IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 5361 - 5380
From: Mike Brooker <>
Subject: Re: General Inquiry of trains
Date: 26 Feb 1999 21:07:43 -0500
Thank you for the link to the Central Railways website. I didn't
attempt to
book a journey online, but I enjoyed visiting this site and have added
the
link to my India page: <A HREF="http://webhome.idirect.com/~aum108/bharat.html">http://webhome.idirect.com/~aum108/bharat.html</A>
The I.R. 1999-2000 budget was quite interesting to read. What kind of
efforts are being made to keep the touts out of the 4 metros? How will
the
ban on sales of cigarettes and bidis on platforms and trains be
enforced? A
railway station without touts and bidi smokers just wouldn't be India!
:-)
If there is an anti-tout campaign, why limit it to Delhi, Bombay,
Calcutta
and Madras? The wall-to-wall touts in Agra who lie in wait for the
tourist-filled Shatabdi Express can ruin an otherwise pleasant visit to
the
Taj Mahal. Will they attempt to eliminate hotel touts, aggressive
rickshaw-wallahs, etc. near the station entrances, or just the ticket
touts
within the station? Anyone stupid enough to buy a ticket from a tout
proves
P.T. Barnum's dictum of a sucker being born every minute.
********************************************************************
Mike Brooker
99 Wychcrest Ave.,
Toronto, ON M6G 3X8
CANADA
(416) 536-7406
********************************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
To: Krishnan Anand <krish_nand@hotmail.email
Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Friday, February 26, 1999 3:35 AM
Subject: Re: General Inquiry of trains
>This may work out only if a nation wide PRS system is connected via
>internet. How many internet users actually book train tickets ? We are
at
>'information may be available on the telephone' stage of IT. But we
should
>be at the internet within 1 - 2 years.
>The CR website is listed below, but would you trust the info available
on
>it regarding arrivals / departures ?
>
>WWW.CR-MUMBAI.COM
>
>Apurva
>
>Krishnan Anand wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> Can anyone suggest a site(s) where there is on-line inquiry on
>> arr/dep and resv. inquiry of trains on different zones. I came across
>> some sites on WR and CR in one of our mails on the list but i seems
to
>> have lost it. Does other zones also have such a facility. Please let
me
>> have all the sites available in case one of you know of it.
>>
>> regards,
>> anand
>>
>> ______________________________________________________
>> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>
>
>
>
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Remove the kink at Daund
Date: 26 Feb 1999 22:52:05 -0500
Jayant S wrote:
> > I have always wondered if the reversal at Daund for a train to/ from
> > Manmad can be avoided. Is it all that difficult for an triangle to
> > be made at the entry of the DD - MMR road so the reversal at Daund
> > is avoided.
> There is already such a triangle, if I remember correctly. Seems
> to be a single line which is entirely outside the Daund limits.
> Probably used by freighters ?
Now you have put me in doubt, The entry to MMR road is only from DD
side,
I have even a picture of that from July 1998 when I had visited DD last.
I
am not aware if the triangle is completed after this date.
I am due to go to DD in the very near future to attend some problems in
the DMU which is due to start when ? (it was due to start 15th August
last
year) between Pune - Daund - Baramati. However it may start in the Daund
-
Kurduwadi sector or the Daund - Ahmednagar sector first, if rumours are
to
be believed.
Apurva
P.S. I just spoke to the loco foreman of Ghorpadi and he is also quite
sure that there is no entry to the MMR road from Pune side.
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Railway budget highlights!
Date: 26 Feb 1999 23:34:08 -0500
Sankaran Kumar wrote:
> Hi folks:
>
> > New trains to be introduced :-
> >
> > Chennai - Tirupati Shatabdi Express
> This ought to compete favorably with air traffic between Chennai and
> Tirupati. My guess is this Shatabdi will be a success. But how fast?
Not very fast, I have never seen a train clip anywhere in the entire MAS
-
CSTM track let alone the MAS - TPTY section.
