Part - 4 : The Sequel.
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For those, who have not read
Part - 1: /blog/post/5903996
Part - 2: /blog/post/5913406
Part...
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- 3 : /blog/post/5961290
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At 10:02 hrs, the chuggers with the diamond logo loudly sang it's customary song to give some way for them, duly indicating departure from maltekdi. Realised there was only a very thin chance for me to catch the Tapovan express. Chug - Chug - Chug, the ALCo twins puffed out the smoke, and slowly strolled towards Nanded, though we arrived at 10:05 hrs on the platform 2 i.e, mainline platform with a delay of 2h 35m, to find that the other platforms were empty, clearly indicated that I had missed the tapovan express.
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Took a stroll to entrance on the platform - 1 side, and noticed the display board to find that both departure of tapovan and arrival of our train was supposed to be at platform 2. Can't know the reason behind receiving it after tapovan, but it could have been much useful if our train was received at platform - 3 without trolling much since we entered Nanded division, so that a cross - platform transfer could have been ensured for people bound to parbhani / Jalna / Sambhaji Nagar / nagarsol(shirdi). Or if it has got a better priority in Hyderabad division, the magnitude of delay could not have grown to this extent. Anyways, things had happened, and my stomach was growling in its own language, sternly advised me to break the fast for the day.
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Since the level of tiredness has evolved a lot in these hours, started to think that when, at the earliest would I be able to reach my destination since I have an exam the very next day. So, continued marching towards the bus stand, that's mere less than a kilometres distance, which was situated in a dusty environment. Immediately after reaching, had some break fast and enquired about the bus service towards Sambhaji Nagar, and the people in the counter were, it would take an hour or so for the next bus. Checked the road distance between Nanded to Aurangabad to find that the train is 40 kms shorter, and would take comparatively lesser time. Was able to see MSRTC buses to various destinations like bidar, latur, adilabad, kinwat, akola, and some TSRTC buses towards bhainsa.
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Headed back to the railway station to find that the next train bound for Aurangabad was at 12:30 hrs, probably at platform - 1. Though 60 minutes was remaining for that train to arrive at platform - 1, and checked the running status of our train to find that our train has already entered the Maharastra and traveled few kilometres, but did not reach mudkhed by then. But for my surprise, the platform is already crowded with no place to sit on the bench. Now, a classical DLW liveried WDM 3A twins of Moula ali, previously belonged to gooty, made entry with the electrification tools van at the platform - 1 from Purna side. Slowly strolled to platform 2, since there was place to sit, and was less crowded comparatively.
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Time went on and it was 40 past 12. Since that was the onset of summer, the temperature was very high and in the scorching heat, it was difficult to sit, sweating out more. Now that at platform - 1, the crowd increased to a greater extent that there was no place to stand. Checked out the live station status at the WIMT to find the next train towards Sambhaji Nagar, erstwhile manmad passenger from Kacheguda, at the time of my journey it was Rotegaon express, now that it is extended to nagarsol, was detained for more than 20 minutes at Mugat that is few stations ahead of mudkhed, and Narkher bound intercity express from kacheguda was closely following it. The Kacheguda bound express from Narkher was undergoing reversal at Purna.
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Now that another 40 minutes has gone, no announcement was made for any train, and no signs for any of the train to arrive. Checked the WIMT status to realise that our train has been detained further at Mugat, and Narkher bound intercity from Kacheguda has been detained at the next station, magnitude of delay significantly increased for both. Realising the priority it gets in the delay, checked the next train towards Sambhaji Nagar other than the Rotegaon passenger, it was Pune bound daily overnight train from Nanded, that is supposed to depart at half past 3. Checked the current availability in the same to find there was only 6 seats vacant between pune and sambhaji nagar, booked it off without any hesitation, and got upper berth. After a long time, heard a quadrilingual announcement made for Narkher bound express from kacheguda to arrive at platform - 2, indicating that it had overtook the Rotegaon express at Mugat.
