IRFCA Mailing List Archive
Messages 1941 - 1960
From: Kartik Subramanian <ksubrama@eecs.email
Subject: Re: Train in Indian Movies
Date: 24 Nov 1997 23:40:00 -0500
On Mon, 24 Nov 1997, Sundar Krishnamurthy wrote:
> In Pardes, Shah Rukh Khan meets Ritu Chaudhari (Mahima?) as she flees
> from Las Vegas, from her lecherous fiance, on an American suburban
> station. (Anybody knows the city?) It's a double decker auto-door
> push-pull commuter train that she alights from, and gets propositioned
> by a few anti-social elements. There's an illogical aspect to this
> movie, that the characters keep fluctuating between India and the US,
> like its Dadar and Kurla!
Actually, this station is the Waterfront Station at Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada. The train is the "West Coast Express" a regular commuter
service that runs between Waterfront and Mission everyday. The service
operates five-four shuttles from Mission to Waterfront Stn, ( which is in
downtown vancouver ) in the morning and runs in the opposite direction in
the evenings.
It is only a 'one-way' service for a given time period of the
day.Interesting !
I was quite surprised to see it being masqueraded as an "American stn.' in
'Pardes'.
-----------
Kartik Subramanian,
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <sncf@godrejnet.email
Subject: WCM6
Date: 25 Nov 1997 22:59:00 -0500
What Sundar Krishnamurthy saw on tuesday night at Ghatkopar station is one
and only WCM6 built for the DC traction by CLW.
Since the WCM fleet was getting older it was planned that a new series
of WCM should be built.This was long before the decision to introduce
WCAM2 on C.R. was taken.
The WCM6 is built on a WCG shell and on test runs has proved to be a
failure.So now it works short freight trains between Kurla and Trombay.But
last week whilst footplating on the Pragati Express I saw the WCM6 near
Neral hauling a very short freight train towards Bombay.
There will be no developments on the DC Locomotives. In future the Bombay
Division of both Central & Western Railways will be converted to AC
Traction.
I too agree with Sunder that the horrible gaudy coloured livery of the
WCAM2/3 should be changed to more appealing Blue and Cream of the Deccan
Queen
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <sncf@godrejnet.email
Subject: WCM6
Date: 26 Nov 1997 00:46:00 -0500
I forgot actually there were two WCM6 made one got burnt out during trials
in Kalyan Shed so now there is just one. It's sad cause the Central
railway wanted to introduce this locomotive from 1st January on mainline
duties.
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================
From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email
Subject: Railway Books
Date: 25 Nov 1997 02:09:00 -0500
Well, I have a couple of technical Railway Engineering textbooks in my
possession.
1. Principles of Railway Engineering,
SC Rangwala & KS Rangwala; Charotar Publications
** Civil and Transportation Engineering Perspective; with a couple of
good B/W photographs ** Good Technical Reading. Meant to be a
textbook for RSC, Vadodara Engineers. Details of IR systems, surveys,
traction and administration.
2. A Textbook of Railway Engineering
Saxena & Arora, Dhanpat Rai Publications
Another technical textbook; on the similar lines of the previous
book; but older edition. No photographs.
I can't give you people more details right now as I am in Chennai right
now. I'll do so when I get back to Mumbai.
On a second-hand paper & book store at Kings Circle near Matunga;
Mumbai, a chap stocks second-hand issues of International Railway
Journal. This shop is adjacent to Cafe Madras, on Bhau Daji Road.
Regularly, you find articles on IR by Mr. R. V. Chandran, the Indian
correspondent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundar Krishnamurthy ("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._
9/66, Welfare Hse, Sion (W), `6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`)
Mumbai 400 022. INDIA (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-'
Tel : +91 +22 4071254 _.. `--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,'
coolsundar@hotmail.email (il),-'' (li),' ((!.-'
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~sundari">http://members.tripod.com/~sundari</A>
-------------------------------------------Today is the day of glory
-----------------------------------------The Code is the whole story
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From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email
Subject: Railway Literature
Date: 25 Nov 1997 02:14:00 -0500
Well, I have a couple of technical Railway Engineering textbooks in my
possession.