> > Mumbai - Sawantwadi - Madgaon Intercity Express
> Alas, not a Shatabdi. But why? Tracks not fast enough
The Shatabdi is essentially a fully air conditioned train. Intercity is
seems to be fast day train of largely second class coaches with a few AC
chair cars. There may not be many takers of a Shatabdi type train to
Madgaon. The budget traveler (who will not fly or take their own car to
Goa)
will take the intercity express, infact I foresee that this will be a
very
popular train. I will certainly take this train.
Delhi - Gandhidham Express (Biweekly)
> Via Palanpur-Bhildi? Looks like Gujarat MG lines are vanishing fast.
I am not sure if the BG line is through between GIM and Palanpur. Other
wise
Viramgam - Palanpur route or even a reversal at Ahmedabad to serve the
large
city.
> > Delhi - Coimbatore Express (Weekly)
> Via Gudur, or Secunderabad, or Manmad-Raichur?
Most efficient via Gudur, OR will it take the WR to Mumbai and then the
KR
?
> > Pune - Ernakulam Express (Weekly)
> presumably via Konkan Rly.
I just had a chat with the loco foreman of Hubli division, and he says
that
the Briganza ghat is not open yet and there is no chance that it would
be in
the next three months. Till then the train may work the Pune - Miraj -
Hubli
- Hospet - Guntakal route.
The loco foreman also told me that if this train was to run via Pune -
Miraj
- Hubli - Bangalore - Salem route then there is a physical problem at
Bangalore city station. He told me that a train from Hubli can be
received
only on platform 1 - 4 while the Salem exit is from platforms 5 - 8,
hence
the train has to be drawn forward towards Bypenhalli and then reversed
on
the relevant platform. I am not so familiar with SBC station layout to
really understand this problem. He also told me that there is a talk of
creating a bypass at Bypenhalli which would lead to Yelhanka and
Krishnarajapuram. Again I do not have a map in front of me to really
follow
his point.
> >> Madurai-Rameswaram
> May mean a new bridge at Pamban.
The old bridge was already in trouble due to tidal damage and age ? Will
the
new bridge have adequate height to clear the ships or will it be the
swing
open type ? The old bridge is the only swing open type bridge on the IR
?
> > Tiruchchirappalli-Dindigul
> when was this finished?
At least 4 years ago - the Mumbai - Nagercoil express takes this route.
> What about Mangalore-Hassan?
Maybe you could explain the point about "the Lakshman Tirtha bridge
diversion on Mysore-Hassan line"
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: This and That
Date: 26 Feb 1999 23:42:17 -0500
Julian.Rainbow@waii.email wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Have been without email for several weeks so am just catching up with
> recent mail and thought that I might add a few comments.
>
> The only Indian model produced in the UK that I know of is an 009
scale
> Darjelling B class kit by Langley Models, unfortunately the chassis is
made
> by Arnold and is no longer in production.
>
> Regarding seats outside drivers cabs, this happened on both the 3' 6"
and
> Narrow gauge in South Africa especially on Garretts. I have also seen
this
> on metre guage locos in Myanmar.
How does the driver get into the cab in case of an emergency ? Are all
the
controls in reach or are some operated by the fireman ?
> I am currently working of Nigeria and Lagos used to have a Santitary
> tramway which was an extension of the steam tramway, this had two very
> interseting Hunslet tank engines which had an enclosed area behind the
loco
> which was supposed to be used for the carriage of mails. It was also
> reported that as the prisoners were used to carry out the night soil,
> prison was not popular.
MG Satow's book 'The railways of the Raj" has a picture of a NG train
running
through the streets of Gwalior (I think) carrying garbage and night
soil. There
was a large bell on the loco to warn the road users about the trains
progress.
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Railway budget highlights! Questions
Date: 26 Feb 1999 23:59:16 -0500
Sridhar Shankar wrote:
> > >Maybe I missed it, but it is disappointing to note that doubling of
the
> > >Mumbai-Chennai/Bangalore/Secunderabad line is nowhere on the
priorities
> > >list. This is the ONLY major metro connection in the whole
country
> > >that is single-line, leading to seriously sub-optimal connections;
and
> > >yet there is no urgency to change this pitiful state?