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Time was now ticking to 14 hrs, and a loud honk, suggestive of EMD was heard, finally sign of a train arriving. and Gooty based single cab EMD, with usual livery and short hood front, slowly pulled the Kacheguda bound express from Rotegaon into platform - 1, with was bustling with the crowds, with a delay of 1 hour. And another gooty based single cab EMD, with Narkher bound express from kacheguda, made its entry at mainline platform simultaneously, with a significantly huge delay. Finally a train arrived from mudkhed side I sighed. It was very much surprising to see a passenger, disguised as express with 19 general coaches. But, it would be very useful to accomodate the people as this passenger and it's RSA are unique passenger trains in their entire stretch and they are crowd pullers as well.
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And given the overcrowding of sleeper class by unreserved passengers in Marathwada region, this is better though it deserves some extra pairs of passenger train in this region with good priority run (mentioning this since most passenger trains here get less priority run wise and tends to get delayed). And, train is being a better option compared to buses here, which are comparatively much slower. Quadrilingual announcements were made simultaneously for the delayed sachkhand express, that is supposed to arrive at platform - 4 around this time, and for both the trains to depart, and they simultaneously March out with the sounds, thadak - thadak. Now that one more hour was remaining for my train to depart from Nanded and my train taking a deep sleep at the sick line along with the locomotive it is supposed to haul it.
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Now that from a distant could hear a faint honk, suggestive of EMD locomotive, was coming closer from Purna side, and now, this EMD was appearing as if it was drenched in the blue paint with stripes in the center, freshly painted. Yes, it was a krishnarajapuram based single canned EMD with bleed blue livery, that was steadily decelerating at the mainline platform with Kacheguda bound intercity express from Narkher. There was good boarding crowd in my platform as deboarding. And now, that the announcement was made for Rotegaon bound passenger, disguised as express to arrive at the main line platform, and within few moments, EMD with a similar description mentioned above, but the three difference being the serial number, the shed it belonged to and the orientation of the locomotive. Yes, the latter one belonged to gooty that towed the heavily delayed Rotegaon express at platform 2. Now deboarding was greater than boarding, given the delay of the train and within an hour that Pune bound express also departs in the same direction, is much faster than this one to reach Jalna, sambhaji nagar regions. The Kacheguda bound express departed from the mainline platform, that is platform 3, after a brief halt.
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Quadrilingual announcements were made for the triweekly from one of the major port city in the south east part of our country, to arrive at platform - 1 shortly, as Rotegaon bound gaadi took a short nap at Nanded. A gooty based double cabbed dull white EMD pulled a brownish red empty LHB coaches into platform 1 shortly and it was 10 minutes to 15 hrs now, yes, the train from vizag arrived it's destination with a delay of more than 75 minutes. One need to note the line-up getting affected due to the detention of Rotegaon bound express, few stations ahead of mudkhed, for reasons unknown. After a while, when it was minutes past 3, the EMD that is bleeding blue, steadily accelerated with the 19 coacher from the mainline platform.
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Twas only 15 minutes remaining for our train to depart Nanded and no signs of our locomotive and rake to wake up from the deep sleep, Now a gooty based single cabbed hummingbird, made a silent and steady deceleration into mainline platform. It was a tiny load Nanded bound passenger from manmad, arriving before the stipulated time. Twas only 10 minutes more for our train to make its departure in the scheduled time and quadrilingual announcements started for our train to depart at its scheduled time from the mainline platform. Meanwhile, heard a loud honk blazed out from the puneri EMD that was coupled with the rake of our train, indicating that it woke up from a deep sleep, now slowly took a stroll towards the Purna side and eventually, reversed back into platform - 2.
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One noteworthy thing was, when the puneri EMD with two cabs, blazed out the honk at the sick line only, that the unreserved class passengers they managed to open a door of general compartment and started boarding while the rake was shunted to the platform, and within the rake reached the platform that sitting became full in that train and now crowd started squeeze into the single unreserved coach that was present next to generator car. Not sure of the coach that is present in the rear end, went towards my coach and boarded the train, settled in my seat. 5 minutes after the chaos of the crowd to board this daily train bound to pune, We started accelerating our from the mainline at Nanded at the scheduled departure time, attained MPS after a short while and maintained it till Purna outers.
