IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 2961 - 2980

From: Donald L. Mills, Jr <>

Subject: Re: Blast inside Delhi-bound train in Jammu, 8 hurt

Date: 23 Jun 1998 20:20:15 -0500


Gang,
Much sorrow today at the Jammu bombing. I hope the people who live can
see and find the culprits and put an end to these needless deaths. Don
in
WV

----------
> From: Auroprem Kandaswami <kandaswa@apple.email
> To: irfca <irfca@cs.email
> Subject: Blast inside Delhi-bound train in Jammu, 8 hurt
> Date: Tuesday, June 23, 1998 7:45 PM
>
>
> Courtesy: Hindustan Times
> JAMMU, June 23
>
>
> Eight carriages of a Delhi-bound passenger train were derailed when a
> bomb exploded in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.
>
> Reports said that eight people were seriously injured in the blast
> at 9.20 p.m.
>
> Police said relief vehicles and officials rushed to the accident site
> near Ria close to Vijaipur, about 33 km southwest of the state's
> winter capital Jammu.
>
> Police said the Shalimar Express to New Delhi left Jammu station at
> 9 p.m. The blast occurred on a day when Home Minister Lal Krishna
Advani
> promised a series of measures to crack down on militant unrest in
> Jammu and Kashmir.
>
> Advani was visiting Doda to commiserate with the families of 25
> members of a Hindu wedding group massacred by militants in the remote
> and mountainous district on Friday.
>
> None has claimed responsibility for the massacre.

From: Philippe Quiot (TOG Devt. SA) <>

Subject: Re: DHR Branches and Assam Rail Link

Date: 24 Jun 1998 01:12:57 -0500


Hello,

I have VERY BAD QUALITY I.R. drawings for "CC" class Pacifics ?

I suppose that these were on 2ft gauge ?

Any idea ?

Could have been on 2ft6" ?

But looks like I.R. was selling
such units 2 or 3 years ago...

Bye

Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E. Heath wrote:
>

> It was this line that was the reason
> for those incongruous, rangy-looking Pacifics, so unsuited to the Hill
> sections.
>
> Cheers from KJ

--

===================================================================
TOG Devt. S.A. "IXpert" Philippe QUIOT
CH - 1092 Belmont tog-sa@he.email
internet/intranet consulting ( )
___ ____________ ( _ )
_________|___||____________| _____ | |
| [ ] |[ ] |___||___|_____|____|_|__|-|
______|__________[__] |[_____] |---------//-\\----|-----|
[ ] | |________//___\\ | )
[ Px48 ] | | | (________)\\__|_____|
[_____________________]==|_________|-|----/-\----/ -\--___\\|-
|=| ====== ====== |_________|_| - / - \ /-----(___)\\=|=|
| (O)(O) (O)(O) (O)-(O) /(O)-(O)/ |
===================================================================
"Times of Glory" trade/consulting in railway/travel/tourism areas
tog@bahnhofplatz.email
<A HREF="http://www.bahnhofplatz.com/">http://www.bahnhofplatz.com/</A>

From: GlynThomas <>

Subject: Re: DHR Branches and Assam Rail Link

Date: 24 Jun 1998 11:33:41 -0500


Folks,
regarding the DHR Pacifics, I think there were drawings of these in the
UK
Continental Modeller a couple of years back. I'll try to post a firmer
reference in the next few days. I understand that one of these locos was
preserved at a Bombay Technical Museum. Can anyone confirm?

Glyn

From: Shankar <>

Subject: Re: DHR Branches and Assam Rail Link

Date: 24 Jun 1998 11:37:09 -0500


I THINK ONE OF THESE 2' 0" PACIFICS FROM THE DHR IS PRESERVED
AT THE NEHRU SCIENCE CENTRE IN BOMBAY...OOPS, MUMBAI. I
DID NOT MAKE OUT MUCH OF IT AS THE DHR IS SO SYNONYMOUS
WITH THOSE DELIGHTFUL 'B' CLASS 0-4-0 STs THAT ONE SOMEHOW
CANNOT ASSOCIATE THEM WITH ANY OTHER CLASS OF ENGINE,
THOUGH I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST ONE PIC SOMEWHERE OF ONE OF
THE GARRATTS.
I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THE ENGINE AS WELL. UNFORTUNATELY,I
DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A SCANNER.
ONE OF THE BOMBAY BASED MEMBERS MIGHT GO DOWN AND HAVE
A LOOK SEE, AND POST FURTHER.
IN THE MEANTIME, I MIGHT FIND SOMETHING IN ONE OF MY BOOKS:
I HAVEN'T LOOKED YET.
BEST REGARDS.
SHANKAR.




