IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 861 - 880

From: Mohan Ramakrishna <mohan@alantec.email

Subject:

Date: 15 Jun 1992 10:54:00 -0500


In reply to Ajai's query :

> Does anyone know the earlier traction mode of the Brindavan? The
> Nov 1991 Bradshaw shows a 5-minute stop at Jolarpettai, so clearly
> there was no change of locomotive. Was it running on diesel all the
> way?

There was a change of engine(s) at Jolarpettai for the Brindavan, prior to
the current all-electric traction from Madras to Bangalore. The Brindavan
express was hauled by 2 diesel engines from Jolarpettai to Bangalore. A single
diesel engine would cause a late arrival at Bangalore City by atleast 20-30
minutes!!

/Mohan.

From: THS1 <THS1@PSUVM.EMAIL

Subject: Re: Random Ramblings

Date: 15 Jun 1992 17:28:00 -0500


>Speaking of gauges, what is the gauge of the Calcutta Tramway system? It
>sure doesn't look like Broad Gauge. Is there a possibility that it is
>Standard Gauge. Anyone have any definite info on that?

I believe it is indeed the standard gauge.

>Also speaking of gauge conversions. Spain which used to be a mostly

Is Japan doing any gauge conversions? I believe they have mostly
metre gauge and standard gauge for the bullet trains. Is that
right? I also am somewhat skeptical about India's unigauge project.
Most of the saturated metre gauge sections are single track, and
these are being converted to single-track broad gauge. It would be
cheaper to double the metre gauge than lay another broad gauge
track, both because cost/mile is less for metre gauge and because
yards/platforms etc need not be duplicated. I suspect that somehow
Broad gauge is considered more prestigious, and that is the major
consideration here.

Tamisra Sanyal.

From: P. I. Arasu <aras@ms.email

Subject: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 15 Jun 1992 18:36:00 -0500


1. Any one ever travelled by narrow gauge trains? When I lived
in Baroda I could see them often (Actually near Baroda. At the
station called Vishwamitri, just adjacent to the Palace boundary).
The sight of the trains combined with the backgroud of the Baroda
Palace takes one back in time! Vishwamitri actually has two stations
on two levels. On the upper level is the broad guage platforms where
quite a few trains stop (since it is easier to reach some parts of
Baroda from here) and on the lower level (and at 90 degrees to
the platform above) is the narrow gauge platform. All engines
are steam driven and the coaches are a pathetic site more
resembling match boxes. However there is inevitably quite a
crowd... Does any one know how far on either side (of Baroda) these narrow
gauge trains go? I have also seen quite a few narrow gauge tracks in
Bharuch (on the Narmada, about 70kms(?) south of Baroda. Is there any
other place in India where there are narrow gauge tracks?

2. I think it is quite sometime since the section from Karur to
Dindukal was connected by broad gauge. What happened to the section
between Dindukal and Madurai? I am a bit fuzzy here again but I beleieve
I have seen broad gauge tracks in Tuticorin (a major port). Are Madurai
and Tuticorin connected by Broad Guage (and if they are I beleive it
would mainly be for goods trains). If the Dindukal-Madurai section
is complete then Tuticorin may be connected by Broad Guage to the
rest of the country. (Karur is in the Broad Guage section between
Erode and Trichi).
Incidentaly I read that Jolarpettai-Erode section is also electrified
and now work is starting on the Erode-Cochin section. (This may actually
be a personal lose for me, since many of my relatives have worked for
generations in the loco-shed at Erode. But then they survived the
change from Coal engine to diesal and perhaps they will survive
the change from diesal to electric!)

3. A friend of mine living in Washi, New Bombay tells me that
Washi will soon (within weeks) be connected to Chembur ie the
bridge across Thane creek would be ready. Can anybody confirm?

