IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 3841 - 3860

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Jammu & Kashmir railway

Date: 12 Oct 1998 02:22:52 -0500


Hi Gang,

This is an article about the proposed Jammu & Kashmir railway in the
Indian Express of 11th Oct 98. Go through it and get back with your
comments.

Apurva

From: Shanku Niyogi <>

Subject: Re: IndiaRail Passes

Date: 12 Oct 1998 11:22:40 -0500


Unless you do a LOT of travelling on superfast trains (and relatively
little
sightseeing between trips), it's tough to save much money with the
Indrailpass. The main advantages are (a) you can book your trains
(theoretically) up to 1 year in advance, (b) you can book them (again,
theoretically) before you enter India, (c) if you travel through Delhi,
you
can make all your changes there, and (d) you automatically get on the
VIP
quota. Also, since it exempts you from all other charges, the more
superfasts/sleepers you use, the more you save.

I'll be getting a seven or fifteen day pass for my mad rail-journeying
in
February, so I'll share my experiences with the thing when I'm back!

BTW, here's a really weird tidbit from the Ellis book...it says that the
Indrailpass is not only open to all foreign travellers, but also to
Indian
wives accompanying their foreign husbands. Anyone know if this quirky
(and
somewhat sexist) rule is still in the books? This could be like another
form
of "she married him for his H1 visa" - "she married him for his
Indrailpass!" :)

Shanku

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Number of Freight Trains

Date: 12 Oct 1998 23:23:52 -0500


Gang !

I have just got to know the yard master of Pune Jn. He is incharge of
the smaller 'Up yard' (area between the electric trip shed and the
Sangam bridge) and the massive Ghorpadi GIT (goods inter-trans shipment
-between BG & MG - this is a hangover from the time Pune had a MG line
towards Miraj and Bangalore) yard.
He gave me some insight to the mysterious numbering system of the
freight trains. You do hear of 'Zebra 40 Up coming of road 4' or
'Allahabad 12 Down waiting at Ghorpadi home signal'. The name is quite
simple really. There are 24 hours in a day and 26 letters in the english
language. The letters 'J' and 'U' and dropped and you now have 24
letters. The train which starts from the destination at 0100 hrs is
given the name A - and the number of minutes. The 'Allahabad 12' Dn. has
left its destination at 0112 Hrs.
The name Allahabad is just a method of making the letter clear on a
noisy railway telephone line. Thus the letter Z can be anything, Zebra
- Zimbabwe, really anything, as long as both the parties have
understood the letter. Interestingly the first train of the day will be
with a Z letter.

The yard master also told me the reason we have started seeing so many
'brakeless' (without brake van at the end) freight rakes. Earlier we had
an average train weight of 1500 tonnes while now the average freight
rake is 3000 tonnes. The brake van does come from Mumbai upto Karjat at
the bottom of the 'Bhore' ghat and is cut from the freight rake. The
banker engines are attached at the rear of the rake and the train moves
slowly climbing the ghat. Typical rake formations require a minimum of
two locos at the front and two locos at the back pushing the rake.
Although there are occasional three locos in the front and three coupled
bankers at the rear. The '3000 tonnes' rake has on an average 40 wagons
of 80 tonne eight wheeler BCN /BCNA covered wagons. The brake van is
only 24 tonnes and is 4 wheeled. This causes some instability of the
rake and frequent derailment of the brake van. Thus after detailed
trials the brake van is removed at Karjat and reattached at GIT yard.
Can anyone ratify that a lighter coach will derail if coupled with a
heavy rake ?
He also told me that for receiving and dispatching a passenger train a
deputy station master walks on an average 4 Kms per train - twice to the
loco and the guard's van and frequently to the control office.
If anyone has any specific questions regarding the IR operation
specially freight please shoot and I will try to get you an authentic
answer.

Apurva Bahadur

From: Pushkar Apte <>

Subject: NG Routes

Date: 13 Oct 1998 15:17:10 -0500


************************************************************

Latest News EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
[Image] ----------------------------
EIW VADODARA, Oct 12: The Railway Board has
[Image] recently decided in principle to reopen a few
narrow gauge routes that had been in
Market operational for the past few years. The funds
Indicators that will allow this were reportedly
[Image] sanctioned recently.
Screen
[Image] The routes that will now be opened will cover
Ankleshwar, Jagatia, Rajpipla, Netrang,
Boulevard India Kosamba, Umarpada, Bodeli and Chhotaudepur.
When asked, officials at the Vadodara
[Image] division said there was no specific reason
Celebrity Chat why these lines were being opened up first.
[Image]
Express A department officials said only one train
Computers would be operated on the narrow gauge lines
[Image] and on one system. He said the trains would
be operated through the magneto telephone at
Express Power most of the places, while Jagatia was the
[Image] only place where the Post and Telegraph
Letters system would be operating.
[Image]
Advertisers It may be recalled that Express Newsline had
Forum earlier published reports about the need to
[Image] operate these trains in certain areas.

