IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 7301 - 7320
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: April issue of IR magazine
Date: 29 Jul 1999 13:20:27 -0500
Hello,
No such luck. Got to be IR magazine at its erratic best.
I got the Feb-March issue first (in June), followed by the Jan (yes,
Jan) issue last week.
Me too am greatly looking forward to the Apr (jumbo) issue. I want to
get my eyes on those electrics with new twin beam lamps. I keep doodling
them on a piece of paper, imagining how a WAG/5 will look with these
modified lamps, I do so want to see the actual photo!
Best regards.
Shankar
Vijay Balasubramanian wrote:
>
> I am still waiting for my April issue. Any of you 'overseas'
> subscribers (Shankar,.....) received the magazine yet?
>
> Vijay
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Diesel Fiesta
Date: 29 Jul 1999 13:21:05 -0500
Hello,
Thanks for the kind words, Vijay.
The pic of the YDM at Goa appeared a couple of years back in a weekly
tabloid here in Dubai.It was some article about tourism in India or
something. I have not seen that pic in the papers since then.I was lucky
to have cut it out and saved it.
Another favorite of the Khaleej Times here which appears almost every
year in the special India supplement on Republic Day or Independence day
is of a WCM/4 hauling the Deccan Queen.
I'll probably put it up when I do my WCM page.Only, pics scanned from
books do appear a bit grainy or chequered.
best regards.
Vijay Balasubramanian wrote:
>
> Great stuff, Shankar. Where did you get the shot of the YDM4A-headed
> MG train on a viaduct (from Goa)?
> I have the exact same photo on a 198x DLW calendar that was presented
to
> be at DLW itself.
>
> I have a couple of CLW calendars with blow-ups of various electric
> locos. If and when I get hold of a scanner,
> I'll create the appropriate image files.
>
> Vijay
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: S.Shankar [SMTP:shankie@emirates.email
> >Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 3:47 PM
> >To: irfca@cs.email
> >Subject: Diesel Fiesta
> >
> >Hello,
> >
> >Do check out my first homepage: diesel fiesta.
> >
> >the url is:
> >
> ><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/dslfiesta.htm">http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/dslfiesta.htm</A>
> >
> >I had originally intended to pay glowing tribute to the WP, but
sadly,
> >the WP page could not come up as per my expectations.
> >
> >I am working on it, and hope to have it up and running soon.
> >
> >Do let me have your comments.
> >
> >Best regards.
> >
> >Shankar
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Diesel Fiesta
Date: 29 Jul 1999 13:21:43 -0500
Hello,
Anand, you are too kind. Actually, a lot of the credit goes to Apurva,
for patiently educating me on the fundas of webpage construction, and
guiding me through the process step by step.
I still have to learn a lot: I particularly like Apurva's and Vijay's
techniques of making a list, or a line of thumbnails, which expand when
you click it.
My scanner sends the pic to MGI Photosuite for editing, and though there
is an auto thumbnail feature, I cannot seem to get it to work.
Give me some more time. My next pic site will be up only after I have
mastered either of these techniques.
Modern Trains is a book by Brian Hollingsworth, which I picked up in Abu
Dhabi in 1990.
Best regards.
Shankar
Anand Krishnan wrote:
>
> Hi Shankar,
> Just too good !! Fantastic photos. Wish there were more.
Wating to
> see more them from your side. Hmph!! my only sorrow is that u have
> pressurised me to put up a few more of my snaps a little too early
than i
> intended to. BTW Is "Modern Locomotives" a magazine or is it a book by
> someone. High time i started buying some books on Railways,
particularly
> Indian Railways. Literary freaks o the list , Royston, Apurva, Vijay
and
> others, please recommend some good books on IR(priority 1) and
railways in
> general.
>
> P.S : The Vaigai from the hill top was all class. Pallavan in its
original
> grandeur was another ultimate one. Wonder what livery they have now.