> > >
> > >-Pushkar
> > >
> > I have a similar concern as well. Was doubling of
> > Daund-Solapur-Gangapur Rd. already included in the previous budget?
> > According to one of the IR magazines, doubling of Daund-Bhigwan
would be
> > completed within the next few months. Is this reliable info.?
> >
> > >Vijay
>
> I travelled this section in December I do not remember seeing any
serious
> doubling work south of Daund. Perhaps, Apurva can shed some more light
on
> this.
>
> -Sridhar
Solapur - Gangapur road doubling is almost complete, Daund - Bhigwan is
also
complete - these have been sanctioned some time ago. I'll inquire and
let you
know the exact position of doubling on the Daund - Wadi section.
Apurva
From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>
Subject: Bidi-cigaraette
Date: 27 Feb 1999 00:32:54 -0500
Hi!
On Sat, 27 Feb 1999, Mike Brooker wrote:
> The I.R. 1999-2000 budget was quite interesting to read. What kind of
> efforts are being made to keep the touts out of the 4 metros? How
will the
> ban on sales of cigarettes and bidis on platforms and trains be
enforced? A
> railway station without touts and bidi smokers just wouldn't be India!
:-)
Read in newspapers that this budget makes provision for online
reservation
facility for commissioned agents to book rly tickets on passengers
behalf.
Is this true? If yes, This not only promote mass misuse of this
facility,
but the general public will be hard pressed to procure a reservation.
So,
the agents till now, standing in queues & booking , now onwards shall
make
fake bookings right from their offices.
About bidis & cigars, a must go from rly. This happened for paan stalls
in
the past. And if the now bidi-cigar selling stalls are removed from
platforms
& a strict ban imposed on smoking will be beneficial to many
non-smokers.
Viraf, Apurva , Sarosh & myself with many others can breath smoke free
air
while on trains.
> If there is an anti-tout campaign, why limit it to Delhi, Bombay,
Calcutta
> and Madras? The wall-to-wall touts in Agra who lie in wait for the
> tourist-filled Shatabdi Express can ruin an otherwise pleasant visit
to the
> Taj Mahal. Will they attempt to eliminate hotel touts, aggressive
> rickshaw-wallahs, etc. near the station entrances, or just the ticket
touts
> within the station? Anyone stupid enough to buy a ticket from a tout
proves
> P.T. Barnum's dictum of a sucker being born every minute.
This anti tout campaign was by a minister for Rlys in his budget speech.
So, no need for him to look elsewhere. For those other touts Home
Ministry
should take firm steps.
Another bright spot of this budget is 5 times penalty for ticketless
travel.But this seems very difficult to bring into reality, where there
are many corrupt TTs & passengers ready to bribe them at say half the
worked out charge.
Shrinivas
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Re: Remove the kink at Daund
Date: 27 Feb 1999 02:19:08 -0500
> Now you have put me in doubt, The entry to MMR road is only from DD
side,
> I have even a picture of that from July 1998 when I had visited DD
last. I
> am not aware if the triangle is completed after this date.
> I am due to go to DD in the very near future to attend some problems
in
> the DMU which is due to start when ? (it was due to start 15th August
last
> year) between Pune - Daund - Baramati. However it may start in the
Daund -
> Kurduwadi sector or the Daund - Ahmednagar sector first, if rumours
are to
> be believed.
>
> Apurva
>
> P.S. I just spoke to the loco foreman of Ghorpadi and he is also quite
> sure that there is no entry to the MMR road from Pune side.
Check it out, because I could well be mistaken. I do remember
seeing SOMETHING branching out......
However, even if such a bypass exists, I wonder if CR would let
any train on the route bypass Daund.
--
Jayant S : ID Studio : Tata Technologies India Limited
Telco Premises : Pimpri : PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA
TEL 91(20)702534 : FAX 91(20)773191
--
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Some thoughts
Date: 27 Feb 1999 02:31:09 -0500
Gang !
After the trip to Wankaner, we were musing on why we did not record/
experience the steam locos while they were plentiful. After all
we have seen them go in front of our eyes. Sarosh says that we did
not expect them to go so soon. After all the government says a
number of things but often does not match the action with works.