-arasu

From: apte <apte@glacier.email

Subject: Narrow Gauge around Baroda, and "technical halts"

Date: 15 Jun 1992 14:34:00 -0500


There is a significant narrow gauge network around Baroda on Western
Railway. There are two major narrow gauge stations within the Baroda
principality; Pratapnagar, and Vishwamitri. The narrow gauge line does
not come too close the the BG mainline station of Vadodara Jn. The
narrow gauge lines from Vishwamitri and Pratapnagar go to Dabhoi, Chota
Udepur, Jambusar, Kavi, Miyagam Karjan etc... There may not be direct
trains on all these lines, but I believe railway buffs like ouresleves,
could come up with a large number of "via" connections. I am not sure
how these ultra-slow narrow gauge trains compete with S.T. buses, maybe
they don't have to, since it is rare in India for supply to compete
for demand; since the latter completely outstrips the former.

It is interesting that Brindavan had to change locos at Jolarpettai,
and this was hidden by writing a false timing in the time-table. To my
knowledge, this is the first instance, where the railways have
deliberately faked a station stoppage time. I guess it falls under the
notorious category (IMHO) of "technical halts", which always spring
unpleasantly on lovers of non-stop runs. For instance, the loco
changeover at Igatpuri is not an easily fathomed secret, at least by
reading the zonal time-table alone, since Igatpuri merely qualifies for
a single departure timing (which is actually the arrival time, and all
trains stop for 20 mins more :-)). Also, halts
of trains such as Gitanjali at Igatpuri, the new A/C Express at Baroda
and Kota, and the former halt of the Rajdhani at Gangapur City have
never found their way into time-tables. Also, in my many Bombay-Baroda
travels, I have noticed a suspiciously consistent tendency of the Jammu
Tawi Express to halt at Ankleshwar. One wonders...

Pushkar
-------

From: aravind <aravind@vax135.email

Subject: Re random ramblings ..

Date: 16 Jun 1992 08:47:00 -0500


The BG tracks in Tuticorin today come from Thiruvananthapuram, by way of
Nagercoil and Tirunelveli. The Dindugal-Madurai-Tuticorin BG line
is probably nearing completion. This would mean that the MG line
to Tuticorin would disappear, and the train from Madras would have to
leave from Madras Central and go thru Erode-Karur-Dindugal. A similar
route would be prescribed for the Madras-Tirunelveli (BG) train as well.
(although a torturous MG route will still exist between Madras Egmore
and Tirunelveli).

I also understand that the BG line from Dindugal to
Madurai is being laid *in parallel* to the MG line so as not to cut
Madurai off.

The MG line from Madras to Dindugal will remain or so at least for the
next few years - there seems to be some talk of converting it to BG,
but it is a fairly major effort.

The diesel shed at Erode will be needed for quite a number of years ...
I can't imagine that the Erode-Tiruchi and the Karur-Dindugal lines
will be electrified anytime soon, even if the Erode-Cochin line is
electrified ...

Aravind

From: Mohan Ramakrishna <mohan@alantec.email

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 08:08:00 -0500


In reply to Arasu's query :

> Is there any other place in India where there are narrow gauge tracks?

The other narrow gauge tracks existing today and those that I am aware of are :

(1) New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling line (NE Railway)

(2) Kalka-Simla line (Northern Railway)

(3) Yelhanka-Bangarapet (Southern Railway)

(4) Gondia-Jabalpur (Central Railway??)

(5) Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (Northern Railway)

I would like to know from readers if there are other NG tracks in use today.

/Mohan.

From: Vadivelu Elumalai <vadi@CSI.email

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 08:21:00 -0500


>
> In reply to Arasu's query :
>
> > Is there any other place in India where there are narrow gauge tracks?
>
> The other narrow gauge tracks existing today and those that I am aware of are :
>
> (1) New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling line (NE Railway)
>
> (2) Kalka-Simla line (Northern Railway)
>
> (3) Yelhanka-Bangarapet (Southern Railway)
>
> (4) Gondia-Jabalpur (Central Railway??)
>
> (5) Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (Northern Railway)
>
> I would like to know from readers if there are other NG tracks in use today.
>
> /Mohan.
>