Anyway
> Kalakiteenga !!! [thats bravo!! in tamil]
>
> Kind regards,
> Anand
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Diesel Fiesta
Date: 29 Jul 1999 13:22:10 -0500
Hello,
Thank you very much for the kind words, Apurva.
I was so much anxious to upload the page after my repeated failed
attempts that I was concentrating all my energies on the fundas.
I'm working on the thumbnail,or at least index feature, and shall revert
soon.
Do bear with me for a while more.
Best regards.
Shankar
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
> Thanks you for the wonderful page Shankar. I am flattered that you
should
> choose to name me in the page. In the similar light I feel indebted to
> Prakash Tendulkar who went as far as to actually make a website for me
> while I was limping along with my HTML. What I miss in your page is
> thumbnails. They speed up the loading enormously by allowing multiple
> pages to be opened at the same time.
>
> Apurva
>
> "S.Shankar" wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > Do check out my first homepage: diesel fiesta.
> >
> > the url is:
> >
> > <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/dslfiesta.htm">http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/dslfiesta.htm</A>
> >
> > I had originally intended to pay glowing tribute to the WP, but
sadly,
> > the WP page could not come up as per my expectations.
> >
> > I am working on it, and hope to have it up and running soon.
> >
> > Do let me have your comments.
> >
> > Best regards.
> >
> > Shankar
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Diesel Fiesta
Date: 29 Jul 1999 13:22:39 -0500
Hello,
Thank you for the kind words, Mike.
This is my first site, and I know I have goofed somewhere: I think I
did not resize the Pulling into Hyd. and raising dust while entering
Daund pics, or I must have resized later and then goofed while
uploading.
I am working on it, and my next site will definitely have either
thumbnails or at least an index.
Actually, I am originally from Tamilnad, settled in Poona, hence both
Telugu and Kannada look quite similar to me. Any takers, gang?
Best regards.
Shankar
Mike Brooker wrote:
>
> >Do check out my first homepage: diesel fiesta.
> >
> >the url is:
> >
> ><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/dslfiesta.htm">http://members.tripod.com/shankaronline/dslfiesta.htm</A>
> >
> >I had originally intended to pay glowing tribute to the WP, but
sadly,
> >the WP page could not come up as per my expectations.
> >
> >I am working on it, and hope to have it up and running soon.
> >
> >Do let me have your comments.
>
> The 1928 loco looks like it could still be running somewhere in India!
>
> A nice site, but here's another vote for clickable thumbnails instead
of
> full-size pictures to make it load quicker. The pictures are
> ***enormous***!! I need two monitor screens to view image #12, WDM/2
18613
> pulling into Hyderabad.
>
> I presume there was a Telugu text above the Hindi and English on the
sign in
> image #13. I've never seen Telegu script; wonder how it differs from
> Kannada?
>
> ********************************************************************
> Mike Brooker
> 99 Wychcrest Ave.,
> Toronto, ON M6G 3X8
> CANADA
> (416) 536-7406
> ********************************************************************
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Diesel Fiesta
Date: 29 Jul 1999 13:23:02 -0500
Hello,
Appu, when you reply to Tim, do mark a copy to me as well!
Your format is quite convenient really.
Also, how do you maintain your never ending list? It makes life quite
easy for you too. I am sure: find aaaaaaa at the end of the list and
click to view.
It makes it easy for others to access your various sites too, now that
you have such a vast variety of them.
Best regards.
Shankar
Tim & Anita Wakeman wrote:
>
> Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> >
> > Thanks you for the wonderful page Shankar. I am flattered that you
should
> > choose to name me in the page. In the similar light I feel indebted
to
> > Prakash Tendulkar who went as far as to actually make a website for
me
> > while I was limping along with my HTML. What I miss in your page is
> > thumbnails. They speed up the loading enormously by allowing
multiple
> > pages to be opened at the same time.
> >
> > Apurva
>
> Apurva,
>
> How does one go about the way you have your page set up? I'm impressed
> with the format and how easy it is. Plus, the amount you can store. I
am
> trying to develope a site to share my photos with everyone through
> Tripod, but ca'nt figure how you go to your format.
