IRFCA Mailing List Archive

Messages 6281 - 6300

From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Re: FAQs

Date: 17 May 1999 07:08:40 -0500

>From: "Harsh Vardhan" <champa@del3.email
>Reply-To: "Harsh Vardhan" <hvc@vsnl.email
>To: "Vijay Balasubramanian" <vijay_642@hotmail.email "John
Lacey"
><jlacey@zeta.email <irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Re: FAQs
>Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 16:24:13 +0530
>
>
> >Because of gauge conversion, the continuous MG link between Ajmer and
> >Secunderabad has been destroyed. Purna-Mudkhed in now BG. So, this
> >passenger train runs between Ajmer and Purna and has 99 halts.
> >I have checked quite a few passenger trains using my Bradshaw and
none
>have
> >come close to 115 halts.
> >
>
>
>Just to put the record straight, it has 104 stops at the moment. Iam
sure
>it
>had many more than 121(over 150) when it running through to Kacheguda.
>
>Harsh
>

I double-checked by Dec. 1998 Bradhaw - the 581 Psgr. from Ajmer to
Purna
has 99 intermediate halts and the 582 Psgr. has 98 intermediate halts.
Have
additional stops been included this year?

Vijay

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From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Re: MG link

Date: 17 May 1999 07:37:13 -0500

From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Re: MG link

Date: 17 May 1999 07:37:13 -0500

From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Re: Hubli - Ankola line

Date: 17 May 1999 07:50:39 -0500

>From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
>To: IRFCA <irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Hubli - Ankola line
>Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 08:45:55 +0530
>
>Gang !
>
>As per an ad in the newspapers today a new railway line is to be
>inaugurated between
>Hubli and Ankola today. Do you have an insight on the significance of
this
>new line ?
>
>Apurva

Ankola is two stations south of Karwar on the KR line. So, this would
give
a direct BG connection between Mangalore/Kankanadi - Hubli via
Udupi-Ankola.
I am assuming that Mangalore-Sakleshpur is still under conversion and
that
Kulem-Castle Rock hasn't been opened to passanger traffic yet.

IMHO, the Pune-Ernakulam Exp. would be using this link and would have
the
following route -
Miraj-Belgaum-Londa-Hubli-Ankola-Kankanadi-Calicut-Shoranur-Ernakulam.

Vijay

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From: JAIGOPAL_B <>

Subject: Trainspotting....Novice

Date: 17 May 1999 07:51:08 -0500

Hi,

I'm a newly joined member of this list. Trains are my passion and I can
spend hours doing anything related to them. I enjoy creating fictional
trains on some routes and I have a software (CATRAIN) on which I design
rail
loops for trains to run (It is actually a software for model trains).

The thing is that though I travel very frequently (Bombay-Pune mostly),
only
now have I attempted to try engine-spotting, but I am afraid the only
ones I
see at Pune (this is where I spend most of my week) are the WCAMs or the
WDM2s.

So how do I go about spotting other types...or are they rarely to be
seen
near Pune/Bombay?

Excuse this mail if it is not in the scope of this list!

Thanks,
Jai

From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: Re: MG double tracking ?

Date: 17 May 1999 10:20:29 -0500

>From: "Harsh Vardhan" <champa@del3.email
>Reply-To: "Harsh Vardhan" <hvc@vsnl.email
>To: <sank@telco.email "IR List" <irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Re: MG double tracking ?
>Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 11:11:23 +0530
>
> >
> >While on this MG subject, I got to thinking
> >about MG double tracking: the stretch from
> >Katihar to Barauni on NER used to have some
> >MG doubled track. I suppose the electrified
> >MG line out of Chennai is also doubled.
> >Are/were there any other sections ?
> >
>
>MG line out of Madras is double only in the suburban section i.e. upto
>Tambaram.
>

Tambaram - Chengalpattu is also doubled-tracked. Isn't one of these
lines
exclusively for suburban services between Tambaram and Chengalpattu?
Following seems to be the track layout between Chennai Beach and
Villpuram -
corrections welcome!
Beach to Tambaram - 3 electrified MG lines (two of these exclusively
for suburban services)
1 electrified BG line
Tambaram to Chengalpattu - 2 electrified MG lines (one for suburban)
1 un-electrified BG line
Chengalpattu to Villupuram - 1 electrified MG line
1 un-electrified BG line

>Former double line sections.

