IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 7741 - 7760
From: raymond/Polaris <>
Subject: Re: FAQ - Trivia Update
Date: 20 Aug 1999 22:00:52 -0500
Vijay,
Check out the TVC Rajdhani which has no passenger halts between NZM and
BRC. My all-time favourite used to be the BCT Rajdhani which used to
have
its first passenger halt at Ratlam - all of 736 kms. if my memory is
still
what I think it was. Of course, it used to halt at Gangapur City to
re-fuel
(both locos as well as passengers, if you know what I mean!).
Regards
Raymond
From: HVC <>
Subject: Re: Prejudice in IRFCA
Date: 20 Aug 1999 22:06:28 -0500
I had something(a lot actually) good say about the Bengalis in the same
mail
but I suppose that wouldn't matter to you. You will quote only what
suits
you. Maybe I could have clarified your doubts off-list......[
Prejudice therefore is a state of mind.
I have a good No. of Bengali friends including some on the list but Iam
sure
they know that we all have our idiocyncracies which makes us unique and
not
outcasts.
By the way I still feel that the No. of Bengalis travelling on IR and
otherwise during Puja is a unique feature and have many memorable
experiences of sharing that.
Harsh
P.S. If there is still anything to iron out, I'd prefer it off-list
please.
-----Original Message-----
From: T.H.Sanyal. <THS1@PSUVM.email
To: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Friday, August 20, 1999 12:57 PM
Subject: Prejudice in IRFCA
>Poras wrote:
>
>>>because some unthoughtful Babu Moshais were creating a hungama over
tea
> ************
>
>Harsh wrote:
>
>>The Babu Moshais are omnipresent on IR(and every bit of land) during
Puja
> ************
>
>Thanks to Harsh and Poras for establishing precedents that shows
>prejudice against Bengalis to be a fit subject matter for discussion
>in IRFCA.
>
>ths.
>
From: Don Mills <>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Pakistan Railways]
Date: 20 Aug 1999 22:10:11 -0500
a little off list but something folks on India Railfan page might be
interested in. National Geographic US has an extensive article on the
Kashmir region. No talk on Railroads though. do any exist in this
region
and how is the ongoing skirmish between I & P affecting them. don in
Wv
-----Original Message-----
From: S.Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
To: iti@vsnl.email <iti@vsnl.email
Cc: jlacey@zeta.email <jlacey@zeta.email irfca@cs.email
<irfca@cs.email
Date: Friday, August 20, 1999 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Pakistan Railways]
>Hello,
>Thanks to Appu for raising the issue and to John for the clarification.
>I have often wondered about it myself.
>
>I think I have seen (can't remember where) a video or movie of a
steamer
>puffing along. The plate was bobbing up and down in keeping with the
>blast from the smokestack.
>Other pics I have seen seem to suggest that the plate has to be turned
>to open it. It does not open like a trapdoor: you have to swing it
right
>round till the smokestack is open.
>I initially thought it was to prevent sparks from the chimney setting
>fire to the countryside.
>Anyway, John's explanation does make a lot of sense.
>I have seen some road vehicles in India with a small swinging door
>fitted to the tip of the exhaust pipe. Of course, that is more of a
>decorative piece, and does not serve any purpose.(I think).
>Cheers.
>Shankar
>
>
>> Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>> >
>> > Have you noticed a hinged plate that covers the smokestack (when
not in
use ?) in the
>> > steam powers of the PR? I guess it is required when the loco is
stabled
outdoors. Why
>> > did the IR lack this feature ? I have seen this feature on Russian
and
South Asian
>> > steam locos also.
>> >
>> > Apurva
>>
>> These plates were often fitted to oil-fired locos.
>> >From memory, I think the reason was to keep rain water out when
locos
>> were stabled outside, but more seriously they were designed to
protect
>> the tubes and flues from sudden cooling which was a cause of greater
>> corrosion in oil fired rather than coal fired locos.
>> The plates also played some part ( I can't remember what) in the
>> lighting up process for at some stage in the procedure the cover was
to
>> be removed from the chimney.
>> I saw quite a number of oil fired locos ( all? fitted with the
covers)
>> in Java, both stored and in use, but cannot recall ever seeing one
with
>> its chimney plate in the " closed " position!
