyone know where BWN is? Somewhere on ER, seen on WDM2 17634 in Calcutta
(Sealdah).
Larry

From: Larry Russell <lrussell@direct.email

Subject:

Date: 15 Mar 1998 18:55:00 -0500


Hi, anyone care to do some engine data plate spotting for us on the WDM2's?
I did some in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi, but there are holes in the
data base that need to be corrected. Any sightings on plate data (located
on the cab side) would be appreciated
Larry

From: poras p.saklatwalla <pps@godrejnet.email

Subject: Re: IR sheds (2)

Date: 16 Mar 1998 21:48:00 -0500


On Sun, 15 Mar 1998, Larry Russell wrote:

> Anyone know where BWN is? Somewhere on ER, seen on WDM2 17634 in Calcutta
> (Sealdah).
> Larry
>
>

P.P.SAKLATWALLA.
EXTN :4226/4232/4237

BWN IS BARDDHAMAN NEAR CALCUTTA (SEALDAH)

From: poras p.saklatwalla <pps@godrejnet.email

Subject: TRIP TO MATHERAN

Date: 16 Mar 1998 22:10:00 -0500


Friends,
This long weekend I had been to Matheran a small hill station on the
Mumbai Pune route. (via Neral) We went up by the narrow guage train from
Neral to Matheran. A NDM 6 DIESEL LOCO WAS ATTACHED TO THIS TRAIN. The
train took 2 hours to climb 20 kms i.e. it had a speed of 10 kmph ! The
journey was normal but the view was breathtaking. The coaches of the
train are in such a bad condition that it seems that after Adamjee
Peerbhoy who built the railway the coaches haven't been changed.
Whilst coming down we came down by road and then caught a local from
Neral. Whilst waiting for the suburban local I had the opportunity to
click about 4 times. Once when the Pragati express to Pune passed Neral
with an elegant looking WCAM 3, A Freight train WHICH was double headed,
with WCAM 3, DECCAN QUEEN which was hauled by a WCAM 2P, WHICH ZOOMED PAST
US AS IF it was angry on seeing us standing on the tracks and clicking
it. Finally I had the opportunity to click one WDM 2 (double headed)
freight train which was slow and finally halted at Neral. Both the locos
were from Krishnarajapuram loco shed and were red in colour with a white
dash in the middle. On the whole a very satifying trip.


P.P.SAKLATWALLA.
EXTN :4226/4232/4237

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: IR sheds (2)

Date: 16 Mar 1998 22:17:00 -0500


poras p.saklatwalla wrote:

> On Sun, 15 Mar 1998, Larry Russell wrote:
>
> > Anyone know where BWN is? Somewhere on ER, seen on WDM2 17634 in Calcutta
> > (Sealdah).
> > Larry
> >
> >
>
> P.P.SAKLATWALLA.
> EXTN :4226/4232/4237
>
> BWN IS BARDDHAMAN NEAR CALCUTTA (SEALDAH)

....And I guess it's coded as "BWN" because it used to be spelled as
"Burdwan".

--
Jayant S : IDStudio : TTIL : ERC : TELCO
Pimpri : Pune : 411 018 : INDIA
tel - 91(212)774261 exn 2534
--

From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email

Subject: Re: TRIP TO MATHERAN

Date: 16 Mar 1998 23:12:00 -0500


Poras,

Scan the pics and mail them to us !!

Siddhartha.

On Mon, 16 Mar 1998, poras p.saklatwalla wrote:

> Friends,
> This long weekend I had been to Matheran a small hill station on the
> Mumbai Pune route. (via Neral) We went up by the narrow guage train from
> Neral to Matheran. A NDM 6 DIESEL LOCO WAS ATTACHED TO THIS TRAIN. The
> train took 2 hours to climb 20 kms i.e. it had a speed of 10 kmph ! The
> journey was normal but the view was breathtaking. The coaches of the
> train are in such a bad condition that it seems that after Adamjee
> Peerbhoy who built the railway the coaches haven't been changed.
> Whilst coming down we came down by road and then caught a local from
> Neral. Whilst waiting for the suburban local I had the opportunity to
> click about 4 times. Once when the Pragati express to Pune passed Neral
> with an elegant looking WCAM 3, A Freight train WHICH was double headed,
> with WCAM 3, DECCAN QUEEN which was hauled by a WCAM 2P, WHICH ZOOMED PAST
> US AS IF it was angry on seeing us standing on the tracks and clicking
> it. Finally I had the opportunity to click one WDM 2 (double headed)
> freight train which was slow and finally halted at Neral. Both the locos
> were from Krishnarajapuram loco shed and were red in colour with a white
> dash in the middle. On the whole a very satifying trip.
>
>
> P.P.SAKLATWALLA.
> EXTN :4226/4232/4237
>
>