At 08:34 AM 6/24/98 +0530, you wrote:
>> It was this line that was the reason
>> for those incongruous, rangy-looking Pacifics, so unsuited to the
Hill
>> sections.
>2' gauge Pacifics ? Amazing. Are there any pictures of these anywhere ?
>Also: where did the DHR run their two Garretts ?
>> on new alignment) and further new trackage to connect to the existing
NER
>> syustem at Barsoi. To the east of Siliguri, the Teesta Valeey Branch
was
>> taken over for MG as far as Sivok, a mixed-gauge line being laid.
>I suppose the MG alignment was completely reworked after the TV line
>closed: the NG line ran along what is now Sevoke Road in Siliguri,
while
>the MG line from Siliguri Jn today runs straight towards the hills,
>turns
>right and runs along them up to Sevoke. Even today, the approach to
>Sevoke by road is a spectacular sight: the railway bridge across the
>Teesta is dwarfed by the hills that suddenly rise up on both sides of
>the river.
>
>Fascinating history, Dr Walker.
>--
>Jayant S : ID Studio
>Tata Technologies India Limited
>Telco Premises : Pimpri TEL: 91 (212) 774261 ex 2534
>PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA FAX: 91 (212) 773191
>

From: Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E. Heath <>

Subject: DHR Branches and Assam Rail Link

Date: 24 Jun 1998 12:26:24 -0500


Not many people seem to be aware that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
had
TWO branches. Both were opened in 1915. The Kalimpong Road (now
Gelkhola)
branch, as Jayant says, followed the Teesta valley, and was generally
known
as the Teesta Valley line. It was 26 miles long, and closed in 1950
following devastating floods that year. (Much of the trackbed was swept
away).
The second line was the Kishanganj branch, which ran
west-south-west
of Siliguri, and was 67 miles long. It was this line that was the reason
for those incongruous, rangy-looking Pacifics, so unsuited to the Hill
sections.
Construction of the Assam Rail Link in 1948 necessiatated the
taking
over of the Kishanganj line and its conversion to metre gauge (106km,
much
on new alignment) and further new trackage to connect to the existing
NER
syustem at Barsoi. To the east of Siliguri, the Teesta Valeey Branch was
taken over for MG as far as Sivok, a mixed-gauge line being laid. Two
further sections of line, further east, were also constructed, to
complete
the through metre-gauge line.
I travelled Siliguri-Samastipur using the MG service back in
1982;
the line single, block-signalled, and there were interminable dealys at
crossing loops. We ran several hours late in consequence.
Cheers from KJ

From: Heinrich Hubbert <>

Subject: Re: DHR Branches and Assam Rail Link

Date: 24 Jun 1998 14:02:28 -0500


Philippe Quiot (TOG Devt. SA) wrote:
>
> Hello,

The CC were 2ft 6in, end were running on Bankura-Rainagar (ER) up to 94
or so. I had two visits there. They were so nice pacifics.
Would anybody like to host some of my pictures of theses times

Abourt sellings, I know, that there was an article a year ago in INDIAN
RAILWAYS about a tank-engine (AK-class, Bagnall, 2ft 6in) from the
Katwa-system bought by an n.g.-line in Wales.

Heinrich

> I have VERY BAD QUALITY I.R. drawings for "CC" class Pacifics ?
>
> I suppose that these were on 2ft gauge ?
>
> Any idea ?
>
> Could have been on 2ft6" ?

