IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 7561 - 7580
From: Jishnu Mukerji <>
Subject: Re: Questions about the Ghaisal crash
Date: 10 Aug 1999 12:47:44 -0500
Anand Krishnan wrote:
>
> Hi Apurva and the GAng,
> With whatever i could infer from the visuals from the News
> channels and news report i can give my 2 pennies on this issue.
>
> > 1. What type of signals exist at Ghaisal and the route - colour
lights,
> >upper
> > quadrant or lower quadrant - what is the type of illumination
for the
> >quadrant
> > lenses ?
> From the TV shots it seemed it was the upper quadrant type
>
> > 3. Were one or both trains standing or were they both moving ?
> BP Mail was stationary , AA was on the move
OK, now I have read all the possible combinations that could lead to a
collision. The intial report in newspapers was that AA was standing and
Brahmaputra came and hit it. Then there was a report that both were
running when they collided. Now we get the info here that AA was running
and Brahmaputra was standing. So can someone please clarify if possible,
including reference to the source of information, which of these three
possibilities actually occured?
> > 6. Is there any further information about the accident ? My friend
is
> >trying to draw
> > some conclusions which would be shared with you soon.
> They also say that weather could have played its part.
Visibility was
> bad and it was raining when the mishap happened. According to the
member of
> the railway board the gangmen would not have bothered to go out in
such
> inclement weather to check out if things were proper.
That's interesting. So gangmen work only in perfect weather conditions
these days? Seems like we have come a long way from the time my
Grandfather worked on BNR as a permamnent way inspector, when he went
out there rain or shine at the appointed time on the appointed section
all year round.
> Waiting for some sort of conclusions.
Me too!
Thanks,
--
Jishnu
From: Jishnu Mukerji <>
Subject: Re: Questions about the Ghaisal crash
Date: 10 Aug 1999 12:47:44 -0500
Anand Krishnan wrote:
>
> Hi Apurva and the GAng,
> With whatever i could infer from the visuals from the News
> channels and news report i can give my 2 pennies on this issue.
>
> > 1. What type of signals exist at Ghaisal and the route - colour
lights,
> >upper
> > quadrant or lower quadrant - what is the type of illumination
for the
> >quadrant
> > lenses ?
> From the TV shots it seemed it was the upper quadrant type
>
> > 3. Were one or both trains standing or were they both moving ?
> BP Mail was stationary , AA was on the move
OK, now I have read all the possible combinations that could lead to a
collision. The intial report in newspapers was that AA was standing and
Brahmaputra came and hit it. Then there was a report that both were
running when they collided. Now we get the info here that AA was running
and Brahmaputra was standing. So can someone please clarify if possible,
including reference to the source of information, which of these three
possibilities actually occured?
> > 6. Is there any further information about the accident ? My friend
is
> >trying to draw
> > some conclusions which would be shared with you soon.
> They also say that weather could have played its part.
Visibility was
> bad and it was raining when the mishap happened. According to the
member of
> the railway board the gangmen would not have bothered to go out in
such
> inclement weather to check out if things were proper.
That's interesting. So gangmen work only in perfect weather conditions
these days? Seems like we have come a long way from the time my
Grandfather worked on BNR as a permamnent way inspector, when he went
out there rain or shine at the appointed time on the appointed section
all year round.
> Waiting for some sort of conclusions.
Me too!
Thanks,
--
Jishnu
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: BBC News : UK Politics : rail safety system
Date: 10 Aug 1999 20:43:27 -0500
<A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_415000/415925.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_415000/415925.stm</A>
Interesting report from the UK on automatic
train protection. It seems last year they
had 593 instances of trains going through
red signals. Does anyone have information on
the traffic density in India compared to the
UK, and on the frequency of similiar instances
in India ?
-JS-
From: Jayant S <>
Subject: BBC News : UK Politics : rail safety system
Date: 10 Aug 1999 20:43:27 -0500
<A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_415000/415925.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_415000/415925.stm</A>
Interesting report from the UK on automatic
train protection. It seems last year they
had 593 instances of trains going through
red signals. Does anyone have information on
the traffic density in India compared to the
UK, and on the frequency of similiar instances
in India ?
