IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 4241 - 4260

From: PROTIP.DASGUPTA <>

Subject: Re: Favorite train

Date: 14 Nov 1998 05:11:03 -0500


Hi All!
My favourite train since childhood has been and will continue to be the
2903 DN/04 UP Frontier Mail of WR!!
I have great memories of this train and even though its service has
detiorated and it lacks the glory of its past days, I still havge a soft
spot for it!!
Even today, I stop to see it pass Mahalaxmi station at night on my way
back home and given half a chance I travel by it rather then by
Rajdhani,
even though they are much faster!

Frontier apart from being one of the oldest and most prestigious mail
trains in the country, is also one of the most punctual trains even to
this day....probably one of the better punctuality records throughout
IR!
Another thing I like about Frontier is is long stretches of non stop
runs
during its day journey past MP, Rajasthan while headiong for
Delhi.....and
as my dad used to say, this is the way trains should be run!

A pity they changed its name to Golden Temple Mail....thats like
changing
history....but to me the Frontier will always be the Frontier and will
continue to be my favourite!

Rgards,
Bharat Vohra

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: train liveries

Date: 14 Nov 1998 06:26:31 -0500


> I thought I had forgotten something when I didn't mention the
Vidharbha
> Express which has very interesting colours of grey, white and bright
blue
>

If I remember correctly, the Vidharba rake has larger glass windows set
in the
door. It also has an additional illuminated sign near the door which
states that
this is the Vidharba Exp. This seems to be the doing of the local car
shed
rather than something that the ICF/RCF intended.

> The Karnavati Express to Ahmedabad also has a different livery though
the
> color scheme seems close to the Shatabdi Express.
>
> Of late, some WCAM Bhel engines - model numbers still confuse me are
being
> repainted

Rajan please be specific - WCAM 3 of the CR or the WCAM 2 of the WR ? I
saw a
dead WCAM 3 about 2 months back at Pune in the dark blue and cream
livery which
was the standard colour scheme of the WCM 1/2 & 5 for many years.

Apurva

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: train liveries

Date: 14 Nov 1998 07:41:16 -0500





>> If I recall the picture, it was at a station within an AC-electrified
>> section; so it couldn't have been the Udyan Exp. since the only
section
>> where it is single-headed is Pune-Solapur.
>
>Is Bangalore - Dharmavaram electrified ?
>

It is Pune station platform No. 2 only which is electrified with 1.5 KV
DC(pillers visible in the picture) and it is the down train which has
just
arrived from Daund side. This is an evening picture and Udyan arrives at
16.00 at Pune. Udyan, whenever I have
seen it is always single headed. I think that probably Anand was
confused by
the repeated announcements on the station for the arrival of Goa Super
which
arrives at a similar time(17.10) in the same direction.

HARSH

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: Daboo's book

Date: 14 Nov 1998 08:13:58 -0500


Goa express is a plain vanilla (red oxide) IR rake which used to be run (in the days Daboo was here in India) by the Northern Rail (2479/80) and shared its rake with NDLS - VSKP (Vishakhapatnam) express. I have never seen the Goa Exp (referred to as 'Super' by all the drivers due to its superfast status) in any special livery. When Daboo was in Pune Dr. Yande and I accompanied him to the electric and the diesel sheds. Next day I took him footplating to Daund and back. Well not quite back. We footplated  to DD on the 0730 passenger to Daund and did the rounds of the Daund platform, ex steam shed, visit to the foreman, NG platform, up yard etc. On the way back the first train was the Up Goa express which had just arrived from Manmad and was to go Pune after reversing the loco. I had requested the loco foreman to inform the driver to allow us on the footplate. But the information did not get through, and the driver firmly refused us entry on the footplate. Hence we had to travel standing back to Pune in the first coach of the 'Super'. Daboo had a small automatic (non SLR) camera which he carried in his pant pocket. Before you knew it, he would whip the camera out shoot the picture and the camera would disappear back into his pocket. With a benign look on his face he would go on recording the IR on film and on a notepad quite meticulously. This was his brush with the Goa Express. Since then the driver who refused us that day has come to recognize me as a harmless nut (fool ?) and I have traveled with him on a few occasions.
If I.S. Anand has contributed this picture and if I remember the colours correctly AND if this picture is of a TKD (Tughlakabad, you ignorant lot) loco then I think I know the origins of this picture. Gang who has this book, please confirm if this is the picture of a smoky TKD loco. If it is a SR loco can you identify the shed ?

