Travelogue on Mumbai - Pune - Mumbai trip.
PART - 2 : Stranded at Pune.
for PART - 1 : /blog/post/4631299
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Now, after coming to platform one with my heavy luggage, went to...
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PRS counter and asked about tatkal booking, assuming it to be free, but while I went and asked someone told that there was already 30 token per counter. So clueless, went to platform 1, it was 10 for 10 am, I sat near a railwire wifi modem near foot over bridge and tried to book tatkal for my return journey back home from Mumbai. Meanwhile empty rakes of 22845 pune – hatia superfast express was shunted at platform 1. Then it was 10 am. I had two options, either to book 3A tatkal in 19424 GIMB TEN humsafar from surat or to book SL in 22654 H.Nizamuddin – Thiruvananthapuram superfast from panvel. I first tried to enter tatkal and book in tatkal for 19424 from surat.
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Even I filled in the details and the fares were nominal. But since I wanted that wind in the face experience from sleeper class, dropped that option. Went till payment page and came back. Then in between came to food court in the same platform to have a nominal brunch to quench my hunger. So, bought a plate of poha, had it, also had vada pav for one another time for that day. Meanwhile recorded train announcements in the station.
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Then as it was 11 to 11, came again to the foot over bridge end, sat near the railwire wifi modem and tried to book tatkal in 22654 H.Nizamuddin – Thiruvananthpuram superfast express. Though I successfully opened it initially, within filling the booking details, the availability status of 110 reduced to only 10, was afraid since it was the only last option remaining for me to go back home. Already I had a ticket in the same train from panvel with RLWL/22, though I booked it 15 days back, the waiting list did not even move. One another thing was that no premium tatkal was there at that train. was scared then. But, thank god during the time of cash payment as signal from railwire wifi was fast, it saved me and somehow got confirmed ticket for my return journey back home.
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So, as I booked my tickets back to home successfully, I went to take ticket unreserved train ticket between pune and khandala, but as none of the trains leaving pune towards mumbai at that time was having commercial halt at khandala, though trains going downhill do stop at khandala for break testing, the clerk issued me ticket till thane. then was searching in online for the next train between pune and lonavala. saw that the next train towards lonavala was 11026 pune – bhusaval express at 11:40 hrs were the next train towards lonavala.
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So, as it was announced that it was standing at platform 5, went to the same, after getting down from the foot over bridge, saw many bhel puri vendors, got one, actually one and a half.
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Yes, as he told one bhel puri is rs. 20, I asked to add extra bhel and give it for rs.30. then went to the first unreserved coach (actually last coach that day) and boarded that train. Only five minutes was remaining for that train, and I was wondering that still no loco was attached at the end. But still I went to my seat and sat. finally, the train started to move in the opposite direction. Suddenly I realised and as It was moving slowly in the platform, I put my bag down in the platform and I deboarded quickly. Only by then, asking the RPF nearby, came to know that 11026 pune – bhusawal express was diverted via daund owing to the works that is happening between pune – lonavala.
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So, the next possible option to go lonavala side by train was this weekly contender hubli – lokmanya tilak express via bijapur, while tracking him, he was on time and he had already left daund. I sat there in platform 5 to take some rest, kept tracking the status of 17321 and it was with minimal delay till uruli, as I checked the status around 12 pm at which it is suppsed to be at pune, thought that this train could only be maximum some say 30 minutes at pune. So then saw that around 12:15 pm, one another local was to leave to lonavala.
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So, came to platform 1 and saw a local rake, but no passenger boarded that and 5 minutes after 12:15 pm, it was taken back to yard as even that was cancelled due to track works.
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Hopeless, again went to platform 5, around 12:30 pm, checked the running status of 17321 hubli – lokmanya tilak express, still it was at uruli and no further updates were there about that train. I got literally panicked. Then thought this won’t work out and came out of railway station.
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So, came outside of the railway station to the bus stand nearby and asked for buses to lonavala and khandala. I was unaware of the pune city and its actual Shivajinagar bus stand. In that bus stand, for my good time, only shivshahi and shivneri buses were available and they told that they will drop at lonavala byepass and ticket fare will be rs. 300. Opposite to that bus stand, some local bus stand was there probably from which pmpml buses could have been operated. Even enquired there but still did not get clear information. They even told ordinary buses are also not available from here.
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As I neither knew local language, nor hindi, was feeling difficult to inquire about the buses. So, again disappointed, went back to pune railway station around 12:45pm, checked the train status. Still it was at uruli. Then I introspected once that should I atleast see sightseeing at pune or as per plan should head to khandala. But as I was unaware of the places that I could possibly cover in the available six hours, so planned to head to khandala and to spot trains and enjoy the nature.
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By then it was already 1 pm then a slight relief as the train had left uruli as per both where is my train and national train enquiry system. Then again it took half an hour for the train to arrive pune and by around 1:40 pm, with 40522 numbered WDP-4D locomotive without shed marking, pulling hubli – lokmanya tilak express into pune junction platform 5, 40585 numbered WDP-4D locomotive from pune shed simultaneously pulled 07618 panvel – h.s.nanded weekly special express into platform 6, both trains does not exist to this date and both came in such a way that cab – 2 was facing front.
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Now as both simultaneously arrived, I started taking pictures. Now as soon as the engine crossed me, I rushed to the front of the platform for boarding the train.
Then, I went suddenly to a bhel puri wala, got a bhel puri again, had it fast and rushed to front of the platform and boarded the front UR next to guard cum luggage van. The first coach was filled to brim. But still was okayish near the door. So settled near the door. Kept the bag in my lap and sat near the door at the right side of the coach, that is trackside door. Managed to sit safely.
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As shed markings was not there for 40522 WDP – 4D, I searched both in IRFCA and IRI database, it showed that that loco was belonging to hubli shed. I was shocked since I was unaware that UBL holds any dual cab EMD locomotives, i.e. WDP – 4D. this was my first time spotting WDP – 4D of hubli loco shed and first time travelling by a train hauled by the same.
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Though 07618 panvel – h.s.nanded weekly special express slowly departed pune junction platform 6. Then was googling about the crossings that I am about to encounter till I reach khandala and the trains that I could probably spot at khandala, also checked about view points and tourist places nearby the railway station.
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As I sat near the door, I was sitting, sitting and sitting, but no signs of train leaving pune even after halting for 15 minutes. Then again got down, purchased some water bottles, boarded the train. Then again googling about the same, forgot myself for a while chatting in railfanning groups in whatsapp.
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No signs of train leaving pune even after 2 pm, started panicking, but still again started planning systematically and searched the running status of the train which was about to cross me and did some calculations, was gazing at the trip shed visible far away and also was thinking about how much time that I could possibly spend there and how fruitfully that I am going to use that time, then hopelessly was gazing at the sun. Could hear the cranking of the EMD locomotive but still no signs of departing from pune.
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After 20 odd minutes, I could hear the honk of the EMD locomotive, was finally happy that at least by now that the train departed, and we slowly started moving out of pune, at least a ray of hope gushed into me as we departed pune.
(To be continued.........)
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PART - 3 is just a click away from here. - /blog/post/4640339
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Posted thru Follow my Trip