-JS-
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: WCAG 3 news was ERS shed's webpage/
Date: 10 Aug 1999 23:05:18 -0500
> The introduction of WCAG 1
> (will confirm the details about this power in a few days) will slowly
phase out
> the indestructible WCG 2.
There are 10 WCAG 1s on order, out of which 5 are already in Mumbai. The
locos do
not climb the ghats yet and run freight traffic between Mumbai and
Kalyan for
acceptance trials.
Pune shed has acquired a WDM 2C (christened 'Shaktiman' by the IR ? -
the WDG 2 is
the 'Gajraj' !) which is being used for freight trials before being used
on the
mail/ expresses.
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: WCAG 3 news was ERS shed's webpage/
Date: 10 Aug 1999 23:05:18 -0500
> The introduction of WCAG 1
> (will confirm the details about this power in a few days) will slowly
phase out
> the indestructible WCG 2.
There are 10 WCAG 1s on order, out of which 5 are already in Mumbai. The
locos do
not climb the ghats yet and run freight traffic between Mumbai and
Kalyan for
acceptance trials.
Pune shed has acquired a WDM 2C (christened 'Shaktiman' by the IR ? -
the WDG 2 is
the 'Gajraj' !) which is being used for freight trials before being used
on the
mail/ expresses.
Apurva
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Pedals in WCAM1
Date: 10 Aug 1999 23:10:54 -0500
Dwarikesh Goswami wrote:
Hi Gang, In a WCAM1 loco near the driver's legs I saw two small leg operated pedals just as in a car.The driver seemed to pump the pedals when he started the train from a standstill.Which pedals are these and what do they do?
I think that pedal boosts the exhauster to recreate the vaccum during start - this pedal exists in the WCG 2 also. I would find out details from the Pune shed.
Chinmay, why don't you ask a driver? This is a good way to gain entry onto the footplate.
Apurva
RegardsChinmay Goswami,
Surat.
From: Apurva Bahadur <>
Subject: Re: Pedals in WCAM1
Date: 10 Aug 1999 23:10:54 -0500
Dwarikesh Goswami wrote:
Hi Gang, In a WCAM1 loco near the driver's legs I saw two small leg operated pedals just as in a car.The driver seemed to pump the pedals when he started the train from a standstill.Which pedals are these and what do they do?
I think that pedal boosts the exhauster to recreate the vaccum during start - this pedal exists in the WCG 2 also. I would find out details from the Pune shed.
Chinmay, why don't you ask a driver? This is a good way to gain entry onto the footplate.
Apurva
RegardsChinmay Goswami,
Surat.
From: Steven Sliwka <>
Subject: Safety of Indian Railways
Date: 11 Aug 1999 04:27:54 -0500
The accident in Gaisal has focused the attention of the safety measures used on Indian Railways to the average person in America. The American press is reporting on how 'ancient and outdated' the technology is on Indian Railways, when, in fact, much of the technology the railways use was designed in America. Can you make sense of it? The WDM2 locomotives involved in the crash were designed in America by Alco, they are just manufactured in India. While it may not be the locomotive's fault, I'm sure something involved in the horrible crash was designed in America. Does the American press report this? No. They only tell of the many deaths and how behind the times Indian Railway Systems are. If they reported the whole story, many an American would be saying 'we gave them this technology?'. Living in America, I am quite aware how the American press operates; they are one-sided. They only report half the story. When we were involved in Kosovo, they only reported of the atrocities committed by a small portion of Serbs. Nowhere did they mention the fact that NATO was bombing innocent Serb civilians among other crimes. I never thought I would see propaganda spread around like Germany in WWII, but, to no avail, the American press had many Americans thinking that ALL Serbs are bad and Kosovars are the best thing to come along. And when Kosovo refugees return to THEIR homeland, they are excused when they kill innocent Serbs in revenge because they were evicted from their homes. The Chinese have a saying-before setting out in revenge, first dig two graves. If anyone should be indicted for War Crimes, it should be Mr. Milosevic and the commander-in-chief of NATO forces, Mr. Wesley Clark. It all boils down to the fact that Journalism in the States need to be taken as a job and not a free-for-all funfest to see who can make this terrible accident in Gaisal seem like the worst thing to occur ever.