>
> Tim
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Hindi Movies and trains
Date: 29 Jul 1999 13:23:08 -0500
Hello,
Chaiyaa Chaiyaa is shot on the Ooty line.(SR)
That has probably been the most filmed route on teh IR. There are n
number of songs pictured on that line.
I am not particular fond of watching films,(except Yes Minister and any
film involving railways, preferably about them!) so the others might
help regarding the second part ofyour query.
But I think there was a long thread on trains in HIndi films, running
over several weeks.
Best regards.
Shankar
raymond/Polaris@polaris.email wrote:
>
> Dear gang,
>
> Was seeing "Dil Se" on Cable TV last night. I have been trying hard to
figure
> out on which line the song "Chaiyya Chaiyya" was shot. I thought I
saw "E.R."
> on the bogies and "S.R." on the engine. Does anybody have any clues ?
Maybe this
> is elementary for some you, but then...
>
> Also does anybody have an idea about the other train sequences seen in
Hindi
> Films, apart from the ones shot on the Darjeeling - NJP line. Thought
it would
> be great getting your feedback on this.
>
> Regards
>
> Raymond Arogyaswamy
From: Tim & Anita Wakeman <>
Subject: [Fwd: Re: April issue of IR magazine
Date: 29 Jul 1999 17:34:13 -0500
From: Tim & Anita Wakeman <>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Long Hauls etc.]
Date: 29 Jul 1999 17:40:08 -0500
S.Shankar wrote:
>
> Hello,
> That is now slowly changing.
> The phenomenon of pulling on with one time proven and tested design
gave
> us Indians another kind of reputation, which even several overseas
folks
> have acknowledged: that of constantly innovating and improving upon
the
> design way beyond its original capacity.
> For instance, the WDM/2 of today, although can be argued to be of
1960s
> vintage, is actually a much more updated and improved version of the
> original WDM/2 as it first came in.
> Or maybe it was India's way of justifying being stuck with antique
> designs?
> Best regards.
> Shankar
Shanker,
What Apruva is saying, is that the basic design is still the same or
should I say the concept of it has not changed. The automobile is even
worse.The principle operations are the same even with all the tech
involved nothing but speed and horsepower has changed.
Tim
From: Vdate <>
Subject: Moving goodss thru Bangladesh
Date: 29 Jul 1999 18:18:21 -0500
Please see attached which was reported in India today. Would it be
simpler
and cheaper to use railways. Anyway, it is good step in having normal
neighborly relations.
Bangladesh would permit Indian containers to travel through its
territory
Dhaka: Bangladesh government has brushed aside local opposition to
India's
proposal of moving goods to northeast states through Bangladesh
territory.
Indian companies would be allowed to carry sealed containers across the
neighbouring county so long as local transport is used.
Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet approved the
proposal
yesterday. Opposition leader Khaleda Zia has objected to the move
reasoning
that India would use this facility for moving military equipment for
counter
insurgency operations.
A committee would work out the rates of payment to the Bangladesh
transporters, the schedule and the time of launch for the facility.
From: poras p.saklatwalla <>
Subject: Re: Hindi Movies and trains
Date: 29 Jul 1999 21:09:19 -0500
Dear Raymond and all gang members,
I think the line is the one in Himachal Pradesh. JOgindernagar- ----- I
dont get the name off hand. This was written in the Mid day review when
the movie was released. Correct me if I aam wrong on this !
PORAS P.SAKLATWALLA
TEL :5773535/3636
EXT :4226/4232/4237
From: hvc <>
Subject: Wankaner Update .
Date: 29 Jul 1999 21:25:11 -0500
Last of MG steam at Wankaner, as on 25.07.99.
All workings remain 100% steam. Four passenger trains plus two salt trains(to Vavania) in each direction daily.
