Lone Trip to Vaishno Devi Katra
I planned this trip to visit Katra on February 1st week, and had only good connecting train was Andaman from MAS to SVDK ... and available had 68 seats when I planned.. and other trains like Uttar Sampark kranti , Jammu mail and other train had waiting list, Hence I booked in Andaman from MAS to SVDK in Sleeper class
Initially I planned to take MYS MAS express but in last minute changed my mind and took MYS MAS shatabdi, Starter link was LGD WAP7 30605,...
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Departed MYS 14.15hours from MYS and reached MAS by 21.40hours ..but booked retiring room at MS .. took auto to MS and took rest ... Next day early morning 4am again took auto to MAS to board Andaman, reached MAS around 4.25am same time TNP WDM2 with Andaman reached PF1 .. with my luggage I went to see Andaman link .. around 4.45am AJJ WAP1 22007 came and attached to andaman, after seeing I went to my coach.. train was almost empty ... my coach was also almost empty... two passengers came with UR ticket .. When TTE came they requested for confirm berth .. initially TTE said its difficult ...in intermediate stations passengers may board but later he allotted them berth and went... 5.15am train departed from MAS, I was awake till 7am and after that I went to my side upper berth and took some nap
got up around 10am since train had less crowd .. I sat in lower berth as it was track side... enjoyed the WAP1 speed , crossings from other side track
at BZA I met two Railfans, and it was great time with them ...
Next day morning Train was approaching Itarsi and weather was quite cold.... as usual co passengers started telling close window ... after ET departed I wanted to see Budni ghat ... I opened it again co-passenger started telling but that time I said no I want to see ghat section and I wont close it.. They also dint asked further.. and I started enjoying bhor ghat and was sitting in Lower berth side and day was quite pleasant and bit cold through out the day... at Dabra Gatiman overtook us... as evening came cold get started more and I closed the window
3rd day morning I woke up time was around 5am like that .. asked co passenger which station they said Dhuri junction, and by time train started departing from Dhuri Junction I went to door and saw those famous semaphore signals captured them from mobile though it was dark... by time My link was changed to Diesel ie TKD WDP4D 40598, I actually wanted to see loco change but due to cold conditions couldn't ... and I excited to see Ludhiana, Jalandhar side as it was my first time ... weather was cold and cloudy with lite drizzles .. again close window from co-passengers.. so I was opening window when my train was curving and closing it
Before Jammu Tawi .. Ravi river will cross.. after that my mobile connection got cut as my mobile is prepaid... by time one of co-passenger was military man.... and we had good talks
After Jammu tawi departs I was excited to see mountains, tunnels and brides ... Military man said some 14 tunnels will come ... Also I desperately wanted to see snow covered mountains till Udhampur couldn't see any snow covered mountains ... and was bit sad could not see any snow covered mountains... and crossed famous Tawi river bridge ... after sometime one tunnel crossed.. it was bit long.. after tunnel passed I was excited to snow covered mountains ....and Traveling in Train watching snow covered mountains is something blissful for Railfans like me and finally reached Sri Vaishno Devi Katra around 3.30pm weather was overcast with drizzles/lite rains
and when I reached Sri Vaishno Devi Katra felt like I was in Heaven
Return journey trip will continue as part2 after some-days
Thank you for reading .... forgive if I done any grammatical errors :)