The Journey

A lot has changed over the past one year... people amongst us have gone places, India has won border Gavaskar trophy, the masters ve reached the summit in tennis and cricket, LTTE is gone, temperature has increased, rain has decreased BUT one of the biggest change in my life is 'MY U SPL TRAVEL IS GONE!!' What great times they were. There were many facets of the U-Spl travel. Blessed I feel to be part of that grp coz civil 2k4 had the majority presnce in uspl frm south delhi. And the guys who made up the group was worth studying as a subject in itself. Allow me to describe the sequence on different days. Best for me were the days of the start of the year (not 2005/6/7 n 8!!). coz no one had got his room and the grp used to be in full strength. "You need to be at the stop @ 7:40 to be sure that you catch the bus" sandy told me 3 years back. His advice came after much thought as usual. He had seen me missing the bus often and repenting it later. It was 7 minutes walk for me from my home to u-spl stop. But often the walk was fearful, not for anything else but for Sandy's mis call!! Coz wenevr it came it meant that I missed the bus. But things were not that bad either. More often than not I was there on time to have the best of times. If there was a cricket match the previous day (international or DCE level), it WAS to be THE point of discussion for the next one hour. Prime participants Bhatti, Akash, Kunal, Pratyaksh, myself as per the presence. One fine morning even Mr Kirar was there from Jamnapaar!! and later Mr Lahiri joined the group too!! For the rest of the days, it was timepass discussion as usual. The crowd in our bus stop varied with days with monday being the greenest. But as the years progressed everydays started becoming the mondays.. :-).. on other days people were scarce. The prime feature of monday was the number of people and moreso the number of bags. The only saving grace was the better occupied ladeej seats. And yeah, often one could see Mr Samant sitting by the side of window on the first/second or third seat ahead of conductors'. Occupying seats on Mondays was the herculean task. Sandy as ususal was quick to realize this and shifted his base to the earlier stop!! Clever by a yard indeed.. Anyways, somehow we used to settle and start our chatter. Moti bagh came and the bus used to get more occupied. By Dhaula Kuan Mr Nehra used to make his great entry. After Dhaula Kuan it used to be a breezy run amid the woods on the empty road. Apart from Mondays, guuys used to become more steady now. Hooked in with their head sets or some novel or norman lewis. The bus used to pick some really good speeds and on some empty days it used to become the case of parts vibrating like anything!! However the most interesting part was for the person who had missed the bus. The top slot for bus-missing would come to either me or akash.. and then started the most tricky task of catching the bus back before punjabi bagh!! A race against time which needed military planning, strategy and time keeping. One faulty decision and you wont be at punjabi bagh on time. It looked like an eternity to reach p. bag sans u spl. Superselector, gizmos have been the popular points of discussions throughout the journey. Rohit used to be immersed in sleep :-), me, nehra and akash in tikki waali bets or match discussion. with sandy it feels like spending an eternity in bus. Eggjactly at 8.10 with an error of +5 min, the bus used to come at a screeching halt in patel ngr and enter the scene Mr KT!! On days other than mondays my dose for life coz otherwise the rest of the journey 'd ve been dull. KT used to come, get the chord done and 95 fm starts humming. On the days when 2k4 civil grp was big, everyone now was deeply absorbed in chitter chatter and on other days it was the case of novels n fm. Come Karampura and enter Mr. Kirar!!! By now every pj was treated with full hearted laughter. At punjabi bagh, we often got the opportunity to see special creatures which later became president of college!! Also it used to become clear if the missing fellow was to catch u spl or not! The density also often increased. By the time the u spl turned a smooth left at Wazirpur, it used to be 0835. Hayat to Wazirpur was possible in 35 min flat only in u spl. By the side of metro we breezed through to Kohat to Madhuban Chowk. By now often the u spl used to be pack to the brim. This is when the seated persons realize how comfortable they are! Nuts and bolts at the door ensured that the guy at the gate would get the morning attendance!! Vivek, sumit Oberoi often wud ve stepped in the bus by now. Now the u spl became a commuter bus. It is like a long journey before Mad C and short commuting sprint after that. By now the chat becomes more college oriented. The left turn to the Rohini Depot 2 and breezing through the Sector 17/16 and making sure that we were at college gate by 0858!! 2 more min for class!! People used to climb the bus even at the college gate to have a ride till the roundabout in front of admin!! The best part was the ticket checking at the stop just before college!! Once the checkers entered inside the college with the bus!! It is not that the bus reached Hayatt on time.. many a times it came late but then we had the awesome fantastic run via naraina!! Me, sandy, akki and prat used to track the time taken from Hayatt to wazirpur and it was in stark contrast with that of good old mudrika!! I dont know what you guys might be feeling by now but I really feel missed out in the morning! The boring bus ride to office.. I really mis the u spl, the atmosphere,, the crowd, the V factor (sandy, akki, kt n nehra r u reading).. It really used to be a picture perfect begining for the day... The days were even more fantastic during exams with the grace of the GOD himself from patel nagar metro stn! Endless discussions, last min revision ohh sorry first time seeing the topic used to be the order of the day!! How can me, sandy n prat can forget the bearing issue!! (it was in the rtv though but still..) At the end of it I wonder why is it all gone!! I am sure I have missed lots of things. It was 4 yrs of bonding which I have written in just a mail... Still wonder wether those days will come back again.. Missing the best times of my life...

