IRFCA Mailing List Archive

Messages 5821 - 5840

From: Vdate <>

Subject: Fw: Happy Birthday Indian Railways

Date: 17 Apr 1999 10:06:56 -0500

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: CLip from Sun TV

Date: 18 Apr 1999 04:27:31 -0500

Gang !

I noticed a clip from the Tamil channel Sun TV which is being run
recently as a
filler. They show various locomotives running past, but distorted as
they are
compressed to fill half the screen while the titles in Tamil (which I do
not follow)
flash in the other half. They show a WAM 4 loco pair running in Multiple
unit. The
strange observation is that the leading loco is going full clip with its
panto
dropped. Can a dead loco lead a MU ? I have seen a dead WDM2 being
pushed out of a
section by the second loco, but the driver was in the live loco and the
speed was
quite slow. I have also seen a dead loco and its train being pushed by a
loco in the
rear to clear the section. After reaching the next station, the pushing
loco came in
the front and led the train to its final destination with the dead loco
trailing. So
can a dead loco lead a MU pair with the driver in the dead loco ? Could
other gang
explain the observation ?

Apurva

From: Harry Anchan <>

Subject: WOW! I am thrilled to stumble upon your site!

Date: 18 Apr 1999 10:11:25 -0500

Hello there!

I am a fan since the age of 5! I dreamed of the Canadian-built locomotives with the rounded front and the light in the centre surrounded by a silver star (the WPphoto2.JPG image at your home page) and the Austrian-built engines with the same shape but the red and green stripes around the boiler! Coincidentally, I have been living in Canada for 30 years, but my heart jumps when I travel by train through India, especiall Kerala. I have staked my place at the door (I prefer to travel 2nd class as I can hang out the door with camcorder in hand, and meet more people!) during both my trips to India in 1993 and 1996 and done extensive filming. I have produced much of the 1993 footage into the Kerala Video, frames from which can be seen at:

<<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>

Some (not all are listed here) railway scenery frames are:

<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/bhaarathapuzha.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/bhaarathapuzha.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/billboard2.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/billboard2.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/kottayam-stn2.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/kottayam-stn2.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/near-changanacheri.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/near-changanacheri.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/new-signal.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/new-signal.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/old-signal.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/old-signal.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/flagman-irinjalakuda.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/flagman-irinjalakuda.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin1.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin1.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/tiruvalla1.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/tiruvalla1.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/train3.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/train3.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.serv.net/~kgeorge/images/photo/kttmrs1s.JPG">http://www.serv.net/~kgeorge/images/photo/kttmrs1s.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>

I have also just now installed a link to your site from <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>

The highlight of my trips are travelling by train. I travel extensively by train. Forget the planes, cars and buses! Who needs them?! I even collect train television documentaries but my most favorite one is the 1980 masterpiece by Brian I. W. Thompson of the BBC, as part of the "Great Railway Journeys of the World" series. However, I am very sad that the steam locomotives have been retired.

I also went through SO much red tape and bureaucracy in 1996 trying to film from the engine while travelling in Kerala state, that I finally gave up. Why is it so difficult? I am going to India again for one month starting May 17, and would love to film fro the train once we are in Kerala. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can accomplish this?

