IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 8461 - 8480
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Danger Signs et al
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:32:59 -0500
Hello,
I remember a red 'danger'disk (without the red light) during my
childhood travels on the Howrah-Madras Mail.
Good thing they have now switched to side filling.
Overhead filling was a damned nuisance. Apart from the pressure problem,
passengers would drenched ever so often as a big waterfall used to land
on them without warning. Even sitting in the train, before you get up
and close the windows, part of the seat was wet too.
Not to mention slippery platforms and being unable to open the window
esp. as the train pulled out of the station with very interesting and
not to be missed sights in the yard etc.
Cheers.
Shankar
raymond/Polaris@polaris.email wrote:
>
> Dear Apurva,
>
> I have seen two instances of this Danger Sign, which didn't have to do
with
> watering, which is by far the most common occurrence.
>
> One was on the Purushottam Exp. at MGS, when they were loading lunch
onto the
> pantry car 9the Danger Sign was on the pantry car itself), the other
was on the
> Bombay - Madras Mail (as opposed to the Mumbai - Chennai Mail, so you
can guess
> the vintage) at GTL, when they were shunting and attaching the GTL -
MAS bogies.
> This was at the front end of the train, so the WDM2 itself was doing
the
> shunting - you couldn't move the rake even if you had wanted to !!
>
> Most stations (even if not electrified) have switched to side filling.
There is
> no requirement for extra pressure, after all the main water tanks are
usually 25
> feet from ground.
>
> Regards
>
> Raymond
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: IR train names and their significance
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:33:11 -0500
> > Pune-Varanasi Gyan Ganga Exp. Gyan = knowledge. River of
knowledge? Or
> > does it refer to Varanasi which has BHU - Asia's
> > largest university and is on the banks of the Ganga.
>
> Pune is know as the seat of learning, having a large number of
> schools and
> colleges hence 'Gyan', Gyani Zail Singh, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,
> Vishvnath Pratap
> Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpai and many many luminaries have been
> students in Pune's
> colleges. Ganga as in the river at Varanasi. But Pune's
> knowledge is only of the
> 20th Century, while Varanasi's knowledge goes back many
> centuries. So maybe the
> Pune division train had only the destination in mind.
Hello,
Actually, Gyan Ganga might simply be an acronym for the two end points
of the train Gyan (Knowledge) for Poona, (also called the Oxford and
Cambridge of India) and Ganga for Varanasi (Ganges river).
This thread on train names has been MOST enlightening and interesting.
While most have touched upon the real heavies, and sometimes the most
complicated of naming themes, here is my two bits worth,covering the
SIMPLE and most obvious ones:
COALFIELD EXP AND BLACK DIAMOND EXP (Howrah-Dhanbad) after the coal
fields in and around Dhanbad. (Black Diamond is a very romantic name for
coal, what?)
TIPU EXP, KAVERI EXP AND CHAMUNDI EXP (Bangalore-Mysore) after Tipu
Sultan (who was killed at Srirangapatna, just outside Mysore), the
Kaveri river at the same place, and Chamundi Hills (Mysore)
respectively.
ISLAND EXP (Remember, it fell into the backwaters a few years ago?)
after Wellington Island in Cochin. (What is the other end point for this
train?)
VAIGAI EXP (Madras-Madurai) after the Vaigai river just outside Madurai
GANGA KAVERI EXP (Madras-Varanasi) after the rivers at the two end
points: Ganga at Varanasi, and Kaveri: well not actually IN, but near
Madras.In Tamil Nadu at least.
COROMANDEL EXP: (Madras-Howrah) after the Coromandel coast: the British
name for the east coast, through which the train runs.