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One noteworthy thing is that, this was introduced with 15 LHB coaches, with 4 3A, 5 SL, 1 2A, 1 1A, 2 UR, 1 EOG and 1 SLRD, and it's RSA, the Panvel bound train from Nanded via pune, had good number of UR and 13 sleeper classes. Both should have given RSA at LHB version with a CC of the latter i strongly believe, given the overcrowding on my train. TTE came to my coach once train made a slow arrival into Purna, and made all the people without the reservation ticket to go towards unreserved coach. Once TTE had disappeared, again that unreserved passengers slowly started to appear. This situation was not controllable as the no of coaches were very less. As our train arrived Purna, could see the pair of locomotive that hauled our akola bound special from Tirupati, all the way from Tirupati to Purna, taking a deep sleep.
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We depart Purna after halting briefly , as gooty based dual cab EMD with a tiny rake of akola bound passenger train from parli departing simultaneously. The scenes of our hummingbird thats hauling our train, making a rapid acceleration after departing Purna through the Purna river bridge in the evening light and the calm weather, That dhak - dhak, dhadak - dhadak sounds, was an audio visual treat as it negotiated a big curve ahead. Also, could also witness the hummingbird emitting out the smoke as it accelerates, from my coach.
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The co passengers in my bay initiated conversation with me, and yes, chatted with them for quite some time and they were courteous. Since that I had travelled for more than one and a half day, which was quite tiring, started to sleep in bouts while sitting. Woke up in the middle to find our train at parbhani with a delay of 10 minutes at the mainline platform. Yes, it was making its customary jerk indicating the arrival, that woke me up. Meanwhile, the Rotegaon bound express, which departed much ahead of us was sleeping at parbhani after getting looped and people bound to partur, selu, Jalna, sambhaji nagar and manmad changed to our train and now that the Rotegaon bound express becoming quite empty.
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And, we got starter after a brief halt, and we started to move out of parbhani steadily, overtaking the Rotegaon bound express. I also, resumed my sleep. Woke up for a moment, where our train was looped for more than 30 minutes, with identical looking WDG 3A twins based at moula ali with Nagarsol bound superfast from narasapur and sachkhand express back to back, with a delay of more than 4 hours crossed us at selu. Again resumed my sleep, once our train departed selu to woke up at Jalna at platform - 2, the mainline platform, and hyderabad bound express from Aurangabad (erstwhile passenger) that was rescheduled by 2 hours on that day, arrived at platform - 1, with moula ali based WDG - 3A twins. Now that we were delayed by 30 minutes, expected janshatabdi from CSMT to arrive any time at Jalna, thought that we could be halted for some more time for halt.
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When I checked the WIMT, it showed that the janshatabdi has departed badnapur. A sudden jerk, indicating departure of our train, steadily accelerated and maintained MPS. Was quite shocking since for my knowledge, there was no looping station between badnapur and Jalna, and that WIMT showed that Jalna bound janshatabdi is 5 kms away from Jalna. To my surprise, after few moments that our train attained maximum speed, could see two trains looped at my left side. But, there was no platforms on the either side. When I saw a small building (supposing it to be a cabin), the station building read dinegaon. I was never aware of such a station till date. The Marathwada express bound to Dharmabad, the state border from manmad with moulali ALCo twins and Jalna bound janshatabdi from CSMT was looped at the adjacent loop lines as we cruise through the station at maximum speed. Meanwhile the people in our bay was chatting for some time, and to my right side, was able to see an airport after crossing chikalthana station. Indicating that we have reached the city limits of Aurangabad, people in my bay started getting ready to deboard the train. We arrived at platform - 1 of Aurangabad after few minutes, exactly on time. It took more than 5 minutes for us to deboard the train since many unreserved passengers and reserved passengers from my coach deboarded and my seat was in center of the coach.
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Sighed with a great relief after arriving at the destination. As per plan i was supposed to reach here by afternoon. But was content that atleast that I could reach by night. Thank God, I was able to reach my exam center atleast the night before exam. Went towards hotel, for a good night's sleep after a trip of nearly 48 hrs, and to face the exam the next day.
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It has been a very long write - up till now. For people who read it till this point, please give a comment. It would really encourage me. Thumbs up for you.
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Thank you for reading everything patiently.

PART - 2 : Priority in the home division.
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For those who have not read part - 1 : /blog/post/5903996
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Amidst that huge crowd, somehow I managed to come to platform -...