>
>Delhi - Rewari
>Jaipur - Phulera - Ajmer
>Lucknow - Kanpur at one time
>some part of Ahemedabad - Palanpur.

ADI-Mahesana used to be double-tracked. I don't remember whether it
extended beyond Mahesana.

Vijay

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From: Vijay Balasubramanian <>

Subject: 2nd longest MG run

Date: 17 May 1999 11:30:06 -0500

>From: "Harsh Vardhan" <champa@del3.email
>Reply-To: "Harsh Vardhan" <hvc@vsnl.email
>To: "John Lacey" <jlacey@zeta.email <irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Re: MG link
>Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 18:00:27 +0530
>
>
>Before the Gauge Conversion programme came messing around, the 1481 Km
of
>Jaipur- Secunderabad by Meenakshi Express was the longest straight MG
run
>on
>IR. Even today it stands tall at 1152 Km between Jaipur-Purna although
the
>train is now officially called as simply 9769 Jaipur-Purna Exp. Closely
>following Delhi-Ahemedabad Mail through Udaipur at 1019 Km. Third spot
is
>taken by Madras-Quilon mail with its 760 Km run through beautiful
>territory.
>

Guess what?!! There is a direct MG train from Samastipur to Tezpur -
the
5716 exp. (from Samastipur to Tezpur) covers the 1022 km. distance in
about
33 1/2 hrs. - commercial speed 30.51 kmph!! The 5715 exp. takes a
couple of
hours more. So, this should be the 2nd longest MG run on IR. Of
course,
this info. is from the Dec. 1998 Bradshaw, things could have changed
since
then. The route followed is -
Samastipur-Khagaria-Mansi-Saharsa-Purnia-Katihar-Siliguri-New
Bongaigaon-Rangiya-Rangapara North-Tezpore. This takes a circuitous
path
from Samastipur to Katihar after which it is more or less parallel to
the BG
line till Rangiya.

The longest continous MG link appears to be between Samastipur and
Murkongselek, a distance of 1322 km. Note that Murkongselek is directly

linked to Rangiya via Rangapara North and North Lakhimpur - the
Arunachal
Exp. follows this route.

It would be interesting to note how the direct MG link between UP and
Assam was progressively destroyed by gauge conversion. Once LKO-GKP got

converted to BG, the LKO-Gauhati Exp. starting originating from Varanasi
and
used the Ballia-Chhapra-Sonpur-Bachchwara-Barauni-Katihar-Gauhati(now
Guwahati) link. The A.T. Mail was restricted between GKP and Guwahati
and
used the GKP-Thawe-Chhapra loop to get to Chhapra. The next step was
the
conversion of Barauni-Khagaria-Katihar. As a result, the AT Mail and
the
VNS-Guwahati Exp. started employing the
Chhapra-Sonpur-Bachchwara-Samastipur-Khagaria-Saharsa-Katihar MG route
to
get to Katihar from Chhapra. Bachchwara-Samastipur had parallel MG/BG
lines
to enable this connection.
After conversion of Chhapra-Bachchwara (along with Varanasi-Chhapra),
the
direct MG link has been broken.

Vijay

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From: Krishnan Anand <>

Subject: MG link to Quilon(Kollam)

Date: 17 May 1999 19:55:50 -0500

hoi !!

>The recent conversion of Villupuram-Tiruchi has resulted in the
>rerouting of
>Chennai - Quilon Mail via main line (Mayiladuturai-Thanjavur), thus,
>increasing the distance traveled.
Personally i have not travelled by this train till now but those
who have travelled have lavishly praised about its run between
Shencottah and Quilon across the Western Ghats. There are number of
stations atop the ghats and the travel it seems is a great experience.

Kind regds,
Anand

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From: Jayant S <>

Subject: Re: electrified NG

Date: 17 May 1999 20:03:20 -0500

> > >Is there any electrified narrow gauge in India?
> I suppose the only place in the world where electric
> NGs exist would be Switzerland.

There is a 2'6" gauge electrified line in
Austria, I think. Will check.

--
JS
--

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Calling all Indian Railway Enthusiasts

Date: 17 May 1999 20:10:47 -0500

Gang !

Draft of the letter to the editor. Anurag please let me know if you can
handle an
increase in traffic, also if the publication our subscription email
address would be
target of spam. What are the safe alternatives to that ?
Waiting for the approval from the 'elders' and specially our list master
Anurag. I am
trying to get this published in all the editions of the TOI.