LALBAGH EXP, BRINDAVAN EXP (Madras-Bangalore) after the so named massive
gardens in Bangalore (Lalbagh and Brindavan Gardens)
SHALIMAR EXP (Delhi-Jammu) after the Shalimar gardens in J & K (Jammu is
the only railhead for Kashmir)
JHELUM EXP (Poona-Jammu) after the Jhelum river in J & K
UDYAN EXP (Bombay-Bangalore) Udyan=Garden after Bangalore's pet name of
Garden City
PINK CITY EXP (Delhi-Jaipur) after Jaipur's nickname Pink City
NILAGIRI EXP (Madras-Mettupalayam) after the popular nickname for that
area Nila (Blue) Giri (Mountains). The train was initially called Blue
Mountain Exp.
EAST COAST EXP (Vskp.-Howrah) after the East coast, which is most of the
route over which the train runs.
SETHU EXP (Madras-Rameswaram) Sethu=Bridge after the Pamban bridge in
Rameswaram.
PANDYAN EXP, CHOLAN EXP, CHERAN EXP,KAMBAN EXP after the dynasty of
kings who ruled the area of these trains' destinations. e.g. Mas-Madurai
Pandyan Exp: Madurai was the seat of the Pandyan dynasty of kings.
VAISHALI EXP (Delhi-Barauni) after Vaishali in Bihar (near which the
train passes), site of Buddhist cave paintings, Ajanta style.
CHARMINAR EXP (Madras-Hyderabad) after the Charminar monument in
Hyderabad.
GITANJALI EXP (Bombay-Howrah) after Tagore's famous poem Gitanjali
(Bengal: Howrah: actually it was near there at Shantiniketan)
SHANTINIKETAN EXP (Howrah-Bolpur) after Shantiniketan: the seat of
learning established by Tagore, for which Bolpur is the nearest
railhead)
GOLDEN-TEMPLE MAIL(Bombay-Amritsar) after the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
HIMSAGAR EXP (Jammu-Kanyakumari) to depict the two end points: Him (or
mountain (Jammu) and Sagar (the sea) at Land' end Kanyakumari.
GOMTI EXP (Delhi-Lucknow) after the Gomti River which flows through
Lucknow
NAINITAL EXP (Agra-Kathgodam) after the famous NainiTal lake, for which
Kathgodam is the nearest railhead.
SANCTUARY EXP AND KUMAON EXP to denote the wildlife sanctuaries at the
trains' end points. Will check more more details later.
SANGAM EXP (Meerut-Allahabad) after the Triveni Sangam (confluence of
three rivers) at Allahabad
ISPAT EXP (ALSO KNOWN AS STEEL EXP) (Howrah-Rourkela) after the massive
steel plant at Rourkela.
ROCKFORT EXP (Madras-Trichy) after the famous RockFort at Trichy
HUSSEINSAGAR EXP (Bombay-Hyderabad) after the famous Husseinsagar lake
and dam in Hyderabad
SAPHTAGIRI EXP (Secunderabad-Tirupati) after the religious or more
common name for Tirupati: Saphta (seven) Giri (Hills)
RAYALSEEMA EXP (Secunderabad-Tirupati) after the Rayalseema district,
over much of which the train runs
MAHARASHTRA EXP (Kolhapur-Gondia) to signify the bisecting of
Maharashtra by this train from Kolhapur in SW Maharashtra to Nagpur (now
Gondia) at the very end in NE Maharashtra
MINAR EXP (Bombay-Secunderabad) after the Charminar in Hyderabad. I
still remember, when the train was introduced in the late 1970s, the
name board used to have an outline of the Charminar painted on it.
PEARL CITY EXP (Madras-Tuticorin) after Turicorin, a center for pearl
trade in the olden days
MANDORE EXP (Delhi-Jodhpur) after the Mandore Gardens, a few km outside
Jodhpur
TIRUMALA EXP (Madras-Tirupati) after the other local name for Tirupati
Thiru (God's) Mala (Hill)
SRI JAGANNATH EXP (Howrah-Puri) after the massive Sri Jagannath temple
in Puri. (some say the word 'jaggernaut' originated from there, to
signify things of mammoth proportions!)
