IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 6861 - 6880
From: Anand Krishnan <>
Subject: Observations - My trip to Chennai
Date: 28 Jun 1999 12:53:12 -0500
Hi all,
Had a very interesting trip to Chennai. I was early at the
Hyderabad
station(usually i get in at Sec'bad, but i wanted to have a look at the
mighty Hussain Sagar lake from the train). Fortunately for a railnut
like me
and unfortunately for the assistant driver of the loco in
charge(WAM4-21264-LGD shed)of the 2760Dn the points-man was absconding
and
the loco had to wait for a long time to get coupled. This gave me a
chance
to have a chat with him. A very kind person, lent a very patient hear.
Since WAM4 was not the usual power for the 2760/2759 he said that LGD
are
pretty strict about attending to the A/Cs and the loco that was to haul
that
day 22201, had arrived that morning with the 2659Up and since it was due
for
it that day it was promptly taken to the shed. He was very quick to add
that
the WAM4 that was to haul that day was no ordinary machine. He said that
the
previous week they had worked on the same WAM4 with the Godavari Exp and
it
did show a lot of promise. The "P" in the WAM4-6PD marking stood for
"Paralleled". The WAP4 cud provide rapid acceleration. But the
difference in
hauling power on a long run was very negligible between them as the max
speed on that line was 110 kmph only.
He said that the crew would travel till BZA and another set of men would
take over from there till Chennai. On the NDLS trunk route the crew
change
was at Balarshah. He seemed a bit worried about the time of departure
that
day as the rakes needed to build up pressure and then the guard needed
to
give the BPC(Brake Pressure certification) for the train to proceed. It
was
6.45pm and scheduled dep. was 7.00pm and the points-man nowhere in
sight.
Finally the guy arrived, seemed were drowsy , but bravely admitted that
he
slept not knowing the time. How nice of him to keep the train waiting
!!!!
The driver told me that for a 21 coach train it would take 15-20 minutes
for
the pressure to stabilise throughout the rake formation. As expected the
train left 10 minutes late that day. Once the loco was coupled the
driver
took leave immediately.
There was a talk of opinion polls. Here is my suggestion....... The Best
view of a train at a curve. Full marks to the region abetting the
Hussain
Sagar Lake. It would alomost be close to a 90 deg curve and the sight is
spectacular. Probably will get to click one next time if i travel by the
7053Up during the day time. The max. speed on this curve is 25kmph on a
total length of 2.5 km, acc. to our driver friend and this should speak
a
lot of the nature of the curve.
Saw the wreckage of the Godavari Exp accident that happened 15 days
ago.The
2 2nd A/C coaches were almost slit open and the 3rd A/C coach was
somewhere
in the middle of the fields. There was a lot of caution zones in the
KZJ-HYB
sector, may be an aftermath of this accident. This resulted in my return
journey extended by 20 minutes.
Spotted a Vatwa WDM2A hauling a cement load waiting for signal. Very
abnormal to see an engine from Vatwa. I guess this shed is somewhere in
Gujarat (am i right Apurva bhai).
What was very noticeable is the number of WAG5s on track. Almost 60-65%
of
the locos i spotted were WAG5s and different versions of them WAG5A,
WAG5HA,
WAG5HB, just WAG5 et al. Wonder what those alphabets stand for. They
were
from a wide range of sheds too !! and interesting among them were the
once
from Tughlakabad, Jhansi, Itarsi.
Friends !! this sure is interesting. I spotted a WDS6 heavy shunter with
markings like BSP640 on its side . Any idea what this means. It was
bright
with yellow and green livery and had no shed markings. I also saw a
WDM2A
being hauled dead along with a BCNA formation with the markings "NTPC"
on
his side. These sure very very strange.
Guess i should stop boring you all.