My wife taunts me that I should now record the various aspects of
the Ambassador car, which will be history soon. She says I must
write praise on the hot blast of air than comes from the engine to
the front passenger, just as I write on the steam loco.
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Some thoughts
Date: 27 Feb 1999 02:31:09 -0500
Gang !
After the trip to Wankaner, we were musing on why we did not record/
experience the steam locos while they were plentiful. After all
we have seen them go in front of our eyes. Sarosh says that we did
not expect them to go so soon. After all the government says a
number of things but often does not match the action with works.
My wife taunts me that I should now record the various aspects of
the Ambassador car, which will be history soon. She says I must
write praise on the hot blast of air than comes from the engine to
the front passenger, just as I write on the steam loco.
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Railway budget highlights! Questions
Date: 27 Feb 1999 02:44:35 -0500
> > New lines
> > Dahanu road to Nasik
>
> This is very interesting, the existing WR to CR NE line like the Vasai
- Diva and the
> Udhna - Jalgaon are underutilised, so why another track ? Is there
some freight
> traffic in mind ?
To answer my own query - This line must be built to transport the coal
from Eastern
coalfields to Dahanu super thermal power plant. Also is there a port in
the making at
Dahanu, which would benefit from this new rail line ?
Apurva
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: DHR Update
Date: 27 Feb 1999 02:44:53 -0500
The last piece of info to reach me about the
DHR after the Landslide Committee sessions in
Darjeeling is that they have recommended the
closure of the Hill Cart Road for a period of
a year or so, during which the DHR will be
restored, and the alignment made more resistent
to landslide. It has also been recommended
that an entirely new road between Siliguri
and Darjeeling should be worked out.
More info, anyone ?
--
Jayant S : ID Studio : Tata Technologies India Limited
Telco Premises : Pimpri : PUNE : 411 018 : INDIA
TEL 91(20)702534 : FAX 91(20)773191
--
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: General Inquiry of trains
Date: 27 Feb 1999 03:23:01 -0500
Mike Brooker wrote:
> Thank you for the link to the Central Railways website. I didn't
attempt to
> book a journey online, but I enjoyed visiting this site and have added
the
> link to my India page: <A HREF="http://webhome.idirect.com/~aum108/bharat.html">http://webhome.idirect.com/~aum108/bharat.html</A>
>
> The I.R. 1999-2000 budget was quite interesting to read. What kind of
> efforts are being made to keep the touts out of the 4 metros? How
will the
> ban on sales of cigarettes and bidis on platforms and trains be
enforced? A
> railway station without touts and bidi smokers just wouldn't be India!
:-)
At least the railways now recognizes the fact that the commercial
department is
taken over by the touts.
As far as the CR and other websites are concerned, I would start
trusting the
info once the information is continuously fed to the website DIRECTLY
from the
PRS and Train describer computer. These systems exist, only the link to
the
internet is missing. Today some non railfan software person manually
updates
the info, maybe three times a day. This is subject to errors and cannot
be
trusted.
Give the 'information on the internet' some time. India has just about
started
getting used to internet, most of the officials of the railways amongst
most of
the govt. departments are yet to see the internet and its mammoth
potential.
Once they see it, maybe go around a few (many !) naughty sites and only
then
they will realize what a wonderful tool they have at their disposal. Of
course
the 'hide all the facts' mentality of the officials have to go. What
possible
harm can come if the public knows where a train is located or how many
vacant
seats in another train ?
Agra !
Even I as an ordinary Indian fear going to Agra, so how would the
foreigners
fare ?
Apurva
From: Vdate <>
Subject: Re: Railway budget highlights!
Date: 27 Feb 1999 06:41:16 -0500
What a treasure! THANKS. It is really exciting to see wonderful
changes
happening. Only worrisome aspect is 10% increase in the operating cost.
I
wish they would have hold the line. Two small questions.
1. Would JP- Secundarabad train touch Solapur?
2. There already a BG as well as MG link between Solapur and Hootgi.
What
would the railways mean when they talk about the conversion of that
section?