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1, which was comparatively very much free amidst the bustling crowds at platform 2 and 4 respectively. Meanwhile saw a Gooty based EMD and Guntakal based diamond twins waiting at the yard. Wondering which among the both will be powering my train, went towards the IRCTC canteen for breakfast, had 4 idlis for rs. 70, which is kind of overpriced, given the size of idlis, but okay to sate the hunger at that instance.
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After breakfast, headed towards the katpadi end of platform - 1. Meanwhile, noticed that three DEMU coaches were attached to the end of the express bound to Puri, awaiting it's departure shortly, wondering where would that be detached. Took some rest sitting there, some track works were going on at the end of platform - 1. Ten minutes after puri express was given starter, an express (passenger) from Villupuram made its entry with Erode based WAP - 1. Made order for my lunch from zomato and waited for some half an hour, got a call to come and recieve order outside and recieved the same, came and saw the display panel which displayed the regular weekly special which runs to akola is supposed to depart from platform - 5 on its scheduled time as there was 30 more minutes to depart.
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Walked towards platform 5, was eager and anxious at the same time, wondering which one among the two mentioned previously would be leading my train. Saw from some distance, orange diamond twin WDM - 3D, 11122 + 11169T, was chugging slowly towards platform - 5, to get attached to my train, witnessed that attachment process, was enjoying the beauty of Guntakal twin ALCo for a moment. Now was wondering where would me my coach. As side lower was allotted after charting at S1, wished that S1 was at front half of the train so that I can enjoy the honking, chugging and speeding train audio-visually. Was happy enough to note that my coach was 7th. Prayed before entering the coach, to ensure my safe arrival at the next transit point and the destination. Entered the coach, to realise that my berth was track sided. Though majority of the route is a single line till date, yes it is good. Still 20 more minutes was there. So, severed my luggage, went and refreshed myself, and had lunch within my train was supposed to depart. Immediately after I complete my lunch and threw my waste, the diamond twins giving a loud honk, indicating departure...
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Our train departed bang on time, and after clearing the loop lines, ALCo started chugging it's heart out through the suburbs of Tirupati. Was able to see the sapthagiri from the window of my train, made prayers for success of my exam and this trip. It was a sunny weather, with some heat, the air was blazing through the window as our train picked up speed, which was quite pleasant, and seeing the seven hills, and enjoying the musical sound of ALCo chugging, except for the sense of tongue and olfaction, it was a treat.
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Our train continued to maintain the top speed of the section as the intercity from coimbatore, which is supposed to arrive it's destination in short while, was looped at chandragiri, and some WAP - 4 was leading that train. Pakala arrived in no time, and I started experiencing some effects of post meal (was slightly dozing off). Our train departed pakala on time, i was eager to see that section after it got electrified. Picked up top speed of the section after some time. Terrain started changing after our train crossed damalacheruvu, witnessed the changing gradients, ups and downs the train went. Our train arrived pileru at 10 to 2pm. was waiting more than 5 minutes. Believed that it should be crossing of some train. after 10 minutes of wait, I witnessed a chocolate beast from vijayawada, pulling a puny rake of delayed Guntakal - tirupati passenger, which was delayed around an hour. That train had good crowd.
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This was the first instance that I am witnessing a train hauled by an electric loco, BZA WAG - 5, hauling a train in this section. After our train departed pileru, started studying for exam for some time, meanwhile enjoying the high speed action of my train, which was hauled with diesel based power. Madanapalle road came in no time and our train departed the same after a brief halt. Remembered how pole free it was before few years and now, with poles, it was adding further beauty to this station. I started dozing off, slept for some time, woke up some 10 minutes later, anticipating one another scheduled crossing. Woke up before mulakala cheruvu.
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I was continuously checking the running position of Nagercoil express, and NTES showed that it departed Kadiri. Within some moments, when my train kept speeding up, noticed some WAP - 7 hauled train being looped. Though expected the reverse to happen, it was Kalyan based one, looped with the four weekly train to nagercoil from Mumbai, which is supposed to undergo reversal after 2 hours of its run. Arrived kadiri with a delay of nearly 40 minutes. Again dozed off with the revision video in my phone, woke up to find that my train was flying at MPS and 10 more kilometres to arrive Dharmavaram. The speed it maintained among that plateau terrain, and the weather, was a sight to behold till date. The scenes of town arrived at no time, indicating that we were nearing dharmavaram. We arrived on time at platform - 4.