> But looks like I.R. was selling
> such units 2 or 3 years ago...
>
> Bye
>
> Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E. Heath wrote:
> >
>
> > It was this line that was the reason
> > for those incongruous, rangy-looking Pacifics, so unsuited to the
Hill
> > sections.
> >
> > Cheers from KJ
>
> --
>
> ===================================================================
> TOG Devt. S.A. "IXpert" Philippe QUIOT
> CH - 1092 Belmont tog-sa@he.email
> internet/intranet consulting ( )
> ___ ____________ ( _ )
> _________|___||____________| _____ | |
> | [ ] |[ ] |___||___|_____|____|_|__|-|
> ______|__________[__] |[_____] |---------//-\\----|-----|
> [ ] | |________//___\\ | )
> [ Px48 ] | | | (________)\\__|_____|
> [_____________________]==|_________|-|----/-\----/ -\--___\\|-
> |=| ====== ====== |_________|_| - / - \ /-----(___)\\=|=|
> | (O)(O) (O)(O) (O)-(O) /(O)-(O)/ |
> ===================================================================
> "Times of Glory" trade/consulting in railway/travel/tourism areas
> tog@bahnhofplatz.email
> <A HREF="http://www.bahnhofplatz.com/">http://www.bahnhofplatz.com/</A>

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Re: DHR Branches and Assam Rail Link

Date: 24 Jun 1998 19:17:10 -0500



Hi Gang,

Yes Glyn the DHR Pacific is "Preserved" at the Nehru Science Center in
Bombay. The Continental Modeller carried the photographs taken by me at
the museum. The loco is in a very sorry state rusting away. It is tucked
away in a dark gloomy corner from where it is very difficult to take
good
shots. I remember being attacked by a dog no sooner I stepped in the
cab.
Perhaps I might have disturded his siesta.

Viraf

> Folks,
> regarding the DHR Pacifics, I think there were drawings of these in
the UK
> Continental Modeller a couple of years back. I'll try to post a firmer
> reference in the next few days. I understand that one of these locos
was
> preserved at a Bombay Technical Museum. Can anyone confirm?
>
> Glyn
>

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

From: PROTIP.DASGUPTA <>

Subject: Please respond!

Date: 24 Jun 1998 21:20:06 -0500


Hi All,
Sent in this request 2 days ago to <IRFCA-REQUEST@cs.email and
havent
yet got my address included on the mailing list. Can someone please help
me out.
Thanks,
Bharat Vohra

---------------------------------------
Hi!
This is Bharat Vohra here and I am back from my holiday.
A request to you to please add this address, ie -
<protip@giasbmc.email to your IRFCA list
Also can you take my other address of your list, ie -
<bvohra@hotmail.email
Thanking you,
Bharat Vohra

From: Shrinivas Bhatwadekar <>

Subject: Re: LOCO SPECIAL

Date: 24 Jun 1998 21:23:52 -0500


It's really sad to observe that all prestigiuos & fast trains of
yesteryears have become slow-running trains after introduction of
newer superfast trains every year.
'Toofan Exp' has no 'Toofani speed' associated with it.'Flying Ranee'
is not flying type.'Gujarat Queen' is definitely not 'Queen'.There
used to be one 'Flying Mail' between N.Delhi & Amritsar.It wasn't a
flying type.(I'm not sure if it still operates.)

Many of these trains have not only lost their glory in terms of
amenities available,facilities provided to passengers etc, but have
also
become habitually late-runners.The ones affected are especially the
long-distant fast trains introduced in last 20 years.Take examples of
Mumbai-Varanasi Mahanagari Exp,Ahmedabad-Madras Navajivan
Exp.,Rajkot-Bhopal Exp.,Gorakhpur-Mumbai Central Avadh Exp., Jammu
Tawi-Indore Malwa Exp.( Once known for its punctuality,the train
started slipping in timings after being extended upto Jammu Tawi) etc.

