North India Trip Nov 2005

"Bandra Terminal" reads the board of the Swaraj Express as WCAM-1 #21825 pulls away after hauling the train till Vadodara.

BRC WAP-4E #22382 "Chetak" now takes over for the next leg of the journey, Vadodara Jn.

BRC's "Barbie Doll" WAM-4 6P #21324 gets ready to haul a passenger service out of Ratlam Jn. This loco has been rehabilitated by WR's Dahod workshop in March 2005.

The Swaraj takes a breather at Ambala Cantt at breakfast time. Note anything missing in the picture? Compare it with this one:http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Trips/VivekNorthIndia200410/Swaraj_Express_Ambala_Cantt.jpg

A six coach Jalandhar based DMU #11103 takes on passengers at the quaint station of Saraibanjara in Punjab.

LDH WDM-3A #140XX now takes over for the last leg of the Swaraj's run to Jammu Tawi, Ludhiana Jn.

We are overtaken by the 2029 Amritsar Swarna Shatabdi Express, headed by big white #30212 from Ghaziabad.

The Swaraj makes an hour long unscheduled halt at Chakki Bank due to some track maintenance work ahead.

As the sun sets, the train makes another hour long halt at Bharoli Jn. This is the place where tracks from Chakki Bank and Pathankot converge. Note the array of semaphores in the distance.

A view of Katra railway station under construction, on the way to Vaishnodevi.

On the Jhelum to New Delhi. As the sun rises above the horizon, a passenger train headed by a GZB WAM-4 #21336 readies for departure, Ambala Cantt.

We are being hauled by GZB WAP-1 #22035, Ambala Cantt.

2002 NDLS-Bhopal Shatabdi is being readied for departure, Platform no.1, New Delhi

On board the Excecutive Class of the Bhopal Shatabdi, which was almost full!

The superfast, air-conditioned Bhopal Shatabdi provides a stark contrast to a ramshackle, rundown Delhi bound EMU as it makes an unscheduled halt at Asaoti.

Cornflakes and milk on board the Shatabdi - a healthy way to start the day!

Thanks to the unscheduled halts, we reached Agra Cantt - a whopping one hour fifteen minutes late!

ZE #53, plinthed outside Agra Cantt station

WAP-5 #30010 brings in the Prayagraj Express from Allahabad, New Delhi. Surprisingly, this loco had a marked MPS of 110kmph!

GZB WAP-7 #30207 gets ready to leave New Delhi with the 2029 Amritsar Swarna Shatabdi. Note anything strange in this picture?

Here it is. An ICF Generator Car attached to the IR-20 rake of the ASR Swarna Shatabdi.

GZB WAP-7 #30229 gets ready to haul the 2011 Shatabdi to Kalka. Note that this loco is fitted with LED marker lamps similar to a WAP-4 rather than the original WAP-5/7 markers. Strangely, this loco too had a marked MPS of 110kmph! Maybe it had just finish

On board the Kalka Shatabdi led by the big white! The beast certainly lived up to its name.

GZB's Beauty Queen, WAP-1 #22021 - Babasaheb brings in the ASR Intercity. Note the array of lights that this loco sports! This loco has also beem fitted with roof-mounted DBRs. Ambala Cantt.

GZB WAP-7 #30223 hauls in the Bhiwani/Nizamuddin-Kalka Ekta/Himalayan Queen Express consist. Ambala Cantt.

Early bird! WAP-5 #30009 arrives 15 minutes before time with the 2058 CDG-NDLS JanShatabdi. Ambala Cantt.

The interiors of the 2002 built AC Chair Car coach of the Chandigarh JanShatabdi