Metric sojurn in the land of Awadh Part 2

Continuing from where I left off, daylight gradually started getting brighter and alongwith that the temperature started rising too. The cloud was a cool azure blue, with a few stratus clouds. The weather started getting slick and I was getting restless to hop onto a moving train. The pleasing sight of rain bearing clouds were nowhere to be seen and I had to submit myself to the slick weather at 6:30 am in the morning. Since I had time at my hand, I decided to reconnoiter around. Bhojipura is a small 3 platform affair guarded by an elegant semaphore mast housing multiple semaphore hands. Just adjacent to Platform 3 is a 3 track yard on which a few wagons lay derelict on a track just in front of the various railway offices.

It was 7am, and I was starting to get restless due to the slick weather. The urge to do photography and rail-fanning was completely dead thanks to the slick weather and reluctance of my train to arrive. Finally, at 7:30, the much awaited Gokul Exp pulled in a full 2 ½ hours late, much to my relief. Headed immediately for the sleeper class coach wherein I bumped into a grumpy looking TTE who was shooing away people from boarding. Apparently, the locals cannot differentiate between an Ordinary ticket and a Mail/Exp ticket since the no of passengers running in this part of the country heavily outnumber the quantity of express trains. Coming back to the TTE, he refused to let me board the coach saying it was reservation. I retorted back saying that I've got a M/E ticket and am fully entitled to board this coach. Apparently, our man wasn't agreeing to let me in, so I just shoved my way past him. Once inside the coach, I grilled him asking for his ID and rebuked him for not wearing his uniform since the region is rife for impersonators out to make a quick buck from the semi-literate village folk.

All said and done, I made myself comfortable near a door and the train finally left after an exchange of loud horn signals. Just after Bhojipura, a beautiful tree lined section is encountered with tall trees. The YDM4 took full advantage of the clear track and made short work of the small run between Bhojipura and Izzatnagar. Just before entering Izzatnagar, a BG line came from the left and cut across the MG lines and proceeded towards the IZN workshop. This line is used by BG locos to head towards the IZN diesel shed. We finally pulled into Izzatnagar at 7:50AM.

Izzatnagar is by far a biggish junction and since it is a divisional HQ, it had all the 'facilities' like LCD monitors showing train status and a fully functional PA system. IZN has 2 MG platforms and a through line with a small yard behind the station. The Pantnagar-Bareilly road runs exactly behind the station and there was the usual compliment of auto rickshaws to ferry people to Bareilly. Luckily, IZN had a good refreshment stall where I could stack up on some grub and water. Since I was not in a mood to consume contaminated fried stuff in the morning, I make do with biscuits and water.I head across the station to the booking office from where I pick up a Rs75/- unreserved M/E ticket to Lucknow Aishbagh, a distance of 310kms.

My train which would take me to Aishbagh was the 5309 Ruhelkhand Exp. Prior to the trip, I confirmed with Samar about the presence of a First Class carriage in the consist, but after querying a TTE about this, he replied that the FC is no longer running on the Ruhelkhand and that the Ruhelkhand Exp shares its consist with the all unreserved Bareilly-Aishbagh Exp. This proved to be a real morale downer as I had to now slog the journey out in unpadded unreserved for the next 8 ½ hours in stifling heat. To add insult to injury, a HUGE compliment of 'jantaa' was waiting on the platform designated for the Ruhelkhand.

All sorts of crazy thoughts started to run in my head. I was expecting an already jam-packed Ruhelkhand pulling into Izzatnagar with the morning office crowd to Pilibhit. I was ready to hurl myself towards the door and grab a seat; If unsuccessful I was even ready to head to Bareilly and hop onto the next BG train to Lucknow. However, all these speculations were confined to the trash as an empty Ruhelkhand Exp pulled in with skeletal crowd in it. I waited on the platform so that the crowd can settle themselves in and the well wishers disembark. Made myself comfortable in a bay near the door, locked my luggage, fished out my camera and settled down for a good time on board. After a small 5 min stop, the YDM4 let out a honk and we were off. As we made our way onto the mainline, I saw IZN WDM3D 11170, waiting for clearance to proceed to its home shed on the BG track. At the door, I had a UP Home Guard constable as company who very kindly obliged to my request to yield the door. So, I was now set for a great metric sojurn ahead.

