Himalaya Through IR

On a Tuesday Early Morning ie January 21st boarded MYS MAS SuperFast 12610, my coach was D1 5th coach from loco... Train departed on time 4.45am from PF3 and stopped near MNGT as freight was entering to MNGT with WDG4 twins it was dark to read loco shed or numbers ...as freight entered my train got clearance for to proceed... This is my first time in New type LHB 2S in 12610 ... frankly speaking sitting arrangement is very congested ... spotted YNK MYS Memu Special somewhere...
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between Srirangpatna and pandavpura, after that Ajmer Mysore crossed with some UBL EMD link, followed by Kaveri express.. and at Maddur surprisingly single LHF WDG4 with BCNA rake crossed, between Chanpatna Ramnagaram side KJM WDM3a twins with Bobyn rake crossed.. Around 7.40am 12610 reached SBC and I got down to see which is the loco link for my train.. link was RPM WAP7 30577, from SBC train got crowded even Unreserved pax came and standing in D1 coach .. and my seat was in non track side window .. since MYS to SBC Train was empty I was sitting in track side window seat but from SBC Reserved pax came.. by time I sat in my non side track window seat, since non side track window seat couldn't observed much about crossing trains and its links , still clicked some photos of TNP WDM3a , WAG7 twins plus KJM WDG3a.. Reached MAS around 2.30pm .. went to Retiring room took some rest .. evening visited Ramakrishna Ashrama mylapore and returned
Next day 22nd January got ready by 4.35am and reached PF1 by 4.45am.. Yes it is again Andaman express, my coach was S3 ..kept my luggage and went to see link for my train ... and luckily loco link was RPM WAP7 30333 (Fancy numbered) also I got track side window, 5,15am train departed from MAS , after basin bridge .. RPM WAP7 showed its true power .. at Gudur Jn spotted AJJ WAP4 with it's RSA Partner LJN MAS Gomtisagar express and later spotted TNP WDM3a lite loco at Gudur.. and after somewhere Nellore spotted HWH YPR Duronto with its customary link SRC WAP4.. and later spotted/captured many freights with WAG5 WAG7 WAG9, between New Guntar and BZA spotted smoking KYN WDP4D with COA LTT bi-weekly.. and later crossed mighty Krishna river bridge and reached BZA by 2pm (40minutes early) almost 55minutes stop at BZA ... that time met Railfan Satyadev..had a great time with him... Train departed 2.55pm from BZA, spotted KYN WDG4 in LHF (Gandhi Ji photo livery) and Pune WDG3a were there... also saw BZA ELS .. and as usual spotted freights with its customary links like WAG5 twins/WAG7 twins/ WAG9... at Madhira my train took into reverse loop and in main line and loop line two freights were occupied, one freight was with KZJ WAG9 and another freight was with MGS WAG7 .. while capturing WAG9 photo ALP acknowledged and waved at me and also smiled
at Khammam ICF EMU was in loop and KZJ WAG7 with concor rake overtook the EMU... As train passed WL, Kazipet town started becoming dark.. since sky was clear and no light pollution enjoyed those stars in the skies and night time weather was pleasant ... while coming to the lunch and dinner.. you will get off board catering services and food was quite good
23rd January, around 7am some two to three train overtook somewhere before ET since it was cold.. was feeling sleepy by time .. After ET , before proceeding towards budni ghat session KZJ WDM3a twins with JP HYB SF crossed .. and Budni ghat session started as usual enjoyed the ghat session some 3 to 4 tunnels came... saw some trains passing through other line towards ET ... As usual spotted many trains with WAP7, WAP4 links and freights with its WAG7 WAG9 .. while entering JHS, spotted a WDS6AD which was looking cute in its yellow and Red stripe livery and at Chirula GZB WAP5 30007 with Gatiman overtook.. By evening 5pm like that weather turned into severe cold , so forced to shutdown the window glass.... somewhere before NZM Taj express overtook ...Well Andaman express overtook some trains (mostly diesel hauled)
24th January it was severe cold morning with clear sky woke up around 6.30am and train departing from LDH .. and link was changed from Electric to Diesel, loco change at NDLS ... somewhere after Jalandhar .. with a clear bright sky turned into heavy foggy weather, in that foggy weather JAT TPTY Humsafar crossed with WAP7 .. after sometime weather became clear.. but severe cold was still there...while train curving took photos of my link and got to know my link was 40599, in my last year Andaman EMD link was 40598...Since it was cold ... I purchased hand gloves in train... many local people were selling gloves, woolen clothes, woolen caps inside Train ...Before Pathankot saw snow covered Himalaya mountains since weather was clear was able to see it clearly from train and at same time spotted GZB WAP7 with Malwa express, photo came along with snow covered mountains... and was expecting Vande-Bharath overtake to happen but dint happened till JAT .. Reached JAT by 12.15 (40minutes early) but since prepaid not functional there couldnt track Vande-bharath... around 12.35 like that vande-bharath arrived and left around 12.40 somehow managed to take video of vande-bharath and by 1.10pm my train departed from JAT...route is scenic with tunnels. mountains and snow-covered mountains.. and passing through tawi river bridge is one of the best moment in this section .. Reached Udhampur 2.15 and reached chak rakwhal around 2.30pm.. at 2.40pm BRC WAP7 came with Jammu Mail and departed ..still my train waited there for Vande-Bharath to cross by 3.15 Vande-Bharath crossed and my train got proceed towards SVDK and by 3.40pm reached SVDK... After reaching katra..took some photos at SVDK and went to IRCTC guest house.. took rest and next day ..spent on visiting Vaishno Devi temple Visit reached IRCTC Guest house by 7pm...