Thanks.
--
Regards,
Harry
**************************************************************************************************************************************
My Favorite Sri Lankan Baila music - <<A HREF="http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/eritrea/211/>">http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/eritrea/211/></A>
My Favorite Hindi Music - <<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bridge/2225/> ">http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bridge/2225/> </A> ( <<A HREF="http://hindi.songs.somewhere.net/>)">http://hindi.songs.somewhere.net/>)</A>
My Favorite Malayalam Songs - <<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Booth/5648/> ">http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Booth/5648/> </A> ( <<A HREF="http://malayalam.songs.somewhere.net/>)">http://malayalam.songs.somewhere.net/>)</A>
My Favorite Kannada Songs - <<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Quarter/2995/> ">http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Quarter/2995/> </A> ( <<A HREF="http://kannada.songs.somewhere.net/>)">http://kannada.songs.somewhere.net/>)</A>
Tropical images from balmy Kerala, India - <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/> ">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/> </A> ( <<A HREF="http://kerala.scenery.somewhere.net/>)">http://kerala.scenery.somewhere.net/>)</A>
My Favorite VERY Rare Pop songs - <<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Island/9883/> ">http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Island/9883/> </A> ( <<A HREF="http://rare.pop.tunes.somewhere.net/>)">http://rare.pop.tunes.somewhere.net/>)</A>
Everything to do with music collecting - <<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/1980/> ">http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/1980/> </A> ( <<A HREF="http://harrys.musicpage.somewhere.net/>)">http://harrys.musicpage.somewhere.net/>)</A>
My Malayalam Memory-Making Music Machine - <<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Booth/5252/> ">http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Booth/5252/> </A> ( <<A HREF="http://old.malayalam.songs.somewhere.net/>)">http://old.malayalam.songs.somewhere.net/>)</A>
**************************************************************************************************************************************

From: Harry Anchan <>

Subject: Wishful thinking?

Date: 18 Apr 1999 10:20:23 -0500

Ashwani Lohani reports (24th February 1999):

"It would gladden your heart to know that 2 WP class Broad Gauge steam
locomotives which had earlier been abandoned have now been fully
restored by the Charbagh Shops of the Northern Railway.
They have recently been steamed up and god willing should start
galloping on the main line shortly. I am trying my best to ensure
running of a couple of steam hauled trains on the Indian Railway system,

and surprisingly the system seems to respond favourably."

Hi Ashwani,

I really hope that someone can pull strings to revive a few steam
locomotives in southern India, especially in Kerala and Karnataka.

Thanks.
--
Regards,
Harry

From: Krishnan Anand <>

Subject: Re: CLip from Sun TV

Date: 18 Apr 1999 20:22:13 -0500

Hi Apurva and gang,
The clip which they are currently screening on Sun
T.V is for a contest. they pick up 1000 correct enties and arrange
for a train journey from Kanyakumari to Chennai and then 2 day freak
out at Chennai, sponsored by Sun T.V and VGP Ltd.. The Loco that was
screened was a WAM4 from Arakkonam. If you had notices it a little
more carefully they also show a (Tondiarpet based i suppose) WDS-4
shunter, pulling the rakes ,with the typical blue and yellow livery
and also a WDM2 (i am not too sure of the shed). We can find almost
all the. I dont think what Apurva was trying to point out is
possible. Since what they show contains all those necessary screen
effects it is possible that what was most important for the loco got
chipped off. Let me see that once again. For all those who have not
seen this clipping, Sun TV will show this everyday till the 22nd of
April. Probaility of this being screened is at the peak at around
8.00 p.m before the Sun News. Dont miss it, could see some good WAM4
action on the idiot box.

Kind regards,
Anand

----Original Message Follows----
From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
To: IRFCA <irfca@cs.email
Subject: CLip from Sun TV
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 16:57:31 +0530

Gang !

I noticed a clip from the Tamil channel Sun TV which is being run
recently as a
filler. They show various locomotives running past, but distorted as
they are
compressed to fill half the screen while the titles in Tamil (which I
do not follow)
flash in the other half. They show a WAM 4 loco pair running in
Multiple unit. The
strange observation is that the leading loco is going full clip with
its panto
dropped. Can a dead loco lead a MU ? I have seen a dead WDM2 being
pushed out of a
section by the second loco, but the driver was in the live loco and
the speed was
quite slow. I have also seen a dead loco and its train being pushed
by a loco in the
rear to clear the section. After reaching the next station, the
pushing loco came in
the front and led the train to its final destination with the dead
loco trailing. So
can a dead loco lead a MU pair with the driver in the dead loco ?
Could other gang
explain the observation ?