ASHRAM EXP (Delhi-Ahmedabad) after Gandhi's ashram at Sabarmati near
Ahmedabad
CHETAK EXP (Delhi-Udaipur) after the horse named 'Chetak' of the famous
Rana PRatap Singh of Udaipur. The horse is said to have saved his life
or something.
GOLCONDA EXP (Guntur-Secunderabad) after the famous Golconda fort at
Hyderabad.
SAMJHAUTA EXP (Amritsar-Lahore) to signify the cordial (har har!)
'samjhauta' (compromise) between the two countries to run this train.
Cheers.
Shankar
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: IR train names and their significance
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:33:20 -0500
Hello,
Another very interesting name for a similar very very short super slow
express is the Madras-Jolarpettai Yelagiri Exp.
(Mountain of leaves? Yela (leaves in Tamil), Giri (hills).
With IR having dived headlong into the computerized era, don't be
surprised to find names like HTML Express and Megabyte mail and all!
Cheers.
Shankar
Cheers.
Shankar
Jishnu Mukerji wrote:
>
> Speaking of train names, I just discovered in the latest Newmans
> Abstract Timetable that the Howrah - Asansol Express is now called
> "Howrah - Asansol Agniveena Express"!
>
> --
>
> Jishnu.
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Train Names
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:33:39 -0500
Hello,
I do not know about the others, but for Bihar, there was a North Bihar
Exp in the 70s, which is now discontinued. THere is still a South Bihar
Exp: I will check on the end points later. Shanku?
If you take Goa,Daman & Diu (the earlier annotation before Goa attained
statehood), you have the Goa Exp between Nizamuddin and Vasco.
I think there is an Arunachal Exp somewhere.
UP has some trains in the old names: Kalinga-Utkal Exp, Awadh Exp,
Bundelkhand exp, and the more reason Uttarkhand exp.
W. Bengal does not have any, but Uttar Bangla Exp and Darjeeling Mail
come close.
I'm sure I 've heard of at least one somewhere to somewhere Sikkim Exp.
introduced somewhere. There was even a discussion in this forum about a
rail link to Sikkim: is it in the offing, if now, why Sikkim Exp etc.
Cheers.
Shankar
raymond/Polaris@polaris.email wrote:
>
> Dear gang,
>
> My two bits...
>
> Poorva Express is just the Hindi translation of the earlier name -
Eastern
> Express - part of the trioka of trains, Eastern, Western and Southern
expresses,
> all of which have been translated to Hindi.
>
> Gondwana Express - I asked my dad, who is a big honcho geologist (he's
88 now).
> He said that the continental drift was discovered by a geologist
called Hughes
> (of the Geological Survey of India) back in the 1850's after he
compared fossils
> from India, Africa and Australia. He named this large land mass
"Gondwanaland"
> after the Gonds, who still inhabit tribal areas in the area around
Nagpur. So
> Gondwana and Nagpur - bang on.
>
> Mangala Lakshadweep Express - must be a lot of truth as to have a
train named
> after each Indian State - remember our debate about Andaman Express.
Also
> Calicut (Kozhikode) was the adminstrative capital of Lakshadweep (in
those days
> when they were the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amandivi (?) Islands).
>
> Does any of you know of where these states "have" their trains :
>
> Kashmir
> Rajasthan
> Uttar Pradesh
> Bihar
> West Bengal
> Sikkim
> Mizoram
> Nagaland
> Orissa (or will Utkal do ?)
> Madhya Pradesh
> Pondicherry
> Dadra and Nagar Haveli
> Daman and Diu
>
> Regards
>
> Raymond
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: train numbers -- Konkan railway
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:33:45 -0500
Hello,
As we discussed earlier, about things like JPJ Pass meaning Jpdhpur
(JP)-jailsamer (J) passenger, the KAP probably means
KA(Karwar)-Pernem(P).