(6) Mettupalayam - Ooty (Udhagamandalam) (Southern Railway)

-Vadi

From: Mohan Ramakrishna <mohan@alantec.email

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 08:57:00 -0500


----- Begin Included Message -----


>
> In reply to Arasu's query :
>
> > Is there any other place in India where there are narrow gauge tracks?
>
> The other narrow gauge tracks existing today and those that I am aware of are :
>
> (1) New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling line (NE Railway)
>
> (2) Kalka-Simla line (Northern Railway)
>
> (3) Yelhanka-Bangarapet (Southern Railway)
>
> (4) Gondia-Jabalpur (Central Railway??)
>
> (5) Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (Northern Railway)
>
> I would like to know from readers if there are other NG tracks in use today.
>
> /Mohan.
>


(6) Mettupalayam - Ooty (Udhagamandalam) (Southern Railway)

-Vadi


----- End Included Message -----


Isn't the Mettupalayam - Ooty line metre gauge? The Railway time-table
also says that the above line is M.G.

/Mohan.

From: Shrikant Ranade <sranade@hpcuhe.email

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 10:16:00 -0500


>I would like to know from readers if there are other NG tracks in use today.
>
>/Mohan.

Whatever happened to the superb Neral-Matheran "toy train"? I haven't
been to Matheran in a decade, but I believe there is now a road that goes
up there. So the train may no longer be running. That would be tragic!
Does anyone know if it is? (It isn't listed in the latest WR and CR
Bombay suburban timetables; it used to have a courtesy entry there.)

Shrikant Ranade
sranade@cup.email

From: IN%"CSI.COM!vadi <IN%"CSI.COM!vadi@uunet" 16-JUN-1992 08:52:48.45>

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings

Date: 16 Jun 1992 03:47:00 -0500


CC: IN%"irfca@cs.email
Subj: RE: More Random Ramblings!
>
> (6) Mettupalayam - Ooty (Udhagamandalam) (Southern Railway)
>
>-Vadi

Isn't this a meter gauge line. I had been to Ooty last October and if I
remember right it was a meter gauge line with a rack running thru the
middle of the tracks. The corresponding pinion was on the ancient steam
engines that pulled the train (atleast they seemed ancient to me). The
coaches also seem quite old but the train is very popular. Each of the
trains I saw was running packed with people.

I wonder if normal meter gauge coaches can be run on this line or only the
special short ones ?

Rajesh

From: Siddhartha Duttagupta <prakash@ee.email

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 16:05:00 -0500


In reply to Arasu's query :

> Is there any other place in India where there are narrow gauge tracks?

The other narrow gauge tracks existing today and those that I am aware of are :

(1) New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling line (NE Railway)

(2) Kalka-Simla line (Northern Railway)

(3) Yelhanka-Bangarapet (Southern Railway)

(4) Gondia-Jabalpur (Central Railway??)

(5) Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (Northern Railway)

A NG line runs from Bankura to Birnagar on the southeastern railway.It is said
that people get down from the running train ,have chayey and indulge in small
talk before getting back on the train again[still running!].

Another NG line on the same railway is the Purulia-Kotshila line.

Incidentally does anybody know when the Calcutta-Bombay line is going to be
electrified in the durg-bhusawal stretch?It seems to me that when there is
not much prestige involved[like bombay-delhi] there seems to be no time-limits.
I have seen the notice on S.E. timetables about warnings of electrification
of that stretch since 1984!