Apurva

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: CLip from Sun TV

Date: 19 Apr 1999 00:15:26 -0500

During mainline failure of a loco, this frequently happens and the train
can
be pushed from behind also. Lately I have seen them doing this with the
help
of walkie-talkies.

According to the rule book, this is permitted at 10 kmph only till the
next
siding/station. The rules for Ghat sections may be different though.

Harsh

-----Original Message-----
From: Krishnan Anand <krish_nand@hotmail.email
To: iti@vsnl.email <iti@vsnl.email irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: CLip from Sun TV

>Hi Apurva and gang,
> The clip which they are currently screening on Sun
>T.V is for a contest. they pick up 1000 correct enties and arrange
>for a train journey from Kanyakumari to Chennai and then 2 day freak
>out at Chennai, sponsored by Sun T.V and VGP Ltd.. The Loco that was
>screened was a WAM4 from Arakkonam. If you had notices it a little
>more carefully they also show a (Tondiarpet based i suppose) WDS-4
>shunter, pulling the rakes ,with the typical blue and yellow livery
>and also a WDM2 (i am not too sure of the shed). We can find almost
>all the. I dont think what Apurva was trying to point out is
>possible. Since what they show contains all those necessary screen
>effects it is possible that what was most important for the loco got
>chipped off. Let me see that once again. For all those who have not
>seen this clipping, Sun TV will show this everyday till the 22nd of
>April. Probaility of this being screened is at the peak at around
>8.00 p.m before the Sun News. Dont miss it, could see some good WAM4
>action on the idiot box.
>
>Kind regards,
>Anand
>
>
>----Original Message Follows----
>From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
>To: IRFCA <irfca@cs.email
>Subject: CLip from Sun TV
>Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 16:57:31 +0530
>
>Gang !
>
>I noticed a clip from the Tamil channel Sun TV which is being run
>recently as a
>filler. They show various locomotives running past, but distorted as
>they are
>compressed to fill half the screen while the titles in Tamil (which I
>do not follow)
>flash in the other half. They show a WAM 4 loco pair running in
>Multiple unit. The
>strange observation is that the leading loco is going full clip with
>its panto
>dropped. Can a dead loco lead a MU ? I have seen a dead WDM2 being
>pushed out of a
>section by the second loco, but the driver was in the live loco and
>the speed was
>quite slow. I have also seen a dead loco and its train being pushed
>by a loco in the
>rear to clear the section. After reaching the next station, the
>pushing loco came in
>the front and led the train to its final destination with the dead
>loco trailing. So
>can a dead loco lead a MU pair with the driver in the dead loco ?
>Could other gang
>explain the observation ?
>
>Apurva
>
>
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>

From: Harry Anchan <>

Subject: Re: WOW! I am thrilled to stumble upon your site! (Addendum)

Date: 19 Apr 1999 05:39:52 -0500

Namaskaar,

OOOPS! As I could not copy the link path to the pictures (for some reason, my PC refused to copy the link itself - it copied the actual images into my mail) into the original message, I typed in the final directory and file name. Now I find that when I click any of the images, it takes me to my main page. Sorry about that. Please click on "Images From The Kerala Video Documentary" and you will see the pictures in the albums.

Regards,
Harry

Subject: WOW! I am thrilled to stumble upon your site!Hello there!

I am a fan since the age of 5! I dreamed of the Canadian-built locomotives with the rounded front and the light in the centre surrounded by a silver star (the WPphoto2.JPG image at your home page) and the Austrian-built engines with the same shape but the red and green stripes around the boiler! Coincidentally, I have been living in Canada for 30 years, but my heart jumps when I travel by train through India, especiall Kerala. I have staked my place at the door (I prefer to travel 2nd class as I can hang out the door with camcorder in hand, and meet more people!) during both my trips to India in 1993 and 1996 and done extensive filming. I have produced much of the 1993 footage into the Kerala Video, frames from which can be seen at:

<<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>

Some (not all are listed here) railway scenery frames are:

<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/bhaarathapuzha.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/bhaarathapuzha.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/billboard2.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/billboard2.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/kottayam-stn2.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/kottayam-stn2.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/near-changanacheri.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/near-changanacheri.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/new-signal.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/new-signal.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/old-signal.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/old-signal.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/flagman-irinjalakuda.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/flagman-irinjalakuda.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin1.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/switch-cabin1.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/tiruvalla1.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/tiruvalla1.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/train3.JPG">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/images/train3.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>
<A HREF="http://www.serv.net/~kgeorge/images/photo/kttmrs1s.JPG">http://www.serv.net/~kgeorge/images/photo/kttmrs1s.JPG</A> <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>

I have also just now installed a link to your site from <<A HREF="http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/>">http://www.angelfire.com/az/musicollector/></A>

The highlight of my trips are travelling by train. I travel extensively by train. Forget the planes, cars and buses! Who needs them?! I even collect train television documentaries but my most favorite one is the 1980 masterpiece by Brian I. W. Thompson of the BBC, as part of the "Great Railway Journeys of the World" series. However, I am very sad that the steam locomotives have been retired.

I also went through SO much red tape and bureaucracy in 1996 trying to film from the engine while travelling in Kerala state, that I finally gave up. Why is it so difficult? I am going to India again for one month starting May 17, and would love to film fro the train once we are in Kerala. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can accomplish this?

Thanks.
--
Regards,
Harry
**************************************************************************************************************************************

--
Regards,
Harry

From: Dr. S. Parthasarathy <>

Subject: From India World

Date: 19 Apr 1999 07:56:27 -0500

Rlys gets 20 diesel locos from General Motors

NEW DELHI: The Railways have acquired 20 state-of-the-art diesel
locomotives from General Motors, US, one of the world leaders in the
diesel locomotives technology.

Under the agreement, General Motors would also transfer technology
enabling India to manufacture the 4000 HP engines indigenously from
December 1999, an official release said here today. This is the
first-ever transfer of technology of diesel engine by General Motors
outside the US. Besides, General Motors would provide training to Indian
Railway personnel to improve their skills, the release said.

The induction of the modern locomotives would give a boost to the
Railways` diesel traction, the preferred mode of rail traction, due to
low investment, economical running and high operational flexibility.

The contract with General Motors was signed by the Railways in 1995 for
import of locomotives and also for transfer of technology for indigenous
manufacture at the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi.(PTI)

From: Auroprem Kandaswami <>

Subject: Films featuring IR: Names needed

Date: 19 Apr 1999 09:18:47 -0500

Hi co-railnuts,

I am missing some of the older messages.

I need the names of the following Hindi movies:

1. Film where Amjad Khan boards/travels by
Bombay-Howrah Mail (Film of late 70's)

2. Film where Amitabh is supposed to be travelling
from Bombay to Delhi by train (Frontier Mail?)
but actually travels by air. His role in this
film was negative. (Film of early/mid 70's)

Just that I would like to watch these.

Thanks,
Auro

From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Re: Films featuring IR: Names needed

Date: 19 Apr 1999 09:33:38 -0500

>From: Auroprem Kandaswami <kandaswa@apple.email
>To: Indian Rail Fan Club Association <irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Films featuring IR: Names needed
>Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 09:18:47 -0700
>
>
> Hi co-railnuts,
>
> I am missing some of the older messages.
>
> I need the names of the following Hindi movies:
>
> 1. Film where Amjad Khan boards/travels by
> Bombay-Howrah Mail (Film of late 70's)
>

Inkaar - *ing Vinod Khanna, Vidya Sinha, among others. Great shots
of the Mail with its green-grey-yellow livery.

Vijay

_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit <A HREF="http://www.msn.com">http://www.msn.com</A>

From: Shanku Niyogi <>

Subject: News on Calcutta Metro

Date: 19 Apr 1999 13:20:06 -0500

From an edition of The Statesman, over the weekend:

Troubleshooter for Metro trains

Statesman News Service

CALCUTTA, April 18. - At last, Metro has something to cheer about. A
compressor, which will put a damaged train back on the tracks, has
arrived
from Germany.