From: Dr. K.J. Walker & Mrs. M.E, Heath <>
Subject: Re: This and That
Date: 27 Feb 1999 22:30:14 -0500
Daer Apurva & Julian,
1. Langley Models' OO9 loco kit for the DHR tank engine. It may be
quite a good thing that the Arnold underframe it uses is not available
any
more. I never bought or tried to assemble on of these kits, but it was
made
of white metal ("ghee metal") and was rather heavy-looking and devoid of
detail. It never seemd to me to capture the "feel" of the DHR "B" class,
which really needs an etched kit, reproducing the myriad of fine detail.
There have been presistent rumours that Backwood Models, in Britain, are
threatening a kit, but so far no news. It might be advantageous to make
Indian models to 3mm:1ft scale (1:100), as then standard 16.5mm gauge
track
would be just right for 5ft 6in gauge, and 9mm close enough (= 3ft) for
MG,
while Z gauge track, at 6.5mm, would do for both 2ft6in and 2ft NG. The
smaller scale would probably suit restricted space in your average
Indian
house, too. There's an opportunity for an Indian manufacturer here.
2. Drivers using seats outside the cab on QR 3ft 6in gauge and on
the
2ft gauge cane tramways were within reach of the regulator -- often
their
legs were in fact inside the cab.
3. Apurva is right to point out the existence of "sanitary"
tramways
in India; they seem to have been quite common in British colonies -- and
probably elsewhere -- but people obviously didn't talk about them!
Cheers from
Ken Walker
-----Original Message-----
From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
To: Julian.Rainbow@waii.email <Julian.Rainbow@waii.email
Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Saturday, 27 February 1999 8:36
Subject: Re: This and That
>
>
>Julian.Rainbow@waii.email wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Have been without email for several weeks so am just catching up with
>> recent mail and thought that I might add a few comments.
>>
>> The only Indian model produced in the UK that I know of is an 009
scale
>> Darjelling B class kit by Langley Models, unfortunately the chassis
is
made
>> by Arnold and is no longer in production.
>>
>> Regarding seats outside drivers cabs, this happened on both the 3'
6"
and
>> Narrow gauge in South Africa especially on Garretts. I have also
seen
this
>> on metre guage locos in Myanmar.
>
>How does the driver get into the cab in case of an emergency ? Are all
the
>controls in reach or are some operated by the fireman ?
>
>> I am currently working of Nigeria and Lagos used to have a Santitary
>> tramway which was an extension of the steam tramway, this had two
very
>> interseting Hunslet tank engines which had an enclosed area behind
the
loco
>> which was supposed to be used for the carriage of mails. It was also
>> reported that as the prisoners were used to carry out the night soil,
>> prison was not popular.
>
>MG Satow's book 'The railways of the Raj" has a picture of a NG train
running
>through the streets of Gwalior (I think) carrying garbage and night
soil.
There
>was a large bell on the loco to warn the road users about the trains
progress.
>
>Apurva
>
>
>
>
>
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: MAILBOX FULL!
Date: 28 Feb 1999 02:19:54 -0500
DEAR FRIENDS,
LAST TWO WEEKS I HAD A PECULIAR PROBLEM WHEN MY COMPUTER BROKE DOWN AND I WAS TOO BUSY AND RUNNING AROUND TO REPAIR IT OR EVEN DOWNLOAD MY MAIL ELSEWHERE.
IN THE MEANTIME A PARTICULAR GRAPHIC MAIL CHOKED MY MAILBOX ON 17-18 FEB. SO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE TRIED MAILING ME IN THE MEANTIME AND IT DID NOT PASS THROUGH, KINDLY SEND IT AGAIN.
SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE AND FOR THIS MESSAGE ALSO IF IT DOES NOT CONCERNS YOU.
