IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 4141 - 4160

From: Rajan Mathew <>

Subject: Re: Bhowani Junction and Julie - Films featuring IR

Date: 09 Nov 1998 11:04:22 -0500


Talking of good movies featuring the IR, see if you can check out the
Malayalam film "No. 20 Madras Mail" which infact was a murder plot
featured
realistically using a train with a run very similar to the Trivandrum -
Madras Mail. A lot of finer details of a normal rail journey are evident
in
the film. I saw it a year back on Asianet. I am not so well versed in
Malayalam myself but the story and the backdrop of the railway made it
very
interesting.

Rajan

From: Rajan Mathew <>

Subject: Mumbai Harbour line fast locals

Date: 09 Nov 1998 11:10:46 -0500


If you may be aware, a few years back there was a fast train operating
between Bombay VT and Belapur CBD. It ran on the fast track - Bombay VT
-
Dadar - Kurla - Vashi - Nerul and Belapur CBD. The morning train from
Belapur and the evening return was from Bombay VT. This was later
substituted by a harbour line fast Bombay VT - Masjid - Sandhurst Rd. -
Dockyard Rd. - Sewri - Vadala Rd. - Kurla - Vashi - Nerul - Belapur
CBD. If
I am correct, this was later extended when the line was extended to
Khandeshwar. However later the fast train was withdrawn
altogether.


They can re introduce this as a morning service and a evening service.

Rajan

>We have discussed this before but why don't we have any local trains
that
go
>via CSTM-Dadar-Sion and then branch off to the Kurla-Chembur line and
>proceed to Vashi-Panvel? At present, there is NO direct service
between
>Navi Mumbai and Dadar, Byculla, etc. Granted that this would
necessitate
a
>crossover to the Harbor Branch lines (between Kurla and Chunabhatti),
but
if
>we are talking about fast locals, the disrpution to main line traffic
would
>be minimal. Any comments on why this is not being done?
>
>BTW, the Belapur-Andheri locals via Vadala Rd. still exist. Three such
>trains operate everyday with a 6 mt. halt at Vadala for direction
reversal.
>
>Vijay

From: Rajan Mathew <>

Subject: Kolhapur Tirupati Link

Date: 09 Nov 1998 11:19:39 -0500


Folks !

SCR had introduced a few months back (Sept maybe) a direct train between
Kolhapur KOP and Tirupati TPTY. If we can have more info on this. The
info I
have is that the train to Tirupati departs from Hubli at 2045 and the
train
bound for Kolhapur departs approx 0745 or so. Is this train a daily?

Rajan

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: MG LOCOS SEEN AT DELHI CANTT. STATION BY APURVA'S FATHER.

Date: 09 Nov 1998 11:24:53 -0500


   
Immaculate YG 3415 and 3438 haul `The Royal Orient' on every wednesday between Delhi Cantt. and Rewari Jn. Departure time 15.30 Arrival time 06.50. PERIOD.
 

From: Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E, Heath <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update

Date: 09 Nov 1998 17:52:18 -0500


Dear Doug Cummings, and all,
You could count me in for something like this. While I think all
historically-minded people should cooperate with the NRM and the
regional
museums, there is plenty of room for a non-official historical body, and
the
sooner the better, since so much history is being scrapped.
Ken Walker

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Cummings <ihp@istar.email
To: Shankar <shankie@emirates.email Apurva Bahadur
<iti@giaspn01.email
Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Tuesday, 10 November 1998 12:24
Subject: Re: NRM Update


>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
>To: Apurva Bahadur <iti@giaspn01.email
>Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
>Date: Monday, November 09, 1998 2:25 AM
>Subject: Re: NRM Update
>
>
>With all the discussion about preservation, has anyone ever thought of
>forming an Indian Railroad Historical Association, or Society, or
whatever
>the Indian equivilant would be, to try and preserve some of the history
of
>Indian railways, outside of the NRM?
>
>You would likely get members from outside of India.
>
>

From: Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E, Heath <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update