From: Zubin Lee <>
Subject: WCM6 at mumbai
Date: 11 Aug 1999 06:39:46 -0500
hi gang,
i just thought of sharing something with u. a couple of weeks back, i
had
seen a wcm6 in mumbai (the very rare dc only loco). it was towards the
eastern side between kurla and ghatkopar. if u notice that there are a
couple of shunter refilling stations there (where the wds4's of CLA shed
get
refilled). the wcm6 was very near to there. it was sitting behind an
older
wcm-x loco in the beige-dark blue livery (i am not sure which wcm it
was).
the wcm6 appeared in very bad shape and seemed to be badly rusted on the
outside. the wcm6 looks identical to an ac loco, such as the wam4 or
wag5,
in terms of general body construction. i doubt whether it was ever used.
anybody else seen the loco (is it still there ?) or have more info on
its
use ?
zubin.
(<A HREF="http://zubin.gen-next.com)">http://zubin.gen-next.com)</A>
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: INDIAN STEAM]
Date: 11 Aug 1999 06:51:37 -0500
HELLO ERIK, APURVA AND OTHERS.
WITH ABSOLUTE STALWARTS ON THE LIST LIKE APURVA, HARSH, DR.KEN WALKER
AND OTHERS, ITS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT I WILL CONTRIBURE ANYTHING
ADDITIONAL, BUT NONETHELESS, HERE IS MY TWO BITS WORTH:
SCROLL DOWN: THE TEXT IN CAPITALS IS MY CONTRIBUTION
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> Apurva Bahadur <iti@vsnl.email
> Hello Erik,
>
> I am forwarding your queries to the Indian Railway Fan Club
> Association (IRFCA) where we have quite a collection of Indian
> Railway experts who can perhaps give a more cohesive and
> balanced reply. I would invite you to join the IRFCA, details
> on how to do so are on my website:
> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/ApuB/">http://members.tripod.com/ApuB/</A>
>
> Watch out for 130 + more pictures of Wankaner / Morbi trip in
> the coming few days on my website.
> Apurva
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: INDIAN STEAM
> Date: Sat, 07 Aug 1999 13:17:56 +0200
> From: test1 <test@statoil.email
> Organization: Statoil
> To: iti@vsnl.email
>
> HELLO DOWN SOUTH!
> I'm searching the net to find facts about indian commercial steam
> trafic, but no real luck yet.
> -Would you please help me ?
> -To what degree are steamengines in use in Inda today ?
REGULAR COMMERCIAL STEAM-HAULED OPERATIONS ARE VIRTUALLY NON EXISTANT IN
INDIA TODAY WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS:
-A COUPLE OF STRAY STEAM HAULED TRAINS NEAR WANKANER IN GUJARAT
(WONDERFULLY DOCUMENTED BY SOME MEMBERS OF OUR FRATERNITY)(mETRE GAUGE)
-THE DARJEELING HIMALAYAN LINE BETWEEN NEW JALPAIGURI AND DARJEELING IN
WEST BENGAL.(nARROW GAUGE). hOWEVER, YOU WILL NEED A SPECIAL PERMIT TO
VISIT DARJEELING, AND THE TRAIN DOES NOT ALWAYS RUN.
-THE NILGIRI MOUNTAIN LINE IN SOUTHERN INDIA (METER GAUGE: RACK AND
PINION). hOWEVER, THE LINE IS DIESEL WORKED IN MOST PARTS, STEAM TAKING
OVER ONLY IN THE RACK SECTIONS.
STEAM TOURIST LINES DO EXIST. TWO OF THEM,THOUGH GROSSLY OVERPRICED AND
OVER RATED ARE THE ROYAL ORIENT (FROM DELHI), AND A RUN FROM DELHI TO
ALWAR BEHIND A QUAINT STEAM ENGINE OF 1855 VINTAGE THE 'FAIRY
QUEEN',ONCE A STATIC EXHIBIT IN THE NATIONAL RAIL MUSEUM.
