IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 5901 - 5920
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Gauge Issue:
Date: 25 Apr 1999 23:04:00 -0500
Apurva wrote:
> The voltage is 750 VDC and the rake has been built in ICF Chennai.
In any case, procuring imported (and that too: standard
gauge) stock for the DMR is completely unreasonable
considering that indigenous standard stock exists.
Is there really no way to question the DMRC,
considering that this is public funding at stake ?
--
JS
--
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Gauge Issue:
Date: 25 Apr 1999 23:05:49 -0500
> Regarding the sourcing of equipment, and making it common
> to that of the Calcutta system: does anyone have detailed
> specifications for the Cal. rakes ? Also, do these rakes
> share any aggregates with regular stock such as suburban
> EMUs ? It seems to me that though the loading gauge would
> necessarily be smaller, wheelsets, traction motors and
> control equipment could be adapted as the service is
> similar (stop/start with high acceleration). I suppose the
> main issue would then be the different voltage on third rail ?
The voltage is 750 VDC and the rake has been built in ICF Chennai. One
empty shell
without wheels is used like the worker's rest area (for siesta etc) at
the gate of
the ICF. I think the issue is lighter weight and the rest of the stuff
must be
similar.
Apurva
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re: National Geographic I.R. article
Date: 26 Apr 1999 00:03:18 -0500
But I thought Paul Theroux slept through Indian part. However the pic of the CAWD (?) at Agra on the cover is one of the best of Indian Railways to date.
MAWD 1500
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: U.S. diesel locos to be housed in new Hubli shed
Date: 26 Apr 1999 01:02:12 -0500
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> > The designs given by the General Motors have been
modified
> > and indigenised,
> > incorporating the newer concepts. For example, it is
going
> > to be a pitless loco
> > shed, for examining the engines, which is something
new in
> > the Indian Railways.
>
> How do you think this 'pitless examination' works ? As a rule a loco
has to be seen
> from beneath.
To try and answer my own query - Maybe the reason that the locos have to
be seen from
beneath is really the DC traction motors. There is regular commutator
and brush
maintenance to be done for which there are inspection hatches which are
really accessible
only from underneath the loco. Also any localized lubrication is best
done from under the
loco. However if you had a AC AC transmission where the motor was
without any brushes you
need not look under the loco except at the POH stage (6 monthly ?) when
the loco has to
be lifted on the jacks and the bogies separated. Thus a pitless
inspection may be
feasible. The rest of the 'maintenance intensive' loco parts like air
filters, oil
filters, brake rigging, alternator and radiator can be accessed from the
frame. My guess
is that cyclone (and partially self cleaning) air filters and
centralized lubrication
system would reduce the maintenance burden even further. Expert comments
from Sunil are
requested.
Apurva
>
>
> >
> > The pits have been dispensed with and replaced by a
common
> > floor at one level,
> > which would facilitate easier movement of the
workers.
> >
> >
> >
> > The new engines, which would be tested by the RDSO,
for
> > speed and load, would
> > be put for haulage mainly of the iron ore traffic
from
> > Hospet to Castle Rock and
> > Hospet to Guntakal sector.
>
> The purpose of this route will be similar to the Waltair Kirandul ore
line on the east
> coast ?
>
> Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Chinese Trains vs. IR
Date: 26 Apr 1999 01:55:45 -0500
> After dark, they use beacons, some of which(just like the semaphore
signals)
> are kerosene lanterns with a coloured glasses.
I am the proud owner of a railway kerosene lantern which has a
sliding green and
red glass. Thus all the three aspects of the signal can be
easily changed.
Apurva
From: Joydeep Dutta <>
Subject: Re: U.S. diesel locos to be housed in new Hubli shed
Date: 26 Apr 1999 02:13:11 -0500
The biggest advantage of WDG4 is that the period between two
maintenance schedule is 3 months compared to the 7 to 10 days for
WDM2.
WDG4 has sohpisticated electronic controls which avoid unnecessary
enginew shutdown
Joydeep
>From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
>To: Sridhar Shankarnarayan <msshanka@gsbpop.email
>CC: irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Re: U.S. diesel locos to be housed in new Hubli shed
>Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1999 14:22:57 +0530
>
>> The designs given by the General Motors have been
modified
>> and indigenised,
>> incorporating the newer concepts. For example, it is
going
>> to be a pitless loco
>> shed, for examining the engines, which is something
new in
>> the Indian Railways.