Is the 1 dn etc an express or a passenger train?
The IR still used three digit numbers for holiday specials and stopping
passenger trains.
Hence, KAP1 still makes sense:Karwar-Pernem 1dn Passenger.
I think only the CR uses four digit numbers on some passenger trains in
the Jabalpur area.
Cheers.
Shankar
S Pai wrote:
>
> I believe Konkan Railways trains are numbered with a leading '0' digit
> in the 4-digit code.
>
> However, in a recent article on rediff.com about KR trains, they
> mention the "KR 1 Dn" train (Margoa-Mangalore). Is this just sloppy
> journalism or standard shorthand perhaps, for train number "0001"? Or
> has KR decided to have some non-standard non-4-digit numbers as well?
> There is also mention of a "KAP 1 Dn" train (Pernem-Karwar)... What
> does "KAP" stand for? Do the two trains really have the same number
> "1 Dn" on the same railway?? Seems like a step backward after all the
> attempts at rationalizing train numbering.
>
> Lastly, I notice that it seems to be common to prefix "KR" to Konkan
> Railway train numbers (e.g., "KR 0112 Up"). Why is this? Because
> KR is technically separate from the other zonal railways??
>
> On a different topic, what is the 2- or 3-letter alphabetic carrier
> identification code(s) for IR (and if different, for KR) in the travel
> services world?
>
> --Satish
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Re: Trainspotting, questions and Re: More on train names
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:33:52 -0500
Hello,
Hmmm, unique liveried trains once again? That sounds interesting.
At the danger of sounding cynical, given IR's past track record of
follwoing up on unique liveries, with the exception of prestigous
trains, in a few months we will have multicolored trains: some cars
blue, some green/cream, some card dark blue/light blue, some cars
maroon, hauled by a green/yellow engine!! :-(
The trains will go maroon all over again.
Lets hope it lasts this time.
Incidentally, I read in a newspaper in Nov. 1997 (Indian Express?) that
the IR was considering changing its standard livery from the dull and
rather unattractive maroon to aircraft blue/white.(DQ style).
Terrific, but given the level of dust in India, the white will soon turn
brown.
Actually, white trains are not unknown in India: the DQ used to be
white, and always sparkling. Some NR trains (Himalayan Queen?) used to
be light blue/white.
Any news on the standard color changes?
Cheers.
Shankar
s
Anand Krishnan wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> Just returned from a trip to Chennai. My ever reliable 7054Dn
was
> this time very unusually hauled by a WDM2B(~~16007 KZJ). Can anyone
please
> list out the differences between 2B and 2C. This loco one could have
entered
> that Smoke Spewing competition and won it in style. But good work, we
were
> 15 min before time at Guntur.
> Now for the second question.
> We were hauled by a WAG-5P(23666 BZA)from Guntur. Now is this
a new
> variant of WAG5s. I have not come across 5P. There are
WAG5s,A,B,HA,HB,HAE
> etc. Anyone having some insight into this series ??. And good show
again we
> were 15 early at MAS. I think it was a rare occassion for SR that day
'coz
> the electronic display showed R/T(right time) for all the trains on
the
> Arrival side.
> Erode shed has accquired a hoard of WAG5s and WAG7s (i think a massive
> relocation from AJNI 'coz those typical red white stripes have been
> retained). Spotted a KJM WDM2A at Tondiarpet deisel shed.
> I have been observing a few trains that have been using a
> non-maroon, uniform livery during my visits. GT has half of its
coaches
> cream and green.Coromandel has the dark blue-light blue livery now.
These
> rakes are not new evident from their serial number. The existing rakes
have
> been over-hauled and the new colour given. The other set of rakes for
the
> pairing train is new. Blue mountain Exp. now has typical dark blue
livery.
> Narayanadri Exp.has 2 sets off brand new light blue-dark-blue rakes
and so
> does Krishna Exp and Gautami Exp.