Apurva

To the editor,

With reference to the interview with Shri. G.D. Patwardhan and his
interest in the
Indian Railways.
In the 'age of internet' it is appropriate that the internet should
brings together
the Indian Railway enthusiasts of the world.
I wish to tell you and your readers about the discussion group the
"IRFCA" or the
"Indian Railway Fan Club Association". This is free mailing list with
discussion on
every conceivable railway subject with a special emphasis on the Indian
Railways.
There are over 100 members in over 11 countries and we have quite a
lively discussion
on varied subjects at any given time.
I would invite anyone interest in any aspect of the railways
(technology, time tables,
history, travelogue, sightings, dream trains - anything to do with
railways) and an
access to internet / email, to join the group.
To join please send an email requesting subscription to
Anurag Acharya <irfca-request@cs.email
Please note that the mailing list is totally free and serves to bring
the Indian
Railway enthusiasts across the world together with a view to discuss,
study and
document the varied aspects of the Indian Railways.

I extend a special invitation to Shri. Patwardhan to join the IRFCA if
he has access
to email. His enormous experience on the subject will be very welcome.

Apurva Bahadur

Pune/ India

From: Krishnan Anand <>

Subject: Double tracking in SR

Date: 17 May 1999 20:14:04 -0500

Hi all,

<Tambaram - Chengalpattu is also doubled-tracked. Isn't one of these
<lines
<exclusively for suburban services between Tambaram and Chengalpattu?
<Following seems to be the track layout between Chennai Beach and
<Villpuram -
<corrections welcome!
Vijay u r spot on!. U r right.I am just giving some more
inputs on this for others.

<Beach to Tambaram - 3 electrified MG lines (two of these exclusively
< for suburban services)
< 1 electrified BG line
It is to be noted here that for the BG line there are fewer
number of stations built than for the MG line due to land problems. BG
line serves for both suburban and passenger/mail/goods traffic. There is
a single dedicated fast line for MG and 2 slow lines for suburban
services.
<Tambaram to Chengalpattu - 2 electrified MG lines (one for suburban)
< 1 un-electrified BG line
Till now the suburban services are upto Tambaram only on
th BG line and they are seriously thinking of extending this to
Chengalpatuu in the near future.

<Chengalpattu to Villupuram - 1 electrified MG line
< 1 un-electrified BG line
Its been almost 4-5 months since this BG line has been
operational from Tambaram and there has not been any updates on the
maximum permissible speed on this section for the trains. I will update
u all on this next week after i ask my people who have travelled
yesterday to Madurai on this route. Presently it is a miserly 80kmph for
all trains on this section.

I also would like to know the fate of the good old YAM shed at Tambaram
and any proposal to convert it into a A/C shed in case the line is going
to be electrified. Or a diesel shed at Tambaram in which case
WDMs/WDPs/WDGs would be back to Chennai and this would be great.

Kind regards,
Anand.K

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From: Krishnan Anand <>

Subject: Bankers !!!

Date: 17 May 1999 20:30:42 -0500

Hi,

<I have seen a BOX/BOXN rake somewhere between Arakkonam and Renigunta
<with a WAG4 banker.
That would have been a rare occurence. Arakonam-Renigunta stretch
to me is flat and void of steep gradients. Wonder why it had bankers.
Possibly the stretch between Tiruttani-Puttur where the line is quite at
some elevation when compared to the highway next to it. But that would
be around 50-100 above the road. I wonder if it required a banker, or
may be it had only a single lead Loco. It is now a very regular feature
in SR/SCR for double headed WAG locos.

To close, here is another very amazing occurence. The Bhagyanagar
express(Dn) from Hyd to Sirpur/KhagazNagar has a WAM4(BZA) at the
lead and a WDM2(KZJ) at the rear. I heard that this was to save loss of
time while changeover at BZA. Strange but surprisingly very thoughful of
SCR staff. I only hope this is kept a regular feature

kind regards,
Anand
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From: Dheeraj Sanghi <>

Subject: Re: MG double tracking ?

Date: 17 May 1999 20:56:21 -0500

> Former MG double line sections.
>
> Delhi - Rewari
> Jaipur - Phulera - Ajmer
> Lucknow - Kanpur at one time
> some part of Ahemedabad - Palanpur.
>
> Harsh

On Delhi-Rewari section, double line was only till Garhi Harsaru Jn.