************************************************************

I am heartened by this news item (provided it is implemented). The NG
lines around Vadodara are truly a railway treasure, and I'm glad they
are not being swept away in the BG-conversion frenzy!

-Pushkar

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Local services upto Panvel

Date: 14 Oct 1998 02:32:51 -0500


Gang,

Responding to Pushkar's request to look up the Mumbai suburban timetable
for locals from Western System to Panvel (with a link to either Up or
Down NDLS TVC Rajdhani). I went through the Mumbai (Central Rail)
suburban TT and the Panvel trains are all sourced at CSTM. Thus there
are no trains from Andheri / Bandra on the Western Rail to the New
Mumbai area. The CSTM Panvel locals are almost hourly between 0700 hours
to 0
hours.
If I remember correctly there was an announcement almost two years back
that one train in the morning and one in the evening will run from
Borivali to Vashi and back. But there is no mention in the latest TT of
this train at all. Even the 'cross traffic' harbour line trains like
CSTM - Bandra / Andheri do not move further than Andheri, I would wish
that these trains would go upto Borivali. When we come visiting to
Mumbai from Pune we have to go to from Central Rail at CTSM or Dadar to
the Western system - Goregaon or Borivali. But the CSTM train takes us
only till Andheri, thus we (with our small and hyperactive baby and
luggage) prefer taking a convenient air conditioned bus (apologies -
truth is always harsh) rather
than an inconvenient train.
There are a considerable number of people who travel from Pune onto the
Western suburbs of Mumbai and there is no convenient link except via
Dadar, where you walk 150 meters amongst packed crowd to change systems.
The VT - Andheri system is much more leasurely and it travels through
very interesting dockyard area and through slums where you are actually
in the eye ball distance in someone's house. I am a minor voyeur and I
enjoy that somewhat - I must be honest with my friends ! But then at
Andheri I still have to walk out of the local terminus (platform 7)
onto to the platform 1 and then take a slow train coming from Churchgate
towards Goregaon and then finally reach my destination. The CSTM - ADH
local climbs the Sandhurst Road flyover then goes under the Ravli Jn
Flyover and gets on to the WR by climbing over the Khar Road flyover.
The Up train (ADH - CSTM)
uses the flyover at Khar road (over the Bandra Yard diesel shed and a
local crematorium) to return to the CR system. The Up train climbs the
the Ravli flyover and descends the Sandhurst Road flyover to enter the
CSTM yard. The CSTM -
Andheri ride is recommended as an excellent local trip for any visitor
to Mumbai during the non peak (afternoon) hours.

Apurva Bahadur

From: Jayant S <>

Subject: MG Coupler Query

Date: 14 Oct 1998 03:18:25 -0500


Just a little curious question:
What was the method used to lock the
chopper into the buffer slot on MG couplers ?
Also, was it entirely foolproof ? I remember
seeing rakes with the choppers tied down
with wire, prsumably to guard against their
going upwards under tension and releasing.

--
Jayant S
--

From: Prakash Tendulkar <>

Subject: Re: Number of Freight Trains

Date: 14 Oct 1998 10:44:53 -0500


Apurva,

> Although there are occasional three locos in the front and three
coupled
> bankers at the rear. The '3000 tonnes' rake has on an average 40
wagons
> of 80 tonne eight wheeler BCN /BCNA covered wagons. The brake van is
> only 24 tonnes and is 4 wheeled. This causes some instability of the
> rake and frequent derailment of the brake van. Thus after detailed
> trials the brake van is removed at Karjat and reattached at GIT yard.
> Can anyone ratify that a lighter coach will derail if coupled with a
> heavy rake?

Lighter coach coupled with heavy rake will derail only if it is
coupled ahead of heavy rake and not behind it. I suspect that the push
from bankers for this 3000+ tonnes rake is the cause of derailment.

You may notice that milk tankers from Anand and other places are always
coupled behind the loco (and ahead of the passenger coaches) when they
are loaded. These 4 axle tanks give jolts to loco when ascending on
curve before bridges.

In your case, brake van is trying to transfer push from bankers to
the heavy rake ahead of it.