> So my third quesion. Is IR going in for a new colour
combination
> for all trains ?.
> My return saw a 22231 LGD WAP4 untiringly pulling the
2759UP
> arriving 20 min before time at Sec'bad. It only showed that all trains
have
> been given a lot of running time and its nothing to feel excited about
> trains being before time.
>
> >5 PEARL CITY EXP (HEY SOUNDS GOOD !)
> Tuticorin is considerded to be the city of Pearls. BTW please dont
utter
> this name to the clerk at Chennai Central 'coz U would be quickly
corrected
> and asked to say "Muthu Nagar Exp". This is the translation of Pearl
City in
> Tamil.
>
> >6 RANI CHENNAMMA EXP
> In memory of some Queen or pseudo-Rani jhansi of karnataka ????
>
> Kind regards,
> Anand
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: S.Shankar <>
Subject: Stolen diesel
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:33:59 -0500
Hello,
A few weeks ago, I'd received a query from our own dear Larry Russel of
EMD Export fame.
He stated an interesting fact: one bg diesel engine had been nicked (to
put it bluntly, stolen,or appropriated) by Pakistan during one of the
wars.
Anyone with any idea as to which one it was? Harsh, Appu?
Cheers.
Shankar
From: Prateep Chatterjee <>
Subject: Re: IR train names and their significance
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:42:23 -0500
> > Patna-New Delhi Magadh Exp.
> > after the Magadh empire (near ??) under Chandragupta Maurya?
>
> The official title is "Magadh Vikramshila Exp", which is an ancient
> university near Bhagalpur, in the Magadh district of Bihar.
Vikramshila Exp. goes to Bhagalpur (from Patna) and Magadh Exp
terminates at
Patna (and is also a superfast). I don't think there is any Magadh
district in
Bihar, or is there ??
>7 KANPUR KASGANJ PAWAR EXP ( DESCENDANT OF SHARAD OR LALITA PAWAR FROM
>THESE PLACES !)
Its not Pawar Exp, but PAWAN EXP. It used to be the 2nd best exp.
running on
the Lucknow/Kanpur-Agra MG route, the best being the (former) MG
Marudhar Exp.
--
--------------------------------------------------
Prateep Chatterjee
Graduate Student
Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
and Engineering Mechanics
University of Missouri-Rolla
Rolla, MO 65409
Phone : (573) 308-1542
--------------------------------------------------
From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <>
Subject: Re: Anyone have these Inter-Station Distances, please?
Date: 14 Sep 1999 13:50:10 -0500
Hello Larry
Thanks for a commendable job - u oughta copyright your stuff before IR
patches something similar up ;-). About the Diva/Thane-Airoli link, here
are approximate interstation distances. Mind you - there weren't any
stations on this route till the time I left India - so I am not really
sure
though. I can scout the route when I get back this December
Distances ex. Mumbai CST
Thane 34
Airoli 37
Ghansoli 39
Rabale 41 (most likely - no station, coz' of the proximity to either
side)
MAHAPE 43
Kopar Khairane (Shanti Nagar) 45 (am *sure* about this one, though)
Pavane 47
Turbhe 48/49?
Juinagar 51?
There is no link from future Turbhe to Vashi - no triangles that I love.
Diva could soon lose its exalted status as a great fan-out junction when
Dativali is realized as a station.
Regards
Sundar
--------------------------------------------------------
Sundar Krishnamurthy Datamatics-ASCOM, Somerset NJ
sundar@spyring.email <A HREF="http://sundar.cjb.net">http://sundar.cjb.net</A>
ICQ: 3159776 Tel (O): +1-732-828 8686
--------------------------------------------------------
Only the Paranoid Survive - Andrew Grove, intel
From: Jishnu Mukerji <>
Subject: Re: Danger Signs et al
Date: 14 Sep 1999 14:24:36 -0500
S.Shankar wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I remember a red 'danger'disk (without the red light) during my
> childhood travels on the Howrah-Madras Mail.
