The abandoned cabin near the tunnel 24. This must have controlled the various catch sidings visible near tunnel #24(tunnel #3 in this map and, in the lower half ...

View of the service tunnel leading into the longest tunnel on the Bhore ghats, the #25C. The service tunnel is located at the Khandala end of tunnel #25 (tunnel #2 in this

Kesari Sharma explores the interiors of the service tunnel. The orange pipes are protection for the OFC (optical fibre cable) that are being laid along the railway lines. One of the vandalized Sodium vapour lamp can be seen on the left of Kesari’s head.

View of the ventilation shaft bored vertically through the roof the tunnel 25C. The OHE conductor can be seen as well as well as the grill on the mouth of the shaft some sixty feet above, the diameter of the shaft would be about 4 feet. (Pic may be delete

We had to run out of the tunnel 25C and take refuge in the service tunnel to avoid being on the same track as this train. Visible in the pic is John, the green IBS (?) signal – this remained green for a long time after the train had crossed this location

Some of the IRFCA Pune chapter gang attempt to clean the marble plaque on the portals of the tunnel #26. (tunnel #1 in this map) Khandala end of Tunnel 26,...

John and Kesari collect the dripping water in plastic cups discarded by the passing trains for cleaning the marble plaque. Note the old tunnel number 26 tunnel #1 in this

The plaque after cleaning. It says: "Tunnel Nos. 26 & 25 With adjoining formations etc. For the Bhore Ghat Alignment eliminating the reversing station Carried out in 1926-28 At a cost of about Rs. 44.6 Lacs by The Tata Construction Co. Ltd.\"

Kalyan WDS-6 #36007 hauls a dead DETC from Khandala towards tunnel 26. Khandala end of Tunnel 26, 2004-02-14. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

The view of the DETC (diesel electric tower car – the panto is only for alignment and observation of the ride of the device at speed) as it disappears in the unlit depths of the tunnel 26. Khandala end of Tunnel 26, 2004-02-14. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

WCG-2 banker #20126 starts the crawl down the ghat from the brake testing halt at Khandala station. After Khandala station, 2004-02-14. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

WCG-2 #20126 leads WCG-2 #20114 towards tunnel 26. The lady passenger rides on the buffer beam. The hillocks in front have the three catch sidings for Khandala. After Khandala station, 2004-02-14. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

WCAM-3 #21936 leads the 1618 Up Pune – Karjat passenger into Khandala platform 2 for a public halt that also conveniently serves as brake testing halt. Khandala station, 2004-02-14. By Apurva (iti@vsnl.com).

A school of art disappearing fast ? The ladies loo at Khandala with the classic graphical sign. A variety of styles of referring to the female sex is evident here, just in case the message is not clear – stree, mahila, ladies, women…. Khandala station,

One of the smallest and newest tunnels on the 3rd line, the 52 down, can be found at the Lonavala end of the Khandala station. Ashish and Kesari try to walk on one rail (to relieve their aching insteps perhaps), while John retraces his steps to check out