Date Of Journey:- 12 May 2017
So after staying 10 days in Pune, its now time for a break i.e to return home. But wait... Where my tickets booked? No. Now what to do? General seemed to be the only option. And we did it. We decided to board 22106 Pune - CST Indrayani Express from PA to KYN in general since staying in Pune for one more day was a torture for us considering the circumstances we were facing there.
So I and my one friend Kamal left the Industry (Were...
more...

we are currently being trained) and tried finding a "Rickshawala" but our efforts led us to the main road were Rickshaw rickshaw everywhere but not a rickshaw to take us PA. By god's grace we found one and he was ready to take us PA Rly. Stn. Quiet a friendly guy he was. I think he too was a RailFan he was pretty aware of the happenings in and around Pune DIV. He knows each and every single train passing through his place, Shivaji Nagar/SVJR. Though he was unaware of 14715/16 Humsafar.
Conversation went on and we reach PA Junction at 17:17 Hrs. We rushed to ticket counter to book our tickets. Here's a tip for booking at PA:- Counter Nos. 5,6,7 are for General Ticket booking only. Other counters will ignore you. In remaining counters, you can cancel/inquire your ticket. There was lot of hustle and bustle, everyone was either tensed regarding their tickets or else, sleeping like a dog. Didn't see a RPF anywhere in Station. Ignoring those sleeping beauties (Uglies) I went to C.No. 6 and successfully acquired my ticket after waiting in queue. Man behind counter was also fast in his work. Took just 5 secs to book and other 5 secs to print the ticket. Some people tried breaking the line but I didn't allow them to enter.
Taking a relief breathe, My friend bought some snacks for him, looked like a Bhel but I didn't bothered about it and moved to PF 1 to take a picture of PA Lonavala/LNL EMU (Pic No.1) and then went to PF 2. PA looked a busy station with 3/4 shunters shunting some rakes, 1 moving light for next consignment, 1 simply idling itself on stabling line. Mumbai ICE (Pic No.2) was just shunted by 18688R/PA WDM 3A, which is now a derated loco and restricted from MainLine. WCAM loco was attached shortly. As soon as the clock at PA Stn. clocked 17:55, starter was given and at 6th/7th Second, train started to move. This is the fastest train movement from origin after starter was provided.
Finally, indicators for my train were put on. We went to GS 2 (As per indicator) and shortly, 22106 came hauled by KYN WDM 3D 11374. Train came packed (RSA with 12169/70 PA SUR PA ICE). People didn't even let onboard people to de-board. Few were requesting others "Aee bhai ye seat pakad k rakhna" (Kindly hold on to this seat). What we did we let others fight for their seat, after they calmed down, we sat on door (No Claps I know I'm smart :P) In the meanwhile, 18748/PA another derated soul of PA restricted from MainLine duties was shunting the rake of Howrah bound Azad Hind Express. It was only 18:21 and nature started showing some signs of downpour. Sky was cloudy. Cool breeze was flowing that created a Dust storm at Pune Stn.
18:35 and there we go. Starter given and we started to move, Me and Kamal sitting quiet comfortably on door as we leave PA Stn following a caution of around 20. ETS was packed. 2 GZB WAP 7, 1 HWH WAP 4, 1 BRC WAP 4E and WAP 5, BSL WAG 5, and BSL WAP 4 and few WCAMs. The red hot ball showering his last divine rays on us which looked quite beautiful and elegant. Blue sky filled with clouds and group of birds flying back home...! All these beautiful things broke from my view when train suddenly gave a jerk and realized we are still crawling. Leaned forward to check whats happening and crossed Sinhagad Express hauled by WCAM 3.
We crossed SVJR and still we are crawling. Signals were all green still didn't get it what it was. No TSRs, nothing. After 2-3 Signals, train gained some speed. Now I'm not a professional human speedometer but we were doing somewhere around 60 (Maybe +-10). And we were continuously doing the same speed. Post Dapodi, I witnessed a change in sky. On my left Side, sky was yellow and on my right side it was blue. Winds were bit strong. We crossed CST-CAPE Jayanti Janta Express at Chinchwad outer and at Chinchwad spotted PNVL NED Exiting the siding and realized Jayanti Janta was given precedence over PNVL NED.
Dehu Road 18:58 and sky turned yellow, slowly slowly, drops started to pour on us. Everyone inside the train pushed their hands out of the window/door to feel the much awaited coolness after prickly heat of summer. And the very next moment, it started to pour heavily. Everyone inside the train pulled their hands inside the window/door to prevent themselves from wetting completely. Though I and Kamal sat on the door getting wet completely by the rain <3... Though heavy rains made the visibility very low. We came to a brief halt b/w Dehu Road and Begdewadi. A halt of more than 5Mins. Pax onboard were enjoying the rains, everyone's hands once again outside the window while I stood b/w my train and other track enjoying the rain. At 19:02 skipped Begdewadi and this time it was not about the MPS, but the safety of people. Loco Pilot was piloting his train very cautiously. Maybe around 30/40. Stations post Talegaon including Talegaon were totally isolated. No lights no public, only Master Ji flashing Green light. Very much a like the Blara Junction in Aahat.