Prakash

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: MG Coupler Query

Date: 14 Oct 1998 10:57:39 -0500


Gang,

Poor Jayant is busy with the imminent launch of their new car and such
odd questions start popping in his head !
Okay - I don't know about MG. But I can find out easily. All the Hubli
division drivers who work from Pune have been MG drivers in the past. As
far as BG is concerned, if a WDM 2 with its CBC coupler is attached to
a screw coupler passenger coach, a fabricated U clamp is put over the
unholy union. This is prevent the screw coupler coming off when the WDM
2 goes into the dynamic braking position and the strain on the coupler
is reversed. Also the vacuum brake pipes are tied with a twine - the
joint tends to come off during heavy application of train brakes. These
are crude operational procedures that have been learnt the hard way.

Apurva

Jayant S wrote:

> Just a little curious question:
> What was the method used to lock the
> chopper into the buffer slot on MG couplers ?
> Also, was it entirely foolproof ? I remember
> seeing rakes with the choppers tied down
> with wire, prsumably to guard against their
> going upwards under tension and releasing.
>
> --
> Jayant S
> --

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Walky Talkies on the IR

Date: 14 Oct 1998 11:11:24 -0500


Gang,

Been on a visit to the station and I leant that both the Driver and the
Guard of a mail / express train carry a walky talky. It is like an open
communication channel with everyone talking at the same time. The guard
tells the driver to start the train by the radio link but still shows
the green flag or green lamp. The radio remains operational in a 40 Km
radius and the section controller is monitoring the conversation at all
the time. Once outside the range the radio can still enable the driver -
guard communication during the run. The driver surrenders the WT at the
end of the run. The train to wayside station communication is yet to
made by radio link but it is being considered, as per my platform
source who may not be authentic. My source is a Pune - Lonavala EMU
driver who was doing the 'waiting' duty. He would fill in for a another
driver who does not turn up in time. All the EMU drivers do this waiting
duty once in rotation.
I have noticed that hardly any guard blows their whistle at departure
nowadays

Apurva Bahadur

From: Sridhar Shankar <>

Subject: Re: Walky Talkies on the IR

Date: 14 Oct 1998 12:08:33 -0500


Apurva,

Is is legal in India to buy a scanner and listen to the conversation
between the drivers and the controllers? It should make for some
interesting listening. Here it is quite common for railfans to use a
scanner to catch the conversation between the crew and the dispatcher,
and
also from the 'talking hot box detector'.

-Sridhar


****************************************************************

Sridhar Shankar 1616 E. 50th Place, Apt.13A
GSB'99 Chicago, IL 60615
University of Chicago (773) 752 1131
*****************************************************************

On Wed, 14 Oct 1998, Apurva Bahadur wrote:

> Gang,
>
> Been on a visit to the station and I leant that both the Driver and
the
> Guard of a mail / express train carry a walky talky. It is like an
open
> communication channel with everyone talking at the same time. The
guard
> tells the driver to start the train by the radio link but still shows
> the green flag or green lamp. The radio remains operational in a 40 Km
> radius and the section controller is monitoring the conversation at
all
> the time. Once outside the range the radio can still enable the driver
-
> guard communication during the run. The driver surrenders the WT at
the
> end of the run. The train to wayside station communication is yet to
> made by radio link but it is being considered, as per my platform
> source who may not be authentic. My source is a Pune - Lonavala EMU
> driver who was doing the 'waiting' duty. He would fill in for a
another
> driver who does not turn up in time. All the EMU drivers do this
waiting
> duty once in rotation.
> I have noticed that hardly any guard blows their whistle at departure
> nowadays
>
> Apurva Bahadur
>
>
>
>

From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Re: conversion questions

Date: 15 Oct 1998 10:15:32 -0500


>
>Here are some conversion questions on the various zonal railways.
>
>What is the present status of these (formerly?) MG lines?
..
..
>Northeastern Rly.
>
>Aunrihar-Chhapra

Has been opened to BG traffic. The Sanbhavana Exp., Sarnath Exp. and
Pawan Exp. use this route. The newly introduced Swantra Senani Exp.
should be going via this route as well.

>Londa-Marmagao (converted to BG but are passenger trains running?)

The Goa Exp. used to run till Castle Rock but am not sure whether this
has been extended till Vasco-da-gama.


>
>Could somone with the latest timetables, please check and provide the
>info?

Am waiting for my information as well.


Vijay

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From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Walky Talkies on the IR

Date: 15 Oct 1998 10:29:46 -0500




Sridhar Shankar wrote:

> Apurva,
>
> Is is legal in India to buy a scanner and listen to the conversation
> between the drivers and the controllers?

