Last operational ex.WAP- 6 + most agressive Duronto + rain = MPS power punch!!!
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Finally got to capture the most aggressive Duronto in Indian Railways amidst the rains. Powered by the last operational ex.WAP- 6 of ASN shed (now converted to WAP- 4 and transferred to HWH) 22415, the bi- Weekly 12273 Howrah (HWH)- New Delhi (NDLS) DURONTO Express takes a curve,...
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and then blasts through Jhapandanga station enroute on HB Chord at its alloted MPS of 120 km/hr.
I personally really respect this train. Although having Sleeper coaches and having 4 technical halts enroute (as compared to 3 technical halts of Sealdah Duronto, and 6 commercial halts of Howrah and Sealdah Rajdhani), still it covers the 1451 kms enroute in 17 hours, thus averaging an astonishing 84 km/hr!! Th return train has 3 technical halts, and average speed of 85 km/hr!!
On the 1st week of May, 12274 arrived at Howrah at 05:45, i.e. 15 minutes before time, hence covering the distance in 16 hours 45 minutes. Thus it became the first non- AC train to break the record of 12302 Howrah RAJDHANI Express (which takes 16 hours 55 minutes to cover the same).
12260 New Delhi- Sealdah DURONTO Express takes 16 hours 20 minutes.
12314 New Delhi- Sealdah RAJDHANI Express takes 17 hours 45 minutes.
Still this train is quite punctual, and generally remains on time, unlike its counter-part, and the more pampered 12259/ 12260 Sealdah A.C. Duronto.
A few stats on WAP- 6:
WAP- 6 locos were just a modification of the already existing WAP- 1 and WAP- 4 locos. They were intended for service at 160km/hr but failed trials and were restricted to a top speed of 105km/hr. Only 16 of these were made, numbering from 22401 (Abhinav) to 22416, and were homed at Asansol shed. Later, all of them were modified back to WAP- 4/ 4E, and were transferred to HWH. Presently, all the locos, except 22416, are presently in service. 22416 has not been spotted for more than 4 years, and is most probably withdrawn from service by now.