Visiting the Khandala Tunnel tops

A view of the first catch siding from the top – the down line emerging from the Tunnel 25C can also be seen.

How old would you like the cast iron chairs on the catch siding to be ? 1915 ?

How about 1903 ?

What about 1893 ?

And would 1884 surprise you ?

While “GK&N” was “Guest, Keen and Nettlefold”, which made track hardware under the brand “JWH & Co” ?

A view of the water tank outside the Khandala station. The old alignment had a track along the opposite bank of this water body. We would walk that path soon and revert back with more details.

As we descend the catch sidings, triple WCG 2 bankers headed by 20159 with 20128 in the middle goes on the mid-line. The last banker’s number is not noted. After going along the water tank, the old alignment must have joined the main line at either the

As we walk to KAD station, the 6012 Up Chennai – Mumbai express waits like a crouching beast, ready to unleash and take on the Bhore ghat.

A station has to be located on a ground that has not more than 1 in 100 gradient to prevent trains from rolling away – hence the gradient starts only after the platform.

The WCG 2 # 20116 of the 6012 Up lights the headlamp in anticipation of the tunnel 26 located a few hundred meters away.

A mugshot of the WCG 2 # 20116 as it crosses a speed restriction board for the crossover ahead.

The last shot of the day shows the bankers 20112 and 20154 waiting on pf 3 at Khandala. A sign near the loco warns passengers about the excessive gap between the coach and the platform. Note the steep gradient after the end of the platform.

Apurva tries to photograph the ventilation shaft of tunnel no.25C on the UP line. It can be viewed in Google Earth at 18d 45m 28.12s N, 73d 21m 54.79s E. This tunnel is about 2 Kms long, In the bhore ghats

KYN WCG2 20116 leaves Khandala with 6012 Chennai-Mumbai Express in tow, after the brake testing halt. Note the gradient in both directions and curve on the platform, Khandala

The 2124 Deccan Queen led by a WCAM3 on the MID line, emerges out of tunnel no. 26, between Khandala and Monkey Hill