Interestingly, in the USA the caution board or lamp that is placed by
the locomotive and the tail of the train that is stabled for maintenance
is Blue in color.
Jishnu.
From: Jishnu Mukerji <>
Subject: Re: Train Names
Date: 14 Sep 1999 14:35:34 -0500
S.Shankar wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I do not know about the others, but for Bihar, there was a North Bihar
> Exp in the 70s, which is now discontinued. THere is still a South
Bihar
> Exp: I will check on the end points later. Shanku?
Patna to Tatanagar via Gaya - Gomoh - Dhanbad(?) the last time I looked
> I think there is an Arunachal Exp somewhere.
Yes, on NFR. Guwahati to Merkong Selek or some such along the North bank
of the Brahmaputra I think.
> W. Bengal does not have any, but Uttar Bangla Exp and Darjeeling Mail
> come close.
There used to be an East Bengal Mail and an East Bengal Express from
Calcutta (Sealdah) to then East Pakistan.
Before Farakka Barrage and the Assam BG Link, (but after partition and
the construction of the Assam MG Link) there used to be a train called
North Bengal Express that ran from Sealdah to Maharajpur Ghat. One then
crossed the Ganga on a ferry and got on the MG North Bank Express from
Manihari Ghat to Siliguri via Katihar, Barsoi, Kishanganj, Naxalbari.
Jishnu
From: Shanku Niyogi <>
Subject: Re: BG Steam.
Date: 14 Sep 1999 15:01:59 -0500
As far as I know, it suffers from the non-electrification problem -
there
was a discussion on the list a while back about how this was one of the
reasons for the neglect of Lucknow by superfast trains.
As a kid, I often travelled to Dehradun from Calcutta on the Doon
Express,
and it would travel by a chunk of that section. I also have a vague
memory
of when I was 2 - we took a train from Amritsar down to Laksar, and
changed
for the Dehradun line by crossing directly in front of a WP. The WP let
out
a large hiss as we walked by, and I used to frightened of WP's for
several
years. :)
-----Original Message-----
From: S.Shankar [mailto:shankie@emirates.email
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 1:33 PM
To: Shanku Niyogi
Cc: 'tmwake@warwick.email Apurva Bahadur; irfca
Subject: Re: BG Steam.
Hello,
Indeed. In fact, some Howrah-Amritsar trains bypass Delhi completely and
go via Lucknow-Sahranpur instead.
Is the line electrified now? It was one of those diesel pockets in
electric territory as I last know, though electrification work was in
progress.
Cheers.
Shankar
Shanku Niyogi wrote:
>
> Saharanpur is about 200km north of New Delhi. It's on the line between
> Lucknow-Ambala-Kalka line, just north of Laksar, where the line for
Dehradun
> branches off.
>
> You can get to Saharanpur from New Delhi by taking the Dehradun
Shatabdi
(2
> hrs. 40 minutes) or Mumbai-Dehradun Exp. (5 hrs. 15 minutes).
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tim & Anita Wakeman [mailto:tmwake@warwick.email
> Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 5:50 PM
> To: Apurva Bahadur
> Cc: irfca
> Subject: Re: BG Steam.
>
> Apurva Bahadur wrote:
>
> The locos will
> > be based at Saharanpur for at least an year till Rewari loco
> > shed can take BG and has a TT /T.
>
> Apurva,
>
> Where is Saharanpur located?
>
> Tim
From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <>
Subject: Re: IR train names and their significance
Date: 14 Sep 1999 15:43:56 -0500
Hello Shankar and Folks......