Ballast has been delivered along the full length of the track. Civil work line strengthening of bridges, culverts etc. as well as building foundation for new signalling equipment is well underway.
Dahinsara - Navlakhi section is closed since the August storm last year and has been taken up for conversion.
Dahinsara - Maliya Miyana is slated to be closed from 15.08.99.
The decision for closure of the rest of the line has not yet been taken.
Since salt traffic will go by road after 15.08.99, it will render the rest of the line also a prime candidate for closure for expediting conversion work of the entire MG section.
The conversion work is being undertaken by private contractors. In my opinion the full MG section has every possibility of closing on or shortly following the deadline of 15th August.
From: hvc <>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Long Hauls etc.]
Date: 29 Jul 1999 21:25:58 -0500
>> The Lucknow Mail, Shramjeevi Express and the
>> Kashi -Viswanath Express are now hauled by the 3100/2950 hp WDM2C
>> with its bald forehead and with the driver sitting on the left. A
driver
on
>> one of these links told me that they sit in the WDM2C and dream about
WDM2.
>
>Can you elaborate on why the driver's miss their older and less
powerful
loco? I think
>the reason may be the UGLY WDM 2C and the fact that the rugged throttle
bar
is now
>replaced with a sissy looking wheel (rotate one way for motoring and
the
other for
>dynamic braking). Also subconsciously the diesel drivers have always
driven
from the
>right side, so the left seat is really the assistant's seat. This was
true
in the
>steam days also from where most of the diesel drivers have their roots.
Can't see what is so sissy about the 2C wheel throttle. If the diesel
drivers are indeed nostalgic about steam days then the wheel should be
welcome!
Harsh
From: hvc <>
Subject: Re: Accident..
Date: 29 Jul 1999 21:44:35 -0500
In your countries, what do they use when the track is not level and/or
not
straights, something like the ghats say?
Harsh
-----Original Message-----
From: FyffesFL@aol.email <FyffesFL@aol.email
To: sncf@godrej.email <sncf@godrej.email hvc@vsnl.email <hvc@vsnl.email
Cc: irfca@cs.email <irfca@cs.email
Date: Friday, July 23, 1999 7:36 AM
Subject: Re: Accident..
>For at least 50 - 60 years coloured flares ( red, usually ) have been
>standard practice in the USA and many Latin American lines ( where they
tend
>to have a theft problem around New Year's ).
>
>They burn for about 20 minutes. They have a simple self igniting
device, so
>they can be used without getting out of the cab or brakevan, a great
and
>sometime crucial timesaver.
>
>Rocket flares sound dangerous, also they don't burn for very long -
used a
>lot of these in the Army, never seen one on any railway.
>
>Regards
>
>Richard Yudin
>
From: hvc <>
Subject: Lucknow.
Date: 29 Jul 1999 22:11:33 -0500
>Weak transportation linkage have been a major reason for
>Lucknow's slow overall development. Dr S.M. Akhtar, who has
>been crusading for a better deal for Lucknow, argues the case.
>(The writer is an architect/town planner.)
>LUCKNOW: We all know that a decision to lay railway line in India
>was taken in 1864 -- the first railway track being laid between
>Bombay and Thane. But what most of us do not know that the second
>sector to be taken up was Lucknow-Kanpur.
What is this ? A figment of Dr. Akhtar's imagination!
And so much for TOI's credibility.
>At the same time, on the Lucknow-Kathgodam section the BG conversion
>could not be done, instead a new route, Delhi-Kathgodam has been
>opened, rendering the older NE Railway's Lucknow-Kathgodam route
>redundant.
The MG line is still operational and so is the Nainital express even if
only
upto Lalkua, a few miles short of the original terminus of Kathgodam.
Similarly, there has been over-emphasis on the Kanpur-
>Allahabad route for Howrah, as a result of which the Lucknow-Howrah
>route as well Lucknow-Jammu route has lost its sheen and pace.