1. Principles of Railway Engineering,
SC Rangwala & KS Rangwala; Charotar Publications
** Civil and Transportation Engineering Perspective; with a couple of
good B/W photographs ** Good Technical Reading. Meant to be a
textbook for RSC, Vadodara Engineers. Details of IR systems, surveys,
traction and administration.
2. A Textbook of Railway Engineering
Saxena & Arora, Dhanpat Rai Publications
Another technical textbook; on the similar lines of the previous
book; but older edition. No photographs.
I can't give you people more details right now as I am in Chennai right
now. I'll do so when I get back to Mumbai.
On a second-hand paper & book store at Kings Circle near Matunga;
Mumbai, a chap stocks second-hand issues of International Railway
Journal. This shop is adjacent to Cafe Madras, on Bhau Daji Road.
Regularly, you find articles on IR developments by Mr. R. V. Chandran,
the Indian correspondent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundar Krishnamurthy ("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._
9/66, Welfare Hse, Sion (W), `6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`)
Mumbai 400 022. INDIA (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-'
Tel : +91 +22 4071254 _.. `--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,'
coolsundar@hotmail.email (il),-'' (li),' ((!.-'
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~sundari">http://members.tripod.com/~sundari</A>
-------------------------------------------Today is the day of glory
-----------------------------------------The Code is the whole story
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From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email
Subject: Mumbai-Chennai Journey
Date: 25 Nov 1997 19:36:00 -0500
Hello,
Sorry for not following up quickly on the list. I am now in Chennai
after an enjoyable IInd AC Journey from Mumbai last week, aboard the
Chennai Mail. I was supposed to make it by Chennai Exp, but work got the
better of me.
The Mail is a nice train - in that; you can finish a whole day's
work; board it from Mumbai at 11:20 pm, spend two nights and an
intervening day in the train; and reach "nalla" Chennai Central at 5:00
am. You miss just one day in the middle. Even if the train arrives late,
you don't notice as it is early morning!
The journey was uneventful; but I made a few little interesting
observations - the train takes 30 hours for a 1280 km journey. That
gives it a schedule speed of less than 43 kmph!! Invariably, the train
ends up moving very slow between stations in the day; as going fast
would make it arrive early at the next station. The train travelled with
clockwork precision according to the Bradshaw that I had, and numerous
crossing delays were compensated by short bursts of fast running that
brought it back on time. I doubt whether this train can actually get
late!!
Deliberately, the time table of the train has been framed such that, it
should leave and arrive at an opportune time in both cities. I suspect
that in the midnight, the train is halted for some time at wayside
stations, to compensate for the time gained by travelling a little
fast!!
The locos were changed thrice - once at Pune where an ugly WCAM2 gave
way to a orange/blue Gooty WDM2, the next at Gooty, where a similar WDM2
replaced it and finally; at Renigunta where a CR Itarsi WAM4P took
control. I'm trying to study the nomenclature of numbering locomotives -
the 1xxxx series is for Diesel WDM2s, 200xx's are for WCx classes
(WCM/WCG) and the 220xx is for WAP's, I guess.
In Wadi, semaphore signalling (using the extended arm) is still used!!
In Guntakal, you can still spot a decrepit meter gauge tender behind a
crane, across the station. At Guntakal, I saw a different Erode WDM2;
that I have observed for a long time - but had no opportunity to discuss
it! You find such diesels from Krishnarajapuram and Kazipet too. The
short end doesn't look like an Alco (or like the other end); but has
twin windows in front of the locomotive!! It looks somewhat similar to
the Yellow WDS6R locomotives from Kalyan/Pune that shunt empty express
trains from yards to the platforms at CST or marshall long freight
trains at the Kalyan Yard. This engine had a WDM2 (?) written in front
of it; and the window end was upfront, heading a freight train, waiting
for the signal. Can somebody throw light on this locomotive? My camera
was out-of-order and it is in shape now after a Chennai chap looked it
up.
On the Curios fruits stall on platform #1 at Guntakal, just before the
foot overbridge, the proprietor Mr. G. N. Venkatakrishnan(?) displays a
large collection of foreign and antique currency. His collection of
coins is impressive and it is proudly displayed in the shop. I found a
lot of American and European tourists on Manthralayam Rd and Guntakal.