Sridhar - the radio communication is in an infantile stage in India but
progressing very rapidly. I guess a scanner which works in USA will work
in
India too. It will be illegal but a permit can be obtained. I am not
sure how
the authorities are going to find out if you are listening. As long as
you do
not join the chat or jam / disrupt the conversation, a scanner should be
fine.These are ordinary walkie talkies and nothing sophisticated. It is
just
an open channel with everyone talking at the same time. The reason for
this is
that the land telephone system was frequently defective and often
inaccessible. There is nothing like a talking hot box detector yet. I
suppose
the freight train driver, guard and the wayside station has to be part
of the
radio link before a talking hot box detector makes sense. Stable
electrical
power has to be available round the clock too !

> It should make for some
> interesting listening.

I miss no opportunity to just stand around and listen to a bunch of
railway
men talk to each other. It is a language by itself - it is a basic
structure
of English or Hindi with heavy and frequent use of jargon which is
understood
by another railway man or by a dedicated and long associated enthusiast.
A most delightful experience.

Apurva

From: Jayant S <>

Subject: Re: MG Coupler Query

Date: 15 Oct 1998 20:52:11 -0500


> Question for those of you on the subcontinent:
>
> In most " norwegian " central couplers the chopper rotates around an
eccentric
> pin, so the distance between the hook and the centre of the pin is
shorter in
> the horizontal position than in the vertical.
>
> Is the Indian coupler the same ?
From what I remember the MG chopper was tensioned
by some sort of pull-clamp on the stem of the
buffer. I am in Delhi next week, hope to
check on the NRM where I can figure it out.
I wonder why they used wire as well, though ?

And Apurva, I'm busy with (yuk) road vehicles, yes,
but everyone on THIS list will know where my
soul truly lies !! :)

--
Jayant S
--

From: Anne Ogborn <>

Subject: Re: Walky Talkies on the IR

Date: 15 Oct 1998 22:53:43 -0500




Apurva Bahadur wrote:

> Sridhar Shankar wrote:
>
> > Apurva,
> >
> > Is is legal in India to buy a scanner and listen to the conversation
> > between the drivers and the controllers?
>
> Sridhar - the radio communication is in an infantile stage in India
but
> progressing very rapidly. I guess a scanner which works in USA will
work in
> India too. It will be illegal but a permit can be obtained. I am not
sure how
> the authorities are going to find out if you are listening. As long as
you do
> not join the chat or jam / disrupt the conversation, a scanner should
be
> fine.These are ordinary walkie talkies and nothing sophisticated. It
is just
> an open channel with everyone talking at the same time. The reason for
this is
> that the land telephone system was frequently defective and often
> inaccessible. There is nothing like a talking hot box detector yet. I
suppose
> the freight train driver, guard and the wayside station has to be part
of the
> radio link before a talking hot box detector makes sense. Stable
electrical
> power has to be available round the clock too !
>
> > It should make for some
> > interesting listening.
>
> I miss no opportunity to just stand around and listen to a bunch of
railway
> men talk to each other. It is a language by itself - it is a basic
structure
> of English or Hindi with heavy and frequent use of jargon which is
understood
> by another railway man or by a dedicated and long associated
enthusiast.
> A most delightful experience.
>
> Apurva

Hmm.. In the US, there's actually two of what linguists would call
'jargons'.
There's a technical speech,
words like coupler, track warrant, brake test, etc. Then there's
"railroad jargon"
- words like 'crummy' , meaning a caboose,
'shack', meaning conductor, 'beans' , meaning a meal.

Obviously there's a technical speech, but is there a 'jargon' like in
the US? Can
we get some examples, oh knowledgeable ones?

Annie

From: Shankar <>

Subject: jargon

Date: 15 Oct 1998 23:51:47 -0500


Hello,
I don't know about beans and shack and other such jargon on the IR, but
railwaymen in India are great ones for abbreviations. I too have had the
occasion to listen to railwaymen communicate among themselves,and non-
enthusiasts and those not in the know can sometimes be caught off guard.

"DRM told so and so ...7 up was fifteen minutes late but 9 dn came in 5
minutes early...there is a derailment between so and so, the GM called a
meeting between CFTS and DRM or things like that.

Apurva and others might be able to throw more light on
on-the-road-jargon, i.e. terms used by station and driving staff etc.

There are certain terms peculiar to the IR though:

coaching stock, coaching tariff, cattle guard (cowcatcher), paper
ticket, TTE, TC, ASM, VLRR, (Vegetarian Light Refreshment Room), RMS,
unguarded level crossing,sleeper coach, bogie (for railway
car),sectional or regional coach, crossing, PNR (on computerized
tickets), PWI,(Permanent Way Inspector), and those various quotas: VIP
quota, trourist quota, emergency quota-all discussed in this forum
last week etc.

Trin types like passenger, shuttle, local, electric train (for
e.m.u.),superfast (usually suppar phasht!), janata, fast passenger,
parcel, brake van, CRT or BCX (wagons), CBC coupler, hose pipe (for
vacuum pipe) etc etc.