>
>How do you think this 'pitless examination' works ? As a rule a loco
has to be seen
>from beneath.
>
>>
>> The pits have been dispensed with and replaced by a
common
>> floor at one level,
>> which would facilitate easier movement of the
workers.
>>
>>
>>
>> The new engines, which would be tested by the RDSO,
for
>> speed and load, would
>> be put for haulage mainly of the iron ore traffic
from
>> Hospet to Castle Rock and
>> Hospet to Guntakal sector.
>
>The purpose of this route will be similar to the Waltair Kirandul ore
line on the east
>coast ?
>
>Apurva
>
>
>
>
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From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: [Fwd: Delhi Metro
Date: 26 Apr 1999 03:02:34 -0500
Something that Satish posted way back in last Oct. Maybe the
soft loan from Japan has something to do with the 4' 81/2"
gauge ?
Apurva
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Re: Signal Lantern
Date: 26 Apr 1999 03:44:02 -0500
> I am the proud owner of a railway kerosene lantern which has a
> sliding green and
> red glass. Thus all the three aspects of the signal can be
> easily changed.
> Apurva
That's interesting: a friend recently gave me one which
I am cleaning up. It seems to have the rear handle missing.
I am interested in having it nicely restored, with plated
reflectors and all. Will come in handy these days with the
power failures have in Pune.
--
JS
--
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Gauge Issue:
Date: 26 Apr 1999 05:30:52 -0500
>Is there really no way to question the DMRC,
>considering that this is public funding at stake ?
>
You can try writing through
Anuj Dayal
CPRO
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
Lodi Road Institutional Area
New Delhi -110 003
In the meantime I'll see if he has an Email.
Harsh
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: THe Desert Queen was the National Geographic I.R. article
Date: 26 Apr 1999 06:12:26 -0500
> There is a striking night-time picture of the "Desert Queen" -- lit by
> some artificial light at Old Delhi station, the (YP?) loco gleams
> golden. It has a small nameplate at the front, with "rani registani"
> in smaller letters in Hindi. Does this train run any more? What is
> or was the route it took? If it still runs today, what loco does it
> use?
I think the Desert Queen was the YP ? (I think it was a YG) used to haul
the
original (ex Princely states) MG rakes. Once the rake was replaced by
the
modern MG AC, one YG could not haul anymore and I think there were two
locos in
tandem or a YDM 4.
I wonder where the MG rakes for the origianal POW are ? Where are ex
pricely
state rakes ? The NRM ? and is the MG AC rake of the 'replacement' POW
now run
as the Royal Orient ?
Apurva
>
>
> Another picture I like a lot is the dusk shot of the Agra (Fort?)
station
> showing several stabled rakes from the top, with the dome of the Jama
> Masjid in the background; the entire picture is suffused with a deep
> red colour because it's close to sunset (well, maybe McCurry used
> some filters to intensify the effect too :-) ).
>
> --Satish
From: SHRINIVAS V. JOSHI <>
Subject: Train to Europe!!
Date: 26 Apr 1999 18:41:47 -0500
Hi!
Great News: Times of India, Mumbai. dt: April, 27 1999
India to board the Train to Europe:
----------------------------------
The Indian Railways have agreed to participate in the Trans-Asian
Railway
link between Europe & South -East Asia, via
Iran,Pakistan,India,Bangladesh,
Myanmar,Thailand & Malaysia.
This Trans Asian Railway project is being considered by United Nations
Economics & Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific ( ESCAP ) under the
Asian Land Infrastructure development project.
The main objective of this project is to identify & evaluate the
development & operation of a network of routes between South Asia &
Europe, south China & Europe , Thailand & Europe.
These routes are supposed to run thru Bangladesh, Myanmar, India,
Pakistan, Iran & Turkey.
-----------------------------------
Hope this project comes to reality as early as possible. And may some of
us can really travel on this route.
Bye,
Shrinivas
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: DMRC Website
Date: 26 Apr 1999 20:22:07 -0500
<A HREF="http://www.delhimetrorail.com/">http://www.delhimetrorail.com/</A>
This is the DMRC website. I've just begun
going through it.
This website says, though, that the proposed
track gauge is 1676 mm. Think they've
got it straight after all ?