That is quite correct. The rake of Goa Super, which is a S.C. Rly train, is till date shared by Nizammudin- Vizag Samta Express which is a S.E. Rly. train. It is quite unlikely that a shared rake(that too between two diferent Rly.s) will wear any special livery.

PS: I just called IS Anand and he says it is a KJM (Krishnarajapuram near Bangalore) loco on the cover which he claims is Goa Exp at Pune - No way - I have NEVER seen a KJM loco on a north bound train like Goa or Jhelum. The Up Goa Super always had an Itarsi power which went to Miraj and came back next day hauling the Down Super. In case of the Itarsi power pranging, a Pune loco would take the train. I am quite sure about this. The only KJM hauled north bound train in our area is the 2627/28 Karnatak Exp. In Pune you could see the KJM power on the 6529/30 Udhyan Exp, the 1017/1018 CLAT (Kurla Terminus) - SBC (Bangalore) Express via Miraj. It is now much more common to see Guntakal power which power all the South bound loads. Also becoming a rare sight is a (GY) Gooty power because the GY shed is converted to home WDG 2s and its locos have been transferred to the new (or converted MG shed) shed at Guntakal.

Normally it is a Pune Power only. An Itarsi power at Manmad is also a rare occasion as Manmad - Itarsi section is always on an electrical power for any North bound train

How do you solve a problem like I.S. Anand ? Try as I might (and Viraf and Harsh would) he just would not take up internet. 'Why do I need a computer ?' (sounds familiar ?) - Maybe all of us 100 members of the IRFCA should sign a joint request and push him closer towards a computer and eventually the IRFCA. Gang who do not know Anand personally will never know my agony - he is a walking talking encyclopedia of IR and he is not available for his expert comment because he is not computer enabled !


Yes, I agree that he is needed here and perhaps this is the best occasion.

HARSH  

 

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: More Plinthed locos

Date: 14 Nov 1998 09:32:36 -0500


>Yesterday I had been to Bombay Central and saw the Plinthed NG Loco.
>It is 563K of BB & CI made by Kerr Stuart & Co. at the cost of
Rs.34,423
>in the year 1929. It ran for 22,02,400Kms and was retired from Pratap
>Nagar shed in 1990 and was plinthed in 1991 to commemorate the Platium
>Jubilee of Bombay central station.


Dear Viraf,
That's great news again. K 563(2-6-4T) is the only
loco
of its kind to have worked on the Dabhoi MG network. It is indeed
surprising
that it was plinthed in 1991 and I have missed it for all these years !
Perhaps it is because I normally always board a suburban train from BCT
and
never come to the main gate where it must me parked.

Regards,

HARSH

From: Anne Ogborn <>

Subject: Re: Steam Engine Driving position

Date: 14 Nov 1998 10:43:59 -0500




Apurva Bahadur wrote:

> Gang !
>
> I need info on this. Seeing a steam loco being driven is a hazy memory
> now - Did the WP and WG drivers ever have a seat to sit on ? I think
> there was a wooden slat that extended from the window (?) towards the
> firebox on which the driver sat. The lack of space in a MG locos
> prevented such an arrangement and the crew had to stand all the way (
> upto 12 hours at a stretch).
> I need confirmation on one bizarre practice found on the NG stream
> locos on the IR (and only on the IR ?) - The driver actually sat on a
> seat that was OUTSIDE the loco in the slipstream. I have seen a
> Gwalior - Sheopur Kalan N class (?) loco (in a picture) with a driver
> on an 'external' seat. What was the reason of this arrangement and how
> did the driver get in and out of his seat in a hurry ?
>
> Apurva

Strange - Even the "live steamers" try to fit inside the cab if they
can.
Here's some small locos I know and where the driver sat:

The 19" Billy Jones Wildcat RR, original locos - sat on tender.
Billy Jones - the diesel - inside cab
The Pueblo Big Boy - rode inside cab.
all 3' guage locos I know of - inside cab (Shay cabs were even roomy)

12" Ottaway, and all smaller live steam - sat on tender.