Coming to think of it, maybe all of us out there could compile a list of
terms peculiar to the IR.

Best regards.

Shankar



Anne Ogborn wrote:
>
> Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
> > Sridhar Shankar wrote:
> >
> > > Apurva,
> > >
> > > Is is legal in India to buy a scanner and listen to the
conversation
> > > between the drivers and the controllers?
> >
> > Sridhar - the radio communication is in an infantile stage in India
but
> > progressing very rapidly. I guess a scanner which works in USA will
work in
> > India too. It will be illegal but a permit can be obtained. I am not
sure how
> > the authorities are going to find out if you are listening. As long
as you do
> > not join the chat or jam / disrupt the conversation, a scanner
should be
> > fine.These are ordinary walkie talkies and nothing sophisticated. It
is just
> > an open channel with everyone talking at the same time. The reason
for this is
> > that the land telephone system was frequently defective and often
> > inaccessible. There is nothing like a talking hot box detector yet.
I suppose
> > the freight train driver, guard and the wayside station has to be
part of the
> > radio link before a talking hot box detector makes sense. Stable
electrical
> > power has to be available round the clock too !
> >
> > > It should make for some
> > > interesting listening.
> >
> > I miss no opportunity to just stand around and listen to a bunch of
railway
> > men talk to each other. It is a language by itself - it is a basic
structure
> > of English or Hindi with heavy and frequent use of jargon which is
understood
> > by another railway man or by a dedicated and long associated
enthusiast.
> > A most delightful experience.
> >
> > Apurva
>
> Hmm.. In the US, there's actually two of what linguists would call
'jargons'.
> There's a technical speech,
> words like coupler, track warrant, brake test, etc. Then there's
"railroad jargon"
> - words like 'crummy' , meaning a caboose,
> 'shack', meaning conductor, 'beans' , meaning a meal.
>
> Obviously there's a technical speech, but is there a 'jargon' like in
the US? Can
> we get some examples, oh knowledgeable ones?
>
> Annie

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Walky Talkies on the IR

Date: 16 Oct 1998 01:29:41 -0500


> Hmm.. In the US, there's actually two of what linguists would call
'jargons'.
> There's a technical speech,
> words like coupler, track warrant, brake test, etc. Then there's
"railroad jargon"
> - words like 'crummy' , meaning a caboose,
> 'shack', meaning conductor, 'beans' , meaning a meal

Yes Anne I can see the difference between the 'jargon' or terminology
specific to the
trade and 'slang' which is the corruption / modifications by the users
of the
language.

Apurva.

From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Complete set of IR links

Date: 16 Oct 1998 07:59:14 -0500


Hi Folks,

Here are the IR links extracted from my bookmarks. Additions /
modifications welcome!!

***************************************************************

Articles
<A HREF="http://www.dqindia.com/aug1597/3ih1061101.html">http://www.dqindia.com/aug1597/3ih1061101.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.infoindia.com/bo/iw/ie00201.html">http://www.infoindia.com/bo/iw/ie00201.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.the-week.com/97oct19/events1.htm">http://www.the-week.com/97oct19/events1.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.expressindia.com/fe/daily/19980824/23655024.html">http://www.expressindia.com/fe/daily/19980824/23655024.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/17nandy.htm">http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/17nandy.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.indian-express.com/ie/daily/19980819/23151174.html">http://www.indian-express.com/ie/daily/19980819/23151174.html</A>
<A HREF="http://prakash.org/experience/places/touhin19940821_00.html">http://prakash.org/experience/places/touhin19940821_00.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.financialexpress.com/ie/daily/19980620/17150134.html">http://www.financialexpress.com/ie/daily/19980620/17150134.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.andhratoday.com/whatsup/MOBILEXI.HTM">http://www.andhratoday.com/whatsup/MOBILEXI.HTM</A>

Indian Train Photos
<A HREF="http://alcoworld.railfan.net/india.htm">http://alcoworld.railfan.net/india.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.buriton.demon.co.uk/asia.html">http://www.buriton.demon.co.uk/asia.html</A>
<A HREF="http://emdexport.railfan.net/india.html">http://emdexport.railfan.net/india.html</A>
<A HREF="http://emdexport.railfan.net/india2.html">http://emdexport.railfan.net/india2.html</A>
<A HREF="http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/endomv/Futwah.htm">http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/endomv/Futwah.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.jps.net/prakash/emu/">http://www.jps.net/prakash/emu/</A>
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~ApuB/">http://members.tripod.com/~ApuB/</A>
<A HREF="http://members.xoom.com/sundar/itg/">http://members.xoom.com/sundar/itg/</A>
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~IRFC/">http://members.tripod.com/~IRFC/</A>
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~railinindia/index.html">http://members.tripod.com/~railinindia/index.html</A>
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/glynthomas/india82.html">http://members.aol.com/glynthomas/india82.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train1.html">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train1.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train2.html">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train2.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train3.html">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train3.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train4.html">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train4.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train5.html">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/train5.html</A>
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~ApuB/Daund/visit_to_daund.htm">http://members.tripod.com/~ApuB/Daund/visit_to_daund.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.jps.net/prakash/wcam1/">http://www.jps.net/prakash/wcam1/</A>

