This is Vrij signing out now. Hope to see you at NRM-2010 !!

Ciao!

The Winner is Mr Biswarup Basu who has taken the route of

TLCR-BBS-KGP-HWH-JSG-CSTM-MAO-NGC-ERS-SBC !!

VSP was for once beaten on this!!

Apu and Poochi show a marvellous video of the Dhulghat Spiral, crossing the Wan River and reaching Wan Road station.

A video of the Shiradi Ghats between Subramanyapura and Sakleshpur. Simply awesome!

Superb viaducts, amazing tunnels on the way. After having a look at the ardous terrain in the video, I’m so totally amazed at the way Ramdev Gowda, Pawan Koppa et al actually walked along the entire 55kms of the ghat track. Super Railfans, nay.. Super Gricers they all!

Dr Mulky

Manish

S Sivaramakrishnan

SAgar Tipnis

Ravi S

Joydeep

Apurva

Biswarup Basu

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Questions on infinite bounce method. 10 for a correct, straight or not.

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1. Name the railway station nearest to the pic:(Shencottah bridge)

2. Which train is 1063/64?

3. What is common to Navapur, Bhawani Mandi, jaraikela, Alyuabari rd?

4. 1 oct 1989 was important date in TMS in India. What system was changed on this day?

5. What are high capa electrically operated lifting jacks? (pic)

6. Name the diesel loco from the clues..
a. Merceded Benz MD 108DZ20 engine
b. Gooty Shed 18515-18522
c. Mainline diesel loco with hydraulic transmission.

7. Delivered in late 50s, these two types of locos ran on 3000V DC in Kolkata area, but were modified to run on 1500V in Mumbai area. What Class?

8. Which stations sole express is a Jan Shatabdi?

9. Raj Kharswan-Dongoposoi section of SER was the first to get what in 1960?

10. This sportsperson was recently promoted to Ast Commercial Manager from Chief Ticket Inspector. Name him.

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At the end of R1, Apu and Joydeep are eliminated.

Round 2:

1. Identify the station
a. Erstwhile MG station where you would wake up to MSS’s Suprabhatam on PA?
b. You could favour Degree kaapi here!
c. In MG days, MAS-RMM train reached this at 0530.

2. identify the station closest to loco shed of the loco in pic? (BGKT loco)

3. Nainital, Yelagiri, Amarnath, yercaud, etc have no stations. Whats the connection?

4. 2395 is Ibadat express. What is 2396?

5. Which historiucal railway to which this logo belonged? (Tiger and snake on logo)

6. What is common to stations with respect tothe train in the middle? (Kalka, Amritsar, MAS, BPL)

7. There is always a power outage when an AC EMU passes over neutral and only emergency lights are on. Which train?

8. Started in 1924 and it was 70% then. Now its 15%. Whats it?

9. Bangarpet,___, Oorgamum, Coromandel, BEML Nagar. Fill the gap.

At the end of R2, Nishant Sivaramkrishnan and Ravi get eliminated.

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Round 3

1. Find the odd one out? (A list of shatabdis)

2. Which train has 17 commercial stops in first 222kms of its run and none for the next 996kmm of its journey. Which one?

3. What innovation did Franklin Prestage supposedly design this innovation?

4. Identify station from clues
a. Image clue
b. Haldiram’s mithai photo
c. AP

5. Bed rolls are given free on all trains in AC except..

6. What does C stand for in pic?

7. Identify loco class from drawing.

8. Why is man in pic holding green flag in right hand and red in right hand?

9. what is exceptional about Birganj depot operated by CONCOR?

End of R3, Sagar and Biswarup are eliminated leaving Manish(70pts) and Dr Mulky(60) to fight it out for the Grand prize.

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Final Round

1. In old numbering what was the number of Patna-Ernakulam exp (6309/6310)?

2. What is connection of AB Walawalkar to IR?

3. What does this track side sign called and signify exactly? (pic)

4. Identify loco from clues…
a. Creep Control allows them to travel at sppeds of 1-7kms
b. 36000+ road number

5. Different types of parcel services. Class R???

6. Identify the organisation advertised in the pic?

7. identify loco in stamps of the 70s and 80s?

8. What is the first train listed in the TAAG?

9. Identify loco from builder plate? (Toshiba, Hitachi, Mitshubishi)

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End of Quiz.
Final Scores:
Manish & Dr Mulky are on 90 points each for a tie!!!