>At one time the Lucknow- Howrah route used to be very fast. Till three
>decades ago, on the Jammu-Lucknow-Howrah route, popular trains like
>Punjab Mail, Sealdah and Doon Express used to be fast trains. But
>since then, Lucknow has been deprived of the facility of fast trains.
The electrification of the line east of Ambala Cantt. is well underway
and
it is being done in preference to the trunk route north of Ludhiana to
Amritsar/Jammu. When last seen, the Ambala-Saharanpur section was
already
energised. I will not be surprise it it has been already been done upto
Moradabad or more.
Harsh
From: hvc <>
Subject: Re: Preventable accidents?
Date: 29 Jul 1999 22:53:20 -0500
>>Harsh write: "From my side I volunteer to submit the IRFCA reports to
the
>>CRS and follow
>>up with him [commissioner of Safety)."
> I could compile the IRFCA e-mail
>pertaining to accidents in an electronic file and transmit it to you
>periodically either electronically or as a hard copy. Please let me
know
if
>that would meet your needs.
That would be excellent. Send it to me off-list. I will then put them in
a
pointwise shape and transmit a copy on the list for consensus(broadly)
on
the points mentioned. I can take a hard copy here so do not worry about
the
same.
Can someone please draft a covering letter giving introduction of IRFCA
and
its constituents and our purpose for bringing forward suggestions etc.
Jayant, Poras ?
Harsh
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Scanning tips for newbie page designers
Date: 30 Jul 1999 00:28:09 -0500
> My scanner sends the pic to MGI Photosuite for editing, and though
there
> is an auto thumbnail feature, I cannot seem to get it to work.
The thumbnails is a feature of the FrontPage 98 (tools - auto
thumbnails) and not
that of the photo editing software. My pics are scanned at 150 DPI (just
about the
correct size for wallpapering on a 800 X 600 desktop), you should use
the
'resample' feature of the picture editing software. There is no sense in
scanning
a picture to much higher resolution. I compared the size of some images
that I
like (like the ones found on Chuck Donaldson's pages:
<A HREF="http://www.teleport.com/~cdonald/)">http://www.teleport.com/~cdonald/)</A> with my own scans to arrive at that
150 DPI
figure. I have also felt the need to sharpen the picture with the
appropriate
filter as the output of my scanner is not as sharp as the picture
itself. That is
something I have observed in a high end scanner also. So I conclude that
sharpening has to be done after scanning.
Actually this is not really an IRFCA topic, but I can see a number of
members
making webpages real soon...
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Diesel Fiesta
Date: 30 Jul 1999 00:31:17 -0500
"S.Shankar" wrote:
> Hello,
> Thank you for the kind words, Mike.
> This is my first site, and I know I have goofed somewhere: I think I
> did not resize the Pulling into Hyd. and raising dust while entering
> Daund pics, or I must have resized later and then goofed while
> uploading.
Although the BRMT and HYB pics are monstrous in size, the YDM 4 entering
the rainy
Kumbakonam is perfect.
Apurva
From: Anand Krishnan <>
Subject: Re: IR books + need info. on Daboo's book
Date: 30 Jul 1999 01:41:35 -0500
Hi all,
>
>Diesel Locomotive by ?????
>IR operations - books I and II
>I don't recall the names at present. If anyone is interested,
>I'll dig them up from my storage.
Please do that Vijay. I'll trade anything for something on
diesel.
>
>Does anyone have the latest price for J. Daboo's book on IR
locomotives?
What is the name of the book. I have come across Apurva
mentioning
about this book. I am interested in this book too.
Kind regards,
Anand
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: April issue of IR magazine]
Date: 30 Jul 1999 02:17:45 -0500
>
> What type or modifing are they doing to the lights?
>
> Tim
There seems to be a move by CLW and I hope DLW as well to replace the
single large headlamp with twin sealed assembly as
found on any American loco. I think I should scan and upload the article
in the April issue about the CLW (that contains
the pic of a WAG 7 and a WAP 4 both with twin headlamps) on my website
soon.
Apurva