From: PROTIP.DASGUPTA <protip@giasbmc.email

Subject: Re: IR sheds (2)

Date: 16 Mar 1998 23:35:00 -0500


Larry,
BWN is ER's Diesel loco shed at Burdwan, also called Bardhamman, north
west of Calcutta!
Regards,
Bharat Vohra

On Sun, 15 Mar 1998, Larry Russell wrote:

> Anyone know where BWN is? Somewhere on ER, seen on WDM2 17634 in Calcutta
> (Sealdah).
> Larry
>
>
>

From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email

Subject: Where r the all of U?

Date: 17 Mar 1998 08:29:00 -0500


Hello All..

Its boring to open an empty mailbox.. anyway, here goes one more
question..

Why does the WCG2 (the one that can be found at
<A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/WCG2.jpg">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/WCG2.jpg</A> and
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg)">http://members.tripod.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg)</A> make so much
noise?

Anybody who's been on rail in Mumbai can tell U from afar when an engine
is incident. I think it has no parallel for the noise pollution levels
it sets.. why so? I've never heard hissing WCM's??

Sundar Krishnamurthy

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From: T.H.Sanyal. <THS1@PSUVM.EMAIL

Subject: Re: IR sheds (2)

Date: 17 Mar 1998 14:09:00 -0500


>Anyone know where BWN is? Somewhere on ER, seen on WDM2 17634 in Calcutta
>(Sealdah).

Bardhaman (Burdwan) is 95 kms from Howrah (the main Calcutta rail
terminal) in a north-westerly direction along Howrah Bardhaman chord
line (107 kms along the Main line).

ths.

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@fpk.email

Subject: Re: IR sheds (2)

Date: 17 Mar 1998 14:24:00 -0500


poras p.saklatwalla wrote:
>
> On Sun, 15 Mar 1998, Larry Russell wrote:
>
> > Anyone know where BWN is? Somewhere on ER, seen on WDM2 17634 in Calcutta
> > (Sealdah).
>
> BWN IS BARDDHAMAN NEAR CALCUTTA (SEALDAH)

Actually Barddhaman is quite a distance from Sealdah. It is closer to
Howrah via the Howrah - Barddhaman Chord (95km).

I think the reason that Burddhaman landed up with a Diesel shed is that
it had to provide power for trains proceeding along the Shahibganj Loop,
which is not electrified. This line branches off from the Barddhaman -
Asansol (4 track) main line at Khana Jn. and proceeds North through
Bolpur (Shantiniketan), Sainthia, Pakur (branch to Farakka Barrage -
Maldaha takes off near here), Shahibganj and onto Kiul Jn. (on the
Asansol - Mughal Sarai Main Line). Shahibganj Loop is the principal
Northward route out of Calcutta towards Maldaha (via Farakka Barrage),
New Jalpaiguri and onward to Guwahati. Trains proceed from Howrah up the
HB Chord, or from Sealdah by two possible routes. 1. Sealdah - Dum Dum
Jn. - Vivekandanda Bridge - Dankuni Jn on HB Chord, or 2. Sealdah -
Naihati - Bandel - Barddhaman. Then they proceed on Shahibganj Loop to
the North.

This role of the principal Northward route out of Calcutta fell on this
line as a result of the creation of East Pakistan/Bangladesh. Before the
partition the principal Northward route used to be out of Sealdah
through Gede/Darshana across the Ganga at Sarah (Hardigne Bridge) and
then onto Jalpaiguri, Siliguri. When this route was intially severed, it
was a real pain to get to Siliguri from Calcutta and involved two
trains, one Broad Gauge (Calcutta to Maharajpur Ghat called North Bengal
Express), one Meter Gauge (Manihari Ghat to Siliguri) and a ferry
crossing between the two ghats. The cosntruction of Farakka Barrage and
the construction of the Farakka - Maldaha - Barsoi - New Jalpaiguri BG
line, made travel along this route an overnight affair again.

Incidentally if I remember correctly, Shahibganj Loop pre-dates the
construction of the Main Line through Jhajha, and it used to be the main
link to the West before the Main Line was constructed. Jamalpur where
some of the first indigenously manufactured Steam locomotives were built
is on this line. So the Main Line of today was the first Chord line,
shortening the route to Mughal Sarai. Since then of course the Grand
Chord has further shortened the route to Mughal Sarai.