26th January my train was SVDK JAM till PTKC, When I booked it was RAC 96 but my berth was in RAC only even after chart preparation but was not worried on this.. because only 3 to 4 hours journey and was sure train wont be crowded from SVDK ... as I expected train was not crowded ... Train departed 9.10am from SVDK ... after Udhampur weather turned into foggy ... at Manwal looped for crossing.. BRC WAP7 with Jammu Mail crossed and enjoyed scenic session till JAT ... by around 12.45 reached PTKC, and went to see loco and link was TKD WAP7 39034.. after that went outside station took auto reached Hotel which is near PTK... Before starting trip from MYS, I was bit worried and also was thinking alternatives.. will get to know in this "Trip Report"
27th January checked out from Hotel and proceeded to PTK, Hope you know why I came to PTK.. yes for Kangra-Valley Narrow Gauge and this is my first time ride as well .. Kept my luggage at cloak room and went to board PTK BJPL express and link was PTK ZDM4a 233.. and boarded First Class coach only two pax were reserved including me... Train departed 8.45am its schedule departure, enjoyed ZDM4a loco sounds and its honk.. since it was first time missed to capture some trains because it crossed in opposite side...Train maximum speed reach upto 40kmph.. ZDM4a pick up is good... scenic was too good.. Snow-covered mountains and Cristal clear river passing.. two to three major bridges will come.. and two tunnels will come... I thought this route goes at snow covered region side but it wont... just you will see snow mountains from far ..yet it is scenic .. Reached BJPL around 2.05pm and from there by walk I went to Baijnath mandir 2km approx from BJPL.. and after Temple visit returned in taxi .. reached BJPL by 3.50pm and by time weather turned into cloudy ...from sunny morning ..around 4pm BJPL PTK express got shunted into PF, link was PTK ZDM4a 204 and train departed 4.25pm from BJPL... since it was cloudy weather... by 5pm it became dark cloudn't take photo but took videos from my mobile ... by 10.30pm reached PTK ..45minutes delayed ... Took my luggage from cloak room and went to PTKC... reached by 11pm and was waiting in waiting hall.. my next train is Himgiri express at 12.30am ... in this part I was worried and was thinking alternatives .... Before starting my trip from MYS.. I was checking BJPL PTK express running status... shockingly it has reached 3am to PTK, and another day 12.15am and my catching train from PTKC 12.30am .. By God grace my travel day time train(BJPL PTK) dint ruined my trip ..still before my trip was worried and thinking alternatives like bus or some taxi but it dint happened like that by God grace
28th January around 12,30am Himgiri express with HWH WAP7... in this train I reserved in B1 ... to avoid severe cold and also overnight journey 4hours... by 5.30 reached UBM... and it was raining .. Till 9.30 managed/killed time there and boarded Himalayan Queen from UBM to KLK.. till CDG crowd was there... but got seat but not window.. from CDG got window seat ...leading loco was GZB WAP7 and banking loco was TKD WAP1, no idea why bankers given between CDG to KLK... Reached KLK by 11am and went to waiting hall.. charged my camera and it was showing battery low... boarded Himalayan Queen Narrow Gauge Train to Shimla .. link was KLK ZDM3 704.. overcasting weather.. intermediate rains .. and severe cold ... while climbing up.. clouds can be seen closely, overall monsoon feel... and it was heavenly feeling... I was expecting snowfall to happen before arriving shimla.. weather was becoming colder while nearing shimla.. but it only lite rains or drizzling , reached Shimla by 5.25pm was disappointed as could not seen any snow while coming in train .... came out of Shimla station and looked for taxi to drop me at Mashobra but many taxi drivers dint agreed but luckily one driver agreed .. that time dint knew why they were refusing ... while going towards mashobra.. driver told road condition at mashobra is not good due to snowfall ... and he asked why you came in this time .. I said while booking hotel at mashobra weather forecast was clear on this date... Taxi dropped me at one point from there I took 4 by 4 vehicle (Goods vehicle) while going towards mashobra side witnessed snowfall.. and it was my dream to see in my life but dint knew about this difficulties ... reached hotel there .. thought next day also can witness snowfall but next day it became clear ... Was in hotel (actually resort) whole day ... it was very scenic all over snow covered and clouds passing nearby us