But first, the much needed visit to the loo. Since luck was on my side, the loo's turned out to be clean and I could finish the job without a hitch. Just as I exited the loo, we pulled into Bhojipura. The platform this time bore a jam packed appearance with school kids and office goers waiting to head to Bareilly for the daily routine. Luckily, none of that huge crowd boarded my train and I could commandeer the doors on both sides.....

Thats all in this part.....stay tuned for more.....

Metric sojurn in the land of Awadh Part 1

The recent adventures of Mohan Bhuyan and Bharat Vohra came to my mind as my 2107 LTT-LKO superfast pulled into Lucknow on a sultry and humid July afternoon. Made my way towards the eponymous Lucknow Charbagh structure and took an auto to Indiranagar C block where I was met by Mr Samar Hussain(ZRUCC, LKO/NR) who took me to the nearby Dilkusha cabin which overlooks the lines to places like Allahabad, Varanasi, Faizabad, Rae Bareilly etc. After spending the evening there we headed to the Tundey Kababi restaurant in Ameenabad where we had an excellent Beef kabab for a measly Rs20/- Samar was kind enough to drop me to the nearby Lucknow City railway station from where I was supposed to catch the 5307 Nainital Exp to Bhojipura.

At about 20:45, a dark blue colored YDM4 loco pulled in with the Nainital Exp. I was booked in the First class in which Cabin A was allotted in which an upper berth was assigned to me, much to my disappointment. Anyways, the FC coach was just divine on the inside. Each cabin had 3 windows and large berths. The sight took me back in time and I felt like I was on a long metre gauge journey on a train in the 1990's. We pulled out of Lucknow City station and maintained a decent pace till Daliganj Jn from where the BG line running parallel to us bifurcates and heads towards Badshahnagar and then on to Burhwal Jn. Once out of Daliganj we were doing a good clip and I opened up all the windows and shooed away the RPF constables since the slick weather was starting to make me restless. Meanwhile, the Lucknow-Sitapur highway ran constantly parallel to us. The entire route has color light signalling but still has the old Nielle's ball token system which is given to the driver with the help of a 'mashaal' lit on the side of the track next to which a 'khalasi' stands on a raised platform with the token.

It was getting late and I had to rise early the next morning, so I called it a day and hit the berth. Thanks to the movable heads of the ceiling mounted fans I was able to get some good sleep and also due to the soft spongy and clean berths. Roused early next day at around 4:35 to find ourselves entering Bhojipura Jn. Here the nainital exp has a reversal so that he can proceed towards Lalkuan. Bhojipura is by far a typical MG junction with 3 platforms and a lone yet useless foot over bridge. At the north end of the station, 2 lines proceed to Lalkuan and the other towards Pilibhit while on the south end a lone MG single proceeds further onto Izzatnagar, Bareilly and Kasganj.

My onward connection to Izzatnagar was the Gokul Exp from Gonda which happened to be 2 hours late. Went to the ticket office and purchased a ticket to Izzatnagar as dawn broke over the horizon at 5:10am. The sea of sleeping bodies slowly started to rise while the monkeys at the station took advantage of the morning time to run amock around the station and also perform the occasional moments of love. As time passes by people start to gather for the morning departures out of Bhojipura while a bovine gives me company on a bench that I am perched on. The 'facilities' at the station tempt me to do my morning rituals there but I would rather prefer to do my morning ablutions in the confines of a train since the on-board facilities are comparatively cleaner than a place used by multiple belly sporting uncles in their chaddi's waiting in line with small plastic buckets.

Thats all for this part people....To be continued....

Ode to Dadar and the song of the Queen

WARNING:

For ferroquinologists only. Non ferroquinologists may read at their own risk.

An everyday happening during the evening at Dadar station of Central Railway.

