HYB-KJT Weekender

BharatNagar has a fantastic curve right through the platforms affording a fine spot for videos and photographs. Here is a WDG3 pair approaching SNT with a box-n coal rake. Note the camber of the lines which gives a lovely tilt to the formation. Photo by P

A few minutes later this great WDG3 pair roared through BharatNagar with that box-n coal rake (brought in by the tired WAG5 locos). The bright orange livery gave a fine contrast to the station's turquiose canopy. Photo by PoochiVenkat.

Finally...Praveen got mu'd :-) The IRFCA gang was there to wish the couple a happy journey... R to L: KK, Shashank, PoochiVenkat, PVS Praveen, Mrs. Praveen, Mrs. Gautam, Gautam. Photo by Praveen's sister with Gautam's coolpix885.

Necklace Road MMTS station (before inauguration). Approach road serves as a neat cricket pitch while the other side provides a good ground for kite-flying...both objects (ball & kite) can be seen in the air. The chap in the foreground is Lakshman with

Surprise! Here is WDM2 16474 again - with Hussain Sagar Express toward HYB. Necklace Road station is attractive and has a nice banked curve too; another fine place for photo 'n' video. Photo by KK.

A glimpse of HussainSagar lake from NecklaceRoad station. Photo by KK.

An MMTS rake zips through NecklaceRoad station enroute to HYB. The Guard inside was actually peering at Shashank and PoochiVenkat!
Photo by KK.

A close call indeed! This loco was hauling a single 3A coach and was cruising quietly through the station. KK jumped out of the way just in time! Photo by KK.

A superb shot by KK who was well prepared and lying in wait for the big beast to roar through NecklaceRoad station with Sabari Express.

WDM2 17344 from PUNE waits at HYB to move out with Chittapur Passenger. The afternoon Sun highlights the livery quite well! Interestingly, this loco was originally in brown livery - take a look at the movie "Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai"... Photo by Gau

Parade of beauties! These three, from MoulaAli, Guntakal and Pune sheds respectively, made a great shot! At HYB.
Photo by PoochiVenkat.

At HYB, KK and PV check out BAAZ, the Indian-built WDP4, all ready to fly down the line with 7054. Photo by Gautam P.

Diesel under wire?? As 7054 pulled out, Gautam caught an unusual sight - 25kV catenaries everywhere but electric locos nowhere! just these three diesels... Photo by Gautam P.

Holy Smoke! Look at that - between HYB and SC, Baaz seems determined to outperform ALCO in the puffing department :-) Apparently this WDP4 was smoking quite a lot...unusual?? Photo by Gautam P., aboard the 7054.

Having sent off the MAS gang, PoochiVenkat and the HYB gang took the MMTS to another great location: the area around Hi-Tech City. A lovely locale indeed, amply proved by this panorama, stitched from two separate shots. Photos by PoochiVenkat.

Here is an MMTS unit racing toward Hi-Tech City from SNT. Photo by PoochiVenkat

The MMTS unit smartly negotiates the great curve approaching Hi-Tech-City station from SNT. Within 20 minutes, Chittapur Passenger roared through Hi-Tech City station. What an experience to see and hear super-beast WDM2 17344 approaching us from the dist

As dusk sets in, the MACL at BibiNagar gives the right of way to Baaz, thundering down the line with 7054 toward Guntur. Photo by Gautam P.

Night vista somewhere between Bibinagar and Guntur. Photo by Gautam P.

Finally, at Guntur, Baaz waits to be unhitched from 7054 to make way for big brute WAP4 for the onward journey to MAS. Photo by Gautam P.

At last it was time for me to bid goodbye to the HYB gang and board 7032 to KJT. Surprise again - the loco was WDM2 16474! The beast performed admirably. Somewhere between Wadi and Pune we touched 104...recorded faithfully by my GPS. Photo by PoochiVenkat

A surprise at Karjat too - this rare WCM6. I nearly jumped off 7032 before the train could stop at KJT platform, rushed down the tracks where this brute was stabled...and snapped away! Strange that the loco should have a LV plate...wonder whether it was w

The elusive stranger up front! The twin-beams add a nice touch. Don't miss the flower garland...

High-adhesion bogies of the WCM6. One of the traction motors is visible underneath.

The great GIPR emblem crowning the windows of Karjat station buildings. Photo by PoochiVenkat.

Talk about Superpowers...this was one helluva DC lineup - note that the pantos of all eight locos are up...and the blowers of all the locos were working...what a scream :-)
at KJT. Photo by PoochiVenkat.

Manual Signalling?? not really! Just routine service in progress at KJT. In the background can be seen the 25kv substation for the Panvel-KJT line. Photo by PoochiVenkat.