Interesting sights on the journey are - the Bhima river bridges at
Bhigvan between Daund and Kurduvadi (super-clear water), the Raichur
Thermal Power Station (very impressive & massive - 3 smoke stacks) after
crossing the Krishna River before Raichur; the Tungabhadra bridge at
Manthralayam and the meter gauge YDM4 locomotives at Guntakal.
Incidentally, the blown out smoke-stacks at Basin Bridge Jn. just before
Chennai have been cleared.
More about Chennai trains in a later posting. I am finding hard to
squeeze time for trainspotting.
Sundar Krishnamurthy
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundar Krishnamurthy ("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._
9/66, Welfare Hse, Sion (W), `6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`)
Mumbai 400 022. INDIA (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-'
Tel : +91 +22 4071254 _.. `--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,'
coolsundar@hotmail.email (il),-'' (li),' ((!.-'
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~sundari">http://members.tripod.com/~sundari</A>
-------------------------------------------Today is the day of glory
-----------------------------------------The Code is the whole story
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: sank <sank@telco.email
Subject: Re: Mumbai-Chennai Journey
Date: 26 Nov 1997 21:26:00 -0500
> Sundar Krishnamurthy wrote:
> .......................................At Guntakal, I saw a different
> Erode WDM2;
> that I have observed for a long time - but had no opportunity to discuss
> it! You find such diesels from Krishnarajapuram and Kazipet too. The
> short end doesn't look like an Alco (or like the other end); but has
> twin windows in front of the locomotive!! It looks somewhat similar to
> the Yellow WDS6R locomotives from Kalyan/Pune that shunt empty express
> trains from yards to the platforms at CST or marshall long freight
> trains at the Kalyan Yard. This engine had a WDM2 (?) written in front
> of it; and the window end was upfront, heading a freight train, waiting
> for the signal. Can somebody throw light on this locomotive?
I have seen a few similar locomotives on the ER and the NFR. I think
there was a batch of WDM2s made at Varanasi several years ago which
had the traditional Alco high-nose short hood modified as you have
described:
looking very vaugely like the wide-cabbed MLWs that have run on Canadian
National. From something I remember reading in an old issue of the
DLW Journal
(Sadly, I have lost the copy long back), these were made to improve
visibilty
and reduce air-resistance. I do not remember how the variant was
classified, but
there must be quite a few all over India. Unlike the WDS6, though, the
short hood
is full-width across the frame, with no catwalks alongside. I climbed
into one of the cabs at New Jalpaiguri Station long back, and found that
the view out
of the huge full-width windshield is spectacular compard to the standard
locos ! Does anyone have any further info on these ?
I also remember seeing a picture at an IR exhibition in Pune which showed a
WDM2 that was being modified by the RDSO to reduce air resistance at
high speeds: it had a strange-looking cladding mounted. Any information,
anybody ?
--
Jayant S*ID Studio*TTIL*TELCO
Pimpri*Pune 411 018*INDIA*tel:91-212-774261 exn 2534
Email me at "sank@telco.email. Do NOT use your "reply" button !
From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email
Subject: WCAM2/3 Colour scheme
Date: 27 Nov 1997 03:42:00 -0500
This is the expression of an opinion.
The colour scheme on the WCAM2/3 's is perfect just as it is. They are the
smartest electric loco's on the lines, and the colour scheme contributes
to this.
You have to keep in mind the fact that these are not dedicated locos and
they also have other trains to haul. A white, blue and red WCAM2/3 would
look bloody ridiculous pulling an oil tanker rake out of wadibunder. Or
should they paint the tankers the same colour ? The railways / BHEL /
Chittaranjan / RDSO do put some thought into all of this. ( though some of
the earlier schemes on the WCAM1's and the present one leave a lot to be
desired ).
Cheerio,
Siddhartha.
*************************************************************************
From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email
Subject: Re: WCAM2/3 Colour scheme
Date: 26 Nov 1997 03:28:00 -0500
Hello Siddharta
Your opinion is indeed most welcome. I was looking forward to at least
one letter defending the BHEL juggernauts. I agree that it seems most
preposterous to have all locomotives painted in the Deccan Queen scheme.