Lucknow - Kanpur used to have one MG line and one BG line about 10-15
years ago. I don't know if it had both MG lines even earlier.
Now, both lines are BG.

-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>

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: MG link

Date: 17 May 1999 21:11:09 -0500

>>IR. Even today it stands tall at 1152 Km between Jaipur-Purna although
the
>>train is now officially called as simply 9769 Jaipur-Purna Exp.
Closely
>>following Delhi-Ahemedabad Mail through Udaipur at 1019 Km. Third
> ^^^^
>
>You must be talking about the Delhi Sarai Rohilla - ADI Exp. via
Udaipur
>City. The Mail is an all BG train. It's interesting that an MG link
still
>exists between ADI and Delhi.
>

Yes, that is the correct description Iam sorry. The train though
utilises
the rake of the former ADI Mail and carries the mail coach as well.

Whatever happened to the rakes of MG Ashram/Mandor combine, Pink City
Exp.
and so many other former MG trains. Can anyone throw light on this
subject
pls.?

Also the MG locos from Abu Road shed, which maintains its stock so well,
are
not all transferred to Phulera and Ahemedabad. Where are these?

Harsh

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: FAQs

Date: 17 May 1999 21:19:52 -0500

>
>I double-checked by Dec. 1998 Bradhaw - the 581 Psgr. from Ajmer to
Purna
>has 99 intermediate halts and the 582 Psgr. has 98 intermediate halts.
Have
>additional stops been included this year?
>

I have checked from the Aug '98 TT of WR and SCR. Don't know if Bradshaw
lists all the stations, even the wayside ones?
If you have a scanner, you can Email me the pages and I'll let you know.
Unfortunately, I don't have one.
As soon as I can, I'll also cross check the stoppages for Dehradun Exp.
and
Firozpur Janta Exp.

Harsh

From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: Catch sidings

Date: 17 May 1999 22:13:47 -0500

>Does anyone know the difference between Catch siding and Slip siding ?
>Apparently in a slip siding a runaway is just allowed to leave the
tracks
and
>derail in a safe area. Any better explanations ?

On a single line, the crossover stations usually have 2-3 lines to
effect
crossing over or overtaking. When a train is waiting for the road, the
points are set towards a slip siding which is very small but just as you
said, prevents head-on collision. These are provided to ensure that in
the
event of a brake failure or the driver deciding to jump signals the
train
stays clear of the mainline on which a train may be approaching. It
works in
a similar way on double line sections where goods trains are routinely
sided
to give a pass to a fast train on the mainline.

They also come in picture when a double line section approaches a single
lined one(e.g. a single lined bridge). At such places the siding
provided
are long, usually capable of holding a full length train.

>
>On which side is this derailed rake? Tell me the exact location so I
would
also
>sight it on my next trip in that area. Does this ghat require a banker
?
Which
>BG lines apart from the Bhore, Thull and Briganza ghats require a
banker ?
>

It is on your right as you travel south towards Nagpur. All trains carry
a
banker from Amla to Katol. I guess that is all about passenger train
banking.

Some goods trains carry a banker on the Katni - Bilaspur section, Kota -
Chittorgarh, Guntakal - Arrakonam. Iam not sure about Nagpur - Vizag
line.
Similarly on the Kirandul - Kottavalsa electrified line for mineral
traffic.
Usually trains here are double/triple headed, an impressive sight
indeed.

On MG, the three places I know where all trains are banked are:-
1) Patalpani- Kalakund Ghat near Mhow on Ajmer - Khandwa section.
2) Khamblighat on the Udaipur - Marwar section.
3) Lumding - Badarpur section on NFR.

Harsh

From: Krishnan Anand <>

Subject: Re: Calling all Indian Railway Enthusiasts

Date: 17 May 1999 22:47:22 -0500

Hi all,
I just thought i would give a small suggestion as i have an i am
a
part of a few other mail list also. We could possibly have an
introducer,
who will first get in touch with the person who wants to be a part of
the
list. This person (the introducer) can be a one among a small team of
"elders" in our list who will know first hand on the actual interest of
the
person wishing to join the list. The introducer will provide the new
entrant
sufficient info on the list along with the dos and don'ts. We cud
possibly
have a handful of some regulations for our list (e.g mails shud pertain
only
to railways, no spamming, no junk mails, sending images not allowed
etc).
This is one possible way. Another way out is that allowing any number of

people to join, once a person is found spamming or flooding the list
with
junk mails , give him a warning once and remove him the next time he
does
it. This is a little crude way of handling.
This is just a suggestion. The "intelligentia" can have a look at it
when
they decide upon this issue.