30th January I checked out from there by 9.30am ... by time I got vehicle(arranged by resort) it was almost 10am... due to road conditions was still bad.... got delayed and I was getting tensed where I miss my SML KLK Himalayan Queen but in a climax driver dropped me SML at 10.42am and train already departed .. and I told him to drop summer hill .. he said will drop you at taradevi and time was 10.45am and taradevi arrival time was 11.20am ... driver dropped me taradevi by 11am itself ... so 15minutes time left for train to arrive .. by 11.15am train arrived with KLK ZDM3a 709 ... before boarding TTE checked my ticket and I boarded the train ... but train dint departed as it waited for crossing...few minutes later Him Dharshan crossed and after that my train Himalayan Queen departed ... after departing tara-devi surprisingly saw snow in next to track, most probably it snowed overnight time... weather was clear though clouds were there ... reached KLK around 4.10pm.. and went to ticket counter took ticket to CDG ... boarded Himalayan Queen ..link was TKD WAP7 30599.. So in this trip traveled behind 30599(Electric) and 40599(Diesel) both from TKD shed .. Reached CDG around 5.30pm... while arriving CDG spotted GZB WAP5 30001 which was shunting MDU CDG express.. Himalayan Queen arrived PF2..while going towards PF1 side I saw AJJ WAP4 22845 and it was the link for MDU CDG, since MDU DDN cancelled between SRE DDN... that rake also coming to CDG, so no slip rake attaching/detaching at SRE for this train
31st January checked out from Retiring room by 7.30am and boarded CDG MDU SF by 7.45am ... train departed 7.55am , it was very foggy and cold ... When I arrived in Himgiri on 28th January saw WDG4G loco with freight but couldn't capture so I was eagerly waiting to capture WDG4G locomotives but due to foggy weather missed some of WDG4G locomotive with freight somewhere after UMB... but before arriving MOZ.. Finally captured WDG4G with BTPN rake ... and later fog cleared ... While arriving before NZM ..spotted beautiful livery ET WAG5 23732 with some rake .. arrived NZM by 1.55pm .. at NZM spotted ED WAP7 with Kerala express and BRC WAP7 came with Kerala SK ...Departed NZM around 3pm, spotted WAG7 leading and trailing WDG4G with freight ... before Agra... in one station ... two overtake happened ie NZM SC duronto and NZM MAS Raj, also MDU DDN/CDG crossed us at same station .. and weather was pleasant and no cold ... same last week before of in my trip weather was severe cold ..drastic change in a week
1st February when I woke up was nearing NGP and weather was overcasting ... and saw freights and express trains with bankers (WAG7 ) but could not capture it .. before arriving to sewagram ...spotted TKD WAP4 with CBE JP SF...took some photos at famous sewagram curve , before reaching BPQ spotted another bright and cute livery of ET WAG5 with freight .. as usual spotting freights and express trains, reached BZA by around 7pm.. and after BZA departed took video night version of Krishna river bridge passing through, since 2am arrival at MAS .. slept early by 8.30pm ..got up at 12.30 am ... my train was almost nearing MAS.. by 2.10am reached MAS and went to prepaid AC waiting hall ... was there till 5.15am and went to PF6 to board MAS MYS Shatabdi .. kept my luggage in my coach ... and went to see the link for my train but loco was not attached, LP/ALP were waiting outside ... in few minutes link came and it was ED WAP7 37202 .. clicked photos and went to my coach ... train departed 6am sharp .. since I got non track side window could not observe crossing trains ... but took video of overtaking freight trains , could not door plating as I was tired and had feverishness type.. they first served Tea/coffee and breakfast ie uppama vade and sambar along with barone chocolate, quantity was less .. after breakfast again they served Tea/coffee... skipped JTJ with 15kmph ...and it was a jerky ride since the departure from MAS... since non track side window.. was thinking to video of overtaking RR .. Reached SBC at around 10.50am at PF7.. surprisingly SBC MYS RajyaRani was in SBC itself on PF5.. and Basava at PF8... shatabdi departed ontime from SBC whereas Rajyarani with RPM WAP7 and Basava with KJM WAP7 Sharavathi were at SBC .... Lunch served after departing SBC... Veg biryani (small quantity) plain curd sweet and pickle... after hejjal TSR were there till Bidadi with all this reached Ramnagaram by 11.55am and skipped Mandya by 12.30pm and stopped for few seconds at Yelliyur... and ya at Hejjaala overtook BTPN rake with Pune WDG4D WDG4 ... and surprisingly at Pandavpura we overtook Golgumbaz express with 20025 and 20006(my favorite loco) and by 1.06pm reached MYS PF1 ie on 2nd February
Thanks for the reading
Here are some photos which captured during trip