18" industrial railway - in cab (open footplate on some steamers)

From: C.L.Zeni <>

Subject: Re: Wheel arrangements (was Hot news/Mystery Steam Loco)

Date: 14 Nov 1998 13:47:42 -0500


Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E, Heath wrote:
>
> Hi Shanku and all,
> I guess none of us can be authoritative about this one, but I have
to say
> that the long list of designations for loco wheel arrangements has
always
> seemd suspicious to me (I've seen it or its relatives elsewhere,
before).
> Many of these names I have never heard used. There are one or two
others
> which are so rare that that they can't really be said to be in general
use.
> For example, Victorian Railways used to refer to its sole 4-8-4 as a
> "Pocono". I never heard the term used elsewhere. Sometimes, too, the
name
> changed if there was a minor technical change: for example, a delta
trailing
> truck, or something like that.
> Some of those designations are railroad-specific, like "big boy"
for
> 4-8-8-4s -- these were the Union Pacific Mallets, and no others (if
they
> existed at all ) were called Big Boys. (On the other hand, the 4-6-6-4
> Challenger design was multiplied and belonged to several US roads, but
the
> Challenger was a specific design of 4-6-6-4 Mallet - other 4-6-6-4s
were not
> Challengers.)

True, the other roads here in the US that had 4-6-6-4s tended to have
other names for them. But the most widely used name that's the least
used is for the 4-8-4, at least here in the US. "Northern" came from
the Northern Pacific. But on nearly every other road they had some
other name, viz,
Lehigh Valley RR - "Wyoming"
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis - "Dixie"
Southern Pacific - "Daylight"
Western Maryland - "Potomac"
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western - "Pocono"
New York Central - "Niagara"
Chesapeak & Ohio - "Greenbrier"

And that's all I can recall at this time, having just stepped off a
plane home from the UK...

And for whatever it's worth, none of the 4-6-6-4s in the US were
compound types; all four cylinders saw high pressure steam, so in my
estimation they ought to be called Articulateds vs. Mallets. Mallet to
me implies compounding...just being picky I suppose :)
--
Craig Zeni - REPLY TO -->> clzeni at mindspring dot com

<A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html">http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html</A>

From: Vdate <>

Subject: Re: Historical Group / MG couplers

Date: 14 Nov 1998 16:04:47 -0500


Please count me in.

From: Vdate <>

Subject: Re: Tidbits from early IR issues - April 1968

Date: 14 Nov 1998 16:44:22 -0500


Vijay asks about the composition of Kachara trains in Mumbai. In the
fifties
they ran loaded in the down direction from CST on CR tracks. Each train
consisted of 60 to 70 box cars, many covered with tarpaulin. The box
cars had
seen better days before, many were rusted. They would pass Dadar
station in
early afternoon and leave a smelly wake behind. Interestingly, Jodhpur
City
owned and operated a narrow gauge system for the same purpose. Shri
R.R.
Bhandari's book titled Jodhpur Railway (published by NRM) has a nice
account
of it.

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Three phase loco

Date: 15 Nov 1998 01:25:25 -0500


Gang !

As per the Indian Express of 15th Nov 1998 - the first indigenously
built 3 phase loco was flagged of at Chittaranjan Loco Works (CLW) by
the Railway minister Nitish Kumar on the 14th Nov. Quote "With this,
Indian becomes the first country outside Europe to indigenously produce
this state of the are, hi tech locomotive" unquote.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, he said it would be a "mistake" of
policy makers remained indifferent to the problems of the railways.
While services have seen a growth of 380 % over the past several years,
growth in infrastructure stood at a mere 36 %.
Pointing out that Indian Railways have become a member of the Paris
based International Union of Railways, he said "when policy makers the
world over were focussing their attention on the railways, those in
India should also do the same."

