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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