Bye
regards,
Anand
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From: Anne Ogborn <>
Subject: GOODWIN ALCO - YOU ARE INFECTED
Date: 28 Jun 1999 17:19:05 -0500
You have the Melissa virus and are emailing "happy99.exe"
to people on this list.
If you received email from Goodwin Alco, "re: scanners"
delete it unopened.
From: Brad Goodwin <>
Subject: DO NOT OPEN HAPPY99
Date: 28 Jun 1999 17:19:13 -0500
Their was just a message posted on here by my brother regarding
scanners.
The little fool looks like he picked up some strange problem on the
net.
Do not open the Happy 99 attachment on the second note.
Looks like he has cost me more money now.
Brad (The real one)
===
Please check out my Alco and Philippine Rail websites!!
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html">http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html</A>
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~KatsisJ/philippinerailways">http://members.tripod.com/~KatsisJ/philippinerailways</A>
Latest Pictures, News and Information!!
#### The Alco Fan website now open ####
Brad
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at <A HREF="http://mail.yahoo.com">http://mail.yahoo.com</A>
From: Goodwin Alco <>
Subject: Re: scanners
Date: 28 Jun 1999 18:07:59 -0500
Tim & Anita Wakeman wrote:
>
> Hi list,
>
> I would love to hear more about the scanners in disscussion just as
> Apurva suggested. How to obtain good resolution,posting pics etc...are
> all questions I have been meaning to ask.I am about ready to get
myself
> one and any info from the real users is better than what any magazine
> can give.The cost has dropped and quality has risen. I have no place
to
> set up my B&W darkroom,so I might just as well move it to my PC.
>
> Regards, Tim
Tim,
My suggestion when it comes to buying a scanner is simply. Dont
listen to the salesperson when he says "This one here will be perfect
for you and only costs $150. It is on a big special, but the quality is
almost as good."
You do get what you pay for, in Aussie $'s that is nothing less than
$500. This should get you something decent.
My one is Hewlett Packard and I am happy with this one. There are many
programs to make the scann better, but as yet I have not tried using
them and are quite happy anyway.
Examples can be found on the following two pages
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~KatsisJ/philippinerailways">http://members.tripod.com/~KatsisJ/philippinerailways</A>
and mine at
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html">http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html</A>
Spend that little bit extra and be happy for it.
Best Wishes
Brad
From: Dr. M S M Saifullah <>
Subject: Re: Observations - My trip to Chennai
Date: 28 Jun 1999 18:48:59 -0500
At 4:53 am +0900 29/6/99, Anand Krishnan wrote:
Hello Gang!
>There was a talk of opinion polls. Here is my suggestion....... The
Best
>view of a train at a curve. Full marks to the region abetting the
Hussain
>Sagar Lake. It would alomost be close to a 90 deg curve and the sight
is
>spectacular. Probably will get to click one next time if i travel by
the
>7053Up during the day time. The max. speed on this curve is 25kmph on a
>total length of 2.5 km, acc. to our driver friend and this should speak
a
>lot of the nature of the curve.
I would definitely agree with Anand here. Being to Hyderabad many times,
I
always waited for this beautiful view of Hussainsagar lake. The turn I
think is less than 90 degrees.
Two of my favourite almost 90 degree turns is at Bangalore East towards
Yelahanka and at Dharmavaram when the SBC-DMM BG line meets the MAS-DMM
line.
Regards
Saifullah
From: Tim & Anita Wakeman <>
Subject: scanners
Date: 28 Jun 1999 18:50:24 -0500
Hi list,
I would love to hear more about the scanners in disscussion just as
Apurva suggested. How to obtain good resolution,posting pics etc...are
all questions I have been meaning to ask.I am about ready to get myself
one and any info from the real users is better than what any magazine
can give.The cost has dropped and quality has risen. I have no place to
set up my B&W darkroom,so I might just as well move it to my PC.