-Jayant S-
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Website
Date: 27 Apr 1999 00:31:16 -0500
This is a metro with overhead catenary as is evident from the
model's picture (and open doors as in EMUs ?)
Jayant S wrote:
> <A HREF="http://www.delhimetrorail.com/">http://www.delhimetrorail.com/</A>
> This is the DMRC website. I've just begun
> going through it.
>
> This website says, though, that the proposed
> track gauge is 1676 mm. Think they've
> got it straight after all ?
>
> -Jayant S-
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Website
Date: 27 Apr 1999 00:40:00 -0500
> This is a metro with overhead catenary as is evident from the
> model's picture (and open doors as in EMUs ?)
I don't think we need to take this model seriously.
I can't imagine why an underground system would use
OH catenary unless it has to be completely compatible
with surface rail. Open doors on a subway ? Ouch.
Also, this model seems to be meeting full BG
loading gauge, which is simply too large for an
underground system.
My guess is that it is just a teaser, a highly
speculative model made by IR apprentices somewhere......
DMRC puts it up in the same spirit that they display
a DB electric loco on their home page.
--
JS
--
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re: National Geographic I.R. article
Date: 27 Apr 1999 01:46:08 -0500
>Without much information to go on, I am guessing that this is the same
>photograph that appears on the cover of "The Imperial Way" by Paul
>Theroux and Steven (?) McCurry. It shows two railwaymen (one holding
>a flag in his hand and standing just above the cowcatcher of the loco,
>with a turban on his head) and the front of a steam loco with the Taj
>out of focus in the distant background. A great shot!
I guess I'll never be a great photographer for I can't find anything
exceptionally great about this usually much acclaimed photograph. For
one
this was a `arranged' photo-shoot, which almost professional railway
photographers finally resort to, when I would guess photography of
moving
objects is that all timing and framing is about. Secondly and
importantly, I
feel that the effect of the scene could have been enhanced by increasing
the
depth of field and taking the Taj into it thereby making both appear
sharp
and crisp. Years ago BSA cycles came out with an ad shot at the same
location (which had a belligerent young lady squatting on tracks in
front of
a loco with her bike) which I thought had technically much superior
pictures. Anyone remembers this?
By the way some other pictures in the book are fabulous(night shot of
Chattagong station with a train moving out) and I otherwise highly
regard
McCurry's photography.
>A slightly
>different photograph appears inside the book. From the description,
>it sounds as though the book and the National Geographic article might
>share a lot. National Geographic also holds the copyright on several of
>the photographs in the book. If anyone has seen both, can they comment
>on what the overlap between the National Geographic article and the
>book is? The book is subtitled "By Rail from Peshawar to Chittagong";
I guess that three projects were taken up together including the above
two
books, the third being Theroux's on book on the same journey.
>There is a striking night-time picture of the "Desert Queen" -- lit by
>some artificial light at Old Delhi station, the (YP?) loco gleams
>golden. It has a small nameplate at the front, with "rani registani"
>in smaller letters in Hindi. Does this train run any more? What is
>or was the route it took? If it still runs today, what loco does it
>use?
>
This was the old MG Palace on Wheels which was hauled by YG 3415/38 of
erstwhile Bandikui shed. After POW got a modern rake, the old rake was
shifted to NRM(where it is withering away for last six years as NR's
project
to convert it into a luxury hotel never took off). When POW went BG,
the
Royal Orient took over the new MG rake. All along the two YGs have been
its
powers now based at Rewari shed(joined last month by YG 3724 from Mhow)
and
work this special only between Delhi and Rewari now. No name now for the
locos.
Harsh
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Website
Date: 27 Apr 1999 01:59:28 -0500
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> This is a metro with overhead catenary as is evident from the
> model's picture (and open doors as in EMUs ?)
Although the fact sheet mentions 750 VDC 3rd rail top. What is
'top' - contact on the top surface of the 3rd rail ? The gauge is
indeed 5'6", whew !
Apurva
>
>
> Jayant S wrote:
>
> > <A HREF="http://www.delhimetrorail.com/">http://www.delhimetrorail.com/</A>
> > This is the DMRC website. I've just begun
> > going through it.
> >
> > This website says, though, that the proposed
> > track gauge is 1676 mm. Think they've
> > got it straight after all ?