Visit to NZM, Jan 20 2009

Went to NZM today morning to attend for AP Express. And the observations are as under.

1) Pf tickets again unavailable. The notice shows that tickets will be unavailable for the duration 6 Jan to 31 Jan. If NR has a plan to not issue the pf tickets throughout the year they can do so with a clear notice in the news paper and having a special arrangement for needy persons. (Ladies, Sr Citizen, Handicapped etc..) In the present scenario, a guy who had to see off his wife for the afternoon Gondwana Exp, came in the morning to have a written permission beforehand to enter the station!!! He came with the ticket of his wife. The station staff refused him!!

2) Empty rake of Bhopal Exp at Pf 4 with WAP7 30214.

3) Golden Temple Mail at Pf2. Led by BRC WAP 4 22280. This train had a very long halt at NZM. It was there before I entered the station and was there till I left with hardly any signs of departure!! This gets a loco change here too??

4) Smart looking Wammie from BSL 21236was incharge of the Mangla Exp bound for ERS. It was to depart from Pf3.

5) JBP/RIG combine Gondwana Exp was at pf 6. This is the first time I saw the RIG bound Gondwana Exp.

6) AP Exp for NDLS came in at Pf 5 with LGD WAP4. It came in at 0930. My father came in this train from NGP. He told me that AP came 15-20 min before time at NGP.

7) ICF rake of NZM-DDN AC Spl was idling in second line from pf 3.

8) CGSK from Durg was announced. Pf 7 was empty for its reception.

Construction activity at Pf1 side were still on. Some glassy shining structure was appearing. Looks like NZM will become a very good looking station once this renovation is over.

ERN-MAS in 2696 on 12 Dec 08

After 100 long days in Kerela, the day finally came back when I was to return to Delhi. My plan of travel was to take 2696 TVC-MAS Exp from ERN on 12th thereby reaching MAS on 13th at 0945 Hrs. From MAS, I was to take Rajdhani for NZM on 14th morning.

We were a group of 5 all bound for Delhi. We reached ERN (Ernakulam Town) at 2030 hrs. As we entered the pf, GHY-TVC Exp made exit from pf 2 with a WAM4(may be from AJJ). Some construction work is in progress in pf 1 side. The coach positions were written by hand by a lady on the board for the trains to be departed from pf1. The display boards were not functioning.

ERS Guruvayur passenger led by 14030 ERS WDM came in pf 1. Next to arrive in pf 2 was HYD-Kollam spl Exp led by a WAG7 from LGD. It was a 17/18 coach rake and shined under the tube lights of the station. Well for those who have never been to ERN, the station has only two pfs saperated by two pit lines. It has a pretty steep curve on the Aluva side. The curve starts midway in the pf and the curve is such that the end is not visible.

A light Ed WAP4 strolled through the first pit line from pf 1 towards Aluva. Soon after I realised why as at 2100 hrs the JAT bound CAPE-JAT Himsagar Exp came in pf 1 led by ERS WDM3A. The loco was changed to the ED WAP4.

