Travelogue on Mumbai - Pune - Mumbai trip.
PART - 2 : /blog/post/4636107
for PART - 1: /blog/post/4631299
PART - 3 : Onboard 17321 Huballi - LTT Weekly Express.
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utkrisht rakes of deccan express was parked in the platform – 4 before our train started departing from pune. Our train cleared the loop lines slowly. Meanwhile we were passing through the loco trip shed and pit lines in pune station outer, forgot myself for a minute when I saw the rake of indrayani express being parked in the pitline. For a second, I recalled the wonderful moments I had when I was onboard the same that day morning. Saw some locos like ajni and Vadodara based WAP – 7 class locomotives, Ghaziabad based WAP – 7 with big P – 7 fonts in loco. KYN based WCAM – 2 and 3 class locomotives, bhusaval based WAP – 4 class locomotive, some WAG – 9 locomotive, pune based WDM – 2 locos which were used for shunting and some WDP – 4D locomotives too. As usual, snapped the pictiures of the same. We entered the mainline, crossed mutha river bridge and started accelerating steadily. We started moving out of the pune suburbs. Being a sunny day, the place where I sat near the door and the door handle, I was holding for balance was hot to touch, but yes adjusted meanwhile. We curved through Shivajinagar station in a good speed and as we were speeding, thought that we would anyway reach khandala around 15:30 hrs max and enjoy the available time there.
Also, checked the opposite pairs of trains that could possibly cross us. The first candidate that we are supposed to cross is 16339 mumbai csmt – Nagercoil express, i.e. mr. Nagercoil as called fondly by railfans in that region. Thought that somehow will capture this train at khandala itself. Mean while we crossed khadki and dapodi stations in good speed, as we neared kasarwadi, train started slowing down. From kasarwadi, train started moving slowly. Thought that it is negotiating temporary speed restriction and some how will pick up speed after leaving the station. But even after leaving the station, the train moved with the same speed. Did not suspect the situation initially. It was moving say in 50 – 60 kmph speed, was maintaining that, skipped pimpri station. Few minutes after we left pimpri station, we slowed down further. Thought that it was one another temporary speed restriction and was hoping that the train would move further in a good speed after negotiating that.
As we passed few kilometers, we started looping into a station. Initially thought that we are skipping this station in loop since there possibly could be some work happening in the main line of that station or may be some goods train or departmental vehicle could have been parked there. Moving further, we entered a platform which was in good height. The name board read it as chinchwad. As we moved further, I peeped into the mainline to see if such things which I mentioned above was there. But in reality, nothing was there. Realised that the main line was free. Meanwhile my train further decelerated and came to a halt. Our coach was at the end of the platform and the luggage coach in front of out coach was already out of the platform. People standing near the door in my coach they got down and was standing. There was a bit of shade near my coach though it was a scorching sunny day. Rested my big bag near the door and went to the door exactly in the opposite side. Peeped the signal there and it was red. Again, came to my side, the same prevailed. All the signals were red.
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Now that train halted, meanwhile, purchased some water bottles. Announcements were continuously made in three languages that some set of local trains between pune and lonavala are cancelled. Was hearing that, standing for some 10 minutes in the platform as I felt sleepy. Then went and occupied my place near the door and sat. was peeping into the screen of mobile phone of the fellow passenger who was literally lying down near the door, some random telugu film was running. After 20 odd minutes that we departed chinchwad, finally got relieved. While checking the running status of the 16339 train, it showed that it had already crossed karjat jn. Now started accelerating, thought that atleast within some 40 – 50 minutes that probably we could reach khandala. We slowly started moving out of the pune mahanagar and started seeing some dry terrains and some tall trees. These locations used to be so green during monsoon and winter seasons.
Skipped akurdi in decent speed, after which we were decelerating slowly and meanwhile, we were again looped into some station. The station board said it is dehu road. Slowly moving into the loop line, again halted here. Panicked as I realised that time available for me to explore khandala was decreasing badly. This time, our coach was outside the platform. I moved bit inside the coach since I was sitting very near the door. Some passengers who got down when this train stopped, took those places near the edge of the door. now was checking the position of trains that I am about to cross, 16339 nagercoil express was already nearing lonavala. So, anyways that I won’t be spotting this train at khandala. Somehow consoled myself that this is the only train that I would be possibly missing. Meanwhile other trains were leaving their source on time. A loud honk was made by EMD locomotive after 25 minutes, and we slowly cleared the loop.