REGARDS
HARSH VARDHAN
From: Pradip613 <>
Subject: Questions from a novice and a new comer
Date: 28 Feb 1999 12:32:42 -0500
I am a newcomer to your club and have enjoyed the lively back and forth
discussion going between you all. Never have I seen such enthusiasm and
attention to detail. Being in the U.S. since 1968, I am out of touch
with the
different models of loco now in the Indian Railway. Bharat Vohra's web
pages
provided a crash course in bringing me up to date. I still have a long
way to
go before I can talk as knowledgeably as the rest of you. A few
questions/comments below.
What is the meaning of the term "tout"? I could not discern it from the
e-
mails.
The railway budget talks about WCAM4 with a horse power of 6000. The
previous
WCAM3 was the most powerful; I believe at 5000 HP. How does the WCAM4
compare
with the most powerful locos in other countries? What is its weight? In
fact
it would be nice to record on the Bharat Vohra web page, the weights of
all
the locos. I also would like to know the HP of the WP class and other
team
locos such as the YG and YP class.
What does WCAM actually stand for? Similarly, what does Y stand for in
the YG
and YP? Same question with respect to W in WG and WP. I suppose the P
and G
are for passenger and goods. Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the WP
stood
for Western Pacific but then was confused by WG.
The two large "blinders" in front on the steam locos, like you have on
horses
eyes, are a distinct feature of many of the Indian steam locos. Can any
one
tell me their purpose?
What kind of engines are hauling the Konkan railway trains? Any one been
on
these trains and any comments on what max speed they achieve and whether
the
journey is scenic and worth taking?
I looked at the Indian Railway timetable and tried to locate a passenger
train
that I took many times between Godhra and Anand. It is no longer listed.
This
train made several stops, some of them I recall as Thasra, Dakor,
Sevalia and
Timba Road. When I traveled it many years ago, it was hauled by a steam
loco,
a 4-6-2, I believe. The train traversed the 32 miles (51.5 KM) between
Anand
and Godhra in 2 hours! Has this been discontinued?
Best wishes to all of you.
Pradip Rao
From: Sankaran Kumar <>
Subject: Re: Railway budget highlights contd.!
Date: 28 Feb 1999 15:05:46 -0500
Hi Folks:
Here are some more of my observations:
New lines...
> Angamali to Sabarmati via Erumeli
should be Sabarimala, I think, nor Sabarmati
> Lalitpur to Satna, Rewa-Singrauli and Khajuraho-Mahoba
Is Mahoba on the Jhansi-Kanpur or the Jhansi-Allahabad line?
> Kakinada to Pithapuram
Not going to be very far away or much shorter than the existing line
going via Samalkot.
Recent conversions....
> Tiruchchirappalli-Dindigul
Apurva, this wasn't finished 4 years ago. In fact this section was
closed last August for conversion work. Must have opened recently.
> Babupet-Balarshah
> Solapur-Hotgi
Are these conversions of MG/NG parallel lines (to BG)? I know of the
Hubl-Hotgi-Solapur MG line. What line is there between Babupet and
Ballarshah other than the Wardha-Ballarshah BG line?
>
> Gauge Conversion to be completed in 1999-2000
>
> Lakshman Tirtha bridge diversion on Mysore-Hassan line
Sorry Apurva, I am clueless as to what this means.
> New Lines
>
> Kovvur-Bhadrachalam Road
Is Kovvur just south of Rajahmundry across the Godavari? If true this
line will allow trains going from Vizag to Secunderabad/Mumbai to bypass
Vijayawada, since Bhadrachalam Road is connected to Dornakal on the
Kazipet-Vijayawada line.
Kumar
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: Anne Ogborn <>
Subject: Re: Questions from a novice and a new comer
Date: 28 Feb 1999 16:14:08 -0500
> What is the meaning of the term "tout"? I could not discern it from
the e-
> mails.
>
A tout is a person who offers to obtain tickets for you instead of you
yourself
having to queue. But often such persons are dishonest, and may instead
charge inflated price
or may bribe ticket seller to allow sales only through them.
They often also will offer you a taxi ride, only to take you to a hotel
where
you will be charged extra, and a portion kicked back to the tout.
For the whole list - I've a question - how is it these people actually
make
a living in this way? It would seem that every Indian has long ago
learned not
to deal with a tout.