TWO LARGE BROAD GAUGE EXPRESS ENGINES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND
RETROFITTED WITH AIR BRAKES, BUT THERE IS NO FURTHER NEWS OF THEM.
> -What is the future for steam trafic in India ?
NOT MUCH AS I CAN SEE. THERE HAVE BEEN INNUMERABLE OFFERS FOR THE
RUSTING STEAM HULKS OF INDIA, BUT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN SCRAPPED WITH
SHAMELESS HASTE.
THE INDIAN BUREAUCRACY WILL MAKE THE MOST DEDICATED SAINT TEAR HIS HAIR
AND FRUSTRATION, AND THATS WHY SEVERAL WELL INTENDED SCHEMES NEVER SEE
THE LIGHT OF THE DAY.
ATTITUDES CHANGE WITH EVERY PASSING DAY, AND THOUGH THERE ARE RUMORS OF
HAVING AT LEAST ONE STEAM HAAULED LINE IN INDIA, AND OF MAKING A WORKING
STEAM MUSEUM NEAR DELHI AND SO ON AND SO FOTH, NOTHING CONCRETE HAS COME
OUT SO FAR.
FORTUNATELY FOR US STEAM FREAKS, DIESELIZATION ATTEMPTS HAVE FALLEN FLAT
ON THE DARJEELING LINE, SO THAT MAY CONTINUE BEHIND STEAM YET.
THE NILGIRI LINE AS I SAID EARLIER IS ALREADY PART DIESEL. THERE IS TALK
OF MOVING SOME OF THE REDUNDANT MG ELECTRIC ENGINES THERE ONCE THE
MADRAS-VILLUPURAM RE-GAUGING IS COMPLETE.
THE WANKANER LINES MAY PROBABLY CEASE WITH STEAM OPERATION VERY SOON.
UNLESS THERE IS A MIRACLE, PROBABLY ONLY THE TOURIST LINES AND THE
DARJEELING LINES MAY CONTINUE BEHING STEAM IN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE.
> -Have you got any contacts for "guide service"?
NO. WE TRAIN FREAKS ARE ONE OF A KIND. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHY WE ARE
OBSESSED WITH MUNDANE MACHINES OF EVERYDAY USE. THIS VIEW IS TRUE
WORLDWIDE, AND ESPECIALLY IN INDIA, WHERE EVEN THOSE IN POWER (READ IN
THE MINISTRIES) CANNOT UNDERSTAND ALL THIS FUSS BEING MADE OVER THE
RUSTING HULKS IN THE NATIONAL RAIL MUSEUM.
THE NRM DELHI DOES PROVIDE GUIDE SERVICES AND 'WALKMANS' FOR HIRE, BUT
THAT IS WITHIN THE MUSEUM GROUNDS ONLY.
GET HOLD OF A COPY OF ROYSTON ELLIS'S BOOK: INDIA BY RAIL. ITS A
TERRIFIC AND AUTHENTIC GUIDE FOR TRAVEL IN INDIA BY TRAIN.
APART FROM THAT, THE STALWARTS IN THE IRFCA FRATERNITY ARE QUITE
KNOWLEDGEABLE. AND SOME MIGHT EVEN TAKE SOME TIME OFF TO MEET YOU AND
GUIDE YOU AT SOME POINT IN YOUR TRAVELS. ITS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT YOU
CAN GET ANYONE TO ACCOMPANY YOU AS A GUIDE THROUGHOUT YOUR TRAIN
SPOTTING VENTURES IN INDIA.
> -Is there a listing of the different types of engines in use in India
on
> the net ?
NO. EVEN IF SO, YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW THE CLASSIFICATION CRTERIA,
OTHERWISE THE LIST WILL MAKE NO SENSE TO YOU.
I CAN GIVE YOU A COMPLETE TUTORIAL ABOUT CLASSIFICATION AND THE TYPES OF
ENGINE IF YOU LIKE, IF YOU E-MAIL ME AT:
shankie@emirates.email or
shankaronline@bigfoot.email
BETTER THAN THAT WOULD BE TO JOIN THE IRFCA, AND THEN VISIT THE WEBSITES
OF SOME OF OUR MORE KNOWLEGDEABLE MEMBERS. BHARAT VOHRA HAD ONCE PUT UP
A SITE SHOWING MOST OF THE ENGINES CURRENTLY IN USE ON TEH IR. I HAVE A
HARD COPY IN THE OFFICE BUT DO NOT HAVE THE URL HERE.
