IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 4401 - 4420
From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>
Subject: Re: ghat
Date: 22 Nov 1998 23:22:34 -0500
On Mon, 23 Nov 1998, Jayant S wrote:
> Anne wrote:
> > while we're doing definitions, what's a "ghat" in a RR context? I
know
> > it as a river bank,
> > especially one with steps going into the water.
>
> Generally means "gradient", I think.
That's true. This is a typical Marathi word. In the travel context it
is-
when you climb from lower sea level towards up in the mountain range eg.
the Bor Ghat, Thal Ghat when one takes routes from Mumbai up towards
Pune
or Nashik. This applies to both rail or road journeys.
Otherwise, as Anne has mentioned in the 1st mail it is a river bank with
steps to go down & up. (May be typical Hindi word)
Shrinivas
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Re: MG Query
Date: 23 Nov 1998 02:06:44 -0500
> Appu, Sarosh, Shriniwas and myself are going to Wankaner and Jetalsar
> because steam is still very much alive there.
You lucky folks !!
Please post a report when you return !!
--
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: ranand <>
Subject: Re: KR time table news + SR tt
Date: 23 Nov 1998 05:30:21 -0500
Apurva is correct about the SR timetable. All of the other time
tables are disorganized, have numerous misspellings and gramtical
mistakes. I think WR has one of the shabbiest timetables that I have
yet seen. In addition to the color maps, the explanations of the complex
IR tariff rules in plain language are really well done.
The hotel guide at the back of timetables is usually a great source of
amusement to me. I recall a great ad in the SE railway timetable of
1973:
"Single, double, triple and quadruple rooms with hot water available
in buckets on request". Even the hotel ads in the new SR timetable
actually seem quite decent! One of the advertised hotels even has
a website!
Anand
Internet: anand@watson.email
External tel: (914) 784 7054
Notes: Rangachari Anand/Watson/IBM@IBMUS
Tie-line: 863 7054
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: More fantasy trains
Date: 23 Nov 1998 07:27:35 -0500
> Hi Vijay,
>
> How about an "INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS" from Bombay to either Lahore or
> Karachi.
>
> Think about it. (Oops will the train be allowed in our Mumbai or
> Maharashtra?)
>
It would be neat to have a superfast Mumbai - Lahore Exp. via Amritsar.
In
fact, we could have a Howrah-Lahore Exp. as well, with these two trains
sharing schedules between Delhi and Amritsar. Going a step further, how
about extending the train beyond Calcutta into Bangladesh?
Vijay
From: Vaibhav Galriya <>
Subject: Please Remove my address
Date: 23 Nov 1998 07:39:58 -0500
Dear Friends,
It is nice to be a part of such a vast club.But ,now I'm leaving the
academy for a year for field training etc. During won't have access to
e-mail in that period. Therefore please remeve my address from the irfca
addresses.
With thanks and fond memories and wishing all of you very best of luck.
Vaibhav Galriya
IAS(P)
LBS National Academy of Administration,
Mussoorie , U.P.
E-mail Address: vgalriya@hotmail.email
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: More Rajdhani-type dream trains
Date: 23 Nov 1998 07:43:56 -0500
> Vijay:
>
>
> >
>
> >Non-Rajdhani trains:
> >
> >8. Varanasi - Bangalore City Sangeet Exp. (name borrowed
> from Kumar!),
> >superfast, biweekly.
> > Halts: Mughalsarai, Dehri-on-Sone, Gaya, Gomoh, Mahuda, Purulia,
> >Tatanagar, Kharagpur, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Rd., Berhampur,
> >Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Vijayawada, Nellore,
> Gudur, Chennai
> >Central, Katpadi, Bangalore Cant
> > Running time : about 46 hours
>
> I would replace the Eluru halt with one at Rajahmundry
> (bigger town). I
> wonder if one can break up the train at Gudur, with the SBC
> part going
> off via Renigunta. It would avoid a reversal at MAS.
OOoops! I forgot to include Rajahmundry which is, indeed, a halt. I
had
considered other possibilities for providing service to
Chennai/Bangalore:
1. Once a week to Chennai and once a week to Bangalore -
Chennai/Bangalore
get only a weekly
service to Varanasi.
