The forgotten railways of Pune’s backyard.
The MG tracks between Pune and the rest of South India were inaugurated around 1886 and ran till 1970 after which the route was converted to BG. The MG tracks died, but some of the permanent way still survives 120 years later, as do many of the bridges and tunnels from that era. Ashish, John, Bharath and Apurva trekked the abandoned MG permanent way between Phursungi and Alandi on a hot 7th April 2007.
Pune's WDM 2# 18649 starts the 1609A Pune - Satara passenger in style from Phursungi. 7th April 2007.
We started our trek at Phursungi (FSG) station that is barely at Pune’s outskirt. Here the Pune WDM 2 # 18649 starts the 1609A passenger from FSG.
Looking forward, the 1609A climbs into the new day’s dawn.
A view of the signal cabin at Alandi End of FSG that has been abandoned after the recent introduction of panel interlocking.
An intact stone bridges on the MG alignment is located off the BG alignment near the FSG station.
The three arch construction is typical of other stone bridges on the line - two arches are filled solid while the center arch is open to allow the flow of water.
A detailed view of the bridge arch.
A view on the top of this bridge. Note the ends of the bridge - where the stone structure meets the earthwork- beginning to subsist.
The middle of the bridge is also sinking. Not bad for a structure is that is 120 years old and has supported trains for 84 years.
Text from a stone set in the edge of the bridge: "N2, RL BF = 43, LR TF = , Found = R" Any idea what this text means ?
A foundation at the end of the bridge, perhaps for a signal. The height of the bridge from the ground is evident here.
As we veer further from the BG line, a BTPN rake arrives from Alandi end with Pune WDM 2 # 18496 in charge. This picture is from the top of the MG alignment and only the BOXN acting as the 'support wagon' for the BTPN is visible here.
Some 200 meters from the stone bridge, the MG alignment is cut to make place for an electric pylon and farm plots. The MG alignment is partially visible for the next 300 meters and picks up only after a cluster of houses. Here is a satellite image of the
The MG alignment is clearly visible after the end of the settlement. Also visible is a missing bridge. Most of the small stone bridges are missing - coincidentally, the houses near this place are all constructed with black basalt stone :-).
A detailed view of a missing bridge showing how cleanly it has been removed. Here is a satellite image of the point from which the MG alignment is visible once again.
The human settlement ends - the MG alignment starts climbing even more, through cuttings. Note the embankment seen in the distance.
Magnificence in stone ! The fantastic three arch bridge on the MG alignment. This bridge is visible from the BG tracks and I have been seing this bridge for so many years. I am lucky to have actually gone and touched those distant visions - all it take a
View of the top of this bridge. The people who designed the tortuous MG layout were probably aware of the simpler path that the present day’s BG follows. However, probably they could not construct the massive viaducts in the Shindawane ghat section with
Another view of the tall bridge. A historically rich place like Pune has much folklore about our past.
Another angle to view the bridge. The MG line as well as the present BG line to Miraj is out of the normal view of an average Punekar unlike the Pune – Mumbai line that is visible from the highway to remain in the public eye and thoughts.
The arch of the bridge. Note the horizontal load bearing members slightly longer than the regular wall stones. This feature was seen in all the other stone bridges as well. Even today, not many people take the day trains to Miraj / Kolhapur, not in the da
The trek leads us to the first of the two tunnels that we encountered. This tunnel is in such excellent condition, it is almost as if it were shut down recently.
IRFCA was here ! The neat interiors of the tunnel.
The tunnel has a 'S' shape. Great job, whoever built this beautiful tunnel, we had to strain to find imperfections in the construction.
One (small) man sized refuges built regularly in the tunnel's walls on both sides. Here is a satellite image of this tunnel.
Fighting vicious thorny vegetation, Bharath leaves the tunnel at the other end. The height of the mountain on top of the tunnel is so low, that we wondered if this a cutting that has been covered over.
Recent comments
Another cracker from the Pune gang!
Posted by Mohan Bhuyan on 2007 Aug 30 05:51:19 +0000
Fantsatic set of images yet again. Way to go Apu, Ashish & John!!
Posted by Kharad Zarir Variyava on 2007 May 04 07:10:23 +0000
We should rechristen you as 'The IRFCA discoverers' :-) Beautiful pictures depicting a bygone era! I can't help feeling a tinge of sadness when visualizing a YP-hauled MG train snaking through those bridges and tunnels. Do we have anyone from our...
Posted by Mani Vijay on 2007 Apr 30 16:55:01 +0000