From: Ajai Banarji <banarji@unixg.email

Subject:

Date: 16 Jun 1992 12:22:00 -0500


MORE ABOUT NARROW GAUGE

There is a significant network of narrow gauge lines around Vadodara,
which used to be the Gaekwad's State Railway. The main junction is
Dabhoi, where 5 NG lines meet.
The only other major network of NG lines is the Satpura Railway which
is part of the SER (formerly Bengal Nagpur Rly). There are a number of lines
connecting Nagpur, Jabalpur, Gondia, Chanda etc. From what I could see
while passing Nagpur, diesels seem to have taken over this route.
There was a sort of network around Gwalior which was part of the
Scindia State Railway. Of these, the lines to Bhind and Sheopur Kalan
still survive, but the former is about to be replaced by BG.
There used to be a number of privately owned lines around Calcutta, many
of which have vanished by now. There was one from Majerhat to Falta, another
from Barasat to Bashirhat and so on. The Howrah-Amta and Howrah Sheakhala
lines stopped running in the early 70s but have been partly converted to BG.
The other NG lines in the East include Burdwan-Katwa, Ahmadpur-Katwa,
Bankura-Rainagar which are still functioning. These used to be owned
by Martin Burn (and were listed as non-government railways in the all-India
timetables in the 1960s). Others which have closed down include
Arrah-Sasaram, Futwah-Islampur and Dehri-Rohtas.
There are a number of isolated NG lines in other parts of the country, too
many to list individually. To answer the queries:
Neral-Matheran is still listed in Bradshaw, though as before it stops
running in the monsoon. It has also been dieselised.
Mettupalaiyam-Ooty is indeed MG. But regular MG locos and rolling stock
cannot run there. There is a long gradient of 1:12 which needs a rack system,
so any new locomotive would have to have a rack-and-pinion arrangement.
Similarly, the curves are too sharp for the regular MG coaches.
Incidentally, the steepest gradients in India (outside the Ooty line)
are 1:20 on the Darjeeling line-but those ancient steam locos manage it
purely by adhesion (i.e. without the aid of rack-and-pinion)

From: VIJAYB <VIJAYB@PK705VMG.EMAIL

Subject:

Date: 16 Jun 1992 18:08:00 -0500


Hi Folks,
Good to see an increase in traffic on the net. Here are my comments
on some recent mail:-

Ajai writes:
> In Bombay, the WR has introduced limited local services which are
>exclusively for women.

The first of these was introduced between Churchgate and Borivali.
According to the latest India Today, the train leaves Borivali around
9.30 am and, in the return dirn., leaves Churchgate around 5.30 pm.
The response has been so overwhelming that WR is contemplating on
introducing a complementary service that leaves Churchgate in the morning
and arrives in the evening. Presumably, this has gone into effect.

>soon be extended to the Belapur terminus. Also, a flyover is being buil
>near Wadala to enable through services from Vashi side to Bandra/Andher.

This should bypass Ravli Jn. to join the Vadala Rd.-Mahim line near
Guru Teg Bahadur stn.


Manish writes:
>So my point is that the Indian govt. should do the same. For the people
>who love to travel by trains and enjoy the steam locos, it would be
>a wonderful experience. Many old people would like to travel just
>to recap the good old times. It would be a great way to get away for a
>day on vacation. I am so keen on the idea that I would even write a
>letter to the Indian railways authorities.

Speaking of steam-loco-hauled trains, the Dec. issue of Indian Railways
talks about the introduction of a 2nd Palace-on-Wheels traversing the
MG network in Rajasthan. The train is hauled by two locos. I can
furnish the details if there is sufficient interest on the net.


Satish writes:-
>I'd greatly appreciate if any of you could send me information on such rain
>rides in other places in the US. There must be quite a few, consideringthat
>there are so many railway buffs in this country...

I had mentioned about the Scenic Conway railroad in one of my earlier
mails. This operates as part of the White Mountains amusement park
in New Hampshire. The one hour ride on the saloon, present at one end
of the four-coach train, was a memorable one as the train travelled
through picturesque countryland.

>I have to wonder how anyone can claim that coal-burning thermal station are
>pollution-free. Maybe the pollution is less per unit energy produced or

When one considers just the operational aspect (i.e. excluding the
generation of electricity), electric traction is, indeed, pollution free
Plus the use of higher-grade coal in thermal plants and the increased
use of hydro-electric/nuclear power would reduce the pollution problem.