Regards, Tim
From: Royston Ellis <>
Subject: Opinion poll
Date: 28 Jun 1999 19:37:22 -0500
I found Anand's description of his journey to Madras absolutely
fascinating; not boring at all, Anand. I'm amazed you were able to see
and
make a note of so much.
For the opinion poll, as well as best curve for photography (presumably
its
value is in being able to photograph the train by leaning out of it
while
it's in motion) how about "The bridge that provides the best
photographic
shot of a train crossing over it".
Perhaps we should also include "Cleanest station."
There's lots of possible questions. I do hope someone with time will
take
up the challenge of compiling the questions -- and the answers.
Barog came up as a recommendation for station restaurant and I agree but
I
hear that meals are now served on the train when it stops there instead
of
in the restaurant itself.
The main retiring room at Mysore which was suggested has rather lost its
glamour. What about Lovedale, or perhaps Coonoor itself, not for
cleanliness but for its fascinating vista of shunting locos.
Royston
From: prakash <>
Subject: Re: EMU power
Date: 28 Jun 1999 19:40:47 -0500
Apurva,
The shunting done is car shed, is performed under its own power
and brakes. However, rakes being delivered from factory were
hauled as un-braked trailors in the past i.e., 20 years back.
PA-LNL EMUs started almost around the time I left Mumbai. I did
not see their passage through ghat, though.
Prakash
Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email on 06/28/99 12:35:58 AM
To: Prakash Tendulkar/Santa Teresa/IBM@IBMUS
cc: Jayant S <sank@telco.email IR List <irfca@cs.email
Subject: Re: EMU power
Thanks to Prakash for his inputs,
Yes, I have heard of this race special EMU. Even in the recent past IR
operates
rake special trains, although I have not heard about these in the last
two or
three years. The end coupling of the EMUs are the normal hook coupling,
but the
brake system is different, so is the EMU pushed around in the marshaling
yard
using ordinary locos as an unbraked load ?
Prakash, have you seen an EMU being banked through the ghats ? Did the
PA - LNL
EMU start when you were at Neral ?
Apurva
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>
Subject: Curves
Date: 28 Jun 1999 20:21:41 -0500
Hello All,
Here are some of my favourite curves -- IR types I mean, you all one
track
minded nuts.
1. Between Vaitarna & Saphale
2. Between Dara & Ravtha Road (Dara Pass)
3. At Kamshet
4. At Ghorawadi
5. After leaving Parsik tunnel towards Diva.
6. Approach to Bharuch & Pardi bridges.
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrej.email
==========================
From: Tim & Anita Wakeman <>
Subject: Re: scanners
Date: 28 Jun 1999 20:50:48 -0500
Goodwin Alco wrote:
> Tim,
> My suggestion when it comes to buying a scanner is simply. Dont
> listen to the salesperson when he says "This one here will be perfect
> for you and only costs $150. It is on a big special, but the quality
is
> almost as good."
> You do get what you pay for, in Aussie $'s that is nothing less than
> $500. This should get you something decent.
> My one is Hewlett Packard and I am happy with this one. There are
many
> programs to make the scann better, but as yet I have not tried using
> them and are quite happy anyway.
> Examples can be found on the following two pages
> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~KatsisJ/philippinerailways">http://members.tripod.com/~KatsisJ/philippinerailways</A>
> and mine at
> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html">http://members.tripod.com/~alcos/index.html</A>
>
> Spend that little bit extra and be happy for it.
> Best Wishes
> Brad
Brad,
The HP Smart Photo is on my list, but now they have come out with the
S20 model. The S10 was selling for $299 at a nearby elec. dealer but I
do'nt know how much the S20 is.
Tim
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Curves
Date: 28 Jun 1999 20:52:50 -0500
My all time favourite is Barsoi on the NFR
where the BG and MG line leave the station
together, going towards Assam, and both lines
turn through 180 degrees, the MG with a much
smaller radius than the BG.