Pl. provide more details on 'fast' trains from your regions.
=======================================================
SHRINIVAS BHATWADEKAR


Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing
himself.
-- Tolstoy



---"T.H.Sanyal." <THS1@PSUVM.email wrote:
>
> Shankar wrote:
>
> >The EA/1s sort of heralded the advent of high speed rail travel in
India. It
> >was an EA/1 which hauled
> >the Deccan Queen on its inaugural run in 1930. It covered the 192
km in 2
> >hrs 45 mins with the then
> >7 car DQ. Today's Queen takes 3 hrs 25 mins.
>
> So in sixty or so years, the Deccan Queen has "progressed" from
> 2:45 run to 3:25 run! I believe the saddest story is of the Toofan
> Express. This train has been slowed down by 10 hours or so between
> Calcutta (Howrah) and Delhi over the years. Does anyone know what
> was the best timings for this train? In 1955 this train took about
> 26 hours, second only to the Kalka Mail, but I believe it used to
> be faster than that. Today, the name "Toofan" is a bad joke.
>
> ths.
>

_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at <A HREF="http://mail.yahoo.com">http://mail.yahoo.com</A>

From: poras p.saklatwalla <>

Subject: Re: LOCO SPECIAL

Date: 24 Jun 1998 22:18:30 -0500


On Wed, 24 Jun 1998, Shrinivas Bhatwadekar wrote:

> It's really sad to observe that all prestigiuos & fast trains of
> yesteryears have become slow-running trains after introduction of
> newer superfast trains every year.
> 'Toofan Exp' has no 'Toofani speed' associated with it.'Flying Ranee'
> is not flying type.'Gujarat Queen' is definitely not 'Queen'.There
> used to be one 'Flying Mail' between N.Delhi & Amritsar.It wasn't a
> flying type.(I'm not sure if it still operates.)
>
> Many of these trains have not only lost their glory in terms of
> amenities available,facilities provided to passengers etc, but have
> also
> become habitually late-runners.The ones affected are especially the
> long-distant fast trains introduced in last 20 years.Take examples of
> Mumbai-Varanasi Mahanagari Exp,Ahmedabad-Madras Navajivan
> Exp.,Rajkot-Bhopal Exp.,Gorakhpur-Mumbai Central Avadh Exp., Jammu
> Tawi-Indore Malwa Exp.( Once known for its punctuality,the train
> started slipping in timings after being extended upto Jammu Tawi)
etc.
>
> Pl. provide more details on 'fast' trains from your regions.
> =======================================================
> SHRINIVAS BHATWADEKAR
>
>
> Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing
> himself.
> -- Tolstoy
>
>
>
> ---"T.H.Sanyal." <THS1@PSUVM.email wrote:
> >
> > Shankar wrote:
> >
> > >The EA/1s sort of heralded the advent of high speed rail travel in
> India. It
> > >was an EA/1 which hauled
> > >the Deccan Queen on its inaugural run in 1930. It covered the 192
> km in 2
> > >hrs 45 mins with the then
> > >7 car DQ. Today's Queen takes 3 hrs 25 mins.
> >
> > So in sixty or so years, the Deccan Queen has "progressed" from
> > 2:45 run to 3:25 run! I believe the saddest story is of the Toofan
> > Express. This train has been slowed down by 10 hours or so between
> > Calcutta (Howrah) and Delhi over the years. Does anyone know what
> > was the best timings for this train? In 1955 this train took about
> > 26 hours, second only to the Kalka Mail, but I believe it used to
> > be faster than that. Today, the name "Toofan" is a bad joke.
> >
> > ths.
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________
> DO YOU YAHOO!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at <A HREF="http://mail.yahoo.com">http://mail.yahoo.com</A>
>

PORAS P.SAKLATWALLA
TEL :5773535/3636
EXT :4226/4232/4237

Hello to all our Gang members,
Yes Flying Mail still operates on the NDLS - ASR ROUTE though it is the
slowest train after Dadar -Amritsar Express. It is indeed very sad that
all fast trains are becoming slow. Even the Grand Trunk Express is
indeed
a very slow train compared to Tamil Nadu express. The Mumbai Banaras
Mahanagri Express was a super slow a few years ago but since last one
year
or so it 80% on time whilst coming into Mumbai. I can vouch for it.
Flying Ranee is one train which all my friends will agree that it needs
overhauling with a new livelry and coaches. Infact WR would do well to
discard the double decker coaches in double the time that they have
decided to do so. They must also add a few more AC chair car coaches to
the one already running since the past couple of months. It is indeed a
very prestigious train to be in such untidy condition. Viraf atleast you
would agree having seen the Surat bound Flying headed by A Black Beauty
with lovely livelry. The present scenario is just DISGUSTING.