My thoughts - first country outside the Europe - hummm - because even
the AC 44 locos in the US use Siemen's drives ? Any is this drive really
Indian in origin - or is it Hitachi/Sumitomo/ABB ? I always thought the
CLW had a three phase power ready but was sidelined because of the ABB
loco.

Apurva

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: Hugh Hughes' books

Date: 15 Nov 1998 03:23:44 -0500



>> The train is painted in swarnajayanti (50 years of Independence)
colours
>> and when he showed this picture to the S.R. officials in Madras
>> recently they claimed that the Northeners have stolen their colour
scheme.
>>
>
>The once a week Nizamuddin - Mysore Express via Daund - Pune - Miraj -
Hubli -
>Bangalore has one of the best liveries of rakes out of Pune. If I
remember
>correctly it is off white with red, green and blue stipes along the
sides.
The AC
>coaches are normal rust coloured though.

Yes, I agree that it could be HNZN - MYS Express just arrived at Pune.
The
timing, place and the rest of the particulars fall into place then.
Could
any of our Pune friend confirm if the train still carries this livery
and
which train takes the KJM power(if it is a regular) back. I would be
surprised to know if this power carries the train upto Manmad as the
return
train would be coming after 4 days only !


HARSH

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Tidbits from early IR issues - April 1968

Date: 15 Nov 1998 06:31:20 -0500


If I remember correctly the book 'Railways of the Raj' by Mike Satow
mentions a similar NG railway in Gwalior, apart from the garbage, it
also carried nightsoil of the city so some unholy site away from the
center. To warn of this train's progress there was a large continuously
clanging bell. There was also a old B&W photo of this train with a
unhappy looking driver working his load (ha !) right down the
road. The train tracks shared space with the vehicular road. Gang, we
are all friends here - I confess my current thoughts - I do not mind
driving a shit train or a garbage train as long as I can have a crack at
the loco. This was a really narrow NG loco with just enough space for
the driver to stand. It was not that the bell was very large - the loco
was very small !
Come to think of it - the Kachra train tradition continues to date
although in a limited sense - the entire refuse of the Pune Jn is dumped
in a 4 wheeler wagon. This wagon is found stabled in the Mumbai end of
the sidings which contains the waiting WDM 2s. Once this wagon is full
(in a few days) it is replaced by another. I do not know where the full
wagon goes.

Apurva

Vdate@aol.email wrote:

> Vijay asks about the composition of Kachara trains in Mumbai. In the
fifties
> they ran loaded in the down direction from CST on CR tracks. Each
train
> consisted of 60 to 70 box cars, many covered with tarpaulin. The box
cars had
> seen better days before, many were rusted. They would pass Dadar
station in
> early afternoon and leave a smelly wake behind. Interestingly,
Jodhpur City
> owned and operated a narrow gauge system for the same purpose. Shri
R.R.
> Bhandari's book titled Jodhpur Railway (published by NRM) has a nice
account
> of it.

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: State of the NRM: Don

Date: 15 Nov 1998 07:15:02 -0500



>> My web pages about the Patiala State Monorail Tramway have
>> publicized the museum to over 600 people, mostly from other
>> parts of the world and I was dealing with a very obscure and
>> less than popular topic.

>I have been keeping track of your page, and I think it is a
>commendable piece of work. Just for the record, I regard the
>working preservation of the PSM stock at the NRM as one of
>its real successes, along with the Fairy Queen.


>> A word about other museums. The "nose in the air', "can't be
bothered"
>> attitude is not just the result of low funding.


>Quite true. I estimate that the NRM spent over Rs 100,000/-
>on somewhat irrelevant Hornby layouts. That sort of money could
>have really been used properly somewhere else.