>Efficiency: Is this the efficiency of the electric loco or the combined
>efficiency of the power station plus transmission plus the loco? Transmssion

[From the Advanced Rly. Operation book] Thermal Efficiency:-
Steam: About 7%. Breakdown:- Useful work 6.7%
Exhaust 51.7%
Boiler losses 31.3%
Rest 10.3%
Diesel:- 27-30%.
Electric:- 85-90% in itself (would be lower if transmission losses are
considered)


Venu writes:
>However when I went to Varanasi in 1989, I started
>seeing a lot of steam locos from Itarsi. I was really
>excited seeing those locos... brought back all childhood
>memories...

Until 1975 or so, trains such as the Bombay - Howrah Mail (via Allahabad)
and the Dadar - Varanasi Exp. (now extended till Gorakhpur) used to be
hauled by steam locos. between Manikpur and Allahabad, which is
surprising b'coz the diesel loco. shed is at Katni (and not Manikpur).
The Bombay - Bhagalpur Janata Exp. and the Bombay - Gorakhpur Exp. were
dieselized only in the early 80s.
And, wonders of wonders, the prestigious Deluxe Exp. trains used to
be hauled by steam locos. (in their non-electrified stretches) till the
late 70s.


Ajai writes:
> As you know, the Brindavan express is running electric all the way no.
>Electrification is said to have reduced the time from 6 hours to 5:30.
>As predicted earlier, a new Shatabdi Express will start running on this
>route from Oct 2, 92. The provisional timings are:

Very soon, Madras is going to serve as the terminus for a Shatabdi Exp.
Seems to me that Bombay is always given a raw deal as superfast trains
are concerned. OK, OK, we do have the new Pragati Exp. and the AC exp.
But how about the pseudo-superfast Karnavati Exp., that takes nearly
8 hrs. between Bombay and Ahmedabad. Why can't we have a Shatabdi Exp.
between these two cities, with a run-time of <= 6 hrs.? The change
of traction at Virar (AC-DC) shouldn't pose that much of a problem,
since one could employ a WDM-2 with higher gearing (similar to the ones that haul
the Rajdhani Exp. between Bombay and Raltam) all the way and attain a
max. speed of 120 kmph.


Tamisra writes:-
> Most of the saturated metre gauge sections are single track, and
> these are being converted to single-track broad gauge. It would be
> cheaper to double the metre gauge than lay another broad gauge
> track, both because cost/mile is less for metre gauge and because
> yards/platforms etc need not be duplicated. I suspect that somehow
> Broad gauge is considered more prestigious, and that is the major
> consideration here.

Well, the saturated MG sections might occur only in patches along the
route (e.g. Delhi-Rewari and Jaipur-Phulera in the Delhi-Ahmedabad route)
in which case, it makes sense to have a BG line to ensure continuity.
Hence, congested sections could have MG+BG traffic and other sections,
just BG trains.
Granted that the cost/mile is higher for BG lines than MG, but BG
scores in terms of net tonnage-km. and lower turn-around time b'coz of
elimination of transhipment points.


Pushkar writes:-
>It is interesting that Brindavan had to change locos at Jolarpettai,
>and this was hidden by writing a false timing in the time-table. To my
>knowledge, this is the first instance, where the railways have
>deliberately faked a station stoppage time. I guess it falls under the
>notorious category (IMHO) of "technical halts", which always spring
>unpleasantly on lovers of non-stop runs. For instance, the loco

As Aravind pointed out, it makes sense to give extra time in the Katpadi
- Jolarpettai section, since a train could potentially accompalish the
loco. changeover at Jolarpettai in < 15 mts., depending on loco.
availability (in relation to the change-over point), etc.
This would not be possible if a 15 mt. halt-time was explicitly alloted.