After a loong wait, at 2215 hrs, 2696 came with AJJ WAP4 incharge. The coah positioning as mentioned in that board finally turned out to be false as the AC 2 and AC 3 coaches were messed up. Normally the coach configuration should be 2 nos AC 2 tier coaches together and then 2 nos AC 3 tier coaches. But here it was alternate. With heaps of luggage, we had to make hurry to board the train. Our coach A2 was of very old make. Infact it was of the age of 2 coaches per bay type. The inside was also warm.

After saying goodby to the airport at Aluva which looks majestic at night we reached Thrissur at 2325 Hrs. I went to sleep tired after half the day in refinery.

Strangely, at ED, which came an hour and a half late, I spotted that this train has an FC too but there is no mention of it in TAAG!! Well at 0800 hrs we reached JTJ and I spotted a MGS WAG7.

At 0830 Hrs, MAS-MYS 2007 Shat sped past towards MYS with AJJ WAM4. The rake was 11 coach out of which first two were tat indicom while rest all were conventional ICF coaches.

At 0910 we were standed in Katpadi and strangely enough 21373 ET WAM4 led MAs bound Shatabdi crossed us!! I guess this must be an off link.

At 1100 hrs, deep into MAS suburb, I spotted a WR marked MRVC rake which I had mentioned in my arlier report as well... A WAG9 was also spotted.

1110 Hrs, we entered into MAS. The only purpose was to visit some relatives in MAS and roam around till 0610 hrs the next day!!

Additional: (On MAS Suburban System)

I got a chance to hop in to the Chennai local trains. I had to travel from Park Stn to St Thomas Mount. I really enjoyed the experience. I mean it was really good to have locals running there otherwise I wouldnt have dreamt of reaching TG Nagar so easily from Central!! Also got the opportunity to see Chennai Egmore with many rakes stabled there. The train breezed through Saidapet, Guindy and all and reched St Thomas Mount. THe rush in the train was thin. (Probably for the odd hours of 1300 hrs). But it made for a splendid ride in Local train!!!

Visit TO NZM on 20/12/2008

Yesterday (20/12/08) went to NZM to see off my relative on 2410 Gondwana Exp bound for BSP. Scheduled Dep time 1525 Hrs.

Reached NZM at 1500 hrs. Rather late due to auto-rickshaw menance in Delhi. The renovation work on NZM is still on and the station is being double-storeyed. Sale of Pf ticket was off till 31/12 so I had to take a ticket to FBD. The ticket counter guys have now an attitude that if you ask a ticket till New Delhi, they will refuse you as they think that you will be using it as a pf ticket. Nonetheless, I couldnt restrain myself from entering the station and had to take FBD ticket. (In the meantime on the adjacent counter a lady started quarelling with the counter guy who refused to give her the pf ticket. A scene was building up with other passengers in the queue wanting tickets for trains which were to depart within next 20 min or so).

Inside the station, 2410 was scheduled to depart from pf 4. The rake had already been shunted in by the time we reached down the FOB. New Display boards are being installed in NZM though they were not operational yet. Mahakoshal Exp was in Pf 5. Gondwana was a combo rake of BSP as well as JBP bound portions. (Parting in BINA).

TVC - NZM Raj rake was stationed in the pit line adjacent to pf 4. The rake was all branded. "Cheetah" brought in the Jaynagar-NZM GR Rake in the second pit line adjacent to pf 4.

The 2410 departed at 1530 hrs. After its departure as I was moving out of the station, saw an LHB rake stationed in pf7. It was headed by a WAP1 (most probably 22047 if I recall correctly) and had two AC FIrst coaches!!! First time in my life I had seen two 1AC coaches in a train!!

Had to leave the station early due to some important work. But it is always nice as usual to be in NZM!!

By the way, if we have an MST, then we can move into the pf inhibited I guess... Just curious..

ERN-MAS &back.... planned and executed within 2 hrs!!!!

The Kochhi trip is growing on for adventures!! Apart from a late evening visit to Cherai beach and Munnar, many of us were interested to go to MAS (Chennai). It was just a wish and we were not sure whether it will materialize or not. The toughest part was to get two days continuous leave.

So it happened at 1715 hrs on 30th sep in Kochhi refinery that we somehow managed to ask our senior for leave on 1st oct. As 2nd was already a national holiday means we will get our 2 days leave. Our senior who happens to be a very very nice and co-operating gentleman gave us leave on 1st. And at 1730 hrs we finalized our plans (4 of us) that we will be going to Chennai tonight!!! No reservations nothing but still we decided. We knew that we had trains departing from Ernakulam Town (ERN) at 1915 hrs and 2145 hrs. 1915 hrs train was 2624 TVC-MAS sf mail. And 2145 train was TVC-MAS SF Exp. 2624 looked out of question but we thought of giving it a chance. At 1800 hrs we reached back to hotel. We then made necessary calls to inform concerned people about our flash trip!! All were surprised.