>> Someone said "When all is said and done. much more will be said than
>> done" Does this mean that those who care need to get a whole huge
amount
>> said so that something gets done?


>I think it is more a need to change attitudes at the NRM, and this
>list is probably THE best think-tank in existence to throw up
>ideas. Funding is actually the lesser problem, it is the apathy
>surrounding the place that needs to be addressed. They seem to be
>making only token efforts at merchandising, which could really
>make a difference if done effectively.


I DON'T REALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT ACCOUNT, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE
DISCUSSION LET US ASSUME WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE. BUT WHAT IS THE SOLUTION
THAT
YOU OFFER(FOR CHANGING THE ATTITUDES) ?

HARSH

P.S.
------
PLEASE READ MY MAIL AGAIN. I HAVE ALREADY INFORMED YOU THAT THE MUSEUM
DOES'NT GET ANYTHING OUT OF MAKING MORE AND LESS OUT OF MERCHANDISING.
NOT
EVEN BY RUNNING RUNNING THE PSMT OR EVEN BY REVIVING FAIRY QUEEN. IT IS
ACTUALLY A PAIN IN THE NECK FOR THE EMPLOYEES !

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: train liveries

Date: 15 Nov 1998 07:53:07 -0500


> It is Pune station platform No. 2 only which is electrified with 1.5
KV
> DC(pillers visible in the picture) and it is the down train which has
just
> arrived from Daund side. This is an evening picture and Udyan arrives
at
> 16.00 at Pune.

Pune does not get ANY double headed passenger stock except for when a
loco fails en route and is towed dead or when a shut down loco gets
transported to Daund yard with a passenger rake.

Of course this is not the story with goods trains - we regularly get
double or even triple WDM 2 headed freighters which are very
satisfactory to watch. When the 3000 tonne BCN rake goes slowly though
the maze of points to enter the through line, the WDM 2s open up,
sending clouds of black smoke in the sky and the rake creaks and strains
to gather speed - this is an excellent opportunity to catch the locos in
a loaded condition when the wheel speed is very slow. They sound divine
!

Apurva

Could this be a 'holiday special' train ? Hence not linking with the
regular timetable sense ? The double headed bit is not clear though.

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Goa Express link

Date: 15 Nov 1998 09:00:40 -0500


 
 

That is quite correct. The rake of Goa Super, which is a S.C. Rly train, is till date shared by Nizammudin- Vizag Samta Express which is a S.E. Rly. train.

In those (when Daboo was in India) days the Goa express was a NR train. Goa express was 2701/02 (SC) when inaugurated, then 2479/80 (NR) for an year or so and now it is 2779/2780 (back to SC). I have noticed ( and we have discussed on the IRFCA in the last fortnight) that this sort of zonal adjustment keeps happening all the time. The SCR man says - 'You take over this train and give me that train instead' - the NR then exchanges one train with SCR and so on. Then numbers suddenly change - Few more examples - Jhelum Express which was 177/178 (CR), 4677/78 (NR) and now 1077/1078 (back to CR) or the Dadar Chennai 'Chennai' Express which was 963/64 (pre 4 digit unique number scheme) to start with, 6063/63 later (SR) and now it is 1063/64 (CR). Possibly it was during the 'NR' phase of the Goa super that the NR ran both the Goa as well as NZM - VKSP express hence shared the rakes. I have seen the VKSP bit in  the train log (normally available with the guard and that list the journeys made by a rake). Also frequently the Vishakhapatnam Express used to come to Pune (much to the laymen's confusion) when the NR staff forgot to change the boards on the Super !

It is quite unlikely that a shared rake(that too between two diferent Rly.s) will wear any special livery.

Is the VSKP express still sharing the rake with Goa Express ? Why should Hubli division agree to maintain a rake for a train traveling from Nizamuddin to Vishakhapatnam ??