Any comments would be welcomed.


Poras

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Re: LOCO SPECIAL

Date: 24 Jun 1998 23:24:08 -0500


> Flying Ranee is one train which all my friends will agree that it
needs
> overhauling with a new livelry and coaches. Infact WR would do well to
> discard the double decker coaches in double the time that they have
> decided to do so. They must also add a few more AC chair car coaches
to
> the one already running since the past couple of months. It is indeed
a
> very prestigious train to be in such untidy condition. Viraf atleast
you
> would agree having seen the Surat bound Flying headed by A Black
Beauty
> with lovely livelry. The present scenario is just DISGUSTING.
> Any comments would be welcomed.


Hi Porus ,

Fully agree with you. I am indeed lucky to have travelled in Flying
Ranee
during her glory days. What an imposing sight seeing it depart from
Bombay
Central station. Those Black beauties were very beautiful and sexy
absoultly
nowhere in comparision to the WCAM1 in it's present filthy, shabby and
drab livery. Porus lets visit these W.R. chaps and drill some aesthetic
sense in them, specially those in Valsad Shed. And have you seen those
Bandra-Virar-Dhanu DMU's - they are the ugliest things that I have seen
on
rails. I wish and hope somebody from the our railways is reading this
and
take some action.

Viraf.






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

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: International Trains

Date: 25 Jun 1998 01:36:11 -0500


Hi Shrinivas,

There must be a link through Jaisalmer as well, it will be intresting to
find out. This reflects the problem of information in India. Unless you
go
there physically or have an equally enthusiastic railfan in Jaisalmer,
we
would never have the correct details.

Apurva Bahadur

Shrinivas Bhatwadekar wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> This pertains to discussion regarding trains to Pakistan.
>
> 1. Apart from the Amritsar-Attari-Lahore railway link,there exists
> another railway link to Pakistan from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to
probably
> Hyderabad in Sind province.Probably the link has been abandoned after
> 1965 war.I remember reading of this link in an old timetable.
>
> Can anyone provide more information on this ?
>
> 2. Also the Frontier Mail( now Golden Temple Mail) on WR used to go
> upto Peshawar during the Raj days & that's why it was rightly named
> 'Frontier' Mail.
> Can someone provide information on its route from Bombay to Peshawar
> at that time ?
>
> ========================================================
> SHRINIVAS BHATWADEKAR
>
> The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching
> the egg, not by smashing it.
> -- Arnold H. Glasow
>
> ---Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > > I am totally for international trains, to neighbouring countries;
> possibly
> > > another Indo Pak train from Mumbai to Peshawar, imagine the
> goodwill it
> > > will spread amongst the 2 countries.
> >
> > I second that ! Cheers to such positive thoughts, the Mumbai -
> Amritsar -
> > Atari - Wagah - Lahore is totally possible, given the political
> will. I too
> > like Poras will travel this journey for the sake of doing something
so
> > beautiful and symbolic.I have heard that it is almost possible to go
> from
> > Pakistan westwards into Iran, the line is broken for 30 Kms but then
> onwards
> > the line is continous till Europe.
> >
> > Apurva Bahadur
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________
> DO YOU YAHOO!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at <A HREF="http://mail.yahoo.com">http://mail.yahoo.com</A>

From: S. Kumar <>

Subject: Tamil Nadu Exp vs Grand Trunk Express

Date: 25 Jun 1998 04:23:34 -0500


<smaller>Poras writes:

>Even the Grand Trunk Express is indeed

>a very slow train compared to Tamil Nadu
express.<FontFamily><param>Arial</param><smaller>


<FontFamily><param>Times New Roman</param><bigger>Actually I think that
the Grand Trunk (GT) doesn't do too badly compared to Tamil Nadu (TN).
It
takes 3-3.5 hours more for an almost 2200 km run, and has many, many
more halts. Also to the best of
my knowledge the GT tends to be more on time than the TN. In fact the
GT is often quicker on many
sections than trains with fewer halts in that section.