2. Splitting the train at Gudur vs routing via Chennai. The latter is
more
flexible in terms of the availability for Chennai and Bangalore
passengers.
>
> >
> >11. Mumbai CST - Mysore Garden City Exp., superfast, biweekly
> > Halts: Pune, Miraj, Belgaum, Hubli, Birur, Bangalore City
> > Running time : about 25 hours
>
> Have you considered by-passing SBC? Using the Arsikere-Hasan-Mysore
> route. It is much shorter.
Initially my Garden City Exp. was via Solapur-Guntakal and I had a
Konkan
Exp. to Mysore via Hasan. Then I decided to have a Rajdhani-type train
via
the former route (the shortest of all) and rerouted the GC exp. via
Hubli.
I agree with you that using Arsikere-Hasan is much shorter so it would
be
better to have a Bangalore train AND a Mysore train which share
schedules
till Arsikere.
> Also Faluknama Express is no longer superfast. Only the Coromandel
> retains superfast status.
>
> Kumar
How's that possible? My Aug. 1998 SCR timetable shows the Falaknuma
Exp. as
a superfast train - 2703/2704. Has this changed after August?
Vijay
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: More Rajdhani-type dream trains
Date: 23 Nov 1998 07:50:17 -0500
> On Fri, 20 Nov 1998, Balasubramanian, Vijay wrote:
> >
> > 11. Mumbai CST - Mysore Garden City Exp., superfast, biweekly
> > Halts: Pune, Miraj, Belgaum, Hubli, Birur, Bangalore City
> > Running time : about 25 hours
> > Vijay
>
>
> Hi!
>
> It seems your last dream has seen the light of the day,
> already there is
> train from Mumbai to Mysore. Recently introduced,it leaves
> CST on Tuesdays
> & from Arsikere it takes it's route to Mysore. It takes the
> same timings,
> that of Mumbai-Banglore (Via-Miraj,Hubli)upto Arsikere. On
> the return leg it
> leaves Mysore on Fridays at 6:00 in the morning & from
> Arsikere takes the
> same timings that of the Banglore - Mumbai Exp.
>
>
> Hope, other ones also come true one by one.
>
> Shrinivas
>
This is definitely not my dream train - it is a degraded version of what
I
had in mind. Has many more halts, takes 3-4 more hours that what I had
in
mind and is non-superfast. To repeat a cliche, if Mumbai had been the
political capital of India we would have seen a Mumbai-Bangalore/Mysore
superfast exp.
Vijay
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: More fantasy trains
Date: 23 Nov 1998 08:06:00 -0500
>
> Hi All,
> I'm very keen on seeing a CSTM-Madgaon Shatabdi service introduced --
> with halts at Panvel and Ratnagiri. WDM2 hauled all the way?
> Anyone want to take a shot at the running time/timetable for such a
> train?
>
> Vivek.
>
Vivek, if you recall, Pushkar had posted an article on the net a while
back
stating why a Mumbai-Madgaon Shatabadi cannot be introduced under the
present track conditions. It seems that the 75 km. Panvel-Roha section
needs to be upgraded. By combining the Rajdhani/Matstagandha run-times
between Panvel-Madgaon / Mumbai-Panvel, I realized that it would take a
little over 9 hours precluding a Shatabdi Exp. from being introduced.
Here
is the article:
************************************************************************
*
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Tuesday, October 6, 1998
Express Rly rivalry slows down plans for super-fast
[Image] Goa-Mumbai train
EIW ----------------------------
[Image] PANAJI, Oct 5: Rivalry between service
officials the Central Railway and the Konkan
Market Railway Corporation has caused plans for a
Indicators high-speed train between Mumbai and Goa to be
[Image] put in cold storage.
Screen
[Image] The superfast train is expected to reduce the
travel time between the two places to less
Boulevard India than eight hours. ``There is a proposal to
run a train which will make the Mumbai-Goa
[Image] round trip in sixteen hours,'' a well-placed
Celebrity Chat railway official source told The Indian
[Image] Express.