But, CR can follow the WCM5/1 example. All CLW-built WCM5's and EE-built
WCM2's are yellow and blue by default. For hauling Deccan Queens, in
1989/90 (I'm not sure), CR unveiled a new color scheme for DQ, with a
cream coach, gray window-pane and a red(?) strip in the bottom. You can
observe this scheme in the "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" unity song played out
frequently as fillers on DD. (Incidentally, the place featured is
Kamshet station, the second stop after Lonavla on the Pune route).
CR introduced strikingly smart WCM1s for hauling DQs. They were painted
in the same livery as the train; and watching this train zoom through
the ghats in the rains aroused your passions. But when WCM1s started
getting some problems, WCM5's were summoned in new Deccan Queen Uniform
(Cream/Blue with a red stripe) and were pressed into service. The
romance is now lost for CR, as not only an unmatching WCAM3 locomotive
hauls it, but one AC Chair Car in the train is maroon! That really
spoils the whole show!!!
Even the WCM5 (20092??? - Not the one called "Lokmanya"??) that used to
care for Pune Shatabdi was given a matching wholly pale yellow front
with a narrow navy blue margin at the bottom, same as the train. Now you
can see the same loco brooding outside the CST Loco Depot, angry at
WCAM3's for finding favours with Deccan Queen, Shatabdi etc.
Now, all WCMs sport a red line partitioning the two colors; and WCGs
have the old WCM color scheme; their navy blue formality is gone!!
WCM1's don't have the doors adjacent to both - front and end windows; as
was the case with other WCMs. One door is a little shifted from the
middle; close to the doorless window.
WCMs look much better than any WAP or WDM locomotive; and I _dread_ to
see powerful WAP6's replacing these warhorses, rushing along pitiable CR
tracks; when the 25KV AC traction finally meanders its way into Mumbai.
Please don't ignore or condemn WCM's - they deserve a much better state
that what they're in right now!! I feel religiously passionate about
them.
Sundar Krishnamurthy
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundar Krishnamurthy ("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._
9/66, Welfare Hse, Sion (W), `6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`)
Mumbai 400 022. INDIA (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-'
Tel : +91 +22 4071254 _.. `--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,'
coolsundar@hotmail.email (il),-'' (li),' ((!.-'
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~sundari">http://members.tripod.com/~sundari</A>
-------------------------------------------Today is the day of glory
-----------------------------------------The Code is the whole story
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
From: Rangachari Anand <ranand@us.email
Subject: Re: Mumbai-Chennai Journey
Date: 26 Nov 1997 09:06:00 -0500
Thanks for nice posting. My first memory of the Madras Bombay Mail
(as it was called in those days) was in May 1970. It was of course hauled by
a WP in those days. Madras Central was a very exciting station as all
the suburban traffic was hauled by 4-6-2 tank engines. I recall that the timings
for the mail were almost exactly the same. In fact, I once saw a 1935 time table
which had much the same timings for the Mail (used to be 9DN/10UP).
We had just returned from the US in 1970 and the last train that we had taken
in the US
was the original Penn Central Metro Liner (the EMU version) from Washington .
As you can imagine, it
was quite a change to go from 125 mph to a steam hauled train. I do recall
enjoying
the Mail trip a lot more! Nothing like sticking your head out of the window and
getting a coal
particle in your eye.
R. Anand
From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email
Subject: Re: WCAM2/3 Colour scheme
Date: 26 Nov 1997 10:17:00 -0500
Kamshet station on CR has the Mumbai-Pune highway meeting it just before
the station. There is a small hillock below the road; and a clear water
stream (now dirty) skirts it on the eastern side. The view that you get
from the hillock is amazing. This is probably the place from where you
people shot the sequence. (When was this exactly???)
Malavli is the station between Lonavla and Kamshet. Its famous for many
stud horse farms owned by industrialists in Mumbai and Pune. There is a
perennial wet fog all over the place anytime in the morning. It is now
teeming with farmhouses and holiday homes.