Eight more are likely to arrive within a month. Once they are fitted,
Metro
trains will hopefully run at regular intervals, without too many snags.

Five rakes have been dumped in the Metro's Noapara car shed for the last
two
months because the compressors -- which control the brakes and automatic
doors -- have failed. Each train has four compressors

Over the months, 20 compressors have stopped working because of overuse.
The
result: repeated snags and erratic train services.

But things are likely to look up now. Eight new compressors will come
from
Germany's Knorr Bremese Company, the original makers of the compressors,
says Mr GR Madan, general manager, Metro Railway.

Each compressor costs around Rs 20 lakh. Orders have been placed with
the
Kirloskar Limited, an Indian company, for 12 indigenous ones. These
compressors will cost around Rs 6 lakh.

"It will be at least three months before the indigenous compressors are
ready for use, Mr Madan said. Besides, we will first have to try out the
prototypes. Only if they work all right, can we go ahead and ask for
more."

With five of their rakes down, Metro trains have been plying under
tremendous pressure. The 10-minute frequency hasn't be maintained since
January.

As the rakes collapsed one by one, Metro officials began to fear a total
breakdown of Metro services. The 11 rakes being used now, are running
with
patch-up repairs.

The authorities, therefore, have been trying desperately set things
right.
Knorr Bremese was initially reluctant to repair or sell just one or two
compressors. A bulk order couldn't be made as their compressors were too
expensive.

From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Re: Films featuring IR: Names needed

Date: 19 Apr 1999 19:03:53 -0500

>
> 2. Film where Amitabh is supposed to be travelling
> from Bombay to Delhi by train (Frontier Mail?)
> but actually travels by air. His role in this
> film was negative. (Film of early/mid 70's)

I think the film was PARWANA. The hero was Navin Nischal and the
heroine
Yogeeta Bali. Amitabh boards the 1 down Bombay - Howrah Mail via Nagpur.
He gets off at Dadar murders the heroine's father/uncle(?), flies to
Nagpur and boards the same train for Howrah.

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

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: News on Calcutta Metro

Date: 19 Apr 1999 20:40:42 -0500

This news stinks of management malpractice ! I always believed that the
ICF has built
the Metro coaches with smaller loading gauge but with indigenous
equipment. There are
so many competent compressor manufacturers in India (Elgi, Kirloskar
Pneumatics,
Manecklal etc ) who already supply equipment to the IR. So what took the
ICF and the
Calcutta Metro so long to predict that non availability of such a
critical part would
paralyse the operations ? Let us built equipment which may be low tech,
but easily
swappable with the rest of the railway stuff. I wonder if the collapse
of the USSR has
something to do with this mess ?

Apurva

Shanku Niyogi wrote:

> >From an edition of The Statesman, over the weekend:
>
> Troubleshooter for Metro trains
>
> Statesman News Service
>
> CALCUTTA, April 18. - At last, Metro has something to cheer about. A
> compressor, which will put a damaged train back on the tracks, has
arrived
> from Germany.
>
> Eight more are likely to arrive within a month. Once they are fitted,
Metro
> trains will hopefully run at regular intervals, without too many
snags.
>
> Five rakes have been dumped in the Metro's Noapara car shed for the
last two
> months because the compressors -- which control the brakes and
automatic
> doors -- have failed. Each train has four compressors
>
> Over the months, 20 compressors have stopped working because of
overuse. The
> result: repeated snags and erratic train services.
>
> But things are likely to look up now. Eight new compressors will come
from
> Germany's Knorr Bremese Company, the original makers of the
compressors,
> says Mr GR Madan, general manager, Metro Railway.
>
> Each compressor costs around Rs 20 lakh. Orders have been placed with
the
> Kirloskar Limited, an Indian company, for 12 indigenous ones. These
> compressors will cost around Rs 6 lakh.
>
> "It will be at least three months before the indigenous compressors
are
> ready for use, Mr Madan said. Besides, we will first have to try out
the
> prototypes. Only if they work all right, can we go ahead and ask for
more."
>
> With five of their rakes down, Metro trains have been plying under
> tremendous pressure. The 10-minute frequency hasn't be maintained
since
> January.
>
> As the rakes collapsed one by one, Metro officials began to fear a
total
> breakdown of Metro services. The 11 rakes being used now, are running
with
> patch-up repairs.
>
> The authorities, therefore, have been trying desperately set things
right.
> Knorr Bremese was initially reluctant to repair or sell just one or
two
> compressors. A bulk order couldn't be made as their compressors were
too
> expensive.