From: raymond/Polaris <>
Subject: Train numbering / Up & Down
Date: 20 Aug 1999 22:11:42 -0500
Dear gang,
Sorry for taking you back to basic basics but... I had gone for the
Landmark Quiz last Sunday, and the question was - "How are trains
classified UP or DOWN". The answer given was "All trains leaving the
four
metros are UP while those returning are DOWN. Only VT (now CSTM) has
only
UP trains leaving it". I thought that it depended on the controlling
railway for inter-railway trains, and the primary division in the case
of
intra-railway trains.
Can you guys help me out on this ? Also, how does one decide which train
of
the pair is to be odd numbered, and which even numbered.
Regards
Raymond
From: Don Mills <>
Subject: Re: Bangladesh Railways
Date: 20 Aug 1999 22:12:45 -0500
Thanks I have done that and have put it under favorites for indept
study.
Also did the same with your Iseral page. thanks for the great work.
You
and Apurva do great stuff. don in WV
-----Original Message-----
From: S.Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
To: Don Mills <dmills@MARSHALL.email
Date: Friday, August 20, 1999 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: Bangladesh Railways
>Hello Don,
>What exactly do you mean by 'would not let you into Pak rail site'?
Why?
>
>If it will be of any help, this is Larry Russel's home page:
>
><A HREF="http://EMDExport.Railfan.net/">http://EMDExport.Railfan.net/</A>
>
>Find country list, and then click on Pakistan. At least you will see
EMD
>exports into Pak.
>
>Cheers.
>Shankar
>
>
>Don Mills wrote:
>>
>> My internet site would not let me into Pak rail site. Don in WV
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: S.Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
>> To: Mike Brooker <aum108@idirect.email
>> Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
>> Date: Friday, August 20, 1999 7:16 AM
>> Subject: Bangladesh Railways
>>
>> >Hello Mike,
>> >I'm glad you liked the 'neighbors' website of Pak railways.
>> >
>> >Actually, there used to be a time I used to collect books, pics and
info
>> >on railways worldwide. That ceased when I left India (call it love
of
>> >the land) and I dumped whatever I had. (I kick myself for that now!)
>> >That included three photos from the Bangladesh Railways.
>> >
>> >I have been browsing since yesterday morning for more images for my
Pak
>> >site as well as for images for Bangladesh, but both countries are
very
>> >poorly represented, probably due to their primitive ways.
>> >
>> >For Bangladesh however, I can provide you with links to some of our
>> >other members' works. Here are two, one from Larry Russell and
another
>> >from Rolf Stumpf.
>> >
>> >Bangladesh Railway links:
>> >
>> >From Larry Russell:(EMD sourced beasts):
>> >
>> ><A HREF="http://EMDExport.Railfan.net/bangladesh.html">http://EMDExport.Railfan.net/bangladesh.html</A>
>> >
>> >From Rolf Stumpf :(Alco sourced beasts):
>> >
>> ><A HREF="http://alcoworld.railfan.net/bangla.htm">http://alcoworld.railfan.net/bangla.htm</A>
>> >
>> >Though I am sure both Larry and Rolf would have grabbed me by my
throat
>> >if I went around pinching pictures from their websites and grafting
them
>> >into my own, I'm sure they certainly won't mind my forwarding
selected
>> >pages to the irfca as urls!
>> >
>> >Cheers.
>> >
>> >Shankar
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >Mike Brooker wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Check out my small webpage on Pakistan's railways.
>> >> >
>> >> ><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/neighbors.htm">http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/neighbors.htm</A>
>> >> >
>> >> >I'h having trouble with one of the images: I have been working at
it
>> >> >since 1500 hrs: its now nearly 0000 hrs, but that goddam thing
still
>> >> >refuses to upload.
>> >> >
>> >> >Tripod keeps saying upload successful. Maybe I have exceeded my
11
mb.
>> >>
>> >> Nice site..I had no problem viewing the images. How about a site
on
>> >> Bangladeshi railways??
>> >>
>> >> How much does the current edition of "Trains at A Glance" sell
for?
In
>> 1995
>> >> I paid $5.00 U.S. for a copy. An inflated price to fleece
westerners,
as
>> is
>> >> the cost of the Indrail pass.