Not far away, the northwards approach to the
Farakka Barrage after leaving New Farakka
takes a 90 degree turn. At night,the sight of
your train slowly snaking on to the brightly
lit barrage is a certified gooseflesh-inducer.
Between Gwalior and Jhansi, the Up line (for
some strange topographical reason) loops in
a way only a diagram can describe. Anyone
know why ?
And, predictably perhaps, I must mention
the Batasia (locals call it the "Batase") Loop
on the DHR......
--
Jayant S
--
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: Opinion poll - contd
Date: 28 Jun 1999 21:12:54 -0500
Here's mine:
Best diesel: YDM5
Best diesel sound: YDM5
Most proportionate diesel: WDS4 (Ah, those
German proportions !)
Best steam: WG
Most proportionate steam: YG
Best horns: WAP4
Best steam whistle: DHR B Class
Loveliest nose: YDM5 (both ends, too)
Best rides: Agra-Jhansi section
Ugliest: WDM2 Jumbo
More to come.....
--
JS
--
From: Royston Ellis <>
Subject: Opinion poll, second posting
Date: 28 Jun 1999 23:59:50 -0500
My apologies to all IR fans if my email on opinion poll had the new and
very unwelcome irfca subscriber, happy99, attached to it. The email was
queued and so was automatically mailed off after I downloaded the
virus-carrying email so maybe I passed it on? I've removed it now. Hope
everyone else has too so it doesn't return to haunt us.
Royston
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: My web page
Date: 29 Jun 1999 00:46:32 -0500
I thought the facilities were overdesigned, maybe the planning is for
the next 50
years or so. How much public uses these trains ? i.e. How much crowd ?
Apurva
ranand@us.email wrote:
> I have put up some pictures of the MRTS in Chennai. I will be putting
up some
> more photos soon.
>
> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Bay/1523/">http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Bay/1523/</A>
>
> Anand
>
> Internet: anand@watson.email
> External tel: (914) 784 7054
> Notes: Rangachari Anand/Watson/IBM@IBMUS
> Tie-line: 863 7054
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Observations - My trip to Chennai
Date: 29 Jun 1999 02:03:35 -0500
My own vote is the 180 degrees hairpin bend at Adarki - Salpa section on
the
Pune - Kolhapur line. I am surprised Viraf forgot that curve, I think he
had
the ride of this life on that section.
At this place, you can see the Adarki station on your left, after
entering two
tunnels, the train turns a full 180 degrees and then enters the whisper
quiet
and crystal clear atmosphered Adarki.
Apurva
"Dr. M S M Saifullah" wrote:
> At 4:53 am +0900 29/6/99, Anand Krishnan wrote:
>
> Hello Gang!
>
> >There was a talk of opinion polls. Here is my suggestion....... The
Best
> >view of a train at a curve. Full marks to the region abetting the
Hussain
> >Sagar Lake. It would alomost be close to a 90 deg curve and the sight
is
> >spectacular. Probably will get to click one next time if i travel by
the
> >7053Up during the day time. The max. speed on this curve is 25kmph on
a
> >total length of 2.5 km, acc. to our driver friend and this should
speak a
> >lot of the nature of the curve.
>
> I would definitely agree with Anand here. Being to Hyderabad many
times, I
> always waited for this beautiful view of Hussainsagar lake. The turn I
> think is less than 90 degrees.
>
> Two of my favourite almost 90 degree turns is at Bangalore East
towards
> Yelahanka and at Dharmavaram when the SBC-DMM BG line meets the
MAS-DMM
> line.
>
> Regards
> Saifullah
From: Anand Krishnan <>
Subject: Opinion poll - contd
Date: 29 Jun 1999 02:09:06 -0500
My votes:
Best diesel: WDM2A
Best diesel sound: WDM2C
Most proportionate diesel: WDM2A !!
Best horns: YAM on the Chennai-Villupuram MG. Apurva bhai u would have
voted
for this had u heard it before.
Loveliest nose: 'Jumbo' WDM 2.