Incidentally, I vaguely recollect Chitchor - the Amol Palekar musical
movie that shows him alighting at Malavli station and imperonating some
engineer (Vijayendra Ghatge?) in Zarina Wahab's life.
I just want to confirm whether any IR official frequents this mailing
list. If there is NOBODY, then maybe I can tell you people some of the
adventures we've had.
Sundar Krishnamurthy
>From bharat@giasbma.email Wed Nov 26 12:01:05 1997
>Received: from giasbmb by giasbmc.vsnl.net.in (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4)
> id BAA14770; Thu, 27 Nov 1997 01:27:02 -0500
>Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 01:30:55 -0500 (GMT)
>From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email
>X-Sender: bharat@giasbmb
>To: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email
>cc: siddha@phy.email irfca@cs.email
>Subject: Re: WCAM2/3 Colour scheme
>In-Reply-To: <19971126132847.17887.qmail@hotmail.email
>Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.93.971127012716.26147G-100000@giasbmb>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
>
>Sundar,
>you talked about the MILE SUR MREA TUMHARA on DD, well its a really big
>coincidence,,,,my uncle was the creative man behind the film, by the
name
>of Suresh Mullick...and it so happens that I had gone with him to shoot
>that sequence...which sports DQ in its old livery!!
>Being a rail buff, mus have been in my early teens by then, I was given
>the honour of choosing the location...and we set up the unit early in
the
>morning to catch the DQ , as oyou said corrctly pass Kamshet station!!!
>Quite a coincidence.....
>regards,
>Bharat Vohra
>
>
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From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <sncf@godrejnet.email
Subject:
Date: 27 Nov 1997 16:53:00 -0500
Hi guys,
Kamshet happens to be my favourite location too on the Bombay-Pune line.I
lovingly call it the Rhine river route 'cause it reminds me of my journey
on that route, where the road rail & river run beautifully together.
After passing Malvali towards Pune there is this huge farm house on your
left. In it's driveway is a vintage railway coach parked in a shed like
structure. Can anyone tell me what is that or to who the farmhouse belongs.
My driver friends tells me that it happens to be Dimple Kapadia's
farmhouse but are not sure.
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <sncf@godrejnet.email
Subject: Konkan Railway
Date: 27 Nov 1997 17:09:00 -0500
The Konkan Railway Time table happens to be as follows:
KR3 Dadar - Ratnagiri Passenger:
Dept. Dadar:15.30 Ar. Ratnagiri:22.55
KR4 Ratnagiri - Dadar Passenger:
Dept. Ratnagiri:6.20 Ar.Dadar:14.20
KR0111 Kurla _ Sawantwadi Express
Dept. Kurla:23.10 Ar.Sawantwadi:9.05
KR0112 Sawantwadi - Kurla Express
Dept.Sawantwadi:18.55 Ar.Kurla:5.00
KR1 Madgaon - Mangalore Passenger
Dept.Madgaon:14.15 Ar.Mangalore:21.00
KR2 Mangalore - Madgaon Passenger
Dept.Mangalore:7.10 Ar.Madgaon:13.45
KR0021 Madgaon - Mangalore Express
Dept.Madgaon:8.30 Ar.Mangalore:14.10
KR0022 Mangalore - Madgaon Express
Dept.Mangalore:14.45 Ar.Madgaon:20.35
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================
From: Peter Mosse <pjcm@worldnet.email
Subject: Re: WCAM2/3 Colour scheme
Date: 26 Nov 1997 20:32:00 -0500
>
> I just want to confirm whether any IR official frequents this mailing
> list. If there is NOBODY, then maybe I can tell you people some of the
> adventures we've had.
>
> Sundar Krishnamurthy
>
========
Go ahead and tell us anyway !!!
Peter Mosse
From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email
Subject: Re: Mumbai-Chennai Journey
Date: 27 Nov 1997 00:22:00 -0500
Sundar,
The loco you saw at Guntakal is very much a WDM2 except as you said it has
a nose similar to that of the WDS6's!
