A set of images captured on a daylong journey across the famous spiral at Dhulghat and the ever fascinating ghats from Kalakund to Patalpani by 15 railfans. The partners in crime were Abhishek Nair, Akshay Marathe, Bhushan Kale, Binai Sankar, Bizzy Mishra, Colin Peter, Dilip Setlur, Jayasankar Madhavadas, Karan Desai, Karthik, Kaushik Dharwadkar, Nitin Master, Ramdev Gowda, Shantanu Kulkarni and Vibin Andrews. (Some images taken during these members' journey to Akola, and on their way back to their home bases are also included) The event was on the 14th of March 2009.
MHW YDM-4 #6307 approaches to the AK-RTM passenger to attach itself as the banker.2009/03/14 (Abhishek Nair)
The banker being coupled to the last coach of the train. (Akshay Marathe)
After all the formalities of banker attachment were completed, we wait for the starter to proceed towards Patalpani. (Akshay Marathe)
The YDM-4 banker smokes hard as it pushes the passenger up the Patalpani Ghat. Villagers who are regulars on the rooftop in this section give confused looks to the "newbies"! (Karan Desai)
Lush greenery and golden sunshine! Past late-afternoon, as we traversed the ghat section between Kalakund-Patalpani, the landscape changed completely from the drab grey-brown that had been dominating since the morning. 2009-03-14, Bizzy ()
The stone lined wall of one of the tunnels in the Kalakund - Patalpani section. (Akshay Marathe)
We approach a tall viaduct on the Kalakund-Patalpani section. 2009-03-14, Bizzy ()
Entering one of the many tunnels on the Kalakund-Patalpani section ()
The lead loco of our train smokes slightly as it pulls the train up the spectacular Kalakund - Patalpani ghats. (Akshay Marathe)
The banker works furiously in the ghats. (Akshay Marathe)
The guardian for Patalpani.. notice that the train is on the verge of finishing a 1 in 41 up grade. A "Level" marker can be seen hiding behind the semaphore... ()
YDM4 #6360 works a small consist of BTP wagons at Mhow Yard... ()
The "Gang" at Mhow: From Left to Right: Dilip Setlur, Akshay Marathe, Nitin Master, Vibin, Jayasankar, Abhishek Nair, Kaushik, Bhhushan, Ramdev Gowda, Karan, Colin and Bizzy (Not in the image are: Yours Truly, Karthik and Shantanu Kulkarni - sin
MG paradise! Hard to believe that you are in 2009, when you see the MG bustle at Mhow - 6 active tracks, 3 live platforms 5 working YDM-4s - all at the same time, at the same place - Who'd want to go back? 2009-03-14, Bizzy ()
This Mhow YDM-4 waiting on one of the loops at Mhow was the center of attraction during our halt at Mhow, with fifteen cameras clicking away merrily, and a queue of railfans waiting to be photographed on the loco!! (Akshay Marathe)