1830 we left our hotel (in Tripunithura) for ERN. 1910 hrs we reached ERN thanks to the gladiatoric driving of our auto driver. He managed his way through the evening Kochhi traffic somehow. I asked the Enquiry and got the response that our 1915 train is announced. One of us lined himself for the Unreserved tickets. At 1918 train entered the pf 1 and at 1920 we managed to buy our tickets. We first ran to GS coaches but they were damn full. Then we made our way to SL coaches and found a TTE in pf. We told him that due to shortage of time we were not able to get tickets. He asked for the penalty charges and we readily gave him that. He asked us to be in S5. 30 min into the run and he allotted us berth nos 73, 74, 75, 76 of S5!!!

We simply couldn’t believe what has happened!! Such berths we don’t get even if we book 1 month in advance!!! The berth availability made the run even more enjoyable. The train was SMBed (at least S4 and S5) and had a CBC rake. This was the first time I was sitting in a CBC rake and it gave real bad jerks!!! Whenever the train started or stopped it felt like I was in a freight train!!!

We had our dinner from the pantry and at 2045 hrs we reached Thrissur. We were taken in pf 2 for 5 min. At 2210 hrs we reached Palakkad. We were in pf 3 and I can easily say that it is one of the cleanest stations I have seen. Meanwhile 6344 bound for ERN came to adjacent pf. It reversed there.(?).

The run was full of curves. There are indeed a lot of curves in this stretch!!! I slept for sometimes and woke up when train was in Erode at 0053 hrs. Salem was the next stoppage and one of my friends had to get down there so I decided not to sleep. The run till salem was nonstop and fast. We started Salem at 0146!!!! Before Salem I saw a paper factory and a temple above the hill ata a distance. The light coming from there made a very good scene.

After Salem I retired to sleep and wake up only when we were crossing through Arakkonam at 0525. At 0625 AJJ WAM4 led partial Tata Indicom Shatabdi crossed us. At 0635 saw a WR marked MRVC Rake!!!!

We entered into MAS right time!! This train is really punctual….

I noticed this again when we were to return from MAS to ERN by the same train. We had WL128-130!!! Miraculously indeed it got confirmed which resulted in me having a side lower berth!!! Again the departure frm MAS at dot 2000 hrs and reached Tripunithura (after ERN) at 0705!!!!!

Except for CBC couplings, this train is fantastic… I don’t lame SMBs coz probably it was because of them only that we got berths!!!!

First time I saw a Terminus station in the form of Chennai Central…. Liked the look of it… It was a different experience to see ED WAP4 resting at a dead end!!! I mean it was a really different feeling. I don’t how many of you would support this weird thought but still…….

Thanks a lot for reading….

NZM-ERS in 2432 TVC Rajdhani Exp!!!

Finally the morning of Aug 31 came for which the wait seemed to be like ages. It was the very same day when I was to take 2432 Nizamuddin-Trivendrum Rajdhani Express for my journey from NZM to Ernakulam. The train was scheduled to depart from NZM at 1100 hrs. Thanks to the Sunday morning traffic of Delhi, I reached NZM at around0945 hrs. From the enquiry(Sarai Kale Khan side) I enquired about the pf and the lady answered pf 5. As I was descending the stairs of pf 5, Hirakund Exp bound for VSKP made a steady exit from pf 5. Pf 6 was occupied by Bhopal Exp and KSK was in Pf 7. Few minutes later the Bhopal Exp was shunted out. The rush on the station was reasonable considering the measures like "Not issuing the pf tickets" were in place.

At 0955 hrs, 22540 WAP4 of BRC also Rajhans brought in BDTS-NZM GR at pf 6. To see such a beautiful loco first up, I thought an ominous sign before the mammoth 42 hrs journey!! The A5 of TVC Raj was supposed to be at the end, and as I later turned out, our coach was third from the end. I was wishing that we will get a non-airtel rake. All my wishes came down to a crash landing when I spotted an Airtel Rajdhani rake making slow progress towards NZM from NDLS side. I don't know why but somehow I forgot to note down the road number of the loco. But it was customary WAP 4 of BRC. The rake was 17 coach, first time I had been inside such a looong Rajdhani rake.