Jishnu.

From: Pushkar Apte <apte@spdc.email

Subject: Route question

Date: 17 Mar 1998 13:56:00 -0500


Jishnu - thanks for the excellent historical information on the Sahibganj loop,
"Main line" and Grand chord from Caclutta/Bardhamman.

I have a question - there is presently no train that links the stations North and
North-east of Calcutta to the Mumbai-Howrah main-line via Nagpur. If such a
hypothetical train were to come from Mumbai/Nagpur via Durg-Bilaspur-Tatanagar
and head towards New Jalpaiguri/Guwahati - what would be the best (shortest)
route? The best I could figure out was:
Tatanagar-Joychandipahar-Asansol-Andal-Sainthia. Is there a better route?

-Pushkar

Jishnu Mukerji wrote:

> poras p.saklatwalla wrote:
> >
> > On Sun, 15 Mar 1998, Larry Russell wrote:
> >
> > > Anyone know where BWN is? Somewhere on ER, seen on WDM2 17634 in Calcutta
> > > (Sealdah).
> >
> > BWN IS BARDDHAMAN NEAR CALCUTTA (SEALDAH)
>
> Actually Barddhaman is quite a distance from Sealdah. It is closer to
> Howrah via the Howrah - Barddhaman Chord (95km).
>
> I think the reason that Burddhaman landed up with a Diesel shed is that
> it had to provide power for trains proceeding along the Shahibganj Loop,
> which is not electrified. This line branches off from the Barddhaman -
> Asansol (4 track) main line at Khana Jn. and proceeds North through
> Bolpur (Shantiniketan), Sainthia, Pakur (branch to Farakka Barrage -
> Maldaha takes off near here), Shahibganj and onto Kiul Jn. (on the
> Asansol - Mughal Sarai Main Line). Shahibganj Loop is the principal
> Northward route out of Calcutta towards Maldaha (via Farakka Barrage),
> New Jalpaiguri and onward to Guwahati. Trains proceed from Howrah up the
> HB Chord, or from Sealdah by two possible routes. 1. Sealdah - Dum Dum
> Jn. - Vivekandanda Bridge - Dankuni Jn on HB Chord, or 2. Sealdah -
> Naihati - Bandel - Barddhaman. Then they proceed on Shahibganj Loop to
> the North.
>
> This role of the principal Northward route out of Calcutta fell on this
> line as a result of the creation of East Pakistan/Bangladesh. Before the
> partition the principal Northward route used to be out of Sealdah
> through Gede/Darshana across the Ganga at Sarah (Hardigne Bridge) and
> then onto Jalpaiguri, Siliguri. When this route was intially severed, it
> was a real pain to get to Siliguri from Calcutta and involved two
> trains, one Broad Gauge (Calcutta to Maharajpur Ghat called North Bengal
> Express), one Meter Gauge (Manihari Ghat to Siliguri) and a ferry
> crossing between the two ghats. The cosntruction of Farakka Barrage and
> the construction of the Farakka - Maldaha - Barsoi - New Jalpaiguri BG
> line, made travel along this route an overnight affair again.
>
> Incidentally if I remember correctly, Shahibganj Loop pre-dates the
> construction of the Main Line through Jhajha, and it used to be the main
> link to the West before the Main Line was constructed. Jamalpur where
> some of the first indigenously manufactured Steam locomotives were built
> is on this line. So the Main Line of today was the first Chord line,
> shortening the route to Mughal Sarai. Since then of course the Grand
> Chord has further shortened the route to Mughal Sarai.
>
> Jishnu.



--

Regards,
Pushkar
-------

From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email

Subject: Re: Where r the all of U?

Date: 17 Mar 1998 15:10:00 -0500


>Why does the WCG2 (the one that can be found at
><A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/WCG2.jpg">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/WCG2.jpg</A> and
><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg)">http://members.tripod.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg)</A> make so much
^^^^^^
>noise?

Sorry again for me setting records in typos.. The second URL is
<A HREF="http://members.xoom.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg">http://members.xoom.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg</A>. I shouldn't type
in the middle of the night!