Kumar <bigger>

<nofill>

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: WDG 2 Locomotive

Date: 25 Jun 1998 12:01:07 -0500




Philip Wormald wrote:

> Apurva,
> (Talking about the WDG2)
> >> Are the newer diesel locos abroad also fitted with a wheel type
master
> controller rather than a macho throttle bar ? <<
>
> Some German Locos where fitted with a wheel type "Power Handle",
> but don't know of any that includes braking. (I presume this is
> for the dynamic brakes?).
>
> Some new power in Europe now has a little joystick for power,
> forward for power reverse for dynamics.
>
> New US power is small desk top levers.
>
> It the WDG2 in regular production, does it replace the WDM2, and
> above all what does it sound like?
>
> Cheers
>
> Phil
> ______________________________________________________
> Phil Wormald at 07:09 on 27-Jun-98 using OzWinII V2.20
> PWormald@compuserve.email

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: WDG 2 Locomotive

Date: 25 Jun 1998 12:05:34 -0500




Philip Wormald wrote:

> Apurva,
> (Talking about the WDG2)
> >> Are the newer diesel locos abroad also fitted with a wheel type
master
> controller rather than a macho throttle bar ? <<
>
> Some German Locos where fitted with a wheel type "Power Handle",
> but don't know of any that includes braking. (I presume this is
> for the dynamic brakes?).
>

Yes, Dynamic brakes.

> Some new power in Europe now has a little joystick for power,
> forward for power reverse for dynamics.
>
> New US power is small desk top levers.
>
> It the WDG2 in regular production, does it replace the WDM2, and
> above all what does it sound like?
>

I am yet to see the loco, as soon as I see it and photograph it, the
IRFCA
gang will be the first to know. But I have seen a pair in the dark at
Bilaspur (MP) and they sound much deeper and powerful as compared to the
standard WDM2. Also there are some with rounded 'foreheads' like an
elephant
and there are some with regular angled rooflines (although much longer
short
hoods) like a standard WDM2. I saw such an example at Katni (MP) last
year.

Apurva Bahadur

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re:

Date: 25 Jun 1998 21:05:03 -0500


Viraf,

Great idea, I could request each and every member of the IRFCA to
identify
their place on the map. This could be another item in the FAQ. Dedicated
railfan available at ------ .
From Pune is Shrish, Jayant and me. Any more ? Who are in Mumbai ? and
nearby towns ?

Apurva Bahadur

VIRAF P.. MULLA wrote:

> Hi Gang,
>
> Just an idea, is it possible that the gang members from Bombay, Pune
and
> nearby cities and towns meet?
>
> Let me know
>
> Viraf
>
> ==========================
> Viraf Mulla
> C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
> Borivali (West)
> Mumbai 400103
> Tel: +91-22-8954510
> E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
> ==========================

From: Shrinivas Bhatwadekar <>

Subject: Re: International Trains

Date: 25 Jun 1998 21:23:20 -0500


Hi All,

This pertains to discussion regarding trains to Pakistan.

1. Apart from the Amritsar-Attari-Lahore railway link,there exists
another railway link to Pakistan from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to probably
Hyderabad in Sind province.Probably the link has been abandoned after
1965 war.I remember reading of this link in an old timetable.

Can anyone provide more information on this ?

2. Also the Frontier Mail( now Golden Temple Mail) on WR used to go
upto Peshawar during the Raj days & that's why it was rightly named
'Frontier' Mail.
Can someone provide information on its route from Bombay to Peshawar
at that time ?