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One thing I would definitely suggest as a common traveller, one must definitely attempt a day time travel in the section of pakala - dharmavaram, which will definitely provide you with lots of visual treats, especially in winter, the climate also will be pleasant. Noticed the LHB rake of Dharmavaram - Vijayawada (now extended to machilipatnam) via prodattur was sleeping at platform - 2 with some Lallaguda based WAP - 7.
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As our train was looping out of dharmavaram, clearing more than 2 loops to enter the double line section of dharmavaram - kalluru, a WAG 9 based freight was about to enter dharmavaram. As we clear the loop, our train started picking up some speed and that was one among the four double line section this train would witness. Our train arrived at Ananthapuram at around 30 mts after departure and a good no of boardings here. After halting for a moment, our train chugged our of anantapuram. Surprised to found that the section of dharmavaram to kalluru being fully doubled, against the single line it used to be at Ananthapuram before few years. travelled in this section after a long while.
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As dusk was slowly settling up, our train was also picking up good speed, realising that could not peep much outside the window thereafter, took the notes and started studying for exam. After some 50 minutes, noticed a line branching out at the right side of my train, and making some elevation, after negotiating a curve. And those elevated track was surrounded with platforms with station boards mentioning "gooty fort", byepass station for gooty from Ananthapuram side to tadipatri side. And a WAG - 9 twin hauled BOXN rake was sleeping. We simultaneously negotiate a huge C - shaped curve and arrive gooty at 25 past 6. Halted for less than a minute and our train made a loud honk and flashing green torch, indicating the departure. Switched tracks, as we cross the den of EMDs and WAG - 9, the gooty diesel loco shed, then we started accelerating towards dhone, again entering the single line.
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I was very much surprised to find that gooty - dharmavaram part was completely doubled, and was happy. Since I was traveling after few things, was not aware of the conditions. Meanwhile, i started looking at IRCTC to check ticket availability for my return journey, and trains having huge waitlist even in the mid of the week, realised that the only remaining option was premium tatkal. Sun started setting as we again start to switch tracks, indicating the arrival of pendekallu. We enter the second double line section out of four, which is very brief one, only untill dhone junction. We immediately start to accelerate once we enter the mainline towards dhone, and hit MPS in no time. Already it was dark outside, and clock was ticking 7 pm, and started feeling hungry already, wondering where to avail the dinner, and thought to buy at dhone, was tracking with WIMT, the speed and position of our train. After a continuous run at maximum speed after pendekallu for 25 minutes, we make an arrival at platform - 1 of Dhone junction, at 7.25 pm, against its scheduled arrival of 8.05pm, arriving 40 minutes early. Two frieghts were sleeping adjacent to each other and as we arrive, announcement was made for howrah bound amaravathi express to arrive shortly at platform 2.
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Given that there is less crossings, it got excellent priority at home division to arrive 40 minutes early at division handover point. in part - 3, let's see if i arrive my next transit point on time. Till then, ciao...
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Thanks for patiently reading, apologies for writing in a lengthier way, since this is one such trip close to my heart..
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Part - 3 : /blog/post/5961290

PART - 3: Special getting special treatment.
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For those, who have not read
Part - 1: /blog/post/5903996
Part - 2: /blog/post/5913406
....
more...

As there used to be gap between the two freight bogies, which was exactly present near the track sided window seat of mine, I was checking the running status of amravati express, eager to see it's link. In a short while, I was able to hear a loud honk following which amaravathi express bound to howrah slowly strolled into platform 2 of Dhone Jn, lead by some WAP 4 locomotive. Could not figure out the shed.
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After this, went to the platform, strolled towards locomotive and came back, there was some shop selling only idlis and vadas, got some and had my dinner. Cost was 60 rs for 4 idlis and 2 vadas and taste was decent. still 10 minutes was there for departure of my train, and announcement was made for vijayawada bound amaravathi from hubbali at platform 2.