> The railway budget talks about WCAM4 with a horse power of 6000. The
previous
> WCAM3 was the most powerful; I believe at 5000 HP. How does the WCAM4
compare
> with the most powerful locos in other countries? What is its weight?
In fact
> it would be nice to record on the Bharat Vohra web page, the weights
of all
> the locos. I also would like to know the HP of the WP class and other
team
> locos such as the YG and YP class.
Currently in the US the most powerful locos are 6000HP. These are
shipping only within
the last few months. The most powerful locos in common use are the 4400
HP.
>
> What does WCAM actually stand for? Similarly, what does Y stand for in
the YG
> and YP? Same question with respect to W in WG and WP. I suppose the P
and G
> are for passenger and goods. Correct me if I am wrong. I thought the
WP stood
> for Western Pacific but then was confused by WG.
first letter
W = broad gage Y = meter gage Z = narrow gage
Second letter(s)
(none) = steam
D = Diesel
C = DC electric
A = AC electric
CA = AC/DC electric
third letter
G = goods
M = mixed
P = Passenger
following number is design -
So, a WCAM4 is the fourth broad gage AC/DC mixed freight/passenger
service design
>
> The two large "blinders" in front on the steam locos, like you have on
horses
> eyes, are a distinct feature of many of the Indian steam locos. Can
any one
> tell me their purpose?
They're smoke lifters. As the train moves forward, air is trapped
between them and
the boiler. It escapes upwards, creating an updraft that carries the
smoke away from
the train for the convenience of the passengers. That's why you usually
see them on
passenger locos.
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re: Questions from a novice and a new comer
Date: 28 Feb 1999 19:52:24 -0500
>I looked at the Indian Railway timetable and tried to locate a
passenger
train
>that I took many times between Godhra and Anand. It is no longer
listed.
This
>train made several stops, some of them I recall as Thasra, Dakor,
Sevalia
and
>Timba Road. When I traveled it many years ago, it was hauled by a steam
loco,
>a 4-6-2, I believe. The train traversed the 32 miles (51.5 KM) between
Anand
>and Godhra in 2 hours! Has this been discontinued?
The route and the trains all still very much in place although it is
electrified now(single line!). This is a major shortcut route to
Ahemedabad
and beyond for the trains coming from North(Kota, Ratlam side).
This route was earlier the domain of WL class light passenger locos
which
were based at Godhra Shed.
Since there are only passenger trains on this route(4 services in each
direction each day), you'd find it only in the WR timetable.
Fantastic little unknown route.
Harsh
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re: Questions from a novice and a new comer
Date: 28 Feb 1999 20:14:21 -0500
>For the whole list - I've a question - how is it these people actually
make
>a living in this way? It would seem that every Indian has long ago
learned
not
>to deal with a tout.
>
far too many people to outdo any resource is a key to all middleman's
success.
A few addtions below
>first letter
>W = broad gage Y = meter gage Z = narrow gage(2' 6")
N= narrow Gauge(2'0")
>
>Second letter(s)
>(none) = steam
>D = Diesel
>C = DC electric
literally `C'ontinous current
>A = AC electric
literally `A'lternating current
>CA = AC/DC electric
>
>third letter
>G = goods
>M = mixed
>P = Passenger
>
>following number is design,
prototype etc.
but there are plenty of variations like WGx, WDM2R, WDM2C, WDM2A etc.
>> The two large "blinders" in front on the steam locos, like you have
on
horses
>> eyes, are a distinct feature of many of the Indian steam locos. Can
any
one
>> tell me their purpose?
>
>They're smoke lifters. As the train moves forward, air is trapped
between
them and
>the boiler. It escapes upwards, creating an updraft that carries the
smoke
away from
>the train for the convenience of the passengers. That's why you usually
see
them on
>passenger locos.
>
More than passengers, drifting smoke is a nightmare for the loco
drivers. As
it is the view from the steam locos is not so good, but when the smoke
is
beating across it is an even difficult situation. Hence smoke deflectors
were designed. And there is a good variety of its types, the best known
example in India of course is the `Elephant Ears' of YP/YGs.
Harsh