Infrastructure
<A HREF="http://www.bhelis.com/tnsp.htm">http://www.bhelis.com/tnsp.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.bhel.com/bhel/indus.htm">http://www.bhel.com/bhel/indus.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.cgl.co.in/motors/docs/rl_range.htm">http://www.cgl.co.in/motors/docs/rl_range.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.concorindia.com/">http://www.concorindia.com/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.meadev.gov.in/economy/infra/tp3-rail.htm">http://www.meadev.gov.in/economy/infra/tp3-rail.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://trainweb.com/signalbox/branches/ab/single.htm">http://trainweb.com/signalbox/branches/ab/single.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.trainweb.com/signalbox/branches/pk/india.htm">http://www.trainweb.com/signalbox/branches/pk/india.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.patilgroup.com/railway.html">http://www.patilgroup.com/railway.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.grandpolycoats.com/phrail.html">http://www.grandpolycoats.com/phrail.html</A>
<A HREF="http://epages.webindia.com/india/wap">http://epages.webindia.com/india/wap</A>
<A HREF="http://www.wapindia.com/">http://www.wapindia.com/</A>

IR Official Pages
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~cosnfr/index.html">http://members.tripod.com/~cosnfr/index.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.rscbrc.ernet.in/cgi-bin/page2.cgi">http://www.rscbrc.ernet.in/cgi-bin/page2.cgi</A>
<A HREF="http://www.indianrailways.com/">http://www.indianrailways.com/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.westernrailwayindia.com/frames.htm">http://www.westernrailwayindia.com/frames.htm</A>

Modelling
<A HREF="http://www.powerup.com.au/~kjw_meh/modlpics.htm">http://www.powerup.com.au/~kjw_meh/modlpics.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://members.xoom.com/sundar/mrm/index.html">http://members.xoom.com/sundar/mrm/index.html</A>

Rediff Pages
<A HREF="http://www.redifindia.com/travel/sep/25enghom.htm">http://www.redifindia.com/travel/sep/25enghom.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.rediff.com/travel/train.htm">http://www.rediff.com/travel/train.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.redifindia.com/travel/trmisc.htm">http://www.redifindia.com/travel/trmisc.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.rediff.com/travel/nov/15train.htm">http://www.rediff.com/travel/nov/15train.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.rediff.com/travel/jan/1801fair.htm">http://www.rediff.com/travel/jan/1801fair.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.redifindia.com/travel/railpass.htm">http://www.redifindia.com/travel/railpass.htm</A>

Region Specific
<A HREF="http://www.apsco.co.jp/abe/mappage/culcutta.gif">http://www.apsco.co.jp/abe/mappage/culcutta.gif</A>
<A HREF="http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/amenities/transport/rail-sub.html">http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/amenities/transport/rail-sub.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.e-z.net/~ddickens/monorail/">http://www.e-z.net/~ddickens/monorail/</A>
<A HREF="http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/endomv/Railnb.htm">http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/endomv/Railnb.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.mumbainet.com/cityinfo/railmap.htm">http://www.mumbainet.com/cityinfo/railmap.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.bchs.uh.edu/~mdoshi/Bombay/landmark/vt.html">http://www.bchs.uh.edu/~mdoshi/Bombay/landmark/vt.html</A>

