A #Train #Journey compilation in #12124 #Deccanqueen #Express from #Pune to #Mumbai | Coverage of the magnificent #Bhorghats also included.
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June 01, 2018. Just like every year, this year too the Birthday of the Deccan Queen Express was going to be celebrated in the two cities of Mumbai & Pune. The Queen completed her 88th year of Commercial service this year. And I had missed many a chance to be part of this event previously. This year i decided to make it. So a plan was hatched, and things were going smoothly. Well, almost smoothly, for just a couple of days prior to the beginning of my Journey, the #Malabar & #Konkan coasts were lashed out with heavy rains. And many trains were stranded here and there; ending up late in their destinations. My elaborate plan included taking a train to #Mangaluru via the #Subramanyaghats, and boarding the Netravati Express to #Panvel from there. From Panvel, the idea was to board the Pragati Express to Pune; thus covering two new routes, Panvel - Karjat & Yeshvantpur #Hassan Mangaluru.
But fate had other ideas. Fearing that I would get stuck somewhere in between, without anywhere to go, i abandoned the Konkan route, and booked myself a ticket in the Janshatabdi Express to #Hubli the same day that I was supposed to board the Intercity to Mangaluru, i.e. May 30th. On the same day, a friend helped me get a ticket to Pune in the #Goa Link Express from Hubli. Thus, I got to see the elaborate shunting circus that happens every day in #Londa to couple this small link to the main rake coming from #Vasco. This sudden change in plans ensured I reached Pune on 31st morning itself. Thankfully, a couple of friends also arrived from #Chennai & all 3 of us landed in another friend's house for accommodation.
The following day, after some initial hiccups, we reached Pune Jn. at 07:00 hrs, just in time for witnessing our power - AJNI WAP7 30467 getting all decked up and ready to haul us to Mumbai. This provided with some excitement for the day, which was otherwise one with mixed feelings for me. The #Diningcar was absent due to being sent for overhaul. And adding insult to the injury, it was added the very same evening from Mumbai for the return, which I ultimately couldn't capture due to some storage issue in my Phone. But it was all a part of the game.
We departed Pune bang on time at 07:15 hrs, and rolled along quite nicely till Lonavala. A loop line treatment at #Khadki & speed restriction saw us reach 10 mins late. Meanwhile, the #Indrayani Express crossed us just before Lonavala, hauled by its usual link, a Pune ALCo. After a 2 min halt, we slipped out of Lonavala, beginning our descent into the Bhor ghats. The Rain gods weren't kind enough that day, and the season hadn't quite set in yet, so all we could get was a view of the magnificent albeit dry ghat section. Mumbai Pune Intercity SF, which back then was running with ICF coaches crossed at #Monkeyhill, followed by #MumbaiLTT #Visakhapatnam Express at Thakurwadi. #Deccan Express crossed just before #Palasdhari. We literally crawled through Karjat, and due to increasing heat, I went in for some time, to enjoy the Breakfast.
A Couple of friends waved at us at Ambernath & Vithalwadi, while on their way to Office. #Kolhapur bound Koyna Express crossed at #Kalyan outer, and after a painfully long wait, we were cleared to enter & skip Kalyan Jn; following which the #Ernakulam bound Mangala Lakshadweep Express was overtaken. While we were already delayed by close to 45mins by this time, trailing a Mumbai CST bound fast local didn't help much. We lost further time, reaching Dadar, a good 70 mins late. After a sedate run, we finally pulled into pf12 of Mumbai CSMT at 11:30, delayed by an hour and 5 mins. But still, it was an enjoyable ride. A lot of #Railfans had gathered at CSMT to get a glimpse of the train. And after a tiring ride, the three of us went up to our dormitory & settled down for some time before heading out for lunch.
Hope you enjoyed the ride along with me. Thanks for watching
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My first Deccan Queen Journey way back in June 2015 - click here
Crossings featured in the Compilation include:-
Mumbai Pune Indrayani Express
Mumbai Pune Intercity Superfast Express
Mumbai LTT Visakhapatnam Express
Mumbai Pune Deccan Express
Mumbai Kolhapur Koyna Express;
along with a Special spotting of a Humsafar rake in Khadki & the chase of the Mangala Lakshadweep Express.