Sundar Krishnamurthy

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From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email

Subject: Ahmedabad - Cochin Express

Date: 17 Mar 1998 15:24:00 -0500


Hello junta,

If the Ahmedabad Cochin Express gets diverted thro' Konkan Railway, its
route would most probably be Ahmedabad-Vadodara-Surat-Vasai and then the
Vasai-Diva chord and from Diva to Roha and onwards. Now the point is -
the train would be running on the Kalyan-Mumbai trunk for a few hundred
metres between Dombivli and Diva! It won't touch Diva and move away on
the bypass heading south before the station. Well it would be a unique
experience to watch the train move like a mountain snake - it rushes on
the overbridge over the main line, takes a U and touches the main-line,
but before the entire train can become straight, another set of points
divert the engine back into KR territory. I'm waiting for this
experience!

Can anybody brief on the way Coimbatore station junction works.. the
Bradshaw shows many trains stopping there, but a lot more bypassing the
station? I wonder how the route is. I'll probably make a trip &
investigate in the next few weeks..

Sundar

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From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email

Subject: Re: Where r the all of U?

Date: 18 Mar 1998 21:19:00 -0500


Hi,
That is something I have wondered about. Another point is, what
exactly contributes to all the sounds that make up an electric locos' hum?
With a diesel, it is easy to make out. In a WDM2 for example, the loud
throb is the V-16 diesel at work, the loud whine when it comes in to a
halt belongs to the dynamic braking. The hum of the alternator is barely
audible over the roar of the engine.

Other sounds of interest are the various horns used on our locos.
I am partial to the WDM2 warble. One of the two WCAM2 horns is quite
similar to the WDM2 honk. The saddest sounding horns are the ones on the
WDS4 shunters. (At least some of them). The WCM's have a nice imperious
BLAAAT that suits them perfectly.

Siddhartha.
________________________________________________________________________________

On Tue, 17 Mar 1998, Sundar Krishnamurthy wrote:

> Hello All..
>
> Its boring to open an empty mailbox.. anyway, here goes one more
> question..
>
> Why does the WCG2 (the one that can be found at
> <A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/WCG2.jpg">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/WCG2.jpg</A> and
> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg)">http://members.tripod.com/sundar/itg/pics/wcg2rvous.jpg)</A> make so much
> noise?
>
> Anybody who's been on rail in Mumbai can tell U from afar when an engine
> is incident. I think it has no parallel for the noise pollution levels
> it sets.. why so? I've never heard hissing WCM's??
>
> Sundar Krishnamurthy
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>

From: sank <sank@telco.email

Subject: Re: Where r the all of U?

Date: 18 Mar 1998 22:01:00 -0500


> That is something I have wondered about. Another point is, what
> exactly contributes to all the sounds that make up an electric locos' hum?

I would think the noisiest part of an electric loco are the traction motor
blowerswhich are mounted just above the power bogies and aim downwards to cool the
motors. Some sound would also be emitted by the compressor/exhauster.

> I am partial to the WDM2 warble.

Oh yes !! It sets my spine tingling.

--
Jayant S : IDStudio : TTIL : ERC : TELCO
Pimpri : Pune : 411 018 : INDIA
tel - 91(212)774261 exn 2534
--

From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email

Subject: Re: Loco shed/station codes

Date: 17 Mar 1998 21:46:00 -0500


T. H. Sanyal wrote

> Also, how many cities in India have a "Central" station?
> I know of 4: Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Trivandrum; are
> there others? Why not a Calcutta Central or Delhi Central?
> Why was Sealdah not named Calcutta something? Please post
> if any of you have any answers.

Interesting trivia : Out of these four, there are NO trains from Bombay
Central (Mumbai Central) to any of the other three Centrals!

Sundar



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From: Raghavendra K <kragha@wipinfo.email

Subject: Track changes

Date: 19 Mar 1998 01:54:00 -0500


Hi all,

recently when i had been to mantralayam by hyd. exp, i was thinking on
this matter. and i cudnt reason out a convincing answer.

when an electric engine changes track, how does the electric contact
over it get changed over to the other cable ?

can anyone tell me where i can find some material on technical issues
like this. (some FAQ or something ?). it'll b nice if v have
discusssions on such topics too.

a request: let the answers be in plain english please (not with too many
acronyms) since i am too new to this list to catch up the acronyms used
around here.