 
Normally it is a Pune Power only. An Itarsi power at Manmad is also a rare occasion as Manmad - Itarsi section is always on an electrical power for any North bound train

As far as the Up Goa Express is concerned a Pune power brings in it from Daund and then ANOTHER Pune power attaches at the tail end of  this rake to take it to Castle Rock. I have an older (pre Konkan railway) 'link' of the WDM2s from Pune shed which I will upload ASAP to understand this loco jugglery better.

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Manmad Jn

Date: 15 Nov 1998 09:02:55 -0500


Gang !

Manmad Jn is located on the Mumbai - Bhusawal main line. It is joined
from the East by the single line from Daund and the from the North east
by the single line from Nanded and eventually Hyderabad. What is
interesting about this station is the arrangement used to compensate for
the lack of a triangle.
Let me explain.
When a train comes from Daund, the tracks naturally allow the rake to
come onto the platform where it may proceed towards Bhusawal without
reversing. Similarly a train coming from Bhusawal can enter the Daund
line without reversing. But if a train is to come from Daund and then
proceed towards Mumbai, the loco would have to be attached on the other
side as there is no triangle towards Mumbai on the Daund line.
The Daund line enters Manmad from the Mumbai end and the Nanded line
enters Manmad from the Bhusawal end.
The Daund line as well as the (MG converted to BG line) Nanded line run
parallel but at some distance from each other till the first station
Ankai. Then the two lines diverge. At this point the railways have
constructed a cross line. This allows a train coming from Daund (and
wanting to go to Mumbai) to cross over to the Nanded - Manmad track.
Thus the train to enters Manmad already facing Mumbai thus the need for
a triangle is avoided at Manmad. I have not seen this personally but was
told to me by a IR fan staying in that area. Gang traveling on this
route keep your eyes peeled for details.
This would facilitate the starting of a long awaited Pune - Nashik
train. Today the transport from Pune to Nashik is solely by road
transport.

Apurva

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Re: Favorite train

Date: 15 Nov 1998 18:16:25 -0500


On Sat, 14 Nov 1998, Rajan Mathew wrote:

> I was of the opinion that the Frontier Mail should have retained its
name
> and the Paschim Express renamed the Golden Temple Express


Why change the names in the first place. They can add a new train if
they
want to and christian it with whatever name they have in mind.
==========================
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: Re: Favorite train

Date: 15 Nov 1998 18:23:01 -0500


On Fri, 13 Nov 1998, Anne Ogborn wrote:

>
> OK - If we're strictly meaning a "train" - then my last answer was a
bit off
> the point.
> In that case, I'll have to take the EMU's on the Calcutta - Singur
run, just
> because I've so many
> memories of delightful things happening on them.
>
>

Hi Annie,

And what are those delightful things happening on them.


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

From: Rajan Mathew <>

Subject: Re: Favorite train

Date: 15 Nov 1998 19:48:32 -0500


"What is your favorite train and why?"

Two of the most scenic routes are along the west coast with simple neat
clean stations and surroundings

1. 0021/0022 - Mangalore Madgaon Express - Coastal Karnataka on the
Konkan
Railway
Of course I found that Goa and Karnataka on the Konkan Railway is more
scenic compared to Maharashtra, since in Maharashtra the terrain is more
rugged and with numerous cut throughs and tunnels more than anything
else.
In Goa and Karnataka the line itself appeared more elevated and had a
flatter terrain with major river bridges. There was a clear change in
the
vegetation as one moved from Goa and Karwar towards Udupi and Mangalore,
with the greenery getting more dense southwards.

2. 6049/50 - Mangalore Trivandrum Parshuram Express - Kerala on the
Southern
Railways
These are absolutely delighting day journey trains with lush green
beautiful
scenery. Unfortunately the II class is really crowded and this was a
rare
time when I used First class in December last year (actually Dec 31st)
I travelled from Kottayam To Cannanore and Kerala by rail in the day was
absolutely breathtaking.
Highly recommended for tourists


Actually one can today get a combined journey from Mumbai (Vasai
Rd./Panvel)
if one were to take the Rajkot - Cochin/Trivandrum or Gandhidham -
Nagercoil
express. which enters Goa about 7 am, touches Kankanadi at 1330 and
Calicut
at 1830.