Yelagiri Exp gets its name from the hill station Yelagiri thats situated
close to JTJ (Jolarpettai Junction). This junction is one of the most
beautiful ones that I've seen in South India and is maintained quite
clean
by the SR staff. For anyone passing JTJ, watch out for the massive
singular
hill that looms over the landscape to the south of the station. There
are
clouds hanging quite low over this hill in the winter and makes a
wonderful
sight. There are no tall concrete structures to block the views and I
bet
it would be a lifetime experience to park yourself somewhere on the hill
and watch the busy life on JTJ tracks through field glasses!!! There's a
180 degree smooth curve off JTJ to the right for the line going towards
SBC
(Bangalore) and there's a huge marshalling yard by the side of JTJ
station.
Talking of the JTJ-SBC line, Kuppam gives a red stop signal to most
trains
passing through, coz' its a political halt (AP CM Cyberbabu Naidu's cons
tituency). And MAS-SBC is one of the best routes in the country for
trainspotting! I did the MAS-SBC passenger once and it was superb!
And about side water refilling - it made sense to have overhead tanks
when
routes were not electrified.. but the catenary winding its way
everywhere
now - its obvious that top water fill is no longer a safe option.
ISLAND Exp now goes upto Nagercoil I guess - it takes the Dharmapuri
line
off Baiyappanahalli outside Bangalore and proceeds onwards to Salem to
meet
the trunk coming out of MAS. In fact, the last time I was in Bangalore -
the official name of the train was Bangalore-Nagercoil Exp.
JHELUM Express - Apurva - tell me if I am right. A few people I know in
Pune used to call this train ZOOLUM express (ZOOLUM - actually ZULM in
Hindi/Urdu stands for an ordeal/torture). This train ran perenially late
on
its ride to Jammu.
KERALA MANGALA Express - This train now runs separated as the Kerala and
Mangala. I remember seeing the train board "Kerala Mangala Express" at a
crossing sometime in '85 when I was 10 - and I want someone to
corroborate
this.
MINAR Express - was one of the best trains out of Mumbai to reach
Hyderabad/Secunderabad - until they extended it to Bhubaneshwar and
renamed
it Konark I guess.
BALAJI Express - this is the name of the train that goes from Mumbai CST
to
Tirupati two days a week. When tickets to MAS are in short supply, this
is
the ideal way to travel from Mumbai. Book tickets on this one (usually
available) from CST to RU (Renigunta). This train leaves CST at 12:15 pm
and reaches RU next day near 1:00 pm. You can have lunch there in the
station and take an unreserved ride on 6011 CST-MAS Express that reaches
RU
at 2:00 pm. After that its a 140? km/3 hr ride to Chennai. RU has a
terrific curve for Tirupati on the West side that leaves the line even
before the end of the platform!
I guess MAHARASHTRA express and GUJARAT express are two examples of
state
name expresses that dont travel to Delhi unlike all southern states and
Goa. And MAHARASHTRA Express doesnt even touch Mumbai - the capital!
Regards
Sundar
--------------------------------------------------------
Sundar Krishnamurthy Datamatics-ASCOM, Somerset NJ
sundar@spyring.email <A HREF="http://sundar.cjb.net">http://sundar.cjb.net</A>
ICQ: 3159776 Tel (O): +1-732-828 8686
--------------------------------------------------------
Only the Paranoid Survive - Andrew Grove, intel
From: Shanku Niyogi <>
Subject: Re: Train Names
Date: 14 Sep 1999 16:36:20 -0500
>S.Shankar wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>> I do not know about the others, but for Bihar, there was a North
Bihar
>> Exp in the 70s, which is now discontinued. THere is still a South
Bihar
>> Exp: I will check on the end points later. Shanku?
>Patna to Tatanagar via Gaya - Gomoh - Dhanbad(?) the last time I looked
Currently Patna to Raurkela. It doesn't go via Gaya, it stays on the
mainline (Jha Jha, Madhupur, etc.). Incidentally, the Danapur Tata
Express
has a lot of overlap with this train. The South Bihar is an overnight
train
going towards Tatanagar, while the Danapur Tata travels in the same
direction by day.