>changeover at Igatpuri is not an easily fathomed secret, at least by
>reading the zonal time-table alone, since Igatpuri merely qualifies for
>a single departure timing (which is actually the arrival time, and all
>trains stop for 20 mins more :-)). Also, halts
>of trains such as Gitanjali at Igatpuri, the new A/C Express at Baroda
>and Kota, and the former halt of the Rajdhani at Gangapur City have

Some other technical halts (past and present)
1. Bombay Rajdhani Exp. at Ratlam
2. Howrah Rajdhani Exp. at Mughal Sarai and Dhanbad
3. Bombay - Jammu Tawi Exp. at Mathura
4. North East Exp. at Mughal Sarai
These have been "elevated" to regular passenger halts.
5. Ashram Exp./Mandor Exp. at Phulera. Seems to me that they run
combined between Delhi and Phulera. From the time-table, one can
verify that the Ashram Exp. consumes nearly 3 hrs. between Jaipur and
Ajmer (a cool 40 mts. more than the Gharib Nawaz Exp.)

One way to find out these technical halts is to look at the Abstract
train-timings section at the beginning of every zonal rly. time-table
(with the pages having a different color).


Regards,
Vijay

From: P. I. Arasu <aras@ms.email

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 19:48:00 -0500


In response to some of the mail:

I think maintaining a few steam engines for old times sake
may not be practical because of the expense. I remember the
Blue Mountain Express (Mettupalayam to Madras) ran for a long
time on steam engines, long after other trains had converted
to Diesal, presumably because it was a very popular and
"respected" train and people din't want the change to diesal.
But the change had to be made eventually. (This train incidentaly
is also popularly known as Nilgiris Express. I don't recollect
what it's official name is. Any other popular trains with dual names?)

Does anybody know if the stretch between Tambaram and Chengalpet
(near Madras) now has a double line (meter guage)? When I was
last in Madras land was being leveled near the existing single track.
The idea was to extend the suburban trains upto Chengalpet
because the increasing number of commuters from Chengalpet.

I have traveled in Amtrak trains between New Haven and Hartford
(Connecticut). The train stations here are dead and have no soul.
Dindukal station is famous for its Murrukku,
Bharuch for its ground nuts (which is sold as "time pass")
Palakkad for its banana chips etc etc
But what is New Haven station famous for? Nothing! No sir,
I don't believe there are any train fans in this country!

Also are train coaches made anywhere other than Perambur?
and engines anywhere other than Chitranjan(spell?)?
-arasu

From: Dheeraj Sanghi <dheeraj>>

Subject: Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 23:33:00 -0500


> Also are train coaches made anywhere other than Perambur?

Kapurthala Coach Facotry.

> and engines anywhere other than Chitranjan(spell?)?

Other than Chitranjan Locomotive Works, there is also a
Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi (?).

-dheeraj

From: raja <raja@cps.email

Subject: Re:Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 16 Jun 1992 23:55:00 -0500


> > Also are train coaches made anywhere other than Perambur?
>
> Kapurthala Coach Facotry.

Also BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Ltd) --
probably Bangalore.

Regards,


Raja.

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@usl.email

Subject: Re:Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 17 Jun 1992 09:44:00 -0500


In-Reply-To: <9206162348.aa13764@s.email
References: <9206162348.aa13764@s.email

Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 16-Jun-92 Re: More Random Ramblings! "P.
I. Arasu"@ms.email (1424*)

> But what is New Haven station famous for? Nothing! No sir,
> I don't believe there are any train fans in this country!

Actually in one sense that is a true statement. Very few trains have
fans in this country:-). But assuming you really meant the other
interpretation, I find it somewhat amusing that the status of the soul
of New Haven station (whatever that might mean) determines whether there
are any railfans in this country. What deep insight! Keep up that
closeminded attitude and you wouldn't find a railfan even if s/he came
and sat on your shoulders.:-)

Actually I have found more and better organized railfan organizations in
this country and better produced railroad and railfanning magazines in
this country than in India. Of course I hasten to add that Western
Europe is in general as good and some countries there better than this
country in that department. The reason for that I believe is partly
economic, i.e. people in these countries have more disposable income to
spend on hobbies than in countries like India, and also the easy access
to technology in this country helps a lot.