Best rides: the morning NMR from Mettupalayam connecting the Blue
Mountain
Exp from Chennai. I have'nt yet been on DHR.
Another one: Cochin to Mangalore by the Malabar Exp.
Best rake maintenance: The Egmore MG yard on SR
Best Deisel Shed: GOC
Best Electric Shed: ???????
Best Equipped station: ???????
Best pantry : Lalbagh Exp (this was 2-3 years back)
Most punctual railway zone (let me say the least of all devils): SR
(hurrah!)
Best meals: Waiting to taste one on IR.
Best station meals/snack: Omlette for breakfast at Rajamundry i heard
was
good but personally i havent tasted. Fresh fruit juice at Guntur
(especially
thick mango juice). "Appam" at Palghat. "Pazhampiri" at EKM (its
actually
long ripe bananas fried with besan).
Most abused: WDS4
Noisiest: WCG2
Ugliest: WAG1 (yuck ......).
Kind regards,
Anand
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From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Curves
Date: 29 Jun 1999 02:21:33 -0500
> Not far away, the northwards approach to the
> Farakka Barrage after leaving New Farakka
> takes a 90 degree turn. At night,the sight of
> your train slowly snaking on to the brightly
> lit barrage is a certified gooseflesh-inducer.
Sorry for the off colour subject - I have read somewhere that
the Farakka barrage traps all the dead bodies of unfortunate
souls in the grate. Have you sighted any ?
>
>
> Between Gwalior and Jhansi, the Up line (for
> some strange topographical reason) loops in
> a way only a diagram can describe. Anyone
> know why ?
>
> And, predictably perhaps, I must mention
> the Batasia (locals call it the "Batase") Loop
> on the DHR......
>
> --
> Jayant S
> --
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Opinion poll - contd
Date: 29 Jun 1999 02:23:22 -0500
> Best station meals/snack: Omlette for breakfast at Rajamundry i heard
was
> good but personally i havent tasted. Fresh fruit juice at Guntur
(especially
> thick mango juice). "Appam" at Palghat. "Pazhampiri" at EKM (its
actually
> long ripe bananas fried with besan).
How can any food discussion be complete without mentioning the egg
curry/
paratha and the divine filter coffee at Guntakal ?
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Check out this page....
Date: 29 Jun 1999 02:27:11 -0500
Thanks Bharat - This is an afterthought, I guess the carriage lighting
batteries
cannot provide the hefty current required to drive the air horns, so a
separate
battery is essential.
Apurva
Bharat Vohra wrote:
> Dear Apurva,
>
> >Red air horn trumpets are visible in the pic 'big 24.jpg' (rack
>section at
> >Hillgrove). What source powers these horns ?
>
> Yes, you have noticed the horns correctly...there are two of them and
they
> are powered by a battery....the type you would get in a car!!
> In fact the brake man connects the positive and negative cables from
the
> battery and the horn goes of!!! Quite amusing actually!
> Regards,
> Bharat
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Opinion poll
Date: 29 Jun 1999 02:32:54 -0500
Royston Ellis wrote:
> I found Anand's description of his journey to Madras absolutely
> fascinating; not boring at all, Anand. I'm amazed you were able to see
and
> make a note of so much.
>
> For the opinion poll, as well as best curve for photography
(presumably its
> value is in being able to photograph the train by leaning out of it
while
> it's in motion) how about "The bridge that provides the best
photographic
> shot of a train crossing over it".
Godavari river bridge pictures coming up on my website soon.
> Perhaps we should also include "Cleanest station."
In the 90s, I was IMPRESSED by the Mysore station. Gang of cleaners just
hose
the track down after a train departs. The station suprintendent seemed
to stand
all day on the platform overseeing his people working. I like this type
of
'active' boss, they achieve a lot of good work. Food in MYS is not all
that
memorable though.
Dirtiest station ??? Pune Jn !!!
Apurva