> >
> > -Jayant S-
From: Harsh Vardhan <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Website
Date: 27 Apr 1999 02:31:38 -0500
If you read this point 16. as below,
16. Present Status System design is under finalisation, pre-
qualification
documents are being prepared for calling design and construct contract
for
Civil Engineering works.
The controversy is very much alive, only a ten days back there was a big
article in the Express about it. You will also notice in the website
that no
tenders etc have been yet floated for the mechanical items like the
rakes
etc.
Harsh
-----Original Message-----
From: Jayant S <sank@idane2.email
To: IR List <irfca@cs.email hvc@vsnl.email <hvc@vsnl.email
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 7:28 PM
Subject: DMRC Website
><A HREF="http://www.delhimetrorail.com/">http://www.delhimetrorail.com/</A>
>This is the DMRC website. I've just begun
>going through it.
>
>This website says, though, that the proposed
>track gauge is 1676 mm. Think they've
>got it straight after all ?
>
>-Jayant S-
>
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Website
Date: 27 Apr 1999 02:39:07 -0500
> Although the fact sheet mentions 750 VDC 3rd rail top. What is
> 'top' - contact on the top surface of the 3rd rail ?
Possibly yes, thereby differentiating it from 3rd rail
systems where contact is from the side of the rail.
Anyway, overhead caternary would be a bit expensive
for a subway.
Hmmm....750 VDC with 5'6" gauge. Now why not use something
like Cal Metro stock ?
Also, any idea how far they plan to interchange with the
surface lines ? Could one, for instance, envisage main
line running up to Faridabad or Ghaziabad ?
--
JS
--
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Re: National Geographic I.R. article
Date: 27 Apr 1999 02:58:32 -0500
> Secondly and importantly, I
> feel that the effect of the scene could have been enhanced by
increasing the
> depth of field and taking the Taj into it thereby making both appear
sharp
> and crisp.
I thought it was done with a telephoto lens from some
distance away, which would've made afor a short
depth of field.
> ......(which had a belligerent young lady squatting on tracks in front
of
> a loco with her bike) which I thought had technically much superior
> pictures. Anyone remembers this?
Oh yes. Very crisp picture.
> By the way some other pictures in the book are fabulous(night shot of
> Chattagong station with a train moving out)
And a perfect example of a great shot using a tele lens.
> >different photograph appears inside the book. From the description,
> >it sounds as though the book and the National Geographic article
might
> >share a lot. National Geographic also holds the copyright on several
of
> >the photographs in the book. If anyone has seen both, can they
comment
> >on what the overlap between the National Geographic article and the
> >book is?
As far as I remember, the NG article is only a slightly shortened
version of the book (most of the text is there), and the book
has many more photographs. The book is available at British
Library, Pune (where some MORON has cut out some of the photos).
I remember seeing the NG with someone recently: will check
soon as I can recollect exactly who.
> This was the old MG Palace on Wheels which was hauled by YG 3415/38 of
> erstwhile Bandikui shed. After POW got a modern rake, the old rake was
> shifted to NRM(where it is withering away for last six years as NR's
project
> to convert it into a luxury hotel never took off). When POW went BG,
the
> Royal Orient took over the new MG rake. All along the two YGs have
been its
> powers now based at Rewari shed(joined last month by YG 3724 from
Mhow) and
> work this special only between Delhi and Rewari now. No name now for
the
> locos.
Are there any further updates on the two WPs restored at
Charbagh for the BG POW ?
--
JS
--
From: Dheeraj Sanghi <>
Subject: Re: DMRC Website
Date: 27 Apr 1999 03:26:11 -0500
I think they do not have any line which has some metro
(underground) corridor, and some above-ground corridor.
There is one line which is totally underground, and there
are two lines which are totally above ground.
On the underground line, they plan to have 3rd rail system,
and on the other two line, they will have overhead system.
The engines should have both option, I guess.
-dheeraj
--------------
Dr. Dheeraj Sanghi (0512) 59-7077/7638
(Off)
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering (0512) 59-8627 (Res)
Indian Institute of Technology (0512) 59-0725/0413
(Fax)
Kanpur - 208 016 (UP), INDIA. dheeraj@iitk.email
Home Page: <A HREF="http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/dheeraj">http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/dheeraj</A>