The rake was Loco-EOG-B1 to B8-PC-A1 to A5-H1-EOG.

Now a few things about the airtel rake….
1) Neat red carpeting near the main door as well as over the interconnection between bogies.
2) Room freshner (2 or 3 nos) in each coach.
3) Liquid soap in the wash basin and in the toilet.
4) 6 odd safaiwalas for the whole train.
5) Airtel ads and airtel pamphlets inside the train.
6) Vinyl coating outside.

Airtel has got nothing to do with rest of the services except for payment. BUT these airtel stickers on the rake completely take away the charm of sitting in the Rajdhani. The imposing livery of Raj was much better than this idiotic idea. The concept would have been much much better had they spared the windows. Well, we moved out of NZM and it was a brisk exit. We quickly accelerated to good speeds after TKD. Kindly bear with me for not mentioning the speeds (100kmph, 130 kmph etc) as I was not having any tool nor am I expert in guessing speeds. But when I say very high speed, I really mean it!! 1135 hrs, we crossed Jhelum Exp at a station.(AST I think). At 1140, a GR sped towards NZM.

I was surprised when at 1235 hrs we crossed MTJ Goods cabin!! I expected MTJ some 15-20 min later. We made a 1 min halt there. 27110 Ajni WAG7 led freight was in the station. As we accelerated out of MTJ, I grew curious as it was the first time that I was going towards Bharatpur instead of AGC!!! It felt good to say bye bye to AGC bound tracks. At 1300 hrs we crossed Bharatpur. Lunch was served just after that and it was very good. After my harrowing experience in BSP Rajdhani this came as a pleasant surprise. On the visibility from inside, it is reduced and it takes time to adjust. For the start the view from the opposite window was better than my own window!!! Till 1400 hrs the excellent high speed run continued. At 1405 hrs, we crossed Gangapur city. At 1525 hrs we crossed a three AC coach train headed by a WAP4. The run was really awesome.


1529 hrs, we rached Kota and were taken in pf 2. A train was exiting from pf 3, but I don't rcollect its whereabouts now. Spotted twin RTM diesels strolling light and the JS rake. We were in Kota till 1550 and it felt nice to climb down on the pf and have a walk!! An hour later I went to the gate to enjoy the speedy run. One thing tht I noted was that the distance between the up and down tracks is very large and that too for very long distance. No complaints however as it offers a very good view of trains going in opposite directions. It was a real good experience to be in the unexplored territory. We crossed Nagda and then came the Chmbal river!! It came quite unnoticed and unexpectedly!! In the AGC-GWL section, it is sandwitched between the famous Chambal ghats but here it just came. The speed limit over Chambal bridge is 120 kmph. We crossed Ratlam nonstop and met Swaraj (bound for Delhi). It was headed by a BRC WAP4.

As the sun made its exit for the day, I too went inside. H journey till now was really memorable and the train live dupto its reputation for nonstop high speed run. After dinner, I laid down in my berth waiting for BRC. We reached BRC at 2230. That was when I came across the sight for which I was waiting for ages!! The sight of a WCAM!! And the one I saw was WCAM2P which came in just after us with the AK Raj at the pf adjacent to us. The roaring of the generators of both the trains was something too much for the ears!! At 2246 we moved out of BRC and BRC-Mumbai SF was in another pf led by blue coloured DC loco 21813 (not sure) was its number.

After a wonderful day in the TVC Raj I thought of having a good sleep… afterall it was my only journey which was going to last 2 nights!!And not to mention the excitement of seeing KR next morning… Last thing I wanted was to miss the first glimpse of the majestic KR!!! Let me take the moment to thank IRFCA members for reminding me what to notice… I tried my best to catch a glimpse of as many beautiful sights I could but frankly speaking everything that came my way kept me hooked and all of it looked so special!!

It was at 05.40 AM when I woke up and we were at Panvel. Half an hour off the scheduled time but who minds..:-). And surprisinglythe morning tea was served!!1 Ay any standards 5.30 AM is too early to serve the morning tea!!! Well no worries…. I enjoyed the unfolding beauty from my seat only for sometimes and after half an hour or so I went to the gate…. I was really thrilled at the feeling of going through one of the most majestic terrains on IR. The first station that came to my sight was ROHA and few minutes later a board welcomed me into KR!!