Date: 09 Nov 1998 18:16:33 -0500


Hi Viraf and Anand,
I too would like to see some authentic Indian models, and not just at
the
NRM. It's a shame, too, that some of the existing models, like the
Nilgiri
rack demo, can't be put back into working order. They're a bit crude as
models, but heaps more "authentic" than Trongby.
And there is a handful of modellers around. As far as I know, the
only
commercial interest has been through the Pune club, but there's a chap
in
Delhi who models the KSR, and I have been modelling Indian NG for over
10
years. You can see pictures of my models on my web site,
<A HREF="http://www.powerup.com.au/~kjw_meh">http://www.powerup.com.au/~kjw_meh</A>.
There is a problem about scales and gauges. I model in 4mm:1ft
(1:76.2)
scale, mainly because I came in from UK modelling, and can use lots of
parts
manufactured for the U.K. market. However, I use exact scale track
gauges
(and wheel standards) giving me 22mm, 13.12mm, and 10mm gauges for BG,
MG,
and 2ft6in NG respectively. Naturally, I make my own track. There is
also a
lot of interest among English OO9 modellers (4mm scale on N gauge track)
in
Indian narrow gauge. It seems very likely that there will be kits and
bits
for narrow gauge in 4mm scale soon; there are already a small number of
parts available. This may militate against HO (3.5mm:1ft, 1:87) since
most
parts for that are from the US or Continental markets, and less suited
to
Indian practice.
However, to make use of existing and commercially available track,
I
have often wondered about 3mm scale on HO track for broad gauge, since
16.5mm scales out exactly to 5ft 6in. MG could then use HOn3 (10.5mm
gauge)
track, with only a small error (=3ft 6in gauge), and NG Z gauge track
(6.5mm
gauge) also with only a small error (=2ft 2ins gauge approx.). 3mm scale
does have a following in UK, with some parts available.
Perhaps an enterprising manufacturer could take it up. With Indian
labour costs, and modern medium-volume technology, there is a huge
potential
market, domestic and export. The employment potential is good too: far
more
jobs than a manganese mine!
I'll be happy to correspond with anyone engaged in modelling. We
have
an immediate need to build up a store of decent plans and data, both
because
these things are changing fast, and because of the present lack. (I have
published a few drawings in the UK magazine Continental Modeller, and
there
have been a handful of others too.)
Happy modelling to all
Ken Walker

You wrote (snipped)
>There is a lot of potential in railways itself to produce scaled
working
>models of Indian railways. Also I know of atleast two gentlemen in Pune
>who makes wonderful Indian railways models - they have been even
>appreaciated abroad. Might be in the future The Railway Museum might
use
>the skills of these persons to create a authentic Indian Railways
layout.
>

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: (and model trains)

Date: 09 Nov 1998 18:33:17 -0500


>
> Are any other IRFCA readers building train layouts?
>

Hi,

I am planning to build a French Layout in HO Scale. I have sufficiant
tracks, locos (steam) and rolling stock but what I lack is space and a
green signal from "Home Minister".

Regards
Viraf



==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: (and model trains)

Date: 09 Nov 1998 18:33:17 -0500


>
> Are any other IRFCA readers building train layouts?
>

Hi,

I am planning to build a French Layout in HO Scale. I have sufficiant
tracks, locos (steam) and rolling stock but what I lack is space and a
green signal from "Home Minister".

Regards
Viraf



==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================

From: Jayant S <>

Subject: Pics

Date: 09 Nov 1998 18:58:21 -0500


<A HREF="http://www.buriton.demon.co.uk/asia.html">http://www.buriton.demon.co.uk/asia.html</A>

Just saw some updates here: nice pics of
IR electric locos. Including a WCG1 !

JS

From: Shankar <>

Subject: Re: Indian Railways Electric Locos - new pictures

Date: 09 Nov 1998 19:32:34 -0500


Hello Roger,
Yes, I did see the pics, quite interesting too, especially the one of
the
Crocodile.
Apart from the subject, what I simply ADORE about your pics is the
visual
richness, thanks to the full-screen large size of the pics.

Just one fervent plea: please, PLEASE re-instate the steamers after a
while.
Its a site I go back to again and again and again, just to catch
full-screen
images of those veterans of a bygone era still in steam. If fact, the
two
WPs had been my desktop for over three weeks now. I've temporarily
changed
this to the crocodile, but would love to go back to steam very soon.

Best regards.

Shankar.



