TRIP REPORT ON MY PURI TO SECUNDERABAD JOURNEY
Trip link for 18416: /diary/trip/88346
Trip link for 17015: /diary/trip/86728
After an eventful one day long journey(/blog/post/1915879) and 3 days of enjoyment at Puri, it was time for the start of another day long journey, this time return journey, bringing back loads of captured and uncaptured memories.
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the breaking of dawn and sound of sea waves still dominating, we checked out from the hotel and left for Puri railway station. As we entered railway station and moved towards Platform 6, which was allotted for 18416 Puri-Barbil Express, on Pf5 Puri-Hwh Sathabdi was ready with its rear EOG on and Sri Jagannath Express was getting ready to get shunted, which was later shunted on to the track present between platform 6 and 7. A VSKP WAG5 was standing on Pf6, which was later attached as trailing loco to slip coaches of Puri-Paradip Express. VSKP WAP4 22993 was attached to 18416 and departed from Puri sharp at 6AM.
The short journey from Puri to Kurdha Road Jn remained a normal one, witnessing crossing with late running WAP4 lead Purushottam Express and WAP7 lead Kalinga Utkal Express. We were made to wait at KUR outer as HWH bound East Coast express was entering Pf2. We were made to wait for even more time as a BCNA rake hauled by WAG7 and VSKP alco led KUR-RSKA passenger made a parallel departure. After patiently waiting for nearly 15 minutes, finally 18416 got a nod for entering KUR. Train arrived 2 minutes late @6:57 on Pf1, marking an end to a short journey.
Now we had 2 hours of buffer time to spend at KUR before boarding Visakha Express. First we went to the same canteen, where we had breakfast 4 days back, present on Pf2/3 to have breakfast. Meanwhile Amaravati Express followed by legendary HWH-MAS mail arrived back to back on Pf4 and a flatbed CONCOR rake occupied PF2. Guessing the arrival/departure pattern of up/down trains, we decided to place ourselves on Pf4/5. Amidst presence of RPF and railway staff, I somehow dared to do some loco capturing. First to arrive was HWH WAP4 22523 led 15902 NTSK-SBC Express(the same loco which I captured few days back with its slot sharing partner 12516 GHY-TVC SF Express). The condition of Sleeper coaches was simply pathetic; there was no difference in a SL coach and GS coach. The platform was flooded with passengers of the train. Few were stretching their bodies, while some of them were filling their water bottles. Before 15902 departed, a BTPN rake hauled by twin WAG7 occupied PF3, leaving Pf 1, 4 and 5 open for passenger train traffic(Pf6 was occupied by an empty BOXN rake and PF7 by KUR-Puri passenger rake). After the departure of 15902, it was the turn of late running 18426/DURG-PURI Express to enter KUR, led by R WDP 4D 40161 "MAHANADI"(/blog/post/1898599) , again the same loco with same train, spotted few days back. And finally, announcement was made for 17015/ Visakha Express with Pf5 allotted.
VSKP WAP4 25026 led 17015/ Visakha Express arrived on Pf5. To my surprise, the sleeper coach was empty and even GS coaches were not filled to capacity. After boarding the train, what I found was literally a “GIFT” in a railfan’s perspective. A 2014 made coach with charging points available on both sides and an opened emergency window was waiting for me. It was on non track side till VSKP. Our train got first preference and departed ontime, thus overtaking 18426.
After the departure, as the WAP4 started accelerating, 4 of us occupied both the lower berths, side upper and side lower seats as all the seats in the bay were supposed to be empty till VSKP. Nature took the centerstage and we stuck our heads to the windows as the beautiful view of vast green fields and hills with dark cloudy sky was simply amazing. After departing from Balugaon, it was time a ride on the bank of Chilika lake. From there onwards it was a typical Express run, halting at dedicated stops and hitting MPS in regular intervals. In mean time I captured few station boards and locos onboard. We had “DOUBLE ANDA” Biryani as lunch. We purchased it from a platform vendor at CHE, as there is no pantry in this train. After enjoying few short spells of rain, we entered Visakhapatnam railway station. Best thing for a railfan by entering VSKP is, one can see the bunch of locos at WAT shed twice(/blog/post/1908099).
After having a chat with my cousin, who came to meet me again and witnessing loco reversal, AJJ WAP1 22037 led Visakha Express into next leg of the journey. Now it was time to experience back to back MPS crossings, since we are now on track side due to reversal. Before light faded, we experienced crossings with Simhadri Express, BZA-VSKP passenger, AP AC Express, Janmabhoomi Express, SC-GHY SF Express, Konark Express, MAS-SRC AC Express and YPR-PURI Garibrath. After obeying few TSRs and PSRs enroute, we reached RJY 20 minutes late. Now it is time for another loco change, this time from electric to diesel action. Offlink PUNE WDG4 70071 in SHF took honors to lead us till SC. After crossing mighty Godavari bridge over Road-cum-Rail bridge, we decided to have sleep time, as we need to ensure that we are not exhausted on Monday morning at office.
When I woke up next day morning, train was running before time and we were entering KZJ-SC main line, thanks to huge slack present in NLDA-SC stretch. Anyone onboard would always feel that, they will be reaching SC ontime. But what happened in next hour and half will explain you, why coastal region people prefer other ONT trains over Visakha to reach SC. First we were looped at Pagidipalli to face overtake from late running Gowthami Express and ontime running Charminar Express. After crossing with Krishna Express, we departed from PGDP. Next we were halted on mainline at Ghatkesar for 10 minutes. We got the starter after crossing a WAG9 led empty BOXN rake and FM-BG MEMU. After crossing MLY, we were halted for 5 minutes again and started after crossing LGD WAP7 30287 led 22691 SBC Raj. After crawling for some time, we were again stopped near the pitlines, this time 12706 SC-GNT Intercity crossed with LGD WAP7 30427. When we started, we thought that the train will halt at platform this time, but to our freaking surprise, train was again stopped at home signal at SC outer. I could clearly see platforms of SC and a WAP7, which turned out to be LGD WAP7 30415 ready for the starter on PF1 with the rake of Ex Telangana Express. Then a WAP4 hauled late running rake of 12775/Cocanada AC Express overtook us and entered Pf3. Then finally we got the starter and entered Pf2, at 8AM with a delay of 30 minutes.
Pics:
1-8 Greenery and view of Chilika lake.
9 Parallel departure of BCNA rake hauled by WAG7 and VSKP alco led KUR-RSKA passenger at KUR
10 Loco reversal at VSKP
11 Quadrupling works in GT-CHZ stretch
Ratings(17015):
Cleanliness(5/5): Coach was 2014 made and very well maintained. Charging points were present and remained clean throughout the journey.
Punctuality(4/5): Maintained punctuality till PGDP and got trolled for big time after that.
Food(3/5): No pantry, so less options for food. Had to rely more on platform vendors.
Ticket availability(4/5): General quota tickets were very much available and seat were empty, but were filled after entering AP, bookings from VSKP is high.
Railfanning(5/5): Similar to Falaknuma, one can enjoy the coastal stretch in day light and witness lots of crossings.
Safety(4/5): RPF were present and did the duty sincerely. No nuisance of transgenders. But the coach was filled with unreserved passengers and WL passengers from RJY.