Honnavar - A true railfan paradise!

The first action of the day has to be the most awaited one - and I was not disappointed! Golden Rock's toaster curves in swiftly on to Honnavar Bridge with the Rajdhani bound to Delhi! (Pawan Koppa)

Closely following the Rajdhani was an almost hour late running biweekly Ernakulam-Okha Express led by an Ernakulam WDM-3A. (Pawan Koppa)

As I got down from the viewpoint hill onto the line descending a steep slope, the first sight to emerge is the Honnavar Tunnel. A minute's prayer for those who laid down their lives during the construction of this tunnel followed. This tunnel is defini

This is how the inside of a KR tunnel looks like! (Pawan Koppa)

With the sun behind me, the next sight was the Mangalore-Madgaon "Superfast" passenger hauled by its customary Erode WDM-3D which unlike its MPS run throughout, slowed to observe the PSR over the Sharavathi A bridge. (Pawan Koppa)

The weekly Dadar- Tirunelveli Express led by Erode's WDM-3D #11194 flies out of Honnavar tunnel. (Pawan Koppa)

The only loaded Ro-Ro service that I saw during my two day visit to Honnavar led by Golden Rock's WDG-4 #12783 (Pawan Koppa)

The endless line of trucks being "driven" without actually anyone "driving" them were a sight to behold! (Pawan Koppa)

A plaque near the Sharavathi - A bridge which was completed in September 1994. (Pawan Koppa)

The almost 3 hour late running Mumbai-Mangalore Superfast led by its customary Kalyan WDG-3A # 13496 cruises over the Sharavathi A bridge. (Pawan Koppa)

Next up was the Mangalore-Madgaon Intercity led by Ernakulam's WDM-3A #16479. The train here is crossing the Sharavathi B bridge and entering Mavinkurve island. A short distance ahead is the Sharavathi A bridge which culminates in the Honnavar tunnel. (Pa

Truly light at the end of the tunnel. This is one pic I was always waiting to capture, that of a train inside a tunnel. This was the closest I could get before moving away to safety. Ernakulam's alco approaches with the weekly Gandidham-Nagercoil Express.

Finally the loco bursts out of the tunnel! Ernakulam's WDM-3A shows some power as it exits with the express to Nagercoil. (Pawan Koppa)

After an afternoon break, I returned for the evening's actions. First up was the Karwar-Bangalore Express with Ernakulam's WDM-3A #16457 gracefully passing over the A bridge. (Pawan Koppa)

The centurion star appears! Bhagat ki Kothi's "ton" #20100- the only passenger EMD I captured races past with the Marusagar Express bound to Ernakulam. (Pawan Koppa)

The ACD tower which transmits signals to the anti-collision devices loaded on all locos plying on KR. This is on the Mavinkurve Island between the A and B bridges (Pawan Koppa)

Late into the evening, Gooty's WDG-4 twins pull onto the Sharavathi A bridge with a BTPN rake while heading south. (Pawan Koppa)

The last action of day 1 was the Madgaon - Mangalore Passenger with Erode's 11121 which is famous for its famous rebuilt EMD-style rebuilt wide cab. (Pawan Koppa)

Day 2 began with Ernakulam's WDM-3A #16237 curving in quickly with the Thiruvananthapuram-Bikaner Express on the A bridge. (Pawan Koppa)

As quickly as it had appeared, the train disappers into the Honnavar tunnel leaving a plume of smoke behind! (Pawan Koppa)

After this, I decided to do something different. I hired a boat and went midwater which is the only place from where one can get an angle like this on the massive B bridge. First up was the Mumbai-Mangalore Express with Kalyan's Shakti doing the lead hono

The Madgaon-Mangalore Passenger gracefully glides over the B bridge with Erode's unique loco - 1111 (Pawan Koppa)

The Anemometer which controls the bridge signal entry adds its contribution of a 1 to 11111! (Pawan Koppa)

Fishermen go about their work unperturbed by the loco and the train approaching! (Pawan Koppa)

A closer look at the train now - This is the biweekly Okha-Ernakulam Express with what else, but an Ernakulam alco :-) (Pawan Koppa)

A loaded Ro-Ro it was not to be, but an empty one it was! The only giveaway that it was not just a light Kalyan EMD were the sticks sticking at the sides of the flatbed rake! (Pawan Koppa)

Spot the loco contest :-) (Pawan Koppa)