>> I think there is an Arunachal Exp somewhere.
>Yes, on NFR. Guwahati to Merkong Selek or some such along the North
bank
>of the Brahmaputra I think.
Kamakhya to Merkong Selek.
>> W. Bengal does not have any, but Uttar Bangla Exp and Darjeeling Mail
>> come close.
3147/3148, running between Sealdah and New Cooch Behar, is now referred
to
as the Banga Express.
From: Shanku Niyogi <>
Subject: Re: IR train names and their significance
Date: 14 Sep 1999 16:43:32 -0500
>> > Patna-New Delhi Magadh Exp.
>> > after the Magadh empire (near ??) under Chandragupta
Maurya?
>>
>> The official title is "Magadh Vikramshila Exp", which is an ancient
>> university near Bhagalpur, in the Magadh district of Bihar.
>Vikramshila Exp. goes to Bhagalpur (from Patna) and Magadh Exp
terminates
at
>Patna (and is also a superfast). I don't think there is any Magadh
district
in
>Bihar, or is there ??
Hmmm... my timetable lists a separate Magadh Vikramshila Exp (2391/2392,
the
Magadh Exp. to which you refer) and a Vikramshila Exp (3467/3468).
Bhagalpur, incidentally, is the railhead for the Vikramshila site.
Magadh is indeed not a district, but a division that contains districts
of
Gaya, Nalanda, Aurangabad, etc.
From: S.B.Mehta <>
Subject: Re: BG Steam.
Date: 14 Sep 1999 20:41:18 -0500
Hi, Harsh,
This brings back memories of the visit Viraf and I undertook in 1994.
WP7200 is right there on my screen saver, its a timer shot with both
of us standing near the cow-catcher! May these beauties (the WPs I
mean!) last forever.
You must have been thrilled to see the trial runs of 7015-16 on
6/9/99. Please keep us posted on the happenings at'BG STEAM'.
Regards.
Sarosh.
From: Dr. S. PARTHASARATHY <>
Subject: Railfans in Hyderabad
Date: 14 Sep 1999 20:55:29 -0500
Are there any members of this list located in and around
Hyderabad/Secunderabad ? Please get in touch with me directly. I was
thinking of organising a get together.
...partha
------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Dr. S. Parthasarathy Phone: + 91 - 40 - 775 1650
Algologic Research & Solutions
78 Sancharpuri Colony
Bowenpally P.O.
Secunderabad 500 011 - India
e mail: algolog@hd1.email (Note: h-d-one after the @ symbol)
URL: members.tripod.com/~algolog
------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
From: S.B.Mehta <>
Subject: Re: Sarosh's Black & White pics webpage
Date: 14 Sep 1999 21:14:06 -0500
Hi, Shankar,
I am blushing like a bride! Anyway, thanks for apprecaiting the b/w
pics. No, that's not me with the camera in hand. Thats our own Viraf!
(As we bawas say 'Aapro Viraf') That was one trip to remember!
Unfortunately, I cannot find anybody to develop b/w negatives! I feel
even b/w rolls may not be available. What a shame!
Sarosh.
From: Shanku Niyogi <>
Subject: IR Clipart
Date: 14 Sep 1999 21:22:14 -0500
Folks,
Inspired by the recently mentioned SBB screensaver, I've been fiddling
with
creating some clipart for IR trains, so that I can write a similar
screensaver. So far, all I have are a couple of passenger coaches, and
some
varieties of WDM2. If you want to check out, the images are at
<A HREF="http://www.irfca.org/test/clipart.html">http://www.irfca.org/test/clipart.html</A>
There will be more images here in the near future.
Shanku
From: raymond/Polaris <>
Subject: Re: train numbers -- Konkan railway
Date: 14 Sep 1999 21:47:21 -0500
Shankar,
I think CR is the only region to use 4 digit numbers for all its trains,
irrespective of their status - mail / express / passenger.
Regards
Raymond