TBQs:

a. Boddavara, Shivalingapuram, Tyada, Chimipudi, Borraguhalu, Karaakavasala, ___,Araku . Fill

b. WAG-5 And WAG-5A between 21101 and 21138 are significant. Why?

Dr Mulky wins the Quiz !!! Congrats!

HWH-DHN-MGS, a Case Study.

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Tough working conditions

Dearth of quality time as block due to higher frequency of trains.

Only 4hrs a day out of the requisite 5hrs is available for maintenance and that too in separate spells.

Semi-skilled work force. Requires quality electrical, electronic, hydraulic, mechanical persons but that does not happen.

Away from family/ challenge to keep people motivated. Poor working and running conditions. No life or disability insurance cover.

Conflict of interest with other departments.
Practical paradox: Owner and Maintainer.
Engineering department owns, but Operating dept uses.

Technology Advancement and reskilling.

Importance and Evolution of TMO

Performance Analysis records.
Suggestions for improvements.
Being cost consciousness while being operationally proactive.
Manpower related suggestions. Occupational, health and social hazards should be looked into.

Need of a Principal co-ordinator at Zonal levels to provide an interface between the various departments like Engg/ Signalling/TRD/OHE/TM, etc.

At CNB 2008, Mr Bhavi gave a presentation about his role in expediting the BG conversion of the Bijapur-Bagalkot-Gadag section and make it up and running.

At CNB, Mr Bhavi had assured us that he would be back at BNC with something concrete done.

And true to his promise, he’s back with photographs of inaugration of the entire gauge converted section. It was thrown open for regular operations in Dec 2008.

Mr Ravi S gives a preview of this achievement and Mr Bhavi speaks about the details of the project.

Three Cheers to Mr Bhavi. Hip Hip Hurray!

India’s largest Thermal power plant with an installed capacity of 4000MW(info by Biswarup Basu) is coming up on this line, and so is a large steel plant. This route is also the nerve centre of Religious and Heritage tourism in Karnataka.

After 16 years of crusade, this line is now open. Now the agitation is on to get a train to Bangalore from Bijapur via Gadag.

Send answers to reunny@gmail.com before 1530hrs.

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Trainenquiry should be more reliable and have more features.

IRCTC reservations should be streamlined and updated.
Convert Upgrade scheme to Auction scheme.

SMS updates about upgrades, schedule changes, confirmation of reservations.

Superfast Trains: An overhaul of the definition.

More value added services for passengers who are willing to pay a nominal fee.

Private partnerships to provide various services.

Amazing presentation of the various aspects on MACL.

Hone, Distant, Outer, etc demystified.

Mr V Anand recalls anecdotes relating to signal misses and accidents relating to it.

Yes, the BNC2009 quiz is happening shortly. Once the prelims are over at the venue, the 20 questions will be posted on the blog here.

Please send your answers – answers only please to reunny@gmail.com – the deadline is 1500 IST. The person who gets most answers right will be shipped a prize! In case of a tie, the mail received earlier will be declared the winner.

No SMSing, Googling or Wikiing please!

Rules will be available on the blog.

Posted in Sessions

Members are reciting their names, their home sheds, favorite railfanning spots and favorite trains and locos.

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Pune-Miraj line, just 33kms away from PUNE.
It was MG till 1970.
BG and MG split at a particluar point.

Southern Maratha Railway laid MG line.
1886 Poone to Nira
SMR and SIR were merged in 1907.

Transferred to UBL division of SCR in 1966 when SCR was formed.
In 1996, when UBL was transferred to SWR, this line was transferred to CR.

While crossing Nira River, line moves to Satara Dist from Pune Dist.
MG distance from Pune to Nira was 70+kms, while BG distance is 84kms.

Ghats in MG starts after Phursungi.
Alandi was mid-ghat, 7kms away.
Almost completes ascends till Gurohli.
4 tunnels, 1 major bridge.

BG line gains 70m till Shindawne, 15kms from Phursungi.
Tracking the line using Google Earth imagery.

Some amazing snaps from trips to the line, including that of some unique viaducts and tunnels.

Amazing description of snaps and the stories behind the treks taken up by the Pune stalwarts and the many visitors who have been accompanied by them.

Simply awesome presentation by AsHIsh and Apurva. Kudos to both of them. And to John Mani, Bharath Moro and PVS Praveen who have also helped in chronicling the line.

Day 2 of the IRFCA Convention is more a railfan’s day.