:-)

thanks well in advance,
Raghavendra

From: Rangachari Anand <ranand@us.email

Subject: MRTS and Chennai suburban trip report

Date: 18 Mar 1998 07:57:00 -0500


I just got back last week from a trip to India during which I took a short trip
on the MRTS. Normally,
I like to take at least one trip by train (usually Madras-Bangalore) but this
time since we were traveling
with my baby daughter, we flew instead. I wanted to take *some* train trip so I
persuaded my
brother to accompany me on a trip by MRTS from Mylapore (now called
Thirumayilai - not sure
of the spelling). to Chennai Park and then from Central to Avadi and back.
Unfortunately, I do not
yet have the pictures I took. As soon as I receive them, I will forward to
someone who can put them
up on a web site.

As most readers might be aware, the MRTS is an elevated double track suburban
railway
which is an extension of the broad gauge line to Madras Beach. The line
currently follows the
Buckingham canal and goes from Beach to Mylapore. Considering how congested
Chennai
has become, this transit system will definitely be useful in the future when it
is completed.
Although Chennai residents are dismissive of the MRTS, I found the trains to be
suprisingly
well patronized. The line is currently being extended further south to
Taramani. It will pass
quite close to my parents house which is in R.K. Nagar near Manthavelli. They
had just started
on the section south of Mylapore when I was there. The construction activity
attracts a lot
of gawkers who seem to have little else to do :-) Residents are looking forward
to their property
values going up.

The stations and the elevated tracks have been very solidly built. For the time
being at least,
the stations are quite clean. Some of the stations even have (working)
escalators.
The Mylapore station is still under construction but will be quite impressive
when completed.
The trains are standard suburban rakes with 8 carriages. Most trains go from
Mylapore to
Beach but some go on to Arakkonam and Gummidipundi.

The stations going north are Lighthouse (Edward Elliots Road), Triplicane,
Chetpat
(goes right next to the stadium), Chintadripet (Mount road near Hindu
building), Park and
Beach. You get a wonderful cool sea breeze for most of the route and you can
actually
see the sea near the light house.

One major problem is transferring from Park station to Central. The distance is
just 100 meters
but currently, you must walk along a badly-lighted, filthy footpath under the
road bridge next to
the canal. The stench is phenomenal. If they could fix this problem, the system
as a whole could
become much more useable for people who wish to catch long distance trains.

The trip on the suburban train was quite uneventful. My main observation is
that the trains
seem to have become much dirtier although the electrical and mechanical parts
seemed
to be well maintained. I wonder if these suburban rakes are ever cleaned.

One of the pleasures of the Arakkonam line is to view the latest product of the
ICF
at Perambur. Usually, new carriages are parked in sidings near Villivakkam. On
our trip,
I noticed a lot of DMUs painted in an attractive green and cream livery marked
for Northern
Railway. Is there a move afoot in IR to use DMUs for slow passenger trains as
opposed to loco
hauled trains?

On a related note, when I was in Hyderabad, the line to the south (Kurnool) has
been
converted to broad gauge. all the local trains on this line (to Umdanagar) are
hauled by WDM2s.
The meter gauge line to the north is currently under conversion to BG.

R. Anand
anand@watson.email

From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email

Subject: Re: Track changes

Date: 19 Mar 1998 05:01:00 -0500


Raghavendra

> when an electric engine changes track, how does the electric contact
> over it get changed over to the other cable ?

Well, the OHE line splits up too.

> can anyone tell me where i can find some material on technical issues
> like this. (some FAQ or something ?). it'll b nice if v have
> discusssions on such topics too.

We could compile all the mails under subheadings like sighting trips,
nostalgia, films, resources and tech.. How about it, junta ??

Siddhartha.
________________________________________________________________________________

From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email

Subject: Re: Where r the all of U?

Date: 19 Mar 1998 05:07:00 -0500


Philip

On Wed, 18 Mar 1998, Philip Wormald wrote:

> Siddhartha<
> >>With a diesel, it is easy to make out. In a WDM2 for example, the
> loud throb is the V-16 diesel at work, the loud whine when it comes in to a
> halt belongs to the dynamic braking. The hum of the alternator is barely
> audible over the roar of the engine.<<
> I like your comments, I think you are talking of the ALCO 16-251 engine
> in this type of Diesel, am I correct?

Yes, though I am not ABSOLUTELY sure, someone please confirm !!

> Do all your Diesels have dynamic brakes, I like the sound of dynamics
> working very much!!

The WDM (mixed traffic), WDS6(heavy duty shunting) and YDM(meter gauge)
series certainly do have dynamic braking. As far as I know, the NDM and
WDS4's do not.

> I tried both these links, neither of them worked, I want to try find some
> pictures of the ALCO types!

Wait up, you're in for a treat !!

Siddhartha.
________________________________________________________________________________