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Our train departed dhone bang on time. since the whole day for me went in continuous journey and two transits already, was tired enough and laid down bed and started sleeping immediately after the train departing dhone. Actually had an idea that there will be a huge lineup for crossing thereafter till mahabubnagar post which will be double line, and expected that will wake up post kamareddi. Slept for a while and started sweating after some 10 - 15 minutes of sleep to find out that our train has been looped at Bogolu, the very next station of Dhone junction.
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Wondering that is it looped for crossing with some goods train, started to check the line-up on the opposite that is supposed to cross us within mahabubnagar, and surprised to see that the Passenger train from Kacheguda to Guntakal is more than 3 hours delayed as of now is yet to reach dhone and this is the one that was supposed to cross us. After some 10 mts halt, was able to hear a loud honk of alcos and their chugging and lights started to come closely. It was diamond twins (Guntakal based WDG - 3A twins), powering the puny rake of 12 coaches.
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Now the status of on time has gone to the status of "delayed by 20 minutes", and again I resumed my sleep. Again, I woke up when my train was stopped at kurnool. When I checked the time in my phone, it was 2215 hrs, so the delay increased from "20 mts" to "1hr20mts". Anyways i expected this to happen due to huge line up at the opposite direction is supposed to cross our train within our train reaches the third double line section we are supposed to witness, and expected to make up the lost time at Kacheguda, and started sleeping again.
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Woke up for the third time, this time it was 0220 hrs when i woke up and opened the windows to find that my train has just arrived kacheguda with the delay of 40 mts, indicating it had recovered it's delay in third of four double line section this train passes. Surprising to see that there were some deboarding and boarding in this train even at this odd hours. Then, i continued my sleep again.
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Woke up for the fourth and the last time, this time it was 0510 hrs, and anticipating that our train should have crossed atleast kamareddy by now, opened the window to find that our train has been looped at akanapet platform - 2. So the delay has been increased to 1h40m now. Then, started refreshing myself for the next day, brushed my teeth and heard a distant honk, indicating that it is some EMD hauling the train. As it slowly arrived at platform 1, i actually expected it to be Nanded - Tandur express, but train board indicated it as Krishna express. Now it is getting electric traction till its destination all the way from adilabad.
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Our train started moving after Krishna express departed akanapet. Since I was travelling after long time in that section and that trains started plying on 17 km new railway line to medak, I was eager to see the bifurcation of line to medak from akanapet, even at those cold dark hours, went to the free left sided window and when i saw, the Kacheguda bound morning passenger train from medak with Guntakal based WDG - 3A in long hood front, was patiently waiting for our train to clear the line to enter the akanapet.
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Our train eventually started gaining speed once we departed akanapet and slowly, the sun started appearing for the day. Maintained at full speed till we arrived kamareddy platform 2 at 0600 hrs, which is a mainline platform, expected a quick takeoff during departure.Now delay of our train has become 2 hrs. Our train made a slow and a steady departure, though being in mainline platform, and the platform 1 and nearby sick line has been occupied by the goods train, facing towards nizamabad, hauled by gooty based EMDs. Slowly picked up speed and again decelerated this time, and got looped at uppalavai this time. Checked WIMT app to find that the legend of this route, the Ajanta Express is supposed to cross us at anytime and the weekly visakhapatnam from sainagar shirdi is also closely following us.
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Heard a loud honk, suggestive of ALCO locomotive, negotiating the upgrade towards uppalavai and made a quick entry with ajanta express, skipped at a very good speed. Moula ali based WDG - 3A twins was hauling it. No signs of departure even after ajanta express crossed us. Checked WIMT again to find that the weekly visakhapatnam could cross us at anytime now. This time, a shrill loud honk, and Moula ali based WDG - 3A twins was powering it, and it was sprinting through uppalavai towards its next scheduled halt at kamareddy. After it departed, our train got starter and entered the mainline. Witnessed the beautiful ghat like section that's present between uppalavai - sirnapalli section of Kamareddy - Nizamabad section, lush green forest, chill morning and speed restriction of 80kmph, this time as an extra addition could see electrical poles with wires. Yes, travelled in this section last time when only till medchal these were found.