As the clocks creeps towards 16:45, a sundry looking shunter loco takes the sparkling clean rake of the Deccan Queen towards PF8 of CST, Mumbai. The calm before the storm has begun. The passengers start arriving and start taking their respective seats while the regulars head towards their 2nd home and begin the fun and games. At 16:50, a clean looking WCAM3 21900 inches towards the rake slowly and is attached. All thats preventing the beast from releasing its 4600 horses is a small starter signal whose red light glows bright as the evening sun descends on Mumbai.

The driver switches cabs. The panto goes up and touches the 1500V DC OHE. The DS is closed and the blowers come to life and the loco purrs away as the time nears 17:10. Meanwhile, the compressor is rattling away making sure the air pressure is at optimum levels while the blowers cool the insides of the beast waiting to start its fierce gallop. A piddly old mortal walks up to the queen and hands over the power sheet and the Queen is under the hands of the driver waiting to unleash the energy that resides within the loco.

The clock turns 17:10 and the starter turns yellow signifying the beast to unleash itself. The driver pushes the reverser into FWD, gets the OK from the guard and increases a notch and the Queen slowly starts moving out of the PF. Once clear of the points, the beast is unleashed. The notches start going up rapidly from 4 to 22 to 32 to 39 in no time as 21900 roars and picks up speed within no time and is at a steady gallop.

Meanwhile, at Dadar the evening rush hour has begun. The crowds from all places in Mumbai descend onto DR to take the evening local home. The announcement lady on the PA system is crying herself hoarse as locals pull in and out of the station unloading and loading tired people travelling to and from the metropolis.

A local bound for Kasara has just berthed on PF5 and has unloaded and is loading even more. The crowd on PF4 swells waiting for the predecessor to the Queen. An Ambernath fast pulls in and the juntaa attack the train and within no time 2000+ people manage to shove their posteriors into the cramped space of the local. The motorman gives a toot on the horn and pushes off. Its getting 17:20 and the crowd builds again for the next local. The line is all clear for the Queen. The starter has turned green and PF4 is still bustling with activity.

As the clock turns 17:21, far in the distance a blue/yellow colored monster is charging at the crowded station. As it nears the PF, the chief keeps the horns pressed. The activity on the PF comes to an abrupt end and all that can be heard of is the horns of the loco charging towards the PF at 90kmph. A few vagabonds manage to cross the track in the nick of time without getting severed by the loco. There is a moment of stunned silence and everyone takes a step back to make way for the Queen. A young lover talking on the cell to his girlfriend puts the call on hold, a stock broker talking with his associate stops the conversation and looks on in awe, a vegetable vendor after finishing the day in the city hurriedly moves her wares to a safe distance and makes her way into the bowels of the PF. Passengers for the Sahyadri exp prepare their luggage to board the train but make a hasty retreat on seeing the speeding 21900. The woman on the PA system announces the passing of the Queen and advises everyone to get back.

21900 approaches the PF in full spate, blaring his horns as loud as he could. A parent quickly removes a piece of cotton and stuffs it into her small child's ears. People on the entire PF stuff their fingers into their ears as hard as they can. The horning stops for a brief moment and everyone hears the loco roaring as it pulls the Queen behind. The loco is gone in a flash and the coaches start shattering the PF scene with loud 'clickety-clack' sounds. The public watch in stunned silence as the Queen zips past the crowded PF. The last coach clears and DR PF4 is back to its original look. The banter resumes and the public move back to their usual places and await the train for home. The PA system can be heard again on PF4 announcing the arrivals. The public stunned by 21900's speed show discuss for a few minutes on how she does the same everyday.

The local behind the DQ arrives on PF4. There is a mad rush to board it and everyone manages to squeeze in just perfectly. The local leaves and DR PF4 is back to the drawing board just the way it was before all this took place.

Oh Assam.....

For most of the aam aadmi whenever the name Assam crops up it brings out talk of a insurgency ravaged state with no development. All talks about visiting the state are quickly dismissed citing insurgency issues and other paraphernalia......