========================================================
SHRINIVAS BHATWADEKAR

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching
the egg, not by smashing it.
-- Arnold H. Glasow



---Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email wrote:
>
>
>
> > I am totally for international trains, to neighbouring countries;
possibly
> > another Indo Pak train from Mumbai to Peshawar, imagine the
goodwill it
> > will spread amongst the 2 countries.
>
> I second that ! Cheers to such positive thoughts, the Mumbai -
Amritsar -
> Atari - Wagah - Lahore is totally possible, given the political
will. I too
> like Poras will travel this journey for the sake of doing something so
> beautiful and symbolic.I have heard that it is almost possible to go
from
> Pakistan westwards into Iran, the line is broken for 30 Kms but then
onwards
> the line is continous till Europe.
>
> Apurva Bahadur
>
>
>
>

_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at <A HREF="http://mail.yahoo.com">http://mail.yahoo.com</A>

From: S. Kumar <>

Subject: Indo-Pak link via Munabao

Date: 26 Jun 1998 03:54:11 -0500


There is a link, but not through Jaisalmer. The Jodhpur-Jaisalmer line
terminates at
Jaisalmer. However, there is a MG line from Samdari to Munabao right on
the Indo-
Pak border, and this continues into Sind. From Samdari there are lines
connecting
to Marwar (on the Delhi-Ahmedabad line), Jodhpur (via Luni), and
Gandhidham (via
Bhildi). The Munabao line runs south of the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer line.

There was a proposal to run a Indo-Pak service on this line in the
eighties, but was
reportedly nixed by Zia-ul-Haq because of concerns about separatism in
Sind.

Kumar

> Hi Shrinivas,
>
> There must be a link through Jaisalmer as well, it will be intresting
to
> find out. This reflects the problem of information in India. Unless
you go
> there physically or have an equally enthusiastic railfan in Jaisalmer,
we
> would never have the correct details.
>
> Apurva Bahadur

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: WDG 2 Locomotive

Date: 26 Jun 1998 09:23:04 -0500


Hello dear friends,

Some WDG 2 locos which have just arrived in Pune. They are of the 14000
series. They have reversed seating position ( driver on the left ) and
also reversed door arrangement ( short hood door on the right of the
loco). The most bizarre detail they seem to have is instead of a
throttle bar, they have a rotary wheel - motoring in one direction,
braking in other. This is like an electric loco - I think it is a
ridiculous idea. Are the newer diesel locos abroad also fitted with a
wheel type master controller rather than a macho throttle bar ? The
action I associate with driving a WDM 2 is pulling back the throttle,
not rotating a wheel, frankly I am upset at the thought.
Now this is all heresay, I have not seen (being a fully qualified
railfan) the loco yet but as it is in Pune, it cannot escape my camera
for very long. More details ( or even a footplate ride !! ) soon.

Apurva Bahadur

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Time Tables

Date: 26 Jun 1998 10:51:15 -0500


Dear Amigos,

Now we (the time table voyeurs) have come out in the open and proud of
it, let us discuss some stuff, shall we ?
I have most of the regional time tables of the year and I read a lot of
my favorite matter (guess which one ?)
Shrinivas mentions having an old time table - guard them with your life,
they are worth a lot.
Tip: One of the best 'one stop' places for regional time tables is the
AH Wheeler bookstall in the old building of Howrah station. They have
almost all of them all through the year. One of the most deprived places
was the entire trunk from Allahabad to Howrah via Mughal Sarai which
offered none of the official time tables, only highly priced private
time tables with suspect information.
One more tip - if traveling light - take the ferry out of Howrah to the
opposite bank of Hoogly rather than spend better part of an hour in a
smog in a taxi.
Okay, IMHO the South Eastern time table is the best laid out of the lot
- all the station codes are laid out for commoners to relate to.
The best map comes from the North Eastern Frontier time table - it has
colour coded division.
CR, WR, SCR, SR are almost on par.
Northern Railway is complicated, the map is also quite complex. There is
a location in Punjab with 'gauntleted' line - both BG and MG on the same
permanent way, ever heard about it ?
There seems to be shift in referring to a section by table number to
referring it by the page number.
I have a few 'working' time tables, the ones used by the drivers to run
the trains. They are extremely good reading matter too.

Apurva Bahadur