Well about 10 odd years ago, the incahrge of the Diesel Locomotive Works,
Varanasi, experimented with an aerodynamic design for WDM2's ,trying the
short nose version....these were experiments and about 40 odd survive
today out of the total allocation of WDM2's on IR...mostly sheddedat ER,
CR, NR and th like....none on WR...not so sure aboutSR and SCR!!
The experiment was however a failure and they didnt prove to be to much
more aerodynamic!!
Bharat Vohra
On Tue, 25 Nov 1997, Sundar Krishnamurthy wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Sorry for not following up quickly on the list. I am now in Chennai
> after an enjoyable IInd AC Journey from Mumbai last week, aboard the
> Chennai Mail. I was supposed to make it by Chennai Exp, but work got the
> better of me.
>
> The Mail is a nice train - in that; you can finish a whole day's
> work; board it from Mumbai at 11:20 pm, spend two nights and an
> intervening day in the train; and reach "nalla" Chennai Central at 5:00
> am. You miss just one day in the middle. Even if the train arrives late,
> you don't notice as it is early morning!
>
> The journey was uneventful; but I made a few little interesting
> observations - the train takes 30 hours for a 1280 km journey. That
> gives it a schedule speed of less than 43 kmph!! Invariably, the train
> ends up moving very slow between stations in the day; as going fast
> would make it arrive early at the next station. The train travelled with
> clockwork precision according to the Bradshaw that I had, and numerous
> crossing delays were compensated by short bursts of fast running that
> brought it back on time. I doubt whether this train can actually get
> late!!
>
> Deliberately, the time table of the train has been framed such that, it
> should leave and arrive at an opportune time in both cities. I suspect
> that in the midnight, the train is halted for some time at wayside
> stations, to compensate for the time gained by travelling a little
> fast!!
>
> The locos were changed thrice - once at Pune where an ugly WCAM2 gave
> way to a orange/blue Gooty WDM2, the next at Gooty, where a similar WDM2
> replaced it and finally; at Renigunta where a CR Itarsi WAM4P took
> control. I'm trying to study the nomenclature of numbering locomotives -
> the 1xxxx series is for Diesel WDM2s, 200xx's are for WCx classes
> (WCM/WCG) and the 220xx is for WAP's, I guess.
>
> In Wadi, semaphore signalling (using the extended arm) is still used!!
> In Guntakal, you can still spot a decrepit meter gauge tender behind a
> crane, across the station. At Guntakal, I saw a different Erode WDM2;
> that I have observed for a long time - but had no opportunity to discuss
> it! You find such diesels from Krishnarajapuram and Kazipet too. The
> short end doesn't look like an Alco (or like the other end); but has
> twin windows in front of the locomotive!! It looks somewhat similar to
> the Yellow WDS6R locomotives from Kalyan/Pune that shunt empty express
> trains from yards to the platforms at CST or marshall long freight
> trains at the Kalyan Yard. This engine had a WDM2 (?) written in front
> of it; and the window end was upfront, heading a freight train, waiting
> for the signal. Can somebody throw light on this locomotive? My camera
> was out-of-order and it is in shape now after a Chennai chap looked it
> up.
>
> On the Curios fruits stall on platform #1 at Guntakal, just before the
> foot overbridge, the proprietor Mr. G. N. Venkatakrishnan(?) displays a
> large collection of foreign and antique currency. His collection of
> coins is impressive and it is proudly displayed in the shop. I found a
> lot of American and European tourists on Manthralayam Rd and Guntakal.
>
> Interesting sights on the journey are - the Bhima river bridges at
> Bhigvan between Daund and Kurduvadi (super-clear water), the Raichur
> Thermal Power Station (very impressive & massive - 3 smoke stacks) after
> crossing the Krishna River before Raichur; the Tungabhadra bridge at
> Manthralayam and the meter gauge YDM4 locomotives at Guntakal.
>
> Incidentally, the blown out smoke-stacks at Basin Bridge Jn. just before
> Chennai have been cleared.
>
> More about Chennai trains in a later posting. I am finding hard to
> squeeze time for trainspotting.