As the time progressed we were swallowed in tunnels and our time inside the tunnels kept on increasing!!! I mean these are really hugeeee tunnels!!! It takes soo much time to cross them.. A WDMX in front, then an EOG and the roar of an EOG just one coach later inside a tunnel that lasts for over a couple of minutes is something I had never experienced before!!! The smell of diesel coming out brings a somewhat scary feelings!! Many many a times it felt like is there going to be light again or will we be in this darkness only!! And amazingly one after the other tunnels… ohh my God I just cant imagine how they dared to build such a route…

As I have freshly become an Engg, and tht too a civil engg my mind just couldn’t cease to admire the executors of this project…. Sucha difficult terrain and add to it the excessive seepage!!! I have never seen seepage earlier nor I could have imagined that it could be that heavy!!! I mean at some places it was as heavy as rains… It would have surely been a worthy effort to build all the water-drainage systems… All the tunnels were generally unlined.. (most of them.. kindly confirm).. and at least thrice I saw the tunnel preceeded by a waterfall…. There were so many tunnels and they continued till the evening and into the night as well till I went inside!!!

At 1100 hrs we started from Ratnagiri and were held up at Sangameshwar road for crossing of LTT bound GR. The best part of many stations of KR is there are tunnel on both the ends of many of them!!! A good sight to see the train coming out of it…1200 hrs.. we were held up again at Vilavade for crossing of LTT bound Netravati Exp. We were again held up at 1229 hrs and 1405 hrs, the latter for freinght crossing. We waited for JS at Kudal.

1508 hrs we waited at Sawantwadi Road for Marusagar Exp. I liked these crossings. Feels good inbetween to see people between tunnels!!! By now I was desperately waiting for Madgaon to come!! I was kinda bored from the tunnels…. We finally reached Madgaon and I again had a light stroll in the pf. The pf was crowded and we left from there at 1640 hrs a good 2 hrs behind schedule!!!
The run through the rest of the evening is something that I would never forget. The terrain is soooo beautiful.. I love the sights and sounds of the loco.. the smoke the lush greenery, the surroundings… all contributed to an arresting atmosphere… really it was the run of my life.. the best ever I had till date… Mild rains added to the charm and the tunnels that came now felt even more refreshing… the road that follows the track, the houses.. the fields… occasional bridges.. the setting was really superb./… even the stations that came.. Kanute, Karwar etc… I liked them a lot…

After it was dark and it was clear that nothing will be visible I went inside…. Actually we were held in a stn at 1920 for 20 min or so… The delay in reaching udupi means dinner was delayed as the PC staff informed that Rotis (Paranthas) are to be loaded from Udupi. With the beautiful sights and long tunnels still in my mind, I again went to sleep as I had to get up early morning and prepare myself for a grueling day in the refinery!!

When I got up in the morning we were at Thrissur. We were late by an hour or so while reaching ERS, Ernakulam Jn. We were taken in pf1 and we crossed non-stop through Aluva, Angamali for Kaladi and Ernakulam Town (ERN). Can somebody enlighten me why is a “for” inbetween “Angamali” and “Kaladi”? What dose these words mean?

All in all my longest journey in TVC Rajdhani from NZM to ERS was a very enthralling and memorable experience. A high speed non-stop electric run under wires on day 1 and a scenic ride amid mountains ravines and clouds with a smoke on a single line on day 2. For me the two diametrically opposite types of run and I got full experience of both in the same journey. Forgot to mention the Karbude Tunnel and Panval viaduct!! Well Karbude tunnel was just tooooooooo looong….. It literally felt like there is not gonna b day again!!!


I would really like to share the group that I am enjoying Kerela to the fullest. The state is really really beautiful and Kochhi I find the city as very serene, easy paced. But it closes too early (before 8 pm) and the buses really run like they are going to kill u!!! But for the scenic beauty I am really enjoying it. Its one month here and I am having an experience of a lifetime.

Well thanks a lot for patient reading.

