IRFCA Meet at Guntakal/Gooty

On the Gooty – Bangalore line, the MG and BG tracks run more of less parallel between Kalluru and Dharmavaram. VSP waves to me with the BG running next to us. Between Kalluru and Garladinne, 2006-09-09

Arriving at Garladinne, the 248 down disgorges a mass of familiar, raucous humanity. In the background, the BG line towards Gooty runs in parallel. Garladinne, 2006-09-09

The sequence showing the YDM 4 taking off from Garladinne for Pakala Jn. Picture 1 of 3. Garladinne, 2006-09-09

The sequence showing the YDM 4 taking off from Garladinne for Pakala Jn. Picture 2 of 3 Garladinne, 2006-09-09

The sequence showing the YDM 4 taking off from Garladinne for Pakala Jn. Picture 3 of 3 Garladinne, 2006-09-09

Thank You IRFCA, for making this happen. A few years back, many of us led a shy, unsure existence, believing that we were the only misfits in the world who found joy in certain objects. From the left in the standing row: Praveen, Vivek, Ashish, John, Ravi

They come in extremes of all sizes: Ashish, Apurva and Praveen. Garladinne, 2006-09-09

Simian mothers unsuccessfully prevent their progeny from watching VSP’s antics. Garladinne, 2006-09-09

The west ends of both Gooty and Guntakal have the look of an oasis in a desert. The main reason for these towns to exist is the passage of railway line through them. Beyond the station area, only the distant horizon and a delightful wide open space exist.

The details of the fuel tank of the WDG 4 # 12017 showing the filler port, the level gauge, the illumination lamp (above the filler port) and the EFCO- the Emergency Fuel Cut Off switch to be used to shut the engine down in a hurry by a person on the grou

The manufacture’s data plate from EMD on the WDG 4 # 12017. Apart from this plate, the loco had a black plate from DLW whose variables said “WDG4-12017” and “April 2000”. Gooty, 2006-09-09

Beasts so far away from home - The loco pilot of the Lucknow based “Prabal” liveried WDM 2As # 16194 and 16309 mimed his desire to be photographed by drawing out a rectangle in the air – not a word exchanged, yet a lot communicated. Thank You Sir, f

The incredible shrinking deemer ! This is a large model of Gooty’s first diesel, the WDM 2 # 18207 outside the Gooty station with Vrij posing for an idea of the proportions. Gooty, 2006-09-09

Views of the model of the WDM 2 # 18207. Gooty, 2006-09-09, Picture 1 of 3.

Views of the model of the WDM 2 # 18207. Gooty, 2006-09-09, Picture 2 of 3.

Views of the model of the WDM 2 # 18207. Gooty, 2006-09-09, Picture 3 of 3.

Almost hidden inside in the foliage of a green patch outside the station is a not so lifelike model a WDG 4. I can take the palms cradling the loco, but should I accept the railways calling this thing a “SWG 4”? “The Lion of Diesel Loco’s” indee

Other non-lifelike models outside the Gooty station is this model of the “Fairy Queen” – The Scouts and Guides seem to very active in a small place like Gooty station and they have a hand in the display of this model. Gooty, 2006-09-09

Another view of the “Fairy Queen”. The modelers have *welded* the sheet thin wheels to the flat rails – do they expect their model to roll away? Enough of pulling their leg – Great job Gooty – you have made so many monuments while most of the co

A genuine railway item outside the Gooty station, that is now an item of some public use, is a retired water column that has our national emblem on the top and a quad of fluorescent street lamps. Gooty, 2006-09-09

The Scouts and Guide are active again in the installation of the water column outside the Gooty station. Good work, “Gandhiji Rover” unit – this concept can replicated all over India, if the people took initiative! The semaphores and other relics ha

Later in the evening, back at Guntakal, the WDG 4 # 12066 waits at the home signal to back onto a BCN rake in the yard. Guntakal, 2006-09-09.

Another view of the WDG 4 # 12066 as it starts to move towards the GTL yard. Guntakal, 2006-09-09.

At dusk of a great day settles in, the Guntakal shed WDM3A# 18794R, still wearing Gooty’s clothes, snakes across the Guntakal East exit with the 9775 Mysore-Jaipur express. Guntakal, 2006-09-09.

The 9775 is set to climb the ramp that would take the train towards Dhone Jn. Till this point the loco had to manage with little power as the rake was negotiating the various points, but a time has to come in a journey at which the crew has to crack the t

Only one type of locomotion on the IR can do such spectacular starts. Guntakal, 2006-09-09.

There was some speculation of whether the pilot, having spotted the plethora of cameras on the FOB, had something to do with this volume of exhaust. Guntakal, 2006-09-09.