APURVA BAHADUR (TO WHOM YOU HAVE ADDRESSED THIS MAIL INITIALLY) ALSO HAS
AN ENVIABLE COLLECTION OF WEBSITES SHOWING VARIOUS TYPES OF ENGINES.
TO JOIN THE IRFCA (THERE ARE NO FEES TO PAY, OR NO OBLIGATIONS), SEND AN
E-MAIL TO>
irfca-request@cs.email
> -To what degree are railway staff english fluent ?
MOST OF THE SHED AND RUNNING STAFF HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH.
IN FACT, DUE TO THE DIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES IN INDIA, ENGLISH IS USUALLY
THE MOST COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD LANGUAGE AND THE UNIVERSAL MEANS OF
COMMUNICATION, USED BY MOST INDIANS THEMSELVES.
EG. PEOPLE FROM DEEP SOUTH GET AROUND WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH
ALONE!
DON'T EXPECT QUEEN'S ENGLISH, BUT ITS OK.NO PROBLEMS THERE :-)
> Best regards, Erik Rydstrøm, Norway
> erikrydstrom@hotmail.email
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT APURVA OR ME OR ANY OTHER MEMBER SHOULD YOU NEED
ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
CHEERS.
SHANKAR
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Update on the DQ derailment
Date: 11 Aug 1999 06:51:44 -0500
Hello,
Thank goodness it was as minor as that.
Thats typical of journalists the world over:
Blow the issue out of proportion. Uncalled-for sensationalism for cheap
thrills.
How else do you sell your papers otherwise?
Best regards.
Shankar
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
> Gang !
>
> The Pune press is having a field day over the DQ derailment.
> There are lines such as 'what if the loco had derailed on the
> valley side ?' and ' the CR need two hours to wake up'.
>
> Actually as the DQ left the Monkey Hill cabin, the Nagnath
> cabin was aware of its arrival. So when the DQ did not arrive
> at it's expected time the alarm bells will sound within
> minutes upto the GM level. With the walkie talkie that all
> crew carry, the present predicament of the DQ power must have
> been instantly conveyed to the section and the power
> controller sitting in CSTM building. There was a sudden
> landslide from a location not known for such activities. This
> buried 100 meters of track just at the exit of a tunnel. The
> front bogie of the WCAM 3 derailed at a slow speed and that's
> that. The report about three coaches derailing is not true.
> There is also a report that the railways came to know about
> this accident only after the passengers walked upto the MHC
> cabin.
> While it is true that the accident relief train took 2 hours
> in coming to the spot, the railwayman I have talked to
> mentions this to be 'normal' derailment in the steep ghat and
> unstable
> section. He dismisses the accident with a view that it is
> blown out of proportion by the press.
> Once rerailed, the same power worked the DQ rake to Mumbai in
> the evening.
>
> Apurva
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: [Fwd: Message for Larry Russel
Date: 11 Aug 1999 06:52:29 -0500
From: Rajan Mathew <>
Subject: Re: emu enigma
Date: 11 Aug 1999 10:59:10 -0500
Hi gang ... to answer Apurva's Question ....
Basically trains are Slow - halting at all stations
or Fast - halting at selected stations
Additional terms like double fast are used by commuters ...
My answers are around the CR - Central Railway
Normal fast halts ..
CSTM - BY - DR - CLA - GC - TNA
Halts that may be additional PL, MTN, VK, BND, MLND
Trains halting at all stations .... SLOW.
Trains that halt selectively upto Thane and are slow thereafter ...
SEMI-FAST
Trains that halt selectively upto Kalyan and are slow thereafter ...
FAST
FAST trains are also all those that run between CSTM and TNA
Double fast is a term applied where trains skip many more stations
eg 1700 (Ex CSTM) Ambarnath Fast runs fast between CSTM - DR - TNA
It then runs slow .... (The Deccan Queen chases it ... )
Also trains that halt selectively upto Kalyan and are slow thereafter
are
called Double Fast because they rush through the Parsik Tunnel and skip
Kalva, Mumbra, Diva and Thakurli stations... Halting only at Dombivali
The Railways refer to them as fast locals ...