Kind regards,
Anand

----Original Message Follows----
From: Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
To: IRFCA <irfca@cs.email
CC: "Acharya, Anurag" <acha@cs.email "Pai, Satish"
<s_pai@bigfoot.email
Subject: Calling all Indian Railway Enthusiasts
Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 08:40:47 +0530

Gang !

Draft of the letter to the editor. Anurag please let me know if you can
handle an
increase in traffic, also if the publication our subscription email
address
would be
target of spam. What are the safe alternatives to that ?
Waiting for the approval from the 'elders' and specially our list master

Anurag. I am
trying to get this published in all the editions of the TOI.

Apurva

To the editor,

With reference to the interview with Shri. G.D. Patwardhan and his
interest
in the
Indian Railways.
In the 'age of internet' it is appropriate that the internet should
brings
together
the Indian Railway enthusiasts of the world.
I wish to tell you and your readers about the discussion group the
"IRFCA"
or the
"Indian Railway Fan Club Association". This is free mailing list with
discussion on
every conceivable railway subject with a special emphasis on the Indian

Railways.
There are over 100 members in over 11 countries and we have quite a
lively
discussion
on varied subjects at any given time.
I would invite anyone interest in any aspect of the railways
(technology,
time tables,
history, travelogue, sightings, dream trains - anything to do with
railways)
and an
access to internet / email, to join the group.
To join please send an email requesting subscription to
Anurag Acharya <irfca-request@cs.email
Please note that the mailing list is totally free and serves to bring
the
Indian
Railway enthusiasts across the world together with a view to discuss,
study
and
document the varied aspects of the Indian Railways.

I extend a special invitation to Shri. Patwardhan to join the IRFCA if
he
has access
to email. His enormous experience on the subject will be very welcome.

Apurva Bahadur

Pune/ India

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From: Harsh Vardhan <>

Subject: Re: MG link to Quilon(Kollam)

Date: 17 May 1999 23:26:40 -0500

> Personally i have not travelled by this train till now but those
who
have travelled have lavishly praised about its run between Shencottah
and
Quilon across the Western Ghats. There are number of stations atop the
ghats
and the travel it seems is a great experience.
>

Why don't you do it this monsoon before time runs out on you.

Harsh

P.S. A daytime stopping passenger is preferred over the Mail.

From: Apurva Bahadur <>

Subject: Re: Bankers !!!

Date: 18 May 1999 01:25:49 -0500

>
> To close, here is another very amazing occurence. The Bhagyanagar
express(Dn) from Hyd to Sirpur/KhagazNagar has a WAM4(BZA) at the
> lead and a WDM2(KZJ) at the rear. I heard that this was to save loss
of time while changeover at BZA. Strange but surprisingly very thoughful
of SCR staff. I only hope this is kept a regular feature

Explain this changeover in detail. I have never traveled on
this line so an explanation is required about the operation of
this train and the route. Also is this true only for
Bhagyanagari Exp or is it that you have made this observation
as you were on this train ?
The two locos are attached and run with the train from HYB to
BZA and the WAM 4 dropped off at BZA ? Is there a reversal
involved ?
Sorry for the silly question but where is Sirpur Kagaznagar
(the 'paper making' station near Bhusawal is Nepanagar ?)?
Don't have a TT at hand to refer, can't wait till the evening
to find out !

Apurva

>
>
> kind regards,
> Anand
> _______________________________________________________________
> Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit <A HREF="http://www.msn.com">http://www.msn.com</A>
>
> ______________________________________________________
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From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>

Subject: Re: MG link

Date: 18 May 1999 01:41:50 -0500

>
> Whatever happened to the rakes of MG Ashram/Mandor combine, Pink City
Exp.
> and so many other former MG trains. Can anyone throw light on this
subject
> pls.?

The Pink City Exp. rake is now used on Ahmedabad- Bhavnagar Shetrunji
Exp.
Sarosh & myself had seen about 4 years back at ADI.

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

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