NZM-BSP by CGSK... 01 july 2008

After spending 2 days in Delhi I was (for a change) returning from Delhi. This time I was booked on Chhattisgarh Sampark Kranti. Thankfully confirmed, so I expected the journey to be a bit comfortable as against I had in Gondwana a couple of days back. After finishing with the days proceedings in office at as early as 11.30 AM I proceeded to NZM. I was at the NZM by 1300 hrs. The first thing in my mind was "khaana!!" so i thought of trying comesum meal this time. At 55 Rs per plate its okok.. actually a bit better what we get in general but I feel could have been much better. After having lunch and some more looking around, I went to pf 3 at around 1445 hrs where Gondwana exp was berthed.

I kept standing in the scorching sun near the loco (WAM4/6P) for 20 min or so. I was determined to have a chat with LP!! He had apparently pushed the door to a closed position which obstructed my vision of loco interiors. When 10 min were left in the train departure, the elder one seemed to come near me.. I asked him in the loudest possible polite voice (to let him hear under the roar of loco) what does the 6P means. He answered (with some interest). Our further conversation was:

LP: What do you do?
me: I ve just graduated as an engg.

LP: banch?
me: civil engg

LP: Kahaan se? (From which college?)
me: I said Delhi college of engg.

LP: Outside Delhi ki students wahaan admission le sakte hain? (Are the outside Delhi students eligible to take admission there?)
me: Yes Sir, through AIEEE.

After this someone called from inside the loco. He went in and came out. After a brief pause he said rather determined..

LP: I want to have my son admitted in CIVIL ENGG only!!
me: (surprised.. what else)

LP: (contd.) What are the placement opportunities?
me: Ample.. many companies are there now a days..

LP: main usko sirf civil hi padhaoonga.(I will admit him only in civil engg..)

I was about to come to my interest.. ie my dream to get inside the loco.. but as my mouth opened.. so did the loco's!!!

And this time it was honking loud to announce its departure!! I quickly asked him if he wil carry on till Jhansi... He replied in affirmative and he wved the green flag... I loved his smiling face..... he kpt on waving the flag.. and waved me too with that!! I did the same.. and I cant describe how happy I was.. It was the first time in my life that I had chatted with an LP for that long!!

I counted the coaches.. It was 24 as usual.. (BSP-JBP combined). When the "x" of the train was receding in the catenary maze I said to myself..."Next I find this guy.. I will extrct a footplate session out of him!!" But then again said to myself.. "By the way who was that guy? By what name people call him??".. Then I realised.. how on earth did I forgot to ask his name??

Enchanted with the experience, I went to pf 5 where Mahakaushal was getting ready to depart. There was some trouble with the brake pipe of WAM4 and LP and some NZM staff were busy sorting it out. The LP didnt look in a nice mood and I thought better not to disturb him. There was a mad rush in the train.

There were several arrivals as well.. which I do not recall right now...

Tired of the heat, I sat in the stairs of the FOB.. Meanwhile a BSL WAM4 came in with LHB rake marked NR and halted at line no 2 from pf 3. At the sheduled time AK Raj came in pf 6 with WAP7 incharge. CGSK came in at pf 7 with BIA WAM4.

The run was good. The best part of the journey in this train is punctuality.. It generally keeps its time. And there is no menance of commuters!!! Dinner was served rather late by PC staff.. I enjoyed a good sleep... In the morning.. the atmosphere that greeted me was awesome!!!

The Bina-KTE section always brings up surprises. At one point we were like at the highest point in the region and the trees (as seen from my window) looked small.. it was an awesome sight. The atmosphere was moist with overnight rain and the surroundings were splendid. We were made to halt at "Salaiya" station for 20 min or so. It means we were running before time. We reached Katni Murwara on time. After a longish halt (15 min), we proceded up theramp and the bridge above the lines comin from BSP. Took a turn away from the KTE station and joined the lines which we had just crossed. The Katni station offered a pretty sight from above the ramp (briefly only).

Again a good run till Bhanwartonk. (near Khongsara). We were held up on a curve for more than 30 min. That was the only delay our train suffered. As we approached Bilapsur, our train halted at Uslapur!! I quickly packed my bag and detrained. My destination was 1 km from Uslapur and it would have been 10 km from Bilaspur stn!! (add to it further 8 kms left to reach BSP stn itself!!) A timely stop saves lots of time!!

Well the journey passed on pretty smoothly and the Khodri Khingsara section was again a treat to the eyes!!

Thanks for reading,...