The 9th IRFCA Convention - UAM2014

IRFCA Express has just emptied itself onto the platform at ONR. Just look at the massive group of railnuts soaking in every moment! (Pawan Koppa)

The ever enthusiastic champion OC of UAM2014 welcomes us with beaming smiles as we enter Conoor. The OC had hurried there earlier by road to ensure everything went right! (Pawan Koppa)

The mighty Nilgiri trees dwarf the Passenger. Each one of them were about the height of a 5-storie building! (Pawan Koppa)

IRFCA Express all packed and set to chug towards Conoor! (Pawan Koppa)

Golden Rock's YDM-4 strikes a nice pose next to the watering pipe as Sanket Malde strikes another next to the loco! (Pawan Koppa)

It's just Lalam and Shreesha who are done with clicking the Passenger. The rest of the gang are still soaking it in! Look at the number of cameras in action out there! (Pawan Koppa)

And finally there she was - the ONR-MTP Passenger comes rushing in towards UAM pushed by the YDM-4! (Pawan Koppa)

The bazookas are all out as the ONR-UAM Passenger arrives on the horizon and railfans go all out to capture it! Never has an NMR train got so much attention :-) (Pawan Koppa)

The uniformed LP and ALP pose before the UAM station board (VSP and Santosh Kulkarni). (Pawan Koppa)

Praveen Dusi, Jainand Narayanan and Raj Bhavsar while away time while waiting for the incoming Conoor-Udhagamandalam Passenger to turn up which would go down as IRFCA Express aka UAM-MTP Passenger :-) (Pawan Koppa)

There is no age for railfanning. Ian Manning sir still captures trains on his film camera! Hats off to his passion! (Pawan Koppa)

Skipping to day 2, passengers wait at UAM ready to board the UAM-MTP Passenger which was our ride till Conoor for the field visit - a visit to the lovely ONR steam shed! (Pawan Koppa)

Shubranshu is not new to us railfans. The passion for the railways in him and his ideas about alternate fuels were fascinating to hear! (Pawan Koppa)

Srini introduces the GM of SR Mr. Rakesh Misra and DRM of Salem division, Shubranshu to the audience. (Pawan Koppa)

Venkateswaran Anand sir always keeps us interested with nice tidbits from his time with the IR!
(Pawan Koppa)

That was Ian in his younger days when he used to travel extensively across India while capturing priceless pictures of IT. Ian mentioned that the girl in the picture now has grandchildren! (Pawan Koppa)

The legend Ian Manning whose restored negatives of 1950s/60s IR by Poochi had left us spellbound and open-mouthed addresses the gathering. (Pawan Koppa)

Master controller of the presentations Gowri is in a pensive mood while Poochi makes a point and chief blogger Vrij checks something on his mobile before starting off the live twitter feed! (Pawan Koppa)

Bhavasar Jr. (Raj) and HA-1Ashwin Gandhi are all smiles for the camera! (Pawan Koppa)

All set for the convention to begin. Delegates slowly start streaming in and the hall starts getting packed. Ashish checks the videography equipment before the start of the sessions. (Pawan Koppa)

A view of the IRFCANs-filled restaurant area at the Monarch from the first floor during breakfast on day 1. (Pawan Koppa)

The last station enroute to UAM - Lovedale. (Abhilash Triambak)

A Bio Diesel powered YDM4 at Coonoor loco shed. (Abhilash Triambak)

A view of the convention venue with the stage set for the campfire. (Abhilash Triambak)

A view of the loco shed at Coonoor. (Abhilash Triambak)

A view of Udagamandalam as we wait to embark on the field trip. (Abhilash Triambak)

Finally, a warm welcome to the delegates of the 9th IRFCA Convention - UAM 2014. (Abhilash Triambak)