The Abandoned Station Of Patancheru
PVS Praveen, Lakshman T and Bharath Moro locate and explore the abandoned station of Patancheru. Located at the end of a spur from Lingampalli, the line and station was intended to serve people staying around the BHEL township. But thanks to poor planning, the entire line was abandoned within a year.
After turning in from the industrial area, there was some confusion about where to head. Behind some houses I spotted a railway fence and urged Praveen to take the car further on. We made a left turn and caught the first glimpse of the station. Patancheru
We knew that the station was in the middle of a trash dump but driving further down gave us the real scale of the disaster. The stench was horrendously overpowering but the buffaloes seem oblivious. Patancheru.
After stopping the car, we walked up a slope to the line. We found a gap in the undergrowth and decided to take a look. We wanted to walk to the station using the line but the growth was too thorny. Patancheru.
The other side of the gap wasn't encouraging either. From a small rock beside the track I noticed that the track ended about a 100 mtrs further down. There was also a crossover point just beyond this spot. Patancheru
Abandoning the idea of walking through the bush, we made our way back to the road. After stomping through burning trash, we hit the entrance. Patancheru.
View through the wall! This is the station lobby. To the right of this frame was an entrance to the platform and opposite the broken wall was the ticket counter. Patancheru.
Entering through the platform entrance we came upon the SM's room. Communication and generator are the other rooms. Patancheru.
After having scrambled through the bush, I climed off the platform to the opposite side to get a better view of the 'rooms'. The wild growth here is very dense and I had a nasty cut on my heel after taking this shot. Patancheru.
Empty, open and forlorn. When will the sheets that make up the shelter be put on again? Patancheru
There is something about light and broken buildings. A slant of beautiful mid afternoon sun lights up the fare list.
The time table - One train. That's all.
Fare list from 1993. 7rs to Hyderabad and 10rs to Vikarabad.
After having explored the station area, we walked up the road to an abandoned LC. And standing there on elevated ground was this amazing well preserved points/signal lever frame. Patancheru
Waiting to be pushed. When?
And on the other side of the lever frame we find another structure. Are these counterweights to the points lever?
Through the wild growth stand a couple of semaphores. One of them is at the danger aspect. Will it ever be pushed up to proceed? Patancheru
PVS poses in front of the wilderness that was once a station
This station did see better days............
but none worse than today......
For whom???????????
PVS and Moro pose before the desolate Patancheruvu station..........
A LC whose gateman left long ago.....
Metal Ties and sleepers now a rarity
The line fades into the wilderness and shrub....