>> >>
>> >>
********************************************************************
>> >> Mike Brooker
>> >> 99 Wychcrest Ave.,
>> >> Toronto, ON M6G 3X8
>> >> CANADA
>> >> (416) 536-7406
>> >>
********************************************************************
From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>
Subject: J & K Rails...
Date: 20 Aug 1999 23:20:38 -0500
Hi!
On Sat, 21 Aug 1999, Don Mills wrote:
> a little off list but something folks on India Railfan page might be
> interested in. National Geographic US has an extensive article on
the
> Kashmir region. No talk on Railroads though. do any exist in this
region
> and how is the ongoing skirmish between I & P affecting them. don in
Wv
Indian Rails are extended upto Jammu. From all main sections there are
direct Express trains to Jammu. The one going from down south to Jammu
is
the Himsagar Express.
Not heard of any the effect of recent war on the rail network in Jammu &
Kashmir. Infact the raiways must have helped in Army movements to that
area.
Bye,
Shrinivas
From: Samit Roychoudhury <>
Subject: Re: Prejudice in IRFCA
Date: 21 Aug 1999 00:55:56 -0500
i think most of us get too intolerant!... take things as a personal
affrontage. time we needed to loosen up.
rememebr that before being bengalis or whatever, we are indians, and
even
before that we are humans... at one point caste or creed has no
meaning...
its just a way of helping us define ourselves.
just because someone (allegedly) says something bad about a race doesnt
make
it true... secondly... the fact that something bad was said is also
debatable.
i am a bengali too... and it doesnt really matter to me if someone said
something wrong. we bengalis have a lot of shortcomings too...
anyway i think if these things need to be discussed... its better
offline
than here.
no offence to anyone
samit
From: Samit Roychoudhury <>
Subject: Fw: IR stamps
Date: 21 Aug 1999 01:01:37 -0500
> >I know this has been through this forum before, but just check out
this
> >interesting url about IR stamps:
> >
> ><A HREF="http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/se_in.html">http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/se_in.html</A>
> >
>
> To view Canadian railway-related stamps, click on
> <A HREF="http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/se_ca.html">http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/se_ca.html</A>
IN FACT... if you go down to the root of the page ...
<A HREF="http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/index_e.html">http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/index_e.html</A>
you'll get a whole lot of countries to choose from. i think its a great
site.
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Train numbering / Up & Down
Date: 21 Aug 1999 02:01:23 -0500
This is an evergreen question that has been discussed in detail atleast
thrice
in the past year that I have been with the IRFCA. Lines out of Mumbai
are down
on CR as well as WR. The trains toggle their Up and down status
depending on the
lines that they are standing on. Classic example is 2627 Karnataka
Express which
arrives at Daund as an Up train from SUR and departs as Down towards
MMR. This
is within the same railway zone and even within the same division
(Solapur).
6011 is Down till Renigunta and thereafter it is Up (as it enters the SR
territory). Generally the lines away from HQ are down lines. Exception
(?) - The
ER lines from HWH towards MGS are Down while the SER lines from HWH
towards KGP
are Up.
1023 Dn is CSTM - Solapur Sidheswar express (not superfast - a 2xxx
number is
missing).
Apurva
Anand Krishnan wrote:
> Hi Raymond,
> There was a discussion about this topic too, may be prior
to u
> becoming a part of the list. If i remember right all trains that have
their
> destination as a zonal/divisional headquarters are UP and odd
numbered. For
> example Charminar Exp is an SCR train and so Chennai-Hyd train is
numbered
> 2759UP and Hyd-Chennai is numbered 2760DN. Similarly the CST-Chennai
Exp
> 6011UP and 6012DN since it is an SR train.Now i am not too sure as to
how
> they would distinguish WR and CR trins at Mumbai but Chennai-CST
> Superfast[erstwhile] is numbered 1023UP towards Chennai and 1024DN
towards
> Mumbai and you have a point here in your mail.
>
From: S.B.Mehta <>
Subject: Re: Prejudice in IRFCA
Date: 21 Aug 1999 02:42:55 -0500
I fully endorse your view. No personal woes should find their place
here. Anyway, if concerned parties do wish to clear the air it should
be off-line.
Sarosh
From: S.B.Mehta <>
Subject: Re: Turntable fears for WDG4
Date: 21 Aug 1999 02:54:40 -0500
The idea of a video camera does not seem practical. For one the
attention of the driver will be diverted what with one more gadget to
look after. The next point is the video camera will not give the
sense of distance (as viewed by our eyes) correctly to the driver.