The train which will bridge the 600 km
Express Power distance between Mumbai and Margao twice
[Image] daily is primarily meant for transporting
Letters tourists.
[Image]
Advertisers Railway officials say the train, besides
Forum benefiting passengers, could emerge a major
[Image] revenue earner on the loss-making Konkan
Railway route. For instance, sleeper coaches
[Image] could be replaced by chair cars,
Express Careers accommodating more passengers.
[Image]
Business Forum However the stumbling block in the
[Image] introduction of the high-speed train is a
small segment of the track between Mumbai and
Match Maker Roha. This stretch, particularly the 75 km
[Image] track betweenPanvel and Roha, needs to be
Express improved substantially before trains can be
Properties run on them at high speed,'' said senior
[Image] Konkan railway officials.
Palki - Travel
& Tours They allege that the Central Railway
[Image] expressed its inability to cover the 150 km
distance between Mumbai and Roha in less than
Information four hours. ``Instead they asked us to cover
Technology the distance of 450 km on the Konkan Railway
[Image] route -- in four hours,'' say KRC officials.
Astrosurf
[Image] Though the rail tracks of the Konkan Railway
Eco-India are designed for speeds of up to 160 km per
[Image] hour, these cannot be attained on a single
track corridor. Speeds for even the superfast
Dr Know trains have been restricted to 110 km per
[Image] hour until a second track is laid on this
Morning Digest route.
[Image]
Incidentally this the second-time a proposal
Express for a high-speed Mumbai-Goa train has run
Greeting into trouble. A few years ago, a private tour
[Image] operator from Hyderabad offered to run an
Graffiti imported high-speed train on this route. That
[Image] project had to be abandoned as the Railways
Crossword refused to allow a private party to own a
[Image] train.
***************************************************************
It seems that IR is planning to introduce a regular superfast
Mumbai-Madgaon Exp. with halts at Panvel and Ratnagiri, and is thinking
about a Mumbai-Nasik superfast as well. Can someone confirm this?
Vijay
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: More Rajdhani-type dream trains
Date: 23 Nov 1998 08:09:40 -0500
>
> >>>Non-Rajdhani trains:
> >>
> >>8. Varanasi - Bangalore City Sangeet Exp. (name borrowed
> from Kumar!),
> >>superfast, biweekly.
> >> Halts: Mughalsarai, Dehri-on-Sone, Gaya, Gomoh, Mahuda, Purulia,
> >>Tatanagar, Kharagpur, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Rd., Berhampur,
> >>Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Vijayawada, Nellore,
> Gudur, Chennai
> >>Central, Katpadi, Bangalore Cant
> >> Running time : about 46 hours
> >
> >I would replace the Eluru halt with one at Rajahmundry
> (bigger town). I
> >wonder if one can break up the train at Gudur, with the SBC
> part going
> >off via Renigunta. It would avoid a reversal at MAS.
>
>
>
> Hi
> yeah That would be more suitable to have a stop at
> rajahmundry . But I
> wonder Why the stop at Khurda Rd. Is it a big city that it
> should have stop
> of all the trains or is it because Puri line is bifurcated
> from here , so as
> to make it is for persons travelling from/to Puri .
> .....
> Viral
>
> >
>
Correct me if I am wrong but Khurda Rd. is one of the SER divisional
headquarters and a crew-change station for all Howrah-Madras trains.
Vijay
From: Balasubramanian, Vijay <>
Subject: Re: More fantasy trains
Date: 23 Nov 1998 08:32:15 -0500
> Vijay,
>
> While I am very impressed that such fantasy trains can be designed by
> you and the others including their names, I would like to see these
> with the realistic departure and arrival timings at the various
> stations. Then the availability of slots and paths would have to be
> taken into consideration. Once these details are in place, I would
> print a copy and give it to the Pune division PRO.
>
I have used the working timetables as much as possible to design these
fantasy trains so that the run-times are consistent with present booked
and
max. permissible speeds. Also, I have tried to bundle some trains
together
(so as to maximize line capacity) and employ rake sharing, as well. In
fact, I have looked at the Mumbai CR/WR suburban timetables as well so
as to
minimize conflicts with suburban trains. Pushkar and I have already
mailed
our proposal for a Kurla-Howrah superdeluxe exp. via Allahabad (complete
with schedules, days of operation and an efficient rake-sharing
algorithm)
to my uncle in Calcutta so that he may forward it to the proper
authorities.