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A Full Journey Vlog of a #train #Journey - #Bengaluru to #Madurai via #Palakkad
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This Journey Happened in March 2018. During the onset of Summer, I embarked on a rather long journey from #Bengaluru to #Chennai, via #Palakkad & #Madurai. On a Saturday evening, I left for Carmelram Railway station, to board the 16527 #Yeshvantpur #Kannur Express, which was hauled by an #Erode WDM-3D that day. The rains were consistently pouring down that evening, and there was respite only for a brief period when my train arrived and we departed. By the time we crossed over the state border and reached Hosur, we were already delayed by more than 30 mins. And it didn't end there. With the rains pouring down consistently, I didn't stay up late. With some hope that we will cover up the delay, I called it a day and slept, for I had to wake up the following morning for a 04:40 hrs arrival at #Palakkad.
But when I did wake up to my alarm, I realized that we were nowhere close to gaining up on the previous night's delay, but were in fact delayed further. We pulled into #Coimbatore at 04:50hrs, delayed by 1.5 hrs. And with the little bit of slack in the schedule, we managed to reach Palakkad just at the crack of dawn, at 06:00 am. A Friend and local resident, Avinash Venkitachalam had come down to meet me at those early hours, and we had breakfast a local eatery. My connecting train was the newly extended #Amrita Express to #Madurai via #Pollachi, #Palani & #Dindigul. The train which used to terminate at Palakkad Town earlier was extended to Madurai after the gauge conversion of the Palakkad Town - Dindigul line.
The train had a history of running late and that day was no different. Coming from #Thiruvananthapuam, the train reverses twice in its run, once at #Shoranur, where the slip coaches to #Nilambur (#Rajyarani Express) get dropped off, and the second time at Palakkad Jn., the train pulled in slowly at 08:15, and after a loco reversal, the rebuilt WDM-3A from #Ernakulam shed, pulled us out at 08:48 hrs, nearly 80 mins behind schedule. But with the enormous slack thrust into the schedule, I was hopeful that we will make up for it.
And sure enough, the delay went down slowly. At Minatchipuram, we crossed the Chennai Palakkad Express via Palani. The train was originally running up to Palani, but with gauge conversion was extended to Palakkad. After Minatchipuram, we crossed over the border and entered Tamilnadu. Our first commercial halt was at Pollachi. Post Pollachi Jn., we crossed a beautiful stretch, where in both sides of the track was laced with an array of wind turbines, which was probably handled by a firm in Pollachi.
We then set onwards to our next halt, #Palani, which is one of the 6 heavenly abodes in #Tamilnadu dedicated to Lord Murugan. The station has a really good view of the temple on top of the hill. The Palani hills gave us company for the next few kms. Though it was early Summer, the heat was beating down upon us relentlessly. Dindigul Jn. the convergence of 4 lines, one each from #Trichy, #Karur, Pakkad & Madurai.
The alignment of tracks from Dindigul till #Kodaikkanal road was normal, from where the up line crossed over on top and went to the left, thus making it look like the trains are moving tracks opposite to the usual convention of keeping left. This is the reason of the two crossings of #17616 Madurai #Kacheguda Express & #Guruvayur #Chennai Egmore Express appearing on the left. We moved along briskly and reached Madurai at 13:40 hrs, delayed by 30 mins, thus gaining about 50 mins from the delay with which departed from Palakkad. It was curtains down on the first part of an exciting journey which I undertook.
Also, this was the first time I attempted to do a #Train #Journey #Vlog in #Tamil. So, with the hope that you all enjoyed it, I leave you to watch the video. For people who don't understand Tamil, I have added Subtitles in English. Do let me know your opinion and if you have any questions, put it down in the comments section. Thanks for Watching
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The only major river featured in this Video is the Vaigai, apart from the Kannadi. And a few canals too were crossed, but most of them were pretty dry.
Featured crossings listed in the order of their appearance:
- 22852 Mangaluru Santragachi Vivek Express
- 22651 Chennai Palani Palakkad Express
- 06710 Palani Coimbatore Passenger Spl
- 17616 Madurai Kacheguda Express
- 16128/16130 Guruvayur/Tuticorin Chennai Egmore Express