We have more presentations which would be more fun.

And all of you should look forward to the quiz. This year, we have a totally new format and the quiz will be open for all of you too. Keep a tab on the blog for more details soon.

We had a good dinner last night and an even better breakfast this morning.

We start the Day 2 of the blog now.

Heading to the canteen for dinner and more interesting conversations!

Will catch up back tomorrow morning at 9AM.

Till then, this is Vrij signing out from the First day of BNC-2009. Hope you enjoyed the coverage.

Kerala during pre-1947 had 3 provinces.

State followed the Matriarchial system of inheritance and most rulers were old when they ascended the throne. Hence there was frequent change.

His Excellency Raja Rama Varma XV was Maharaja from 1895-1914 and was quite powerful and pro-active.

Madras-beypore line was a Coast to Coast line.

Talks of railway lines operated by State of Cochin.

Changes during the early stages of Cochin State Railway Company.
How Rajrishi made sacrifices by selling his personal valuables for funding projects.

Many hurdles came up but were overcame.

Line opened to passenger traffic in 1902 with Shoranur-Ernakulam terminus passenger train.

Other major details of the Cochin State Railway Company.

Types of locomotives and rolling stock.
N Class 0-6-0 locomotive was used.

Details of Ernakulam Terminus Station.
It had a Spencers outlet and South India’s only Diamond Crossing.

Presents the photographs of the present state of Ernakulum terminus.

Talks of the Cochin State Forest Tramway, details, photographs.

Snaps of early Timetables from the Bradshaw 1930. VSP is all ears n eyes…

Cochin Harbour terminus in South Indian railway. Snaps just before shut down in 2004.

Talk on the Design of Passenger Coaches.. Safety and Comfort.

Talks about the basics of the passenger coaches.

General Parameters: Gauge and Track Geometry, Axle load, bridges, Moving dimensions, Ergonomics.

Railways are the only mode of transport in which vehicles are designed to move with equal facility in either direction.

Limitations: Overcrowding, Personal habits, toilet and water requirements, literacy and profusion of languages, extreme weather conditions, thefts and vandalism.

Stages of development: Comfort
> Animal Drawn carriages
> Open wagons
> Covered wagons / Seats
> Lighting and ventilation
> heating and AC
> Noise abutment
> Communications and other facilities

Stages of Development: Safety
> Wooden to Steel shells
> Rigid framework to bogies
> Brakes, Alarm Chain, Emergency exits
> Suspensions
> Fire prevention
> Ergonomics

Bogie Design
> Limitations of rigid wheel sets
> Track Irregularities
> Primary and secondary suspensions
> Springs, dampers and air suspension

Interesting experiences
> First Class AC coaches
> Milk Tankers
> Double deckers
> Longer coaches (lock bars)
> Pantry car lounge for Rajdhanis
> AC Driving motor coach

Talk about hands-on railfanning!

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Simultaneously Poochi has exhibited photographs taken by various IRFCAns and would be used by IRCTC for official display purposes.

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Presentations by Mr V Anand and Jimmy Jose to follow in the extended session soon.

The next convention will be held in Delhi at the NRM.

There was absolutely no dissent and no bids against NRM.

Colin Peter passed on the token to Mr Mayank Tiwari for organising the next convention.

NRM… Here we come!

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Talks about all the projects that WE (including railfans) would like to do.

Improvements to existing museums like Kolkata and MYS.
Major improvements to NRM including interactivity.
RRM Chennai looking for smaller improvements.
RRM West – Lonavala would be a new museum.

Revival of steam.

Fairy Queen now has regular runs.
BG Bayer Garatt revived by SER in 2006.
MRL: revival of steam proposed.
Revival of Rewari Steam Centre.

We need to list Railway heritage.
Awareness and Capacity building.
Regular monitoring
Creating projects
These are something IRFCA can help in.

Mr Tiwari offers the NRM for hosting the next IRFCA Convention!! Awesome !

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Most comprehensive ToT ever for India. Includes entire technology plus technology of the original equipment suppliers.

Training of IR personnel in GM-EMD factories in USA/Canada.

Do you know what the GT46MAC abbreviated for?

G: Single Cab
T: Turbo charged
M: Full width cab
AC: AC TMs

M does not stand for Mixed as is popularly thought. And there is no GT46PAC!! PAC is only an Indian corruption of terminology!