Witness the evolution of IRFCA, which notwithstanding all the claims to
the contrary in certain quarters:-), is really a collection of railfans
in this country. Some of them are even citizens of this country! And
there is no denying the fact that IRFCA originated in this country. So
by all reasonable detemination people who post to IRFCA are railfans,
and as far as I can tell most of them happen to be in this country, and
a few in Canada of course (How could we forget Ajai)!

In fact the traffic in IRFCA is much less than the traffic in
rec.railroad and rec.railroad.model (or whatever it is called). It is
reasonable to assume that all those articles are posted by people who
are railfans, and if you look through those articles a significant
proportion of them are posted in this country. So it would seem that you
need to take off your blinkers, look around..... you will find railfans,
lots of them in this country.

BTW why are we discussing American railfans in IRFCA anyway? Oh well....
enough rambling (the subject line says so... doesn't it?) already. Now
back to the normally scheduled program.

Jishnu.

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@usl.email

Subject: Re:Re: Steam Locos

Date: 17 Jun 1992 09:56:00 -0500


In-Reply-To: <199206112349.AA07295@OPAL.EMAIL
References: <199206112349.AA07295@OPAL.EMAIL

Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 11-Jun-92 Re: Steam Locos S Pai
Pai@CS.Email (1971*)

> I'd greatly appreciate if any of you could send me information on such
> train rides in other places in the US. There must be quite a few,
> considering that there are so many railway buffs in this country...

There are two places in Pennsylvania where you can get a steam train
ride on a regular basis. They are:

(i) Strasburg PA Pennsylvania State Transportation Museum. The ride is
from Strasburg to a point on the Philly Harisburg Amtrak mainline and
back, about 20 miles on the whole(?).

(ii) Scranton PA at the National Park Service run Steamtown. When the
steam trains are running they run from Scranton to Pocono Summit and
back.

Both of these places have several well preserved old steam locomotives.
I think that at the present time the Strasburg collection better
maintained than the Scranton collection. Strasburg also has the first
GG-1 electric preserved beautifully in its original Pennsylvania
Railroad livery.

In addition during summer and fall, almost every weekend there are one
or more steam excursions in the Eastern US, and more out west. Typically
one can get info on these in railroad and railfanning magazines like:

Trains
Railfan and Railroading
NRHS Newsletters
Railpace

to name a few. NRHS is the National Railroad Historical Society which
organizes many of these rides. Usually one becomes a member of one of
their local chapters. The local chapter in the New York area is the Tri
State Rail Historical Society, and they meet regularly in Whippany NJ.

Anyway, this topic is probably not appropriate for IRFCA so I will leave
it at that.

Jishnu.

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@usl.email

Subject: Re:Re: Steam Locos...

Date: 17 Jun 1992 10:03:00 -0500


In-Reply-To: <9206121833.AA27803@c00399-346dan.email
References: <9206121833.AA27803@c00399-346dan.email

Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 12-Jun-92 Steam Locos...
vmravi@eos.email (614*)

> I like Manish's Idea - to preserve atleast a few
> steam locos for our future enjoyment.

Aren't a bunch of Steam Locos being preserved in the National Railway
Museum in New Delhi? I seem to recall seeing some really well preserved
specimens there.

Anyone have any more info on the museum and its collection?

Jishnu.

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@usl.email

Subject: Re:Re: More Random Ramblings!

Date: 17 Jun 1992 10:15:00 -0500


In-Reply-To: <9206170333.AA25246@seine.email
References: <9206170333.AA25246@seine.email

Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 16-Jun-92 Re: More Random Ramblings! "P.
I. Arasu"@ms.email (1424*)

> and engines anywhere other than Chitranjan(spell?)?

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Electrics and Diesel shunters.
Diesel Locomotive Works Varanasi for mainline diesel-electrics and
diesel shunters(?).
TELCO used to manufacture locmotives, anyone know if they still do?

Jishnu.