>
> Sundar Krishnamurthy
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sundar Krishnamurthy ("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._
> 9/66, Welfare Hse, Sion (W), `6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`)
> Mumbai 400 022. INDIA (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-'
> Tel : +91 +22 4071254 _.. `--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,'
> coolsundar@hotmail.email (il),-'' (li),' ((!.-'
> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~sundari">http://members.tripod.com/~sundari</A>
> -------------------------------------------Today is the day of glory
> -----------------------------------------The Code is the whole story
>
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>
From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email
Subject: Re: WCAM2/3 Colour scheme/ ATTN Sundar K.
Date: 27 Nov 1997 21:29:00 -0500
Hi Sunder,
You are right about the Deccan beauties. The are going to be
sorely missed by all of us. Why does IR not have any aesthetic sense, or
if that is asking for too much, a sense of history ? The dog-nosed locos
with their ( remarkably quiet ) motors and compressors do not deserve such
a fate.
Maybe someone at RDSO will come to the rescue and design an
AC/dual traction loco which retains the characteristic features. Besides,
the guys who decide colour schemes are probably colour-blind, or
occasionally so.
If you recall, some of the suburban rakes on CR were given a
change of clothes, and someone put the undies on outside the
trousers. Some of them are still the same. (I believe that BHEL had
painted them that colour).
I am heading for Cal. this winter and plan to go with a loaded
camera.
Also on the cards is an eeearly morning trip a few stations beyond
Virar to catch the Rajdhani doing 115 km/h !! More details when available.
Ciao all,
Siddhartha.
******************************************************************************
From: BHARAT VOHRA <bharat@giasbma.email
Subject: Re: WCAM2/3 Colour scheme
Date: 27 Nov 1997 00:30:00 -0500
Sundar,
you talked about the MILE SUR MREA TUMHARA on DD, well its a really big
coincidence,,,,my uncle was the creative man behind the film, by the name
of Suresh Mullick...and it so happens that I had gone with him to shoot
that sequence...which sports DQ in its old livery!!
Being a rail buff, mus have been in my early teens by then, I was given
the honour of choosing the location...and we set up the unit early in the
morning to catch the DQ , as oyou said corrctly pass Kamshet station!!!
Quite a coincidence.....
regards,
Bharat Vohra
From: Siddhartha Joshi <siddha@phy.email
Subject: Whither Steam ??
Date: 27 Nov 1997 22:04:00 -0500
Junta,
If any of you has an authoritative list of the last of steam in
the country, please mail it over.
Siddhartha.
**************************************************************************
From: VIRAF P.. MULLA <sncf@godrejnet.email
Subject:
Date: 27 Nov 1997 22:23:00 -0500
Hi Siddhartha,
I have got a flat at Palghar and it faces the railway line. Whenever I am
there the first thing I do in the morning( at times even before my morning
cuppa) is to stand by the line to watch the Rajdhani Whizz by.This is a
routine religiously followed even by my kids.Believe me it's a grand
sight.
Don't you feel we should start some sort of a signing campaign for
changing the livery of the C.Rly Locomotives and Roling Stock.
Bye.
==========================
Viraf Mulla
C-20/14, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Borivali (West)
Mumbai 400103
Tel: +91-22-8954510
E-mail: sncf@godrejnet.email
==========================
From: Sundar Krishnamurthy <coolsundar@hotmail.email
Subject: Fascination for coupling ???
Date: 27 Nov 1997 01:30:00 -0500
Junta, (IIT term this - Siddharta would know!!!)
Ever wondered why the surprisingly indifferent Indian travelling Junta,
with absolutely minimal interest in trains; crowd around the first coach
at stations; whenever a locomotive is coupled to it?? Very
interestingly, they observe the gangman/whatever hook the vacuum brakes
and fasten the coupling. All railfanning for such people start and end
there. Why?????
Sundar Krishnamurthy
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundar Krishnamurthy ("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._
9/66, Welfare Hse, Sion (W), `6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`)
Mumbai 400 022. INDIA (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-'
Tel : +91 +22 4071254 _.. `--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,'
coolsundar@hotmail.email (il),-'' (li),' ((!.-'
<A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/~sundari">http://members.tripod.com/~sundari</A>
-------------------------------------------Today is the day of glory
-----------------------------------------The Code is the whole story
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>