At 10:41 PM 11/9/98 +0000, you wrote:
>Gentlemen
>
>I have posted some pictures of electric locomotives onto my web site
>this month by way of a change. When I came to write the captions I
>discovered how little information I possessed about modern IR stock!
>
>Since I wrote the captions I have bought a copy of "A Guide to Diesel
>and Electric Locomotives of Indian Railways" by J.E. Daboo and hope to
>correct what was undoubtedly wrong information - if this was the case
>please bear with me while I try and digest and assimilate the facts.
>
>I think from talking to him at Birmingham this weekend (where I bought
>the book) some or all of you know Peter Thomason from British Overseas
>Railways Historical Trust. Please e-mail him and let him know that the
>"circle has been squared".
>
>Thank you for your interest in my photos.
>--
>Roger G. Morris
>
>Rail images and more at <A HREF="http://www.buriton.demon.co.uk/">http://www.buriton.demon.co.uk/</A>
>The home of the Buriton Wheelbarrow
>

From: PROTIP.DASGUPTA <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update

Date: 09 Nov 1998 19:37:52 -0500


Hi Jayant!
The loco you refer to as an addition to the NRM is not a WAP1 but a
WAM1...WAP1 are resonalby new locos and still have a long way to go till
they get to the museum!
The WAM1 is still in use on ER and NR till this day.....which reminds me
that even when the WP was put into the NRM, it was still in service on
IR!!
As regards the Hornby models, its the most senseless thing NRM can ever
do...all HOrnby models are made to European/UK specifications....have
absolutely nothing to do with India...ridiculous move by NRM!
Regards,
Bharat Vohra

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: INDIAN COAL

Date: 09 Nov 1998 20:47:40 -0500


Bihar coal is bituminous coal haing a calorific value of 3500 - 5000 Kcal/Kg and ash content as high as 35 - 50 %. Most of the Indian Coal is Bituminous though lignite has also been mined in the last two decades but not known to be used on a large scale by IR for their locos. We do not have any Anthracite here but Raniganj(near Calcutta) Coal is said to be the best among the lot.
 
HARSH

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update: Apurva

Date: 09 Nov 1998 23:20:27 -0500





> The only trains I travel on out here
> are the subways. Speaking of which, what is the state of the calcutta
> metro ? I saw it when it first opened and it was really neat and
clean.
> Is it still the same ?

Surprisingly yes ! The Calcutta crowd are very proud of the metro system
and
the benefits that it offers are all to evident for any one so see. There
is
some water seepage problems, specially at Dum Dum. Cal metro is usually
out of
news - so it must be working well !

Apurva

>
>
> I believe that IR should be made the dominant mode of transport in
> the country like most countries in Europe. then the great automobile
boom
> that leads to congestion and pollution in the US will not affect
Indian
> roads
> which are already in bad shape. If only the general public would keep
the
> trains clean and help maintain them by not trashing the place, it
would do
> wonders
> and make IR at par with railways around the world. We already
transport
> more
> people in any case - we just need the added service element that can
push
> it to
> the top. Perhaps a dose of privatization ?
>
> Madhav
>
> Jayant S <sank@telco.email on 11/09/98 05:19:52 AM
>
> Please respond to sank@telco.email
>
> To: IR List <irfca@cs.email
> cc: (bcc: Madhav Acharya/EastCoast/Mobil-Notes)
> Subject: Re: NRM Update: Apurva
>
> > Are the WAPs so old that they be sent to the museum ?
> This one is a German-made loco from 1958. Also: I goofed
> slightly: it is a WAM1 and not a WAP1.
> And you are right: locos such as the Vulcan Foundry-built
> WCP1 are more deserving of a place at the NRM !
> > I have always found the TGVs, the ICEs and the Bullet Trains so
> > tasteless and bland - ANY train on the IR have a greater
personality.
> I agree completely.
> > It would be nice to have a travelogue (Down as well as Up) from you
like
> > the one from Porus some time back.
> What amazes me about the Rajdhani Exps is that such a standard of
> service should not be so difficult to extend to other trains.
> Is there any talk of accelerating these trains ? There seem to
> be several "technical" halts which do not affect the schedule.
> Mathura was, for some reason, a 45 minute halt.
>
> Flew back to Pune: dull.
>
> --
> Jayant S : ID Studio : Tata Technologies India Limited
> Telco Premises : Pimpri : PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA
> TEL 91(212)774261 ext 2534 : FAX 91(212)773191
> --

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: [Fwd: Indian Railways Electric Locos - new pictures

Date: 09 Nov 1998 23:28:29 -0500

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: (and model trains)

Date: 10 Nov 1998 01:29:05 -0500


> I am planning to build a French Layout in HO Scale. I have sufficiant
> tracks, locos (steam) and rolling stock but what I lack is space and a
> green signal from "Home Minister".

Viraf,

You were married much before me - so I cannot tell you - I told you so
! The HM is one of the reason that 'the layout all around the room
type' modellers like Dinyar and I.S. Anand stay unmarried !