Well, for us nomads its our next holiday retreat. Little known from the public is the vast scenic beauty which lies as you move further east into the heartland of the North Cachar Hills. Theres just miles and miles of lush greenery as far as the eye can reach. The locals are the most friendly you can ever find on the planet and are always welcome to meet new people. The villages have THE most idyllic setting and each villager looks content, although Im not sure whether they really are.

While most of us prefer to pack off for a holiday to Goa or go river rafting on the Ganges near Haridwar, I prefer to mount my rucksack and go visit the mountains of Halflong or hop on to the Metre Gauge train to Silchar and savour the splendour of the Barak Valley or even visit the wild life sanctuary at Jatinga and Dibrugarh. A quick bus ride from Silchar and you end up at Maishashan, 12kms from the Bangladesh border and sit on the riverside and watch the river flow calmly devoid of all the dinghy's full of smuggled goods and smugglers running rampant about.

Ever since I have returned from Assam, a part of my heart lies there and I cannot be content with one visit. Its not enough to describe Assam in this post and is best savoured when visited.

Throw all nonsense issues like security threat in the dustbin, the place is calm and serene and everything is under control. The feel-good factor that remains till now is that there are absolutely minimal tourists which make things even more peaceful.

For first timers a simple word of advice is to do what the locals are doing and mix with them freely and dont be an odd man out and attract attention. Tourists are most welcome and the locals take immense pride in showing their locality to you.

So folks, before planning for a vacation do consider of moving away from the usual holiday jaunts think out of the box to explore the natural gifts gifted to us in this country which seldom is given a blind eye.

Build-up to the semester exams

This post was slated to be published 2 weeks from now on, but my dicey routine has forced to publish this now.

As the ominous cloud of the Semester exams starts looming over the heads of us First Years, everyone seems to have gone into a tizzy on how to get over the vast portion that lies ahead. Finally, the deserts of dust settled on the books cooling their posterior's in some unknown corner of the book shelf has been wiped off and the 'udghaatan' ceremony of the book is completed. The tension mounts as the date inches nearby and the final 11th hour dash to complete the portion goes on in full swing.

With phonecalls and text's being sent here and there on what to do and what not along with the stray incident of hurling choicest abuses here and there. The scholars and geeks already proud that the mountain of studies has been overcome by them recieves flak and then the 'maskaa maaraoing' to help them copy.

Prior to the exam, everybody claims they don't know a word. The weak start faltering and sit with a tensed look with fear and anxiety. The scholars arrive fashionably late showing off their prowess on how well they've finished studying. The daredevils chat away to glory outside the exam hall. Others go into overdrive mode to do a last minute quickie and amass whatever they can in the dying moments.

The supervisor walks in and the daredevils make their way to their seats looking cool, calm and unbothered. The geeks busy discussing amongst themselves something too complex for mere mortals like us. We, too busy in studying at the last moment have to be summoned by the supervisor to keep our wares inside.

The ominous gong of the bell goes off and the exam commences. The Q papers are distributed. Emotions start flying everywhere. While the geeks go GaGa over seeing the papers, we bear mixed emotions. The daredevils are busy in their own personal activities like texting during the paper and passing chits. As the exam heads on, the geeks as usual, start depleting the stationary by asking for supplements when we havent even finished the 7th page of an 8 sheeter. Finally, when our turn for supplements arise, the supervisor goes in search for the peon with the stationary. No sooner did the sup. leave the class than the hissing and mumbling begins. Finally, when the sup. is back with more stock, we start taking a subtle quantity of paper while the geeks have already written a complete novel with chapters. The odd visit of a squad member alongwith the daredevils staging a walkout in record time.

The warning bell goes off and again everyone is in overdrive mode, this time, the brigade spearheaded by the geeks who seem to have completed their sequel to their novel. All this, alongwith the sup. starting the usual 'Tie yuuuur supplemaint'.

The final bell goes off and the sup starts his collection drive. Meanwhile, the geeks still writing in full force trying to start off their second edition of their novel are halted and their paper seized. The manner of seizure almost resembles a day-light extortion.

Everybody walks out with perplexed expressions. The discussions begin on the paper while the daredevils have long vanished. Everybody disperses, again to show up for the next paper with the same tension, fear, confidence etc....