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: News on Calcutta Metro

Date: 19 Apr 1999 20:40:42 -0500

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: Films featuring IR: Names needed

Date: 20 Apr 1999 00:36:07 -0500

> I think the film was PARWANA. The hero was Navin Nischal and the
heroine
>Yogeeta Bali. Amitabh boards the 1 down Bombay - Howrah Mail via
Nagpur.
>He gets off at Dadar murders the heroine's father/uncle(?), flies to
>Nagpur and boards the same train for Howrah.
>

Quite correct. The film also had good music and the hit song `Jis din se
maine tumko dekha hai'. It didn't have much of train sequence though but
showed the interior of the lavish IAC compartment. No locomotive shots
though. It also highlighted the pathetic speed of the mail.

Another Amitabh starrer which featured the mail had Rekha(in a negative
role), Prem Chopra, Pradeep Kumar etc. in which PC pushes AB out of the
moving train. Rekha is a highly ambitious middle class housewife of AB
who
wants to become a film star with the help of PC.
Can't recollect the name just now.........

Harsh

From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>

Subject: Re: Films featuring IR: Names needed

Date: 20 Apr 1999 01:49:44 -0500

Hi!

On Tue, 20 Apr 1999, Harsh Vardhan wrote:

>
> Another Amitabh starrer which featured the mail had Rekha(in a
negative
> role), Prem Chopra, Pradeep Kumar etc. in which PC pushes AB out of
the
> moving train. Rekha is a highly ambitious middle class housewife of AB
who
> wants to become a film star with the help of PC.
> Can't recollect the name just now.........
>

The film Title is `Do Anjane', a great movie, remake of a original
Bengali.But
it flopped in Hindi. AB is pushed out of a running train. Looses his
memory etc
.etc. with Mithun Chakraborty in a small role.

Shrinivas

From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>

Subject: Re: Films featuring IR: Names needed

Date: 20 Apr 1999 01:58:12 -0500

Hi!

On Tue, 20 Apr 1999, Harsh Vardhan wrote:

>
> > I think the film was PARWANA. The hero was Navin Nischal and the
heroine
> >Yogeeta Bali. Amitabh boards the 1 down Bombay - Howrah Mail via
Nagpur.
> >He gets off at Dadar murders the heroine's father/uncle(?), flies to
> >Nagpur and boards the same train for Howrah.

> Quite correct. The film also had good music and the hit song `Jis din
se
> maine tumko dekha hai'. It didn't have much of train sequence though
but
> showed the interior of the lavish IAC compartment. No locomotive shots
> though. It also highlighted the pathetic speed of the mail.

Another song of this film which is quite a hit even today was a no. by
Kishore Kumar ` Simti se , sharmai see, jis duniya me tum raheti ho '
The
music composer of this film was great Madan Mohan. And this was the only
song KK sang for MM.

Shrinivas

From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>

Subject: National PRS Network

Date: 21 Apr 1999 00:43:55 -0500

Hi!

Landmark In Railway History
---------------------------

There is a announcement by Centre for Railway Information Systems
(CRIS),
published in Times Of India, dt 21st Apr., '99 regarding Chennai linked
onto the Passenger Reservation System. Chennai is now part of the
existing
network of Delhi, Calcutta, Secundrabad, Mumbai systems.