Apurva

>
>
> Regards
> Viraf
>
> ==========================
> Viraf Mulla
> C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
> Borivali (West)
> Mumbai 400103
> Tel: +91-22-8954510
> E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
> ==========================

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update: Apurva

Date: 10 Nov 1998 09:34:05 -0500




Madhav Acharya wrote:

> Hi
>
> I agree with the fact that IR trains have a character to them
> that is missing in trains in other countries. I've travelled only
> once on Amtrak and that experience has been enough to keep
> me away from it for the past 4 yrs !

Elaborate what you did not like about Amtrak. Just for comparison's sake
-
inconvenient arrival/departure timing, punctuality problem, bad food,
dirty
toilets ? - what else ?

> more
> people in any case - we just need the added service element that can
push
> it to
> the top. Perhaps a dose of privatization ?

I have been thinking on this point for some time now - does
privatization mean
good effective service ? I doubt it.
Let me illustrate my case with an example. The road (bus) transportation
between Mumbai and Pune has been opened in the past 5 - 6 years to many
private operators who are supposed to offer fast comfortable, point to
point
service. In reality the private operators push the limits of performance
(both
human and machine) so as to do that extra trip and to make that extra
buck.
Profit is what drives a private service while for the state owned bus
service
it is just another job - which has to be done as per rigid rules. So
after a
hair raising ride with a private operator many people have gone back to
the
state owned slower service - at least it is safe. Please note that there
is no
shortage of competition, there are almost 20 private operators and more
are
adding daily without saturating the services. But the state owned
service
still has many takers.
Many of these mega investment type operations like railways would find
corners
severely cut - In a country like India if you think of profit motive, a
service like Railways just cannot make money without increasing the
fares
beyond the acceptable level.
The private airlines in India are not doing well at all. As compared to
the
railways, the airlines is a limited operation.
In conclusion, I want to say is that non professionalism is everywhere
in
India and if the attitude of the IR lacks user friendly attitude, the
private
operator of the railways will be no better - actually he will be worse.
And
there will be no recourse.

Apurva

From: Anne Ogborn <>

Subject: models

Date: 10 Nov 1998 09:35:02 -0500



Apurva Bahadur wrote:

> Anne tell me all about it. Which resin, how to make the mould/die,
what is
> an Athearn drive ? I have never done any modeling so far, I am really
a
> footplater (which is free) - just too poor to buy a Hornby or Marklin
or
> Lima.
>
> Apurva
>
> > Why not make a resin body and resin sideframes to fit an Athearn
drive?
> >
> > That doesn't sound like an impossible project. In the US there are
> > literally hundreds of
> > such folk doing this sort of production out of their garage.

OK -

If you want to make one for yourself, I'd encourage you to go ahead!

You'll have to scratchbuild more, but that's OK. It's a lot cheaper, and

you get exactly what you want. Downside is, you can't have 100's of
locos
and thousands of cars.

The secret of modelling is to not practice on the model. If you haven't
made
molds before, make a casting of something you don't mind if it gets
destroyed.

When you can get the master out of the mold reliably, then cast the
loco.

In the above post, I was suggesting making a small model building
factory.
Here, with explanations, is what I suggested:

I'm suggesting making a "kit" for a loco from an American prototype kit.

Athearn is a maker of model locos in the US. You'd pick a somewhat
similar
looking engine (for a WDM3 a FM trainmaster would be a good choice), and

discard the body -
you'd use only the metal frame and drive mechanism. Of course, you want
one
with the right number of wheels!

1. make a "master" out of plastic - get sheet styrene and single edge
razor
blades,
a few tools, and, as they say, "carve away everything that doesn't look
like a
WDM"

You'll want to make flat "walls" with the doors, handles, and whatnot on
them.
The buyer assembles them
into a loco body and mounts them on the Athearn chassis.

Then you make a set of molds. The normal thing to make molds out of in
the US
is silicone RTV, but
that may be expensive in India.

Here this kind of small production is usually done in epoxy resin. It's
again
a case of what's locally available.

Consider doing the casting in lead. That's reasonably easy to work, and
it's
available.

Another possibility in India is to do it in brass. There's a huge amount
of
small brass casting done for
murtis, etc. in India. If you do brass into a sand mold, you'll have to
build
your engine to a larger scale than HO,
because a sand mold doesn't take detail well. But, if you did this you
could
build a "garden railway" and have G guage.
People in India rarely have a lot of room - you'll have to consider how
you'll
cope with that. A garden railway is a possibility, as are clubs ( a club
also
shares expense and labor), but that means working in large scale.