Nowadays, halts are distributed over a few stations. Earlier there were
a
few really fast trains
eg. Ambarnath - Kalyan - Thane - Dadar - VT in the morning.
Thus the term "Double Fast" has lost much of its punch sice there are
hardly
any trains to fit the definition ...
Rajan
----- Original Message -----
From: S.Shankar <shankie@emirates.email
> Hello,
> Actually, the Bombay-ites might be able to explain better or correct
me.
>
> As you know, most 'fast' locals are fast only upto a point. They stop
at
> all stations after that. e.g. a Virar fast is fast (limited stops)
> only upto Borivli, after Borivli it stops at all stations right upto
> Virar.
> Similarly, a Karjat fast is fast only upto Kalyan: it becomes slow
> (takes all stations) from Kalyan all the way till Karjat.
>
> To the best of my knowledge, a double fast is one which is fast
> throughout: it takes limited stops right upto its destination.
>
> Best regards.
> Shankar
>
> Apurva Bahadur wrote:
> >
> > What is the correct definition of a 'double fast' EMU ?
From: Rajan Mathew <>
Subject: Re: ERS shed's webpage
Date: 11 Aug 1999 11:33:23 -0500
> > Does the Mangala also use WDM2's as bankers from Kasara to Igatpuri,
or
are
> > they WCG2's or something like that ?
> Only WCG 2 are used for banking. WDM 2 are not unique for Mangala on
the
NE and
> SE lines out of Mumbai, most of the freights are diesel powered
nowadays
> (surprise !). They make a great site through the ghats - 40 BCN load
with
2 WDM
> 2 or WDG 2s in the front and 3 WCG 2s at the back. The introduction of
WCAG 1
> (will confirm the details about this power in a few days) will slowly
phase out
> the indestructible WCG 2.
Trains running from/to Konkan Railway are hauled by WDM2 loco's. CR's
electrified stretch starts from Panvel which does not house many locos,
and
is not a convenient point to change locos. Besides there is not much of
a
run between Panvel and Igatpuri or Mumbai. Nowadays one can spot GOC,
KJM,
EKM, ED, KYN locos coming in and out with Konkan Railway trains ....
A few Pune WDM2 can be spotted with goods trains. Some engines can be
spotted parked near Parel CR and Byculla stations.
> > Actually there must be quite a long list of expresses which use
diesels
while
> > running on electrified lines, most of these would concern AC/DC
sections
> > around Mumbai.
> Actually there are no passenger loads (with the exception of the Diva
-
Vasai
> and the Bandra Dahanu push pull, which is diesel hauled in Mumbai.
Well, the passenger loads from Mumbai Central outwards all use WCAM 1
or WCAM 2P and the change of traction made at Virar without change of
engine
or halt. Gang, this is quite fascinating since trains don't stop but
move
through while making the change ... Thus engines need not be changed.
> > Gang, any idea
> > which is the longest dieselised run on electrified sections ? Does
the
BCT
> > - NDLS Rajdhani still run with double WDM2's from BCT to BRC ?
> Sadly no, the WCAM 2 handles the Rajdhani and the other trains.
> Apurva
From: Dheeraj Sanghi <>
Subject: no email for long.
Date: 11 Aug 1999 12:09:20 -0500
My email server was down on 9th Aug, till morning of 10th,
and I lost all emails sent to me in this time. So if any of
you responded to my earlier mail, I didn't see it. Since
I have not seen any email from IRFCA even after the email
is normal, I am wondering if I have been bumped off the list
because of too much bounced mails. If so, please put me
back again.
-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: GlynThomas <>
Subject: Old Steam, and a Query
Date: 11 Aug 1999 16:12:11 -0500
Hi everyone,
the new British magazine, 'Heritage Railway' has a photograph of some
very
old British built meter guage locos at the Saraya Sugar Factory, out of
use
since the mill has not been making sugar this year. Apparently the mill
cut
up some locos last year. Does anyone have connections with the Delhi
museum,
or a European meter gauge museum who may be interested in these locos.
