Monsoon Magic – Trek to Dudhsagar Waterfalls
With the monsoon at peak, its right time to head to the magnanimous Dudhsagar falls, when it would showcase its glorious best.
Three railfans from Chennai and Hyderabad, Benher, Raghupathy and Harish Kumar decided to trek to Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Day 1: The three of us met at Hubli and from where we took Haripriya Express to Londa and a Autorickshaw to Castle Rock, from where we trekked to Caranzol. With the conditions really bad, the station master suggested us to head back to Castle rock or Londa for the night.
Day 2: We took 7311 directly to DDS and spent the whole day at the falls, before Ben left back home by Goa Express, while the other two of us decided to head to Panjim for the overnight stay.
Day 3: For the return journey we took Amaravathi Express to Guntakal and split from there.
The passenger coaches being pounded by the might falls! Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
When there is a light in the middle of tunnel, you have rain! Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
When there are 2 lights in the middle of tunnel, you have train!
Gooty WDM-3a #14034 peeks out of a tunnel and proceeds into the next one. Photo by Harish Kumar
(Harish Kumar)
The train moves into the immediate next tunnel as it cautiously trundles down the Ghats. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Tunnels and waterfalls! Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Magnificent Dudhsagar! Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
A wider view of this magnanimous waterfalls! Photo by Harish (Harish Kumar)
WDG-4 12117 led twins lead a BCNA rake downhill… Photo by Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
…and they are revered with a round of water cannon salute. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
By the time, the caboose passes by the wind shifts and the mist headed in our direction, easing out on the passing train. Lucky fellows, all those on the caboose! Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
The Penta of WDG-4s going light down the Ghats appears around the corner as we wait for it at Dudhsagar Station. Raghu and I took these locos to Kulem, while Ben boarded Goa Express to Belgaum. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
The super a.k.a. Goa Express charges ahead before an unofficial halt at DDS, behind Gooty WDG-3A #14554. Photo by Benher (Harish Kumar)
Day 3: we are set to travel one last time during this trip, through the amazing Braganza Ghats onboard Howrah bound Amaravati Express. While the train was put to wait for over 30 minutes, we see this pair of WDG-4s #12117 and #12046 playing around at Kule
…and then the clouds showers down rapidly, forcing passengers on the platform back on to their coaches. Kulem is such a lovely station. Photo by Harish Kumar (Harish Kumar)
Short while later, the Vasco - Kulem passenger arrives and the loco is being switched back.
Sequence 1 of 4: The Khalasi unlocks the switch. Photo by Harish Kumar
(Harish Kumar)