Another possibility is brass investment casting - you might be able to
find a
small scale jewelry maker who could
do brass investment casting - it's a considerable skill, but there are
lots of
people making jewelry in India.

When we went around collecting alms last Divali, it seemed every house
in
Subash Nagar had a little factory of
some sort in the basement. Somebody in Pune can do this casting.

When you have a body, you mount it on the chassis, and all you need is
the
sideframes for the trucks (bogies).

Model locos usually have the real bearings inside the wheels - the
sideframes
are just for looks.
You make them by the same casting process as the body.

Now, you lay some rails down, make a power pack or use a battery, and
you're
off to the races!

Rail you'll have to import. You can use the british system for ties -
they cut
strips off of electronic printed circuit board
for ties and solder the rails to them. You have to cut through the
copper
afterwards and peel it away in the center
so you don't short out the rails.

If you just want one for yourself, a far simpler way is to make the body
out
of brass sheet.
Get some 0.008 brass sheet and wire, some small drills, snip and fold
it,
solder togather,
and you've got a nice model!

Ken Walker (KJ Walker on the list) makes his own locos out of brass. He
can
give you better advice on this.
You should check out his web site - he's got the "Barfi Light Railway"
going.

A more expensive possibility, but the simplest - Look around for a US or

european engine that looks a lot like
the one you want to model. Convert it with sheet styrene and auto body
putty.

None of these are overnight projects. But they'll get you a loco.

From: Madhav Acharya <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update: Apurva

Date: 10 Nov 1998 09:48:31 -0500


Apurva


> I agree with the fact that IR trains have a character to them
> that is missing in trains in other countries. I've travelled only
> once on Amtrak and that experience has been enough to keep
> me away from it for the past 4 yrs !

Elaborate what you did not like about Amtrak. Just for comparison's sake
-
inconvenient arrival/departure timing, punctuality problem, bad food,
dirty
toilets ? - what else ?

There was nothing wrong with the service - its just that sitting in
a dead silent coach with no atmosphere similar to what one encounters
in IR trains wasn't very nice. Plus you don't have anything like
getting
off at a station to stretch your legs with chai-wallahs going around.
It might be that the journey was only two hrs long.


> more
> people in any case - we just need the added service element that can
push
> it to
> the top. Perhaps a dose of privatization ?

I have been thinking on this point for some time now - does
privatization
mean
good effective service ? I doubt it.
Let me illustrate my case with an example. The road (bus) transportation
between Mumbai and Pune has been opened in the past 5 - 6 years to many
private operators who are supposed to offer fast comfortable, point to
point
service. In reality the private operators push the limits of performance
(both
human and machine) so as to do that extra trip and to make that extra
buck.
Profit is what drives a private service while for the state owned bus
service
it is just another job - which has to be done as per rigid rules. So
after
a
hair raising ride with a private operator many people have gone back to
the
state owned slower service - at least it is safe. Please note that there
is
no
shortage of competition, there are almost 20 private operators and more
are
adding daily without saturating the services. But the state owned
service
still has many takers.
Many of these mega investment type operations like railways would find
corners
severely cut - In a country like India if you think of profit motive, a
service like Railways just cannot make money without increasing the
fares
beyond the acceptable level.
The private airlines in India are not doing well at all. As compared to
the
railways, the airlines is a limited operation.
In conclusion, I want to say is that non professionalism is everywhere
in
India and if the attitude of the IR lacks user friendly attitude, the
private
operator of the railways will be no better - actually he will be worse.
And
there will be no recourse.

Apurva

I don't mean private train operators. There is going to be chaos if
everyone decides to run their
own trains according to their own schedule. The running of trains and
their
maintenance should be left
to IR. However, things like catering, PR, cleanliness in stations etc
should be privatized (indeed, I think
catering is now contracted out in most places). To get over the user
un-friendly attitude, which is often
the result of just one person's bad experience that has been passed on
to
others. IR should get some
professional PR people to try and improve its image with some good ad
campaigns.