It
would be sad to see them cut up, but there is very little interest in
meter
gauge in the UK.
Secondly, can anyone tell me the styles of semaphore signals (post
design
etc.) used by the Indian railway companies pre-nationalisation? I have
recently been scanning some old photos, and have seen lattice-post and
tubular post signals on the Western railway (ex. BBICR?), and rail-made
posts
at Kurdevardi. In the UK semephore signal design was as destinctive
pre-nationalisation as loco design, does the same go for India?
Glyn Thomas
From: Auroprem Kandaswami <>
Subject: Another Assam train escapes Bodo blast
Date: 11 Aug 1999 16:37:41 -0500
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
GUWAHATI, AUG 11: Passengers of 5617 UP Arunachal Express had a
providential
escape when a powerful bomb exploded by suspected Bodo militants on the
railway tracks between Majbat and Dhekaijuli road stations in lower
Assam
shortly before it was scheduled to pass the area last night, a
North-East
Frontier Railway spokesman said today.
A security pilot engine preceding the passenger train was damaged and
its
driver injured in the blast, the spokesman said, adding the Arunachal
Express was scheduled to pass that stretch within an hour of the
engine's
routine check of the tracks.
The bomb was planted under a railway bridge over River Paschnoi on
Rangia-Tezpur metre gauge section between Darrang and Sonitpur districts
and
exploded at about 2045 hours damaging the bridge, he said.
The blast was reported by the injured driver who reached the nearby
Majbat
station on foot, he said.
Official sources said the involvement of Bodo militants in the blast was
suspected as the Rangia-Tezpur section is located in their stronghold.
Last night's blast was the third such in a week occurring barely within
36
hours of the one in which six bogies including the engine of a goods
train
were damaged and five persons injured when militants blasted a portion
of a
culvert bridge between Salakati and Kokrajhar railway stations.
The NF Railway spokesman said following the blast Arunachal Express was
stopped at Rangapara station, while 5716 UP Samatipur-Tezpur Express was
controlled at Majbat and 172 Down Rangapara-Alipurduar passenger at
Dhekiajuli last night.
The 171 UP Alipurduar-Rangapara passenger was controlled at Rangia, he
said.
An assistance special accompanied by NF Railway area manager, assistant
engineer, assistant mechanical engineer and others have rushed to the
spot
for restoration of the damaged train tracks, he added.
***
_______________________________________________________________
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From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <>
Subject: Re: WCM6 at mumbai
Date: 11 Aug 1999 19:47:04 -0500
it was towards the eastern side between kurla and ghatkopar.
Hello Zubin & all,
The loco - only one of it's kind is mostly spotted in this area. It had
a
sister which was badly burnt last year and was a write off.
> the wcm6 appeared in very bad shape and seemed to be badly rusted on
the
> outside.
No wonder.It is a rust coloured loco and very ill maintained giving a
rusty impression.
i doubt whether it was ever used.
Yes it works the light freight trains towards Kalyan & Karjat. It has
never gone beyond that (so I was informed). Never crossed the ghats.
Appu
correct me if I am wrong.
Regards
Viraf.
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrej.email
==========================
From: Raymond Marsh <>
Subject: Re: Pedals in WCAM1
Date: 11 Aug 1999 22:32:22 -0500
I have seen floor pedals which put sand on the rails for adhesion. As
the loco was starting
it could be for that purpose. Don't forget to ask the driver next time.
Ray
Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Dwarikesh Goswami wrote:
>
>> Hi Gang, In a WCAM1 loco near the driver's legs I saw two
>> small leg operated pedals just as in a car.The driver seemed to pump
>> the pedals when he started the train from a standstill.Which pedals
>> are these and what do they do?
>> I think that pedal boosts the exhauster to recreate the vaccum
>> during start - this pedal exists in the WCG 2 also. I would find out
>> details from the Pune shed.
>> Chinmay, why don't you ask a driver? This is a good way to gain
>> entry onto the footplate.
>>
>> Apurva
>>
>>
>> RegardsChinmay Goswami,
>> Surat.
>