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After crossing sirnapalli, our train picked up speed and maintained the MPS, till our train reached dichpalli, the station before nizamabad, and it is a crossing station, and as usual, our train was looped. After some 15 - 20 minutes, Gooty based WDG - 4 twins made a very slow and casual entry with BOXN rakes, entered dichpalli, and we were given starter after a long wait at dichpalli. Arrived nizamabad at platform - 1 around 0810 hrs, now delay increasing to 3 hours. Got down to get some snacks this time, and suddenly our train was given starter, for less than 2 minutes that it halted there. immediately boarded the nearby coach and went to my berth.
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As our train departed nizamabad, saw some WAG - 5 twins parked in station outers towards mudkhed side, was kind of surprise for me. Last time when i travelled in this section, it was pole free and diesels were dominating this section. Our train picked up MPS and skipped jankampet in a very good speed. Maintained good speed till basar and skipped basar at MPS, till where the electrification works were done when I was travelling, after that, it was a pole free zone, with just the foundation works complete. Crossed the state border and entered Maharashtra, and our train arrived Dharmabad within 30 mts of departing nizamabad, and made a short halt for a minute at platform 1 and departed.
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As I was heading to Sambhaji Nagar / Aurangabad, before booking, I checked the arrival/departure status at Nanded for a sequence of 4 weeks, indicating that maximum it reaches with a delay of 90 minutes, thought that if not for sachkhand, atleast I can manage to catch the tapovan express to Sambhaji Nagar. So, with the current pace of the train, thought that atleast we could be able to reach Nanded by 0930 hrs and atleast could able to catch Tapovan, and checked for current availability between NED and AWB. since there was no availability in 2S, booked in ACC.
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After Dharmabad, our train picked up speed and maintained MPS, and slowed down, again this time was looped at karkheli, a station devoid of electric poles at that time, now fully under wires. Waited for 10 minutes and a gooty based EMD twins made entry with BCNA rakes at a decent to good speed. After this crossed, starter was given and we depart karkheli.
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After giving way for so many trains right from Bogolu, this time, after departing, we maintained good pace till mudkhed outers, anyway after mudkhed it is double line till its only reversal point. I still had the hope to catch Tapovan by now. I went to the left side window and enjoyed our long train, hauled by ALCo twins, beautifully negotiating the huge curve before we enter the mudkhed junction. As we enter, i could see that even the wiring was completed towards adilabad side, and poles were laid in pole pits when i travelled.
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Unusually, our train made entry into platform - 4 of mudkhed at 0930 hrs, late by 2h40m as of now, taking much loops from the mainline, though the platform 1, 2 was free, this made me to wonder why. Some good amount of deboarding and boarding I was able to see at mudkhed for this train. Some LHB rake was parked at sick line and UBL based WDG - 4D and WDG - 4 was sleeping at platform - 3. After a brief halt of 5 mins, our train departed mudkhed, entered main line after taking multiple loops again, now entering the fourth double line section among 4 double line section that our train supposed to pass through. Slowly, the hope of catching tapovan express started fading away, but still had some hope to catch it.
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As we enter the mainline, our train starts chugging, as at the home signal in the opposite line, Kalyan based WDP - 4D cab 2 faced, with shining new LHB coaches of devagiri express, was waiting for us to give way for it to enter mudkhed. Sleeper class and unreserved was way much overcrowded. Many coaches had markings of ER. As we crossed it, we maintained MPS of 110 kmph, once we neared Nanded city limits, we started slowing down and as we approach maltekdi, one of the station in Nanded suburbs, our train halted. It was 8 minutes to 10 hrs, and still I had the same 8 minutes to catch Tapovan express, and it is just 3 kms from maltekdi to Nanded.
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Did I reach Nanded within 10 hrs? Did I catch the tapovan express to Sambhaji Nagar? Stay tuned for the final part.
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Thanks for reading it patiently.
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For part - 4, the sequel : /blog/post/5969328

Nanded Series -I

Moula Ali homed #14573 WDG3A + #14045 WDM3A pair departs Purna with #07605 Tirupati - Akola Special Fare towards Akola jn after rake reversal and Loco change, train came with APU fitted GTL WDM3A pairs which was detached at Purna.

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28/1/23 PAU

Nanded Series - I

In Frame
Guntakal WDM3A #16752 + #14013 twins hauling #07605 Tirupati-Akola Special Fare Express towards Purna Jn .
PS- It's a Video Screenshot...
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DOC: 28/1/23.