Madhav

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update

Date: 10 Nov 1998 10:14:11 -0500


TO DOM DICKENS AND ALL OTHER CONCERNED,


PART I
----------

THE NATIONAL RAIL MUSEUM(NRM), DELHI IS A PART OF IR SETUP AND COMES
DIRECTLY UNDER THE RAILWAY BOARD, NEW DELHI. AS A PART OF THE ANNUAL
BUDGET
EXERCISE, A FIXED AMOUNT IS SANCTIONED FOR THE ROUTINE EXPENSES OF THE
NRM.
TO GIVE YOU A BETTER INSIGHT, THE ANNUAL PURCHASE BUDGET OF THE NRM
LIBRARY
IS RS. 3000(OR USD 70 FOR THE YANKEES) !

THE COLLECTIONS OF THE NRM GO STRAIGHT TO THE IR ACCOUNT AND THERE IS NO
PROVISION FOR ANY INCENTIVES(MEANING SANCTION OF MORE MONEY THAN THE
BUDGET)
AGAINST BETTER COLLECTIONS OR PERFORMANCE (MEANING DOING MORE WORK).

THE NRM DOES NOT RECEIVE ANY GRANT OR AID FROM ANYONE BE IT A PRIVATE
BODY,
NGO OR A RAILWAY ENTHUSIAST ORGANISATION. AND THEY ARE NOT ANSWERABLE TO
ANYONE OTHER THAN THEIR BOSSES AT THE RAIL BHAWAN(FAIR ENOUGH I GUESS).



PART II
-----------

I HAVE MET SEVERAL VISITORS AND ENTHUSIASTS OVER THE YEARS WHO HAD SOME
OR
THE OTHER COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MUSEUM. I READ THE MUSEUM'S VISITOR'S
BOOK
REGULARLY AND LATELY I HAVE COME ACCROSS THE VARIOUS COMMENTS ABOUT THE
WORKING OF NRM IN OUR EMAIL CLUB. HAVING SAID THAT, IAM YET TO COME
ACROSS
ONE PERSON WHO HAS MENTIONED WHAT HE IS WILLING TO DO FROM HIS SIDE TO
IMPROVE THE SITUATION(IN WHATEVER WAY) . IT IS NOT A CHICKEN AND EGG
SITUATION, OR IS IT ?

AGREED THAT RUNNING THE MUSEUM IS PRIMARILY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
RAILWAYS, BUT IF IT IS JUST THAT THEN WHO ARE WE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW
THEY
DO IT ? I CAN INTRODUCE YOU TO ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT
RUNNING A
MUSEUM IS A SHEER WASTE OF TAXPAYER'S MONEY ON PART OF THE RAILWAYS AND
THEY
SHOULD BETTER STICK TO RUNNING THE TRAINS. THEN WHAT SURPRISE IS IT IF
THE
TOP BRASS AT THE RAIL BHAWAN FEEL THE SAME WAY. FACT REMAINS THAT THERE
WOULD HAVE BEEN NO MUSEUM IF THERE WAS NO MIKE SATOW. HE KNEW HIS
GROUNDS
AND TOOK THE TASK TO HIMSELF. SO WHAT IS IT THAT STOPS US FROM TAKING
CHARGE(OF THE BOUQUETS AND THE BRICKBATS) INSTEAD OF BEING FENCE
SITTERS. ?

THAT IS SOME FODDER FOR TODAY'S THOUGHTS.


COMING BACK TO YOU DON, I FEEL THAT YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON ITS
HEAD
BY ASKING YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE MONEY. THIS IS WHAT THEY NEED(APART
FROM
BEING SHORT ON MANPOWER) AND ARE NOT GETTING WHICH IS THE PRIME REASON
FOR
CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.

KIND REGARDS,

HARSH VARDHAN





-----Original Message-----
From: Don Dickens <ddickens@e-z.email
To: sank@telco.email <sank@telco.email
Cc: IR List <irfca@cs.email
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 1998 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: NRM Update


>Please forgive this "Yankee" his ignorance but where does the funding
>for the NRM come from. In other words, are they accountable to anyone
>for how the museum activities are conducted?
>Don Dickens
>
>

From: Madhav Acharya <>

Subject: Re: NRM Update

Date: 10 Nov 1998 10:44:34 -0500


Harsh/Dom,

It would be very beneficial to NRM if they could hold some
kind of fund raising drive the same way PBS asks people for
donations - and they end up getting money ! The trouble is
that most people would enjoy the NRM facilities but would be
reluctant to pay any more than the entry fee for its upkeep. the entry
fee is also ridiculous - Rs 10 or something which is 25 cents ! Museums
are meant to be expensive - if not, then they should be funded heavily
(like Smithsonian in DC).

Madhav