A Walk In The Ghats: Patalpani-Kalakund

I crave to cover meter gauge as much as possible before it vanishes completely from this part of India.
After three unsuccessful attempts, we finally made this trip. We being myself, Vivek Mishra and Aashray Pandya. We got down at Patalpani station and walked all the way to the third tunnel between Patalpani and Kalakund. We caught a few trains in between.

Date: 2014-08-31
Owner: Gallery Administrator
Size: 18 items
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We have our first crossing at Haranya Khedi. Mhow YDM-4 # 6373 slows down with Mhow-Indore passenger. (Vivek Mishra)

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Fondly called driver uncle by the kids in our train, the loco pilot of 6373 seems all set for the token exchange. (Vivek Mishra)

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All clear to go.
The other train leaves first. (Vivek Mishra)

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I have never seen Patalpani so busy before. Even the fourth track (not visible here) was occupied by an empty rake. The train on the left is Akola-Indore passenger with YDM-4 # 6415 as banker, the middle one is a ballast rake with YDM-4 # 6540 in lead and

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This point indicator must have seen many ages of meter gauge on this line. (Vivek Mishra)

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Just as we start our long walk to the third tunnel between Patalpani and Kalakund, our train Indore-Akola passenger is seen leaving Patalpani. (Vivek Mishra)

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A sprint to this spot means we have one final view and a beautiful one too of our train. (Vivek Mishra)

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A view of the outer world from the second tunnel. (Vivek Mishra)

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Just as we take our first break after the second tunnel, we see the rare freight action. Mhow YDM-4 # 6540 moves towards Kalakund with the ballast rake. (Vivek Mishra)

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The freight bids goodbye to us and we start walking once again. (Vivek Mishra)

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The ravine viaduct is located before the third tunnel. The third tunnel is to the right (bare visible here). Remnants of old stone bridge can be seen. (Vivek Mishra)

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The Indore-Khandwa passenger slows down just before third tunnel for its third brake testing halt in the ghats. In lead is Mhow YDM-4 # 6717. (Vivek Mishra)

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A different view of the viaduct. (Vivek Mishra)

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Mhow YDM-4 # 6415 rolls over the viaduct on its way back to Kalakund for next banking assignment. The loco would bank Khandwa-Indore passenger later in the day. (Vivek Mishra)

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6415 exits the third tunnel and continues its journey towards Kalakund. It looks so small in front of these hills. (Vivek Mishra)

Comments
(view all 6 comments)
Very good efforts. Nice album featuring natural colors...
Posted by Chitrarth Parghi on 2014 Sep 14 16:49:50 +0100
All the pics in the album are totally worth the efforts undertaken.Well done gang !
Posted by Kunal Doddanavar on 2014 Sep 11 07:59:00 +0100
A different perspective of the ghat and fantastic pictures. Keep it up!
Posted by Pawan Koppa on 2014 Sep 10 14:41:02 +0100