Rajan Mathew

From: Rajan Mathew <>

Subject: IR OFFICIAL WEBSITE - has been located

Date: 15 Nov 1998 21:29:32 -0500


Gang,

I was surfing the net recently and found the Official IR site. The site is very very detailed and informative, though not much on history

It will suffice to go to the welcome or home page, but for direct access to specific pages / information the list of pages will be useful

A lot of pages will have to be updated with this link. It seems to be a very recent development (24 Oct 98)

I have not found reference to this site anywhere else yet

OFFICIAL WELCOME PAGE

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/>">http://www.indianrailway.com/></A>

HOME PAGE

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/index1.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/index1.html></A>

HISTORY

Page 1 - 16th April, 1853 - The Beginning, Has a total 4 pages

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/history.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/history.html></A>

PASSENGER SERVICES

Main Page - Passenger Services

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/pas.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/pas.htm></A>

Passenger Services and Information

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/custserv.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/custserv.htm></A>

Rajdhani & Shatabdi Expresses

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/raj&shat.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/raj&shat.htm></A>

New Passenger Services w.e.f. 15 August 1998

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/pasngerv.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/pasngerv.htm></A>

Reservations

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/reserve.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/reserve.htm></A>

Tourist Cars

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/tou_car.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/tou_car.html></A>

Accident Compensation Claims

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/claim.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/claim.htm></A>

TOURIST INFO

Main Page - Tourist Information and Trains

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/tourist.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/tourist.html></A>

Palace on Wheels

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/palacew.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/palacew.html></A>

The Royal Orient Express

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/orient.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/orient.html></A>

Hill Trains of India

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/hill.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/hill.html></A>

Information on individual railways given here - Shimla / Ooty / Darjeeling / Matheran / Shivalik

Tourist Cars

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/tou_car.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/tou_car.html></A>

Hotels by Indian Railways

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/hotel.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/hotel.html></A>

Indrail Pass

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/indrail.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tourist/indrail.html></A>

TIMETABLE

Main Page – Timetable for Indian Railways – Trains at a Glance

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tt.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/tt.html></A>

Rajdhani Information

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/paslef-r.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/paslef-r.html></A>

Shatabdi Information

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/paslef-s.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/passenger/paslef-s.html></A>

SPECIAL TRAINS

Main Page – Special Trains

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/special.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/special.htm></A>

NETWORK

Main Page - Network Map of Indian Railways

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/network/network.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/network/network.html></A>

Southern Railways  / Northern Railways / Western Railways / South Eastern Railways /

Central Railways System Maps also available

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/network/central.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/network/central.html></A>

CITIZENS CHARTER

Main Page - Citizens Charter on Passenger Services of Indian Railways - Preamble

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/citizen/charter.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/citizen/charter.html></A>

BUDGET

Main Page - Railway Budget 1998 - 99

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/budget/budget.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/budget/budget.html></A>

STATUS PAPER

Main Page - Table of Contents (click on each subhead for more information)

Status Paper on Indian Railways – Ministry of Railways - (Railway Board) 27th May, 1998

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/status/status-open.htm>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/status/status-open.htm></A>

PURCHASE & TENDERS

Main Page - Purchase and Tender Information

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/purchase/pur.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/purchase/pur.html></A>

New Tenders Information / Material Management

CORPORATE OVERVIEW

Main Page - Corporate Overview

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/overview/statcont.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/overview/statcont.html></A>

The IR System / Planning / Tracks / Electrification / Signal & Telecom / Rolling Stock

Traction / Passenger Business / Freight Operations / Utilisation of Assets / Safety

Personnel / Finance / Research and Development / Self Sufficiency

ORGANISATION

Main Page - Organisation Structure of Indian Railways

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/orgn.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/orgn.html></A>

Key Contacts At Indian Railways

<<A HREF="http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/key_orgn.html>">http://www.indianrailway.com/railway/key_orgn.html></A>

Rajan Mathew