This may cause him to allow just that fractional error of judgment to
creep in. Further, the video may be useful only in daylight.
This one is for Mr. Shubhranshu :
Sir, I have come to know that WDG4 will be working freights on the
Vasco-Hospet sector. If that is true, I am looking forward to my Goa
trip during November. Maybe, I could be able to see this new
'sensation' and get to know it better.
Best regards.
Sarosh.
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Prejudice in IRFCA
Date: 21 Aug 1999 03:22:49 -0500
The IRFCA is doing a damn (I hope I have not offended anyone :-) ) good
job
discussing so much about the IR, so a few unintentional slips can be
allowed.
Indian psyche is like that - everyone makes fun of everyone else.
IRFCA is hardly a race hater's and flamer's forum.
Apurva
Anand Krishnan wrote:
> HI all,
> Its kind of funny to see that there is an instantaneus spark if
some
> remark is targeted at a particular section of people intentionally or
> unintentionally.
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Turntable fears for WDG4
Date: 21 Aug 1999 03:24:06 -0500
This is a great day for the IRFCA, one railwayman greets another on the
forum.
Sunil Bajpai wrote:
> Hello Shubranshu,
>
> Welome to the list!
>
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Roadrailer
Date: 21 Aug 1999 04:57:05 -0500
Gang !
A quick visit to the Pune Jn. revealed a most unusual carriage
stabled in the Up yard. This looks like three BF flats
connected end to end. Three BG flats should have 6 bogies/
trucks but there were only four bogie/ trucks. The three flat
frames were apparently connected and one bogie is eliminated
by sharing it with it's adjacent frame. There were three
motorable road type container flats loaded on top of the
railway frame. There were many air hoses (which were for the
road vehicle ?) and the whole thing had only one marking that
of Wabash USA. The road going wheels contained imported
Michelin tyres and there were tail light assemblies with
missing lenses.
This is the rough plan view of the carriage.
00 00 00
______________________
OO OO OO OO where OO = train wheels and 00
are the road wheels
It bore no railway markings and had the single air brake hose
with CBC at either end. A person standing nearby told me that
this was built by Kirloskar Pneumatics Ltd. (in Pune) and
there were regular loading trials (for which he pointed to the
loose sand on the road going frame) upto Lonavala and back. I
have no idea what this carriage is carriage is used for, do
you ?
Maybe the Wabash website would reveal more details.
My guess is that this is some sort of Roll on roll off
intermodal experiment, bigger question is who needs it in
India ? Majority of truck transport in India is based on the
rigid 13 tonne 2 axle truck rather than ISO containers. So
there has to be a fixed user that this project has in mind.
I could dig up some details from KPC Pune.
Platform no 2/3 and 4/5 of Pune Jn. have been extended at low
level by paving the surface and moving the starter signal
towards the electric shed. I guess this would accommodate 20
coach trains.
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Roadrailer
Date: 21 Aug 1999 06:01:41 -0500
This is what I think I saw on Pune Jn today without the
containers.
<A HREF="http://www.wabashnational.com/images/Drawings/RoadRailer%20Terminal%20Op">http://www.wabashnational.com/images/Drawings/RoadRailer%20Terminal%20Op</A>
erations.gif
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> Gang !
>
> A quick visit to the Pune Jn. revealed a most unusual carriage
> stabled in the Up yard. This looks like three BF flats
> connected end to end. Three BG flats should have 6 bogies/
> trucks but there were only four bogie/ trucks. The three flat
> frames were apparently connected and one bogie is eliminated
> by sharing it with it's adjacent frame. There were three
> motorable road type container flats loaded on top of the
> railway frame. There were many air hoses (which were for the
> road vehicle ?) and the whole thing had only one marking that
> of Wabash USA. The road going wheels contained imported
> Michelin tyres and there were tail light assemblies with
> missing lenses.
>
> This is the rough plan view of the carriage.
>
> 00 00 00
> ______________________
>
> OO OO OO OO where OO = train wheels and 00
> are the road wheels
>
> It bore no railway markings and had the single air brake hose
> with CBC at either end. A person standing nearby told me that
> this was built by Kirloskar Pneumatics Ltd. (in Pune) and
> there were regular loading trials (for which he pointed to the
> loose sand on the road going frame) upto Lonavala and back. I
> have no idea what this carriage is carriage is used for, do
> you ?