Schedules
<A HREF="http://www.indiaexpress.com/bangalore/essential/timings.html">http://www.indiaexpress.com/bangalore/essential/timings.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.cis.syr.edu/~kraj/bhag/trains.html">http://www.cis.syr.edu/~kraj/bhag/trains.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.trainweb.com/indiarail/ttable.htm">http://www.trainweb.com/indiarail/ttable.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.india-travel.com/table.htm">http://www.india-travel.com/table.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://businesstourism.com/train.html">http://businesstourism.com/train.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.goenkar.com/info/schedules/krail.html">http://www.goenkar.com/info/schedules/krail.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.mumbai-central.com/imp_info/trains.html">http://www.mumbai-central.com/imp_info/trains.html</A>
<A HREF="http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/endomv/railschd.htm">http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/endomv/railschd.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.airdiscounter.com/frames/india/railinfo.htm">http://www.airdiscounter.com/frames/india/railinfo.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.nagpurcity.net/travel(1).html">http://www.nagpurcity.net/travel(1).html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.mumbainet.com/travel/railtime.htm">http://www.mumbainet.com/travel/railtime.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9770/">http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9770/</A>
<A HREF="http://agraonline.com/timetable/">http://agraonline.com/timetable/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.madrasonline.com/trahomep.html">http://www.madrasonline.com/trahomep.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.baroda-online.com/b-online/tourist/train.htm">http://www.baroda-online.com/b-online/tourist/train.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://host.westbengal.com/travel/trainsch/">http://host.westbengal.com/travel/trainsch/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.uni-mainz.de/~tritsch/trains.html">http://www.uni-mainz.de/~tritsch/trains.html</A>

Tourism
<A HREF="http://www.stictravel.com/reservation.html">http://www.stictravel.com/reservation.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.incore.com/india/palace.htm">http://www.incore.com/india/palace.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.incore.com/india/royal.htm">http://www.incore.com/india/royal.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.expressindia.com/travel/railways.htm">http://www.expressindia.com/travel/railways.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.indolink.com/IndiaTourism/byRail.html">http://www.indolink.com/IndiaTourism/byRail.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.si-india.com/railways.htm">http://www.si-india.com/railways.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.hariworld.com/indrail.htm">http://www.hariworld.com/indrail.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://mars.he.net/~sntta/indianrailways.htm">http://mars.he.net/~sntta/indianrailways.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.indiamart.com/rrindia/train.html">http://www.indiamart.com/rrindia/train.html</A>

Unofficial Pages
<A HREF="http://www.pressanykey.com/cs156/vmall/sbrown/ttable.htm">http://www.pressanykey.com/cs156/vmall/sbrown/ttable.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/glynthomas/irail.html">http://members.aol.com/glynthomas/irail.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.trainweb.com/indiarail/">http://www.trainweb.com/indiarail/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9024/">http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9024/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/">http://www.xula.edu/~vbalasub/</A>

Others
<A HREF="http://railmuseum.com/">http://railmuseum.com/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.bri.com/arts.htm">http://www.bri.com/arts.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.cmc.stph.net/CMC/arts/arts.html">http://www.cmc.stph.net/CMC/arts/arts.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9024/coollines.html">http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9024/coollines.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9024/udyan.html">http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/9024/udyan.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/se_in.html">http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~venus/se_in.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.commercenetindia.com/kit/train.html">http://www.commercenetindia.com/kit/train.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.traveller.org/journal/india/vivo/index.html">http://www.traveller.org/journal/india/vivo/index.html</A>

Other non-IR pages
<A HREF="http://www.jps.net/prakash/apurva/greek.htm">http://www.jps.net/prakash/apurva/greek.htm</A>
<A HREF="http://www.keating.ml.org/features/hstwwwboard/index.html">http://www.keating.ml.org/features/hstwwwboard/index.html</A>

**********************************************************

Vijay






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From: Pushkar Apte <>

Subject: Re: Local services upto Panvel

Date: 16 Oct 1998 11:40:10 -0500


Apurva, thanks for the info. I wonder what happened to the "cross"
locals
that had been started at one point - I distinctly recall an
Andheri-Belapur
local. Is Belapur before Panvel while going from Mumbai?

On the whole it appears that train "cross-services" between the eastern
and
western wings of Mumbai are poor or non-existent. I hope this changes
in
the future. It is interesting to note that until a few years ago, BEST
(the
bus service in Mumbai) had very few "crossing routes" from eastern to
wester
suburbs: most BEST services were focused on connecting the suburbs to
south
(downtown) Mumbai. Recently, there has been an explosion of east-west
services on BEST, highlighting the need for such connection. I hope WR
and
CR can take a page out of BEST's book and provide such service.

I can think of a few possibilities:
1. Apurva's fantasy long-distance train running Pune-Vasai-Bandra.
2. A long-distance train from Ahmadabad/Vadodara crossing over at Vasai
to
terminate at Kurla Terminus.
3. EMUs from Borivali/Andheri/Bandra to Panvel for KR connections -
either
via Vasai or via Ravli junction.
4. EMUs from Andheri/Bandra to Thane-Dombivali-Kalyan via Ravli
junction.

