the WiFi pretty smooth and fast, and it was surely a welcome move for the station. Immediately posted a tip on IRI about the new amenity being offered by the railway administration [
/blog/post/1788552 ] and also alerted a few RF groups on WhatsApp :P
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Having contented with this new amenity, the next on agenda was the customary railfanning around the station. Being a Sunday, the crowd was relatively less but still pretty decent. Her Royal Highness Deccan Queen dressed up in Maharashtra Tourism livery was on PF-1, minutes away from its departure, the loco in charge was 21894 WCAM-3. It was really a pleasing sight to the eyes to see DQ with WCAM-3 after a long time as nowadays it gets WCAM-2P 9 out of 10 times. On PF-2 was PUNE - KOP Passenger, having rest. On PF-3, 12130 Azad Hind arrived behind a PUNE WDP-4D at 07.00 and Sahyadri too followed suit having arrived around 07.05 on PF-5. At bang 07.15, DQ moved out, hence DQ overtook Sahyadri and PUNE itself, rather than SVJR which is a daily ritual. The announcement for my train was made at around 07.25, having allotted PF-5 after Sahyadri had departed after its loco change. A KYN Alco soon pulled in with COA-LTT Express on PF-4. The sleepy platform soon sprang to action and could be seen buzzing with activity, the passengers of COA-LTT getting down to enjoy hot and fresh breakfast at the station, mainly Idli Sambar and Wada-Pav. A shunter soon appeared on the horizon faraway and the rake of Pragati Exp was shunted onto the platform. PF-6 is closed currently since it is undergoing a massive overhaul. The once most neglected narrow platform of the yesteryears is now getting VIP treatment, with extension in length and possible width, increase in height, fixing of tiles / pavement blocks, installation of coach position indicators, numerous benches, chairs, drinking water outlets, washrooms and even a small garden at DD end!!
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My coach C1 was CR 14152, a 2014 made coach consisting of a different seating layout, with the seats in one half of the coach facing the seats in the other half similar to the LHB Shatabdi AC CC. A cursory glance inside the coach left me pleased. The coach was spick and span, the square windows with rounded edges were larger and let in more light. The washrooms were tidy with liquid soap and other knickknacks properly in place. The coach had charging points in each bay. Incredible India posters were humbly playing the role of ambassadors to give a boost to tourism. The coach soon filled-up, but the occupancy was not 100%. Mine was seat no 15, a window seat on the 3 seat side. The entire row beside me (5 seats) were booked by a family who was supposed to board from LNL. Till the time, TTE occupied 1 seat.
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At sharp 07.50, we rolled out. A couple of WCAM-2Ps and a red hot 22563 BRC WAP-4E were sunbathing outside trip shed. We gradually picked up speed and skipped SVJR at around 80 kmph and then were on cruise mode. The TTEs made their round to check the tickets. We then crossed 12940 JP-PUNE Express with BRC WAP-4 at its helm and a couple of PUNE bound EMUs in between. In the meanwhile, the catering guys (CR departmental catering service) arrived and took orders from passengers, the choices being Veg Cutlet, Omelette and Cheese Toast. I ordered for an omelette. The breakfast was served in about 20 mins and was palatable. We kept on crusing past stations at MPS and helped by the minimal slowdowns enroute, arrived on PF-2 at LNL at 08.43.
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A triplet of WCAM-3s were seen here, resting after banking duty. The somewhat empty coach was now at its full capacity. A quick halt of 3 mins and we were underway again, slowly and steadily for another technical halt at KAD, for brake testing. Soon we departed in 2 mins and began descending the Bor Ghats. Had a touch and go halt at Monkey Hill. The monkeys on the tracks were having a feast, with passengers offering them biscuits, fruits, nuts, bananas and what not!! With summers setting in, the Ghats were not so pleasing to the eyes, with hues of brown everywhere. Nevertheless, travelling through the Ghats is always a fun-filled experience, with numerous tunnels, curves and rhythmic track sounds. The descent was completed in about 45 mins. At KJT outer, we met a PUNE bound BCNA with twin WDG-4, 20187 WCM-6 and numerous WAG-7 bankers. We were put on PF-4 at KJT at 09.30 am.
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A couple of passengers from my coach got down here. KJT is famous for Diwadkar Wada Pav and the tempting smell was wafting all over the coach!! We departed at 09.32 and took the line to PNVL which branches off towards the left while the mainline to KYN went straight. Being a single electrified line, there was hardly any traffic apart from the daily crossing with 11025 BSL-PUNE Express at Mohape. The single line then multiplied itself into 5-6 lines, converging from different directions, viz. KJT, ROHA, JNPT, etc. We were put on PF-6 at 10.02. Many passengers alighted here. DR-SWV Special was on adjacent platform. It departed soon after our arrival, having a JS rake having DQ liveried AC CC led by 11362 KYN WDM-3D. 71089 DIVA-ROHA DMU too arrived when we pulled out at 10.04.
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Onto the final leg of the journey, the train hit MPS in no time. The geography started changing along and the open areas made way for concrete tenements, which meant TNA was near. As we were put on the mainline at DIVA sighted many EMUs, both crossing and parallel. The run through the iconic Parsik tunnel was fantastic. At 10.37, we were allotted PF-6 at TNA, thus culminating a wonderful journey!! :)
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Thanks for reading!! :)