I was looking forward to my first AC First trip in many years. Add to that it would
be my first such trip on the metre gauge, on a route that will soon be closed for gauge conversion. My companion
for the trip, Mohan Bhuyan (IRFCA) and I made our way from his house to Delhi's Sarai Rohilla station, well in
time for the 1410 hrs scheduled departure.
The train was already at the platform. At the head was maroon liveried YDM4 #6629 homed at NWR's Phulera shed.
This was followed by an SL, 3x GS coaches, one FC, one 2A, one 1A 2A composite, seven SL, another GS and finally
an SLR.
We had initially tried to get reservation on First Class, but were unable to, since the FC was not entered into
the computerized reservation system. We found out later the reason for it; the train's route had recently been
changed. It now runs directly from Rewari to Phulera via Ringus Jn (while it earlier used to run via Jaipur), and
they had not made the necessary changes on the computerized reservation system. As a result, reservations for the
FC coach were made by the TTE at the station itself.
The 1A 2A composite coach comprised of two coupes of 2 berths each for 1A, and 4 cabins of 4 berths each and a
coupe of 2 berths for the 2A section. The corridor had a separating door, which was at times kept locked. There
was a solitary bathroom in the 1A section, which had a western style toilet. There was a hand shower too. The coach
was particularly not well maintained. The paint job was off in places, and the bathroom not very clean. The coach
attendant informed us the 1A was rarely booked, and mostly was used by the TTEs as their accommodation. The 1A
cabin had a small washbasin with a hinged top that would make it into a small corner table. There were the mandatory
fans and fluorescent lights, along with regular incandescent lights too. There was a bell to call the attendant,
and a 2-pin power point that I charged my cell phone with. A small closet (with coat hangers) also housed the ladder
that was to be used to climb up to the upper berth. The berths/seats were very comfortable, and of brown leatherite
upholstery.
The train started out well in time. It made its leisurely way towards Rewari and beyond, losing precious time due
to crossings. The broad gauge line was right by us till Rewari. Mohan had arranged some delicious tandoori chicken
and sheek kababs and we had that for lunch with parathas. We relaxed and chatted, checking out the stations on
the way. We were definitely not doing more than 70 on most stretches. The train was pretty crowded and there were
people atop the roof on our coach too (first time I saw that on an AC coach).
Soon it was dark. We had by then made friends with the TTE and the coach attendant. The TTE was a burly and aging
man…. Rather loud and he had, upon seeing our enthusiasm, instructed the attendant that we be allowed to open the
coach door and enjoy ourselves whenever we wished. By then a small drama was playing out. A TTE from one of the
sleeper coaches had told his friend to park himself in the AC coach without taking our TTE's permission and that
really got him going. Our TTE spent many hours hurling the choicest Hindi abuses on the sleeper class TTE, and
in spite of the other TTE's pathetic apologies, we saw him call the RPF at Ajmer when we reached there and the
train staff changed. The coach attendant told us the other TTE deserved this since he had once threatened the attendant
with dire consequences for not providing him with a bedroll!!!. Mohan opened his bottle of Johnny Walker, and we
enjoyed a couple of drinks each, with the dinner. And our TTE was a merry man. He had very obviously consumed a
few pegs (which acted like a catalyst to his abuse), and one accidental mention 'Johnny Walker' almost had him
join us, till Mohan managed to convince him we were joking.
We made good time till Ajmer. Just before reaching, we had a long drawn race with the broad gauge Ashram express,
which lasted about 22 kilometres. Our driver was keen in spirit and it showed. Unfortunately a red signal at Madar
(the station immediately before Ajmer) allowed the Ashram to surge on ahead and reach Ajmer well before us.
We fell asleep after Ajmer, after having instructed the attendant to wake us up when we reached Chittorgarh early
in the morning, which he did. The train reverses here, ensuring it's a long stop. It was cool on the platform outside,
but dirty and fly infested. The broad gauge line from Kota ends here. Work is on to convert the Chittaurgarh -
Udaipur stretch into broad gauge, and in all probability the line will close in November. All along the way from
Chittaurgarh to Udaipur, we saw the alignment of the new BG track, which at times veered off from our route to
maintain BG standards. The route was mostly flat at first and then we started climbing. We reached Mavli Jn, from
where one line goes to Marwar Jn and a branch line goes to Bari Sadri. The terrain started getting hilly, and we
crossed the town of Debari, with its ancient arch gate over the tracks, where John Lacey had taken a wonderful
photograph of a MG steam loco some years back. Now unfortunately there is only diesel. Passed through embankments
and cuttings with the mountains around us, and soon we were at Ranapratapnagar, which used to be the old station
for Udaipur, till Udaipur City station was constructed. As a result, many of the railway offices are still situated
at Ranapratapnagar.
The arrival time at Udaipur has been rescheduled now to 0905, from the earlier 1000 hrs, because the train now
takes the shorter route bypassing Jaipur, but on that day, it seemed the train was kind of steeped in nostalgia,
and managed to make it to Udaipur only at 10… perhaps knowing its days on this route would soon be history. |
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The Chetak Express rides out into the sunset.
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Crowds thronging the roof the AC coach.
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The YDM4 # 6629 pauses with the Chetak Express at a wayside halt.
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A view of a wayside station.
Note the low platforms on MG lines
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The Chetak Express, waiting to depart from
Delhi's Sarai Rohilla Station
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Cabin interior showing the berths and the large window.
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Cabin interior showing the lampshade and the closet.
Also note the provision of a wall power socket.
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One corner had this low washbain, with a flip on lid
that would make it double up as a table.
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View of the bathroom, showing the washbasin.
Note the hand -shower dangling on the right.
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The commode also featured a bidet :)
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Mr Meena, our coach attendant who was responsible for
making our journey comfortable
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