EMD locos NEVER need a POH.
Maximum stall starting torque of 54tonnes.
Higher fuel and lube efficiencies.
Very low maintenance loco
Max dynamic braking effort of 27tonnes
On board testing of loads of parameters.
16 cyliner 2 stroke 4000hp 710G3B loco.

Diagrams of the loco interiors and engine layout shown.

Complete lowdown of the locos, details of all parts.

The loco computer has information about every function, malfunction and events taking place. Includes speed recorder, power generation record.

EM2000 software helps in running a self load test without the need of a loadbox.
Opposite Direction braking (‘discovered’ just 6 months back!)
Alerter vigilance control system.
Automatic sanding and AEB.
Locked wheel/ slipped pinion detection.

Computer based Electro-pneumatic Air Brake system.
A Radar Transceiver compares linear speed and wheel rotation speed to minimise slip or give controlled slip.

Comparison between WDM-2/WDG-3/WDG-4/WAG-7/WAG-9 locos based on performance.

Surpasses all emission standards.

IGBT better than GTO

Upgraded to 4500HP now.
Has resulted in use of only 4 locos vs 6 on the Shiradi Ghats.

EMD locos now at UBL, KJM, SGUJ, BGKT.
Planned at Sabarmati, GY, BNDM and R !!

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Shubhranshu now takes questions.

As for Dual cab locos, there was some issue in communications between the two cabs.
It is under the process of development and next year 2 such prototype locos would be manufactured.

Love Bangalore for its food.

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FYI, the pic on the blog page header is actually an old pic of the Steam Loco shed at Bangalore Cantonment!

Bouquets and mementos are presented to all the dignitaries by our young railfans.

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Off to Lunch now !

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A Photo exhibition sponsored by IRCTC is also being held simultaneously.

Book written by Dr Joydeep Dutta and Mr. Sachin Sharma

Book Release by Mr Praveen Kumar.

First Copy to Mr V Anand.

Mr Mayank Tiwari of NRM is the Publisher.

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Comments by the authors and by our Alco fan  Apu !

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Talks about Metros being a ‘municipal subject’ rather than a state/central subject.

Details about the Phase I which is under construction, scheduled to be ready by 2012.

A preview of the future Phase II project.

Rakes feature ATP (Automatic Train Protections) and ATO (Automatic Train Operations) which can even mean that a train can run driverless.

Lots of curves in the routes so that it covers the most populated areas of the town. The DMRCL has incorporated this feature in its design for BMRCL after a few complains about this in Delhi.

6 car rakes to be powered by 750V DC third rail, a first for India.

All safety aspects taken into account. Abouy 8.8km of the metro would be underground.

Excellent compensation paid to those who have lost their residential/commercial properties. Only about 5% of the metro line would require land acquisition. Most of it on GOI/GOK properties.

Extensive details about the metro being presented.

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Mr Sivasailam takes questions from the delegates.

He talks about the days he started off as a Mechanical Engineer at Jamalpur Workshops, at other places like Andal, Ajmer, etc.

Mr Kumar says that he got married to the Indian Railways 41 years ago and in true Indian Style, it had Romance after marriage which runs in his blood till the day…

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He talks about the Ghats of the country comparing the KSR in the north, DHR in the East, NMR in the south and Neral-Matheran in the West to the ‘Chaar Dhaam’ for Railfans.

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He talks about the ghats on the SWR, the Briganza and the Shiradi Ghats.

He labels the majestic Doodhsagar Falls as the Railway Falls as there is no better place to experience these falls from. 50% of the Briganza ghats is comprised of curves.

An audio-video presentation is on about the ghats and how they are the lifeline of the SWR. Wonderful scenes from the Briganza and a super presentation about the WDG-4.

Extensive detailing about the working of the ghat section, the way each parameter of the freight train and the locos are checked before being allowed to tackle the ghats.

Only locos which are equipped with AEB (Auto Emergency brakes) are allowed on the ghats. 59 BOXN loads on the Briganza are run with Pentaheaded WDG-4 locos in the lead and triplets to bank. Earlier sets of 3+2+3 were used.

These sets are used only on the QLM-CLR sector. Three out of the five locos are cut off at either end and the train continues with twin locos.

New training centres including a loco simulator to train the LPs. Newer and better facilities for the running staff like brand new and hassle free running rooms result in better performance.

‘We Care, We Serve’, says Mr Kumar.

Mr Kumar says that the EMD locos were not used earlier than 2007 in the Briganza as their introduction was slowed down by the naunces of our famed beureaucracy.