Reservations & cancellations are now possible for any train on these PRS
systems from any terminal of the network.Approx. 5.5 lakh passengers
daily
make use of this system.

The current status of PNR's thru IVR systems can now be obtained across
the network simply on local tel. call.

CRIS congratulates & thanks all the rly. users, staff & officers for
their
co-operation.

------------------------------------END---------------------------------
----

_compiled by Shrinivas

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: More from the archieve

Date: 21 Apr 1999 05:38:54 -0500

Check this out !

IRFCA (Indian Railways Fan Club of America) was started way
back in
August of 1989. The idea of a mailing list for Indian Railway
fans
was conceived by three of us: Sankaran Kumar (works for ????
in
San Diego, California), Dheeraj Sanghi (now a faculty in the
Dept. of
Computer Science at IIT, Kanpur), and myself (faculty member
in the
Dept. of Computer Science, Xavier University of Louisiana, New
Orleans).
Sometime, during the summer of '89, Dheeraj and I had started
communicating my email. One fine way, I discovered to my
delight, a
series of messages in Soc.Culture.Indian, the discussion on IR
being
initiated by Kumar. And then I realized that I was not the
only nut out
there. We floated the idea of a train club on the net and
were pleased
to receive a few responses. Dheeraj volunteered to maintain
the list
of about 8 people. I recall some names: Chitta Baral,
Shriram
Revankar,...... The name was conceived by Yours Truly (could
not come
up with a better one :-) ). After Dheeraj left for India
sometime
in 1992(?), S Pai (works for ????? in Concord,
Massachusetts)
took over the list. At present, Anurag Acharya (Univ. of
Maryland) is
in charge of the list. He should have all the details about
the
current strength of the list (more than 100?), the names, etc.

BTW, how many countries are represented: USA, UK, India,
......?

Please fill in the details, fellow IRFCAites!!

Vijay

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Still more stuff from the archieve

Date: 21 Apr 1999 05:46:08 -0500

The following lead story appeared on pg 1 of the October 20th
issue of
IT People, a supplement to Express Computer, and the weekly
bible for
job-hunting software junta. It is a copyrighted item - )
Indian Express
Newspapers (Bombay) Limited.

- ------------------------------------------

Rail drivers take it easy as locos go smart

After a raging controversy over which reams of newsprint was
used,
Indian Railways finally took delivery of the hi-tech
three-phase
locomotives from ABB nearly 18 months back. Although everyone
has talked
about costs, technology, feasibility and what have you, what
do these
locos mean to the people who drive them and thus spend most of
their
working hours in them? Moumita Bakshi finds out in New Delhi

- ---------------------------------------------

<pic of WAP5 60009 (it could be 80009??) - a cream top, double
orange
stripes - completely hoizontal, and green bottomed NR
Ghaziabad
locomotive in floral splendor at NDLS New Delhi

railway station>

- ----------------------------------------------

As the Mumbai-bound Rajdhani Express begins sliding out of New
Delhi
railway station, the two drivers in the cabin of the
locomotive calmly
engage in idle chatter while managing the pestigious
high-speed train
with its load of 900 passengers. The conversation varies from
the

weather in the Capital to the political crisis facing the
nation, and
literally at the same time, the two also negotiate the tracks
skillfully. One casually checks the Video Display Unit (VDU)
fixed on
the dashboard for possible malfunctions. With another hand he
manoeuvres
a throttle to adjust the flow of power and then steps on a
pedal on the
floorboard to keep the powerful locomotives alive - a movement
he has to
repeat every 40 seconds to prevent the automatic brakes from
bringing
the monster to a screeching halt.

These ABB electric locomotives pack the punch of silicon, and
with this,
life for these railway drivers inside their cabin seems to
have become
as easy as logging into a system. R D Kalia, a Rajdhani driver
with
Northern Railway says the year-and-half old introduction of
the

new "microprocessor-controlled" ABB locomotives have provided
the
drivers a refreshing change over the older ones. "The new
locomotives
allow speed to be automatically maintained at a constant
level. Earlier
it had to be monitored manually," says a visibly pleased
Kalia.