Rain pressure lowered a bit and now we were at MPS. Post Kamshet tracks were dry. Now this is surprising since Kamshet station and tracks were wet, but post very end of Kamshet Stn. tracks were dry. As if there was some protective barrier. Now its time to dry ourselves and enjoyed the cool breeze and train hitting continuously around 70. Thunder lightening was still but b/w Kamshet and Begdewadi(Maybe). Crossed few EMUs too b/w Talegaon n Kamshet.
Finally reached LNL at 19:51, Delayed by 27Mins were passengers were fighting hard to enter the GS. Hopefully I'm on the track side and PF was on the other side. Thought of buying some Vada Pav for both of us but this will come at the cost of Rs.10/- + Door Seat. When I put my hand in my pocket to take out money for the same, 11378 honk loudly and began to Move at 19:53.
So now that we left LNL, it was quite dark. Few youngsters took advantage of this situation. Post LNL Stn. there is a bridge (Maybe ROB). I saw 2 youngsters had a wooden stick. Laughing like they are drunk. They hit that stick on leg of one passenger who was sitting on the door of Last coach of Indrayani. Everyone is suggested to look out for such miscreants specially during night time when you are sitting near door. Reached Khandala at 20:02 and Departed 20:03. One pax sitting next to me near door said "Soone k liye mast jaga hai" (This is the best place for sleeping). Our train was on 3rd Line. Crossed one LC and lines diverted. LC too was so isolated that only Gateman's room was lit. Not a single light was lit for around 1KMs. I wonder how that Gateman works. Hatsoff to him _/\_.
This 3rd Line is quite amazing and scary as well (During nights). There were lots of bushes which were close to the coach, some weird sounds of animals (or maybe something else). Thunder lightening made it more scary. Everything was black. When tunnel came, it felt good because they were well lit. Numerous tunnels were there. A bit long bridge came which almost made my heart skip a beat as I looked down as I held tightly to handle bars. Many small bridges came along the route. This 3rd Line was well isolated from other 2 lines. Somewhere near one cabin 3 tracks came together and further diverted. Construction work was carried out and the mountain looked like as any moment, it will fell on our train. I even saw a tent with campfire and 2 people. Don't know how they manage to live in such horrible and dangerous conditions. Before Monkey Hill, saw a couple moving down the line without any torch of light from mobile. Now this is what you call "Darr k aagey ghar hai." Area was very dark, anything or anyone could have done something to them. It just made me wonder how these guys even live here... Talking about the speed, train here was at MPS. No stopping anywhere in b/w except for brake test. Crossed one train hauled by WCAM (Maybe) and pushed by 2 WCAM 3s. Crossed Thakurwadi at 20:23 and finally marker no.105 came. This is where I walked the maximum in Bhor ghats. Quite a great journey in the Ghats.... a bit scary one too!
Marker No. 103/1 marks the end of Bhor Ghats and skipped Palasdhari. Crossed few freight trains b/w PDI KJT. Had a short parallel run with 3 WAG 7. At last, arrived Karjat 20:34 delayed by 26Mins. We met 11127/VTA hauling OKHA TN. We departed 20:36 and now it was Max. Speed we did till now. From Bhivpuri road to Vangani it was around 90 and post Shelu, crossed the Shaan-E-Mumbai, Mumbai Locals <3 <3... Missed them alott in Pune. Then it was a constant 80 from Badlapur were I Overtook a Local and crossed 1 Karjat Bound. Overtaking a EMU in BB DIV is not a regular scene, but once in a blue moon scenario except for source locals. The service which I overtook had its source as Badlapur. Crossed another EMU at Ambernath. Snaked through Ulhasnagar and crawled through Vithalwadi. Reached the point where NE and SE Line join together and saw bunch of EMUs at KYN after a pretty long time... And finally, Arrived Kalyan Junction PF 7 at 21:17, Delayed by 27Mins which marks the end of this beautiful journey. EMU was standing on PF 6 so I quickly boarded the EMU and went home.
This is great train to Mumbai specially for those who are living in Mumbai and working in Pune. 22105 is also best for the same, maybe that's why GS was almost overcrowded. Go for reserved seat only else you'll suffer specially if you have luggage with you. Mystery behind why this train gets Diesel Loco is still unsolved, maybe RSA is the thing but I'm not sure about it.
Thank you for reading :)