For curious minds, I have attached a word document containing our
proposal
and Pushkar's spreadsheet file on his rake-sharing algorithm:
Apurva, which schedules would you like to forward to the Pune PRO?
Only
trains via Pune or other Mumbai trains as well?
Vijay
From: prakash <>
Subject: Re: Query: Fred and function of the rear end
Date: 23 Nov 1998 10:59:52 -0500
Let me state my experience about brake vans in India. I boarded a
brake van of a goods train at Valsad when driver firmly refused
to give me a ride to Vasai, little after midnight. Before Virar,
we tried using the vacuum brake but it failed to make any major
impact on this 100 wagon train. So I doubt if a hand brake will
be effective.
At Nala Sopara, the guard showed red light to ASM and he in turn
called Vasai which changed the advanced starter to red. The brake
van stopped just at the end of platform #2. ASM Vasai reported to
controller that a loose brake shoe in brake van needs to be fixed
at BAMY.
Prakash
Jayant S <sank@telco.email on 11/21/98 10:16:25 PM
Please respond to sank@telco.email
To: IR List <irfca@cs.email iti@giaspn01.email
cc: (bcc: Prakash Tendulkar/Santa Teresa/IBM)
Subject: Re: Query: Fred and function of the rear end
> 2. Assist in braking and parking the train using the air/vaccum
> brake line and the mechanical screw brakes
The Indian Railways Driver/Guard rulebook states that
in the event of the danger whistle code being sounded
by the driver, the guard is required to make a full
handbrake application to help stop the train. I wonder
if this would work at all with something like a 2000 ton
freighter, given the light construction of IR brake vans,
--
Jayant S
--
From: prakash <>
Subject: Ghat
Date: 23 Nov 1998 11:22:03 -0500
Anne,
Ghat is a structure built by the river bank to allow
people an easy access to water, regardless of what the
water level is. To accommodate the low and high water
levels, ghats had multiple steps.
Railways adopted the term ghat to reflect consistently
high gradient of the terrain where the track is laid out.
Gradients are everywhere but they are either not
consistent or not high enough. For example, Mira Road to
Dahisar section has 1:500 or so gradient. Although
consistent, it is not high enough. On the other hand,
approach to Sandhurst Road is high enough but not consistent.
Ghat drivers are usually A grade senior drivers and they
receive special ghat allowance because the mileage they
travel is not significant enough to compensate them.
Prakash
From: prakash <>
Subject: Modern Diesel Locomotives
Date: 23 Nov 1998 14:07:33 -0500
Hi Folks,
I received a book, "Modern Diesel Locomotives" by Hans
Halberstadt from Amazon. 94 pages of good information and
wonderful colour pictures. One reader commented at Amazon.com
site that this book is like National Geographic devoting whole
issue for locos. It's $10.36 plus shipping.
He received co-operation from Amtrak, CalTrain, Santa Fe,
Union Pacific and Burlington Northern, to name a few.
Pictures from cab are great! I'll place a few on web soon.
Here is a passage from book that describes the function of
FRED and how to start train.
1) Release automatic brakes (train line brakes), if set.
2) Ensure that generator field is on.
3) (Set) Reversor to forward
4) Wait for 15 sec until brakes on rear cars have chance to
release.
5) Throttle to Run 1 the first notch above idle.
6) Gradually release independent engine brake with power applied
to control speed (at) 0.5 mile until all the coupler slack is taken up.
7) Monitor FRED for the signal indicating that rear car is in motion.
8) Throttle to Run 2 until amperage begins to decline, then Run 3
9) Monitor amperage to avoid more than 900 amps. while starting.
Increase throttle progressively up to Run 8 or to maintain desired
speed.
"You are essentially the manager of slack," engineer Mel Wilson said.
"A typical 100 car freight train with standard draft gear will have 6
inches of slack for each car -- 50 feet of slack in the whole train."
