Yo, peeps! So, I was thinking of spilling the tea about my travels with y'all on this site, but to be real with ya, I ain't had no crazy experiences. It's all been regular train rides from one place to another. But let me hit ya with my first memory of being a hardcore train fanatic, back in June 2005. Picture this - I was just 6 years old back then, but that one train journey left a mark on my soul. I was livin' in Punjab, Jalandhar district. Daddy was always working out of state, mostly in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. So, we used to tag along during our summer breaks, and I was always hyped AF about riding them trains, a feeling that still hits me even at 25. We used to reside in a village close to where I'm at now. The go-to train spot was Jalandhar City/Cantt. Boarding the train from there was a breeze. We'd hop on the last DEMU from Pathankot to Jalandhar City. One time, there was this close call with a dude almost gettin' smacked by the train, but all good. Finally, our train - the 4632 ASR - DDN Lahori Express, pulled up. We hopped on the sleeper coach. I was put on the middle bunk, but the train hit a stop at JUC, and I was all antsy for it to get a move on. So, I bombarded Dad with questions about trains, falling deeper in love with 'em with every answer. The train finally started chugging, giving off them amusement park vibes. The WAP-1 loco from GZB was pullin' us through the electrified ASR - UMB - DLI route. I dozed off and woke up near Roorkee, Uttarakhand. The sound of bridges used to freak me out, but I'm over it now. But man, reminiscing about those times is a trip. Stepped off at Roorkee (RK), the memory of Lahori Express forever etched in my mind. Soon, I became a total railfan, and I got more tales to dish out - so stay tuned! Big shoutout to Mr. Arnab and Mr. Kumud for the inspo 😊 Catch ya later, Gagan

Maine socha hai ki main apni safar ki anubhavon ka baant chuka hoon aur iss site par sabke saath share karunga, par maine kabhi kisi asli tajurbey se guzra nahi tha. Sabhi safar to ek jagah se doosri jagah jaane waale broad-gauge train mein hi hue the. Isliye, maine socha apni pehli train yatra ke saaf yaad ko share karne ka jo mujhe ek railfan banaya tha. Chaliye samay machine mein chalte hain, 2005 ke June mahine mein.

Main uss waqt 6 saal ka tha aur wo yaad meri zehen mein chhap gayi hai aur main kabhi nahi bhool sakta ki main kitna prabhavit tha Indian Railways aur uske trains se.

Mujhe bachpan mein khade hote ek train ki halki yaad hai par kitni bhi koshish karu, zyada yaad nahi aa rahi hai. Mene apne parents se puchha par unhe bhi wo yaad nahi aa rahi hai.

To thoda sa background meri family aur meri. Hum Punjab ke Jalandhar zile mein rehte hain. Mere papa ka kaam hamesha state ke bahar hota tha, mostly Uttar Pradesh aur Uttarakhand mein. Isliye, hum uss jagah pe jate the jahaan wo kaam karte the aur main trains mein safar karne ka beshak utsahit hota tha jo aaj bhi 25 saal ke hone par waisa hi hai.

Hum ek gaon mein rehte the jo aaj bhi mere ghar ke paas hai. Hamare ghar ke najdik ka major railway station Jalandhar City/Jalandhar Cantt tha aur ab bhi hai. Hum Jalandhar City se train mein chadhate the mostly kyunki wahan pahunchna aasan hota tha. Ham Jalandhar City shahar se aane waali akhri DEMU train lete the jo Pathankot se aati thi tak pahunchne ke liye Jalandhar City JN mein. Lagbhag saat baje tha aur train chadhne ke baad kuch minute ke baad, mujhe ek achank jhatka laga aur train ruk gayi. Mere papa gaye check karne aur pata chala ki ek aadmi train se takraya tha par kuch serious nahi hua. Train chal di aur lagbhag ek ghante baad hum Jalandhar City railway station pahuch gaye. Wahin bheed thi aur main hairaan tha dekhkar itne log apni trains ka intezar kar rahe the. Main yaad karta hoon, Jammu Mail (JAT-DLI) City station jaati thi aur wahan aage ki yatra ke liye reversal karti thi.

Ghadi tez gati se chal rahi thi, aur main besabri se humari train ka intezaar kar raha tha. Wo thi 4632 ASR - DDN Lahori Express, wo waqt mein mere liye kaafi alag aur rochak naam tha. Haan, uss waqt train numbers sirf 4 digits hi hote the jaise aap jante hain. Udaaharan ke taur par, train pahunch gyi, aur hum train ke sleeper coach mein baith gaye. Kyunki lagbhag raat ke 12 baje the, mere parents ne mujhe train ke beech wale berth par rakh diya par train nahi chal rahi thi, baad mein pata chala ki JUC mein yakriban 20 minute ke liye rukti thi aur mujhe besabri thi kyunki main chahta tha train chale. Toh maine kiya woh sab kuch jo koi curious baccha karta hai, maine apne papa ko train aur railway ke baare mein saare sawalon se bomb bard kar diya aur har jawab se mujhe trainon se pyar ho raha tha.

Maine ek achank jhatka mahsus kiya aur train chalne lagi. Wah tezi se badh rahi thi aur aise hi ek amusement park ride ki feeling de rahi thi sab sideways motion aur track ki awaz ke saath. Main bas dekhta raha. ASR - UMB - DLI route ko pehle se hi electrified kar diya gaya tha, aur humari train uss waqt GZB ke WAP-1 dwara khinchi ja rahi thi kyunki wo train ka regular link tha uss samay.

Thodi der baad main so gaya aur subah utha. Humein Roorkee, Uttarakhand mein utarna tha. To, mere parents ne mujhe jagaaya, zyadatar Saharanpur JN ke baad.

Main yaad karta hoon, mujhe dar lagta tha jab bhi kisi railway pul aata kyunki wo bahut shor machata tha aur neeche dekhte waqt sirf paani dikhta tha. Haan, ab mujhe unse dar nahi lagta par hamesha yaadein taaza rehti hain. Hum apne manzil par, Roorkee (RK) mein utre aur Lahori ka naam meri zehen mein hamesha ke liye chhod gaya kyunki yeh wahi train thi jiska naam aur number maine pehli baar yaad kiya tha. Main apne parivaar aur mere papa ke saathiyo ke saath train yatra ke baare mein dinon tak baat karta raha.

Aur aise hi ek railfan ka janam hua. Mere paas aap sabke saath share karne ke liye aur bhi kai rochak kahaniyaan hain. Toh bane rahiye jude hue.

Mr. Arnab aur Mr. Kumud ko prerna ke liye shukriya 😊

Agli baar tak

Gagan