As we cleared the loop, we were slowly gaining the speed. And one railway line without overhead pole was coming and was amalgating with the main tracks. Was wondering where this line arises from and the nearby areas suggested that it could probably come from one of the military sidings. Then as we picked up decent speed, was maintaining at 40 – 50 kmph. Again, some railway lines were amalgating and bifurcating, the terrain and some mountains were visible, enjoying the nature, skipped begdewadi. Now only slowly started to realise that morning between kanhe and kamshet, for some kilometers that my train and the train which crossed me in opposite direction was moving nearly at 10 – 15 kmph and possibly that some works may happen there.
Simultaneously, expected 16339 nagercoil express to cross us at any time. After crossing ghorewadi, slowed down agan to some 30 kmph, was moving slowly. Looped again and we slowly entered Talegaon. Was expecting to stop here for 20 more minutes as it happened in chinchwad and dehu road. But, for my surprise, even after seeing the other end of the platform, the train was kept moving and yes, it even cleared the loop. But even after clearing the loop, we did accelerate but the train was moving in the speed of 40 – 50 kmph till vadgaon outer where again it decelerated. As we departed vadgaon, we moved very slowly for a bit and we stopped for some 5 minutes. Again, the train left with a loud honk slowly, moved at around 10 – 15 kmph for roughly few hundred meters and again we halted for 10 another minutes. Could see a group of people working near the tracks. The passengers onboard enquired about the work going on there to the workers and they replied back.
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Actually, near kanhe, a manned level crossing was being replaced by the rail underpass. And that work, since was in its final stage, everyone was working hard there. Our train and the train which is about to cross us in the opposite direction was badly delayed already. We started moving few hundred meters further after which again our train halted. Now a greater number of workers could be seen near the tracks as we were near to that levelled crossing. Was hearing a low tone honk from distance, but ignored it for that moment. That honk intensified after some moment, also came near me. Then mr. Nagercoil i.e, 16339 with kalyan based WCAM – 3 locomotive crossed us in a very slow speed.
After this train had passed us, even I felt as if I was moving slowly, yes, our train started moving very slowly, maintained in the same speed and crossed that manned level crossing where the work was going on. Saw an inspection trolley lying near the track. And as our train cleared that spot slowly, we maintained that speed till kanhe station. A ray of hope burst into me as we left that spot. As our train left kanhe, we slowly accelerated to 60 kmph speed, maintained that till kamshet. Our train negotiated kamshet curve beautifully. Now, a ray of hope bursted out in me and I felt extremely happy as some how we started moving in a good speed and was nearing my dream destination i.e. khandala. Now my train accelerated madly and hit the top speed. Simultaneously could hear the loud honk of EMD locomotive and a kalyan based WDP – 4D with 17222 lokmanya tilak – Kakinada biweekly crossed us in a very good speed. Crossed malavli in no time and we arrived lonavala.
As per the passenger time table for this train 17321 hubli – lokmanya tilak express, there is no scheduled halt at lonavala but still it halted for break testing. This train did not have khandala halt too as per the time table, but strongly believed that it will halt again there for break testing. I checked the running status of 17031 mumbai csmt – Hyderabad express, it had already departed khandala. Meanwhile, I got some water bottles, packed my bag. We descended slowly towards khandala, as we slowly started descending the lonavala, could hear the majestic chugging of the kalyan based WDM – 3D class locomotive ascending to lonavala platform – 1 hauling the Mumbai csmt – Hyderabad express.
I was still four kilometers away from the khandala, but still that I have missed three trains already which I could have spotted in khandala owing to the delay of my train, also those three trains too were delayed nearly half an hour. I was thinking about it and also was planning to spend the remaining time effectively in khandala. Still I had not completed this mind calculation, khandala has arrived already and I deboarded as soon as possible from my train since it is a technical halt, my train could depart at anytime. Walked slowly to the foot over bridge, came to platform 2 and 3 and settled myself in end of the platform towards lonavala. that particular location was scenic. Meanwhile took pictures of train board of 17321 hubli – lokmanya tilak express around 16:40 hrs, and the same train left khandala slowly.
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With mixed feelings, I opened a water bottle to quench my thirst.
PART - 4 is just a click away from here - /blog/post/4646795