Prakash
From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>
Subject: More Rajdhani-type dream trains
Date: 23 Nov 1998 18:18:50 -0500
On Mon, 23 Nov 1998, Balasubramanian, Vijay wrote:
> This is definitely not my dream train - it is a degraded version of
what I
> had in mind. Has many more halts, takes 3-4 more hours that what I
had in
> mind and is non-superfast. To repeat a cliche, if Mumbai had been the
> political capital of India we would have seen a
Mumbai-Bangalore/Mysore
> superfast exp.
> Vijay
Hi! Vijay,
True, speed wise it does not match your ideas, & even the existing one
Mumbai-Banglore (via Miraj) takes almost the same time, that of
Mumbai-Banglore
Udyan. Although the dist. via Miraj is less by about 250 kms, isn't it?
And no
doubt the existing one can be speeded up. Again agree with your views
about
the trains leaving Mumbai & heading south,east are neglected as far as
speed
is concerned than the trains running thru NDL.
Shrinivas
From: Vaibhav Galriya <>
Subject: Fw:Fw: Times Man of the Century... (fwd)
Date: 23 Nov 1998 18:57:59 -0500
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>
>> Time Magazine is conducting a poll for the 'Person Of The Century'.
>>At present Mahatma Gandhi is at rank 7. So if you would want
>> to vote please go to the site
>>
>> <A HREF="http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html">http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html</A>
><<A HREF="http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html>">http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html></A>
>>
>> Forward it to as many friends as you can.
>>
>>
>> Let's try & make our Mahatma , the person of the century.
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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From: Don Dickens <>
Subject: Re: Brake Slack
Date: 23 Nov 1998 19:36:55 -0500
List;
I heard a presentation once on what it was like to run a diesel on the
BN along the Columbia River route. The man said that running the
locomotive was quite simple but handling the train and engine brakes was
where all the skill was required. Remember, that 50 feet of slack wants
to run in on the downhill grades and out on the uphill grades. In
rolling terrain it wants to run back and forth. Only skilled use of both
brake systems keeps the couplers from being jerked out or having the
knuckles snap off. Sometimes having the slack bunched is desirable and
sometimes having the train stretched out is desirable.
BTW: Another engineer told me that "Freds" only can transmit (Or could
at that time) when the train is on a curve. That straight track blinded
the antenna
Don Dickens
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re:Fw:Fw: Times Man of the Century... (fwd)
Date: 24 Nov 1998 00:29:22 -0500
Gang !
With all due respects to the great man Mahatma Gandhi - we are actually
following his principles in being true to our beliefs - the love of
Indian
Railway, in the truest sense, without any ulterior motive or greed.
There are many other places where canvassing can be done - I urge
Vaibhav
and others to leave the IRFCA pure, simple, true and out of any other
issues but the Railways discussions.
Apurva Bahadur
Vaibhav Galriya wrote:
> >
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>
> >> Time Magazine is conducting a poll for the 'Person Of The
Century'.
> >>At present Mahatma Gandhi is at rank 7. So if you would want
> >> to vote please go to the site
> >>
> >> <A HREF="http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html">http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html</A>
> ><<A HREF="http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html>">http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/time100/poc/century.html></A>
> >>
> >> Forward it to as many friends as you can.
> >>
> >>
> >> Let's try & make our Mahatma , the person of the century.
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>
Subject: change in Email address
Date: 24 Nov 1998 01:33:09 -0500
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN MY EMAIL ADDRESS FROM sncf@godrejnet.email to
sncf@godrej.email
viraf
==========================
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Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>
Subject: CHANGE IN EMAIL ADDRESS.
Date: 24 Nov 1998 01:43:36 -0500
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN MY EMAIL ADDRESS FROM SNCF@GODREJNET.EMAIL TO
SNCF@GODREJ.EMAIL
REGARDS
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrej.email
==========================
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>
Subject: CHANGE IN EMAIL ADDRESS.
Date: 24 Nov 1998 01:43:36 -0500
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN MY EMAIL ADDRESS FROM SNCF@GODREJNET.EMAIL TO
SNCF@GODREJ.EMAIL
REGARDS
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrej.email
==========================