Another Rajdhani driver, L N Sharma, fully agrees. "The
computerised
locomotives are a blessing for drivers. In case of any
malfunctions, the
locomotive itself indicates the nature of the fault, suggests
a remedy
and even isolates the malfunctioning part," he says with

amazement.

The new locomotives are presently on test runs powering the
Howrah
Rajdhani, Delhi-Bombay (sic) Rajdhani, Bhubaneshwar Express,
Prayagraj
Express, and the Gomati Express.

But how comfortable are these semi-literate drivers once they
step
inside the cabin of these locomotives, whose interiors look so
complex
with hi-tech gizmos all around? As an answer to the query,
this reporter
was invited to visit the ABB locomotive's cabin. The cabin
houses a VDU
which sports a three-option menu. The driver is given the
option to
choose between Vehicle Diagnostic, Information Train Bus, and
Process
Information.

"Selecting Vehicle Diagnostic gives the driver an option to
browse
through the various components like the battery charger, the
brake
system and the fire detector. Similarly, the other choices
offer the
driver a plethora of options. And the clean working
environment of an

automated locomotive comes as a welcome relief from the grime
of the old
diesel-locomotive atmosphere" says Sharma, an old hand when it
comes to
various types of locomotives.

"Furthermore, the railway authorities conduct week-long
training classes
for the drivers in Kanpur" he reveals. According to an ABB
(ABB and
Daimler Benz merged their transportation activities in January
1996 to
form a new company, ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation AG)
company
official, the man-machine interface in these locomotives is
extremely
simple as it helps the drivers in easier operation. The
official further
revealed that the company itself has, in the past, flown
railway
instructors to Switzerland to train them on the operational
aspects of
these locomotives. These railway instructors then conduct
classes for
the drivers in India.

Coming back to the driver's point of view, the other advantage
of this
particular brand of locomotive that seems to have clicked well
with
drivers is regenerative breaking. "The power that is consumed
during
operation can be routed back to the mains via the overhead
wires. This
saves upto 10 to 15 per cent of power on a single trip," says
one of the
drivers.

What this reporter found most intriguing was the
time-and-again usage of
the term "slate" throughout the conversation with the drivers.
"We do
not know much about the technical details being on the user
end, but
officers tell us that such locomotives have...a slate in them
that
stores all the logistics," says another ABB locomotive driver
Sri Gopal,
somewhat hesitantly. It is only later in conversation with the
railway
official that all doubts are finally dispelled - "It is the
microprocessor that they are referring to. We don't expect
them to know.
One week of training is hardly enough for us to go into the
details.
Besides what use is it to them whether it is a microprocessor
or a
slate? What difference does ot make to them?" defends the
official.

True, but it certainly makes a massive difference when one
considers the
technology involved. Thanks to the microrocessor-controlled
locomotives,
which according to the ABB official, adopts the three-phase
technology,
more and more drivers are getting hooked to these locomotives
to such a
point that they feel disheartened if they are put back on the
diesel
beat. Take for example, the case of M K Vyas who got the
chance to drive
one of these locomotives on the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani route
before he
was transferred back to drive the old locomotives. "It took
away all the
zeal that comes packed with driving the new locomotives. I
feel
absolutely disheartened," he reveals.

So what do the drivers like Sri Gopal, Kalia, Sharma and Vyas
feel about
the controversy that has raged for years over the purchase of
these
expensive ABB locomotives by the Indian government? On the
price front,
is the price tag of Rs. 20 crore (!!!!!!!!) too much to pay
for one
locomotive? "Don't know. Don't care. That's not our headache
Just give
us a change over the old set-up and sufficient training to
ensure the
safety of passengers," smiles Sharma.

"Anything, just anything but the old diesel locomotives would
do," the
drivers agree in unison.

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