> Maybe the Wabash website would reveal more details.
> My guess is that this is some sort of Roll on roll off
> intermodal experiment, bigger question is who needs it in
> India ? Majority of truck transport in India is based on the
> rigid 13 tonne 2 axle truck rather than ISO containers. So
> there has to be a fixed user that this project has in mind.
> I could dig up some details from KPC Pune.
> Platform no 2/3 and 4/5 of Pune Jn. have been extended at low
> level by paving the surface and moving the starter signal
> towards the electric shed. I guess this would accommodate 20
> coach trains.
>
> Apurva
From: Anand Krishnan <>
Subject: Re: Train numbering / Up & Down
Date: 21 Aug 1999 06:51:25 -0500
Hi Raymond,
There was a discussion about this topic too, may be prior to
u
becoming a part of the list. If i remember right all trains that have
their
destination as a zonal/divisional headquarters are UP and odd numbered.
For
example Charminar Exp is an SCR train and so Chennai-Hyd train is
numbered
2759UP and Hyd-Chennai is numbered 2760DN. Similarly the CST-Chennai Exp
6011UP and 6012DN since it is an SR train.Now i am not too sure as to
how
they would distinguish WR and CR trins at Mumbai but Chennai-CST
Superfast[erstwhile] is numbered 1023UP towards Chennai and 1024DN
towards
Mumbai and you have a point here in your mail.
Kind regards,
Anand
>From: raymond/Polaris@POLARIS.email
>To: irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Train numbering / Up & Down
>Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 05:11:42 GMT
>
>Dear gang,
>
>Sorry for taking you back to basic basics but... I had gone for the
>Landmark Quiz last Sunday, and the question was - "How are trains
>classified UP or DOWN". The answer given was "All trains leaving the
four
>metros are UP while those returning are DOWN. Only VT (now CSTM) has
only
>UP trains leaving it". I thought that it depended on the controlling
>railway for inter-railway trains, and the primary division in the case
of
>intra-railway trains.
>
>Can you guys help me out on this ? Also, how does one decide which
train of
>the pair is to be odd numbered, and which even numbered.
>
>Regards
>
>Raymond
>
>
>
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From: Anand Krishnan <>
Subject: Re: Prejudice in IRFCA
Date: 21 Aug 1999 07:26:17 -0500
HI all,
Its kind of funny to see that there is an instantaneus spark if
some
remark is targeted at a particular section of people intentionally or
unintentionally. If its a general remark then people just turn there
heads
away. When some outsider says Lucknow RS seems to be the dirtiest place
on
earth no one cares a damn for it coz every sect of people go there. If
one
had the slightest concern then an appropriate reply would have come
almost
immediately. Everyone has shortcomings i guess. Lets leave that alone
and
far from irfca. Let us ask the affected person to post a message on IR
than
on Bengalis, we would all love to hear from him on IR. There is no
prejudice
on this list and i have always maintained to all my friends that this
functions like a tech-forum cum knowledge transfer medium for any rail
enthusiast. Lets keep this groupism away.
Kind regards,
Anand
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From: Samit Roychoudhury <>
Subject: Re: Turntable fears for WDG4
Date: 21 Aug 1999 07:40:46 -0500
i really need an introduction on who's who... why cant we have something
like that please? i had suggested it long back but nothing happened...
but
its better if its a collective effort rather than just indiciduals
writing
back.
cheers
samit
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Roadrailer
Date: 21 Aug 1999 09:55:28 -0500
> I guess this would accommodate 20
> > coach trains.
>
> Maybe a "Mi-Jack" is coming to town!
No need for that, even the ordinary mail expresses would like to be 20
coach + if the platforms would allow them. Watch
out for 24 / 26 coach trains later this year. The railway board has a
stated plan to run more of these where ever
possible.
Apurva
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Pakistan Railways
Date: 21 Aug 1999 10:39:29 -0500
Hello
Though not exactly an IR subject, just something interesting I came
across while browsing. More news of what our friends are upto across the
border.
Shankar
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/Exchange/6033/pakistanrailways.html">http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/Exchange/6033/pakistanrailways.html</A>