-Pushkar

Apurva Bahadur wrote:

> Gang,
>
> Responding to Pushkar's request to look up the Mumbai suburban
timetable
> for locals from Western System to Panvel (with a link to either Up or
> Down NDLS TVC Rajdhani). I went through the Mumbai (Central Rail)
> suburban TT and the Panvel trains are all sourced at CSTM. Thus there
> are no trains from Andheri / Bandra on the Western Rail to the New
> Mumbai area. The CSTM Panvel locals are almost hourly between 0700
hours
> to 0
> hours.
> If I remember correctly there was an announcement almost two years
back
> that one train in the morning and one in the evening will run from
> Borivali to Vashi and back. But there is no mention in the latest TT
of
> this train at all. Even the 'cross traffic' harbour line trains like
> CSTM - Bandra / Andheri do not move further than Andheri, I would wish
> that these trains would go upto Borivali. When we come visiting to
> Mumbai from Pune we have to go to from Central Rail at CTSM or Dadar
to
> the Western system - Goregaon or Borivali. But the CSTM train takes us
> only till Andheri, thus we (with our small and hyperactive baby and
> luggage) prefer taking a convenient air conditioned bus (apologies -
> truth is always harsh) rather
> than an inconvenient train.
> There are a considerable number of people who travel from Pune onto
the
> Western suburbs of Mumbai and there is no convenient link except via
> Dadar, where you walk 150 meters amongst packed crowd to change
systems.
> The VT - Andheri system is much more leasurely and it travels through
> very interesting dockyard area and through slums where you are
actually
> in the eye ball distance in someone's house. I am a minor voyeur and I
> enjoy that somewhat - I must be honest with my friends ! But then at
> Andheri I still have to walk out of the local terminus (platform 7)
> onto to the platform 1 and then take a slow train coming from
Churchgate
> towards Goregaon and then finally reach my destination. The CSTM - ADH
> local climbs the Sandhurst Road flyover then goes under the Ravli Jn
> Flyover and gets on to the WR by climbing over the Khar Road flyover.
> The Up train (ADH - CSTM)
> uses the flyover at Khar road (over the Bandra Yard diesel shed and a
> local crematorium) to return to the CR system. The Up train climbs the
> the Ravli flyover and descends the Sandhurst Road flyover to enter the
> CSTM yard. The CSTM -
> Andheri ride is recommended as an excellent local trip for any
visitor
> to Mumbai during the non peak (afternoon) hours.
>
> Apurva Bahadur



--

Regards,
Pushkar
-------

From: Sankaran Kumar <>

Subject: More from SR timetable

Date: 16 Oct 1998 18:53:26 -0500


Here is some more info from the SR timetable.

2635/2636 Chennai Egmore-Madurai Vaigai Express (BG):
To be introduced after Tiruchi-Dindigul BG section is open.
Dep Chennai 1230 Arr Madurai 2230; Dep Madurai 0520 Arr Chennai 1500.
Halts Mambalam (towards Chennai only), Villupuram, Vriddhachalam,
Tiruchi, Dindigul.

6119/6120 Chennai Egmore-Tirunelveli Nellai Express: To be introduced
after Tiruchi-Dindigul is open. Dep Chennai 1715 Arr Tirunelveli 0820;
Dep Tirunelveli 1830 Arr Chennai 0915. Halts: Mambalam (towards Chennai
only), Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Madurantakam (towards Chennai only),
Tindivanam, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Kodaikkanal
Road, Madurai, Virudunagar, Sattur, Kovilpatti, Kadambur, Vanchi
Maniyachchi, Talaiyuthu (towards Tirunelveli only).

6103/6104 Chennai Egmore-Tuticorin Pearl City Express: To be introduced

after Tiruchi-Dindigul is open. Dep Chennai 1800 Arr Tuticorin 0855; Dep

Tuticorin 1730 Arr Chennai 0830. Halts Same halt pattern as Nellai
express Chennai-Vriddhachalam except that halt at Madurantakam both
directions, Ariyalur, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Kodaikkanal Road, Sholavandan
(only towards Chennai), Madurai, Thirumangalam, Virudunagar, Sattur,
Kovilpatti, Kadambur, Vanchi Maniyachchi, Tuti-Melur (only towards
Tuticorin).

6717/6718 Chennai Egmore- Madurai Pandyan Express: To be introduced
after Tiruchi-Dindigul is open. Dep Chennai 1930 Arr Madurai 0650; Dep
Madurai 1935 Arr Chennai 0650. Halts Mambalam and Tambaram (both
towards Chennai only), Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Tiruchi,

Dindigul, Ambatturai, Kodaikkanal Road, Sholavandan.

More later.

Kumar

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From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>

Subject: unsubscribe

Date: 16 Oct 1998 23:02:15 -0500



Hi!


Happy & Prosperous Diwali to you all !!!

Leaving on Diwali vacation, please remove me from the mailing list till
I
request again.


Thanks,

Bye

Shrinivas