Pune Solapur InterCity(Indrayani) Express/12169

*** TRIP REPORT ***
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Journey Date: 21.03.2013 | Ref PNR: /blog/post/696272
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After a couple of days at Solapur and Darshan of Shree Swami Samarth (an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya) at Akkalkot, it was time to head back home. We had already booked tickets a few days in advance, so no worries for that part.
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We arrived at SUR station at around 12.45 pm, my parents made themselves comfortable in the waiting area while I ventured out for RF. Clicked a few pics of Station Building, SB, exteriors, etc. After a while, the announcement...
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was made for 16535 Gol Gumbaz Express expected to arrive on PF-3. Similarly, the announcement for the inbound 12169 PUNE-SUR Intercity was made, expected to arrive bang on time on PF-1 as usual at 13.30 hrs. At around 13.15, my parents accompanied me on the PF and al eyes were towards the Pune end to SUR PF-1. Suddenly at around 13.25, the signature white and blue liveried ED WDM-3A appeared on the scene and chugged in. Passengers got down and the outbound passengers started moving in. Our coach C2 was 3rd from Loco. We moved in and settled down.
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After a while, we could see a lot of policemen around our coach, and there was a VIP sitting on the First row. After making enquiry with a policeman, they informed that the person was a senior official of RPF and had come to SUR for some work. Just then, a drama happened, one unauthorized vendor was slapped hard by the police and seeing this, the others fled the scene. The coach, toilets, windows of AC Coaches, etc. was cleaned by A2Z Services, a Housekeeping Agency which works at SUR as SUR is a “CLEAN TRAIN STATION” (Meaning the Train will be cleaned at this station).
At exactly 13.57, the starter became yellow and we bid goodbye to SUR. We approached the mainline and soon, the Deemer started honking and chugging hard. The chugs and honks were audible to us clearly and we absolutely enjoyed it. We saw 11052 Kolhapur-Solapur Express at SUR outer led by PUNE WDM-3A and later crossed 22881 PUNE-BBS Express with KZJ WDM-3A.
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The 1st leg of journey upto Kurduwadi was good and we entered PF-3 of KWV at 15.00 hrs. We had an ice-cream to beat the heat. Giving us company was late running SUR-PUNE Passenger on PF-2. It was 15.15 and we were still waiting to proceed ahead, reason for detention being 16529 Udyan Express was approaching PF-1. The moment Udyan arrived, we departed.
The run upto Jeur was uneventful and we arrived and departed Jeur at 15.45 / 15.50 respectively. After Jeur, we encountered a lot of freight trains, BCNA, BTPN, CONCOR all hauled by PUNE and UBL WDG-4s. At Bhigwan, saw ACC Cement rake with UBL WDG-4 and VSKP-WDM-3A (Twins) were relaxing on the sidings. Crossed the backwaters of Ujni Dam and entered PF-3 of Daund at 16.45 hrs. After a 5 minute halt, we departed.
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The ED Monster was in no mood to listen and we had a fantastic aggressive run from Daund to Pune Outer, and we crossed Uruli at 17.20 and Manjari Budruk at 17.40 itself meaning we had come 65 kms in about 50 minutes at average speed of 78 kmph! We crossed a couple of trains, one being Jhelum Express with customary PUNE Alco Twins and a MLTY coach.
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After MJBK, our train literally started crawling, as it was before time. Crossed Hadapsar at 17.45 and we further slowed down. We were made to wait in Ghorpuri for about 10 minutes. 12135 PUNE-NGP SF departed behind PUNE WDG-4 and 12157 PUNE-SUR Hutatma SF Exp behind PUNE WDM-3D. At around 18.00, we entered PF-2 of PUNE and that marked the end of a wonderful journey!
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Hope you have enjoyed reading – Thanks.

TRIP REPORT ( /diary/trip/24726 )
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Undertook journey by this train on 20.03.2013, the reason being visit to Akkalkot for a darshan of Shree Swami Samarth, who is considered as an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.
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Accordingly, arrived at station at around 8.30 am and as usual it was buzzing with activities. There was an empty rake of 12940 JP-PUNE SF Express standing on PF-1 which was waiting to be shunted to the yard. The announcement for 17032 HYB-CSTM Express was made which was scheduled to arrive 10 mins. late. After a bit of railfanning, we proceeded towards PF-2, to be greeted by PUNE-TGN Local which was supposed to depart at 08.57....
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She soon departed and at exactly 09.03, we could see 16671 ED WDM-3A coming towards PF-2 with the rake of 22105 CSTM-PUNE Indrayani Express in tow. 22105 Indrayani changes its avatar in 20 minutes runs as 12169 PUNE-SUR SF Intercity. Our seats were 61 (WS) and 62 and 63. No sooner had we settled, a man came and started arguing with us stating that 61 and 62 were his seats. We said its not possible, since we have already been allotted the said seats. After a heated discussion, when we asked him to show the SMS which IRCTC had sent, the DOJ was 21.03.2013. My father pointed him out that his ticket was for the next day and had come a day earlier and how could he be so ignorant in not knowing today's date. The co-passengers had a good laugh and the man fled away from the scene in no time.
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At exactly 09.30 am, we chugged out. After crossing the points, the Ghorpuri yard and pitlines, we slowly picked up speed and hit MPS in no time. Crossed the 12158 Hutatma Express and 11014 CBE-LTT Express both blasting at MPS. Continued the non-stop blast at till Daund and arrived bang on time on PF-3. Soon, the legendary Karnataka Express arrived with customary ET Twin Alcos. After a brief halt, we departed. There were vendors in the train selling foodstuffs, guavas, ice cream, etc. The catering service is decent. Continued our run and we were made to halt in between for crossings with a few freight trains and arrived at Kurduvadi about 30 mins late.
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For the final leg of the journey, the controllers assigned us priority and the Alco was in no mood to listen and tried its best to make up lost time by hitting MPS straightaway. We enjoyed the aggression of diesel beast to the core. The attendants in the meanwhile tidied up the coach by cleaning, picking up cups, bottles, etc. To ready the coach for return journey from SUR-PUNE-CSTM. At 13.25, we were at Solapur outer. We chugged into PF-1 at 13.35 and made our way towards the exit.
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Ratings:
Cleanliness: 8/10
Speed: 8/10
Food: 7/10
Overall: 8/10

TRIP REPORT
.
Undertook journey by this train on 20.03.2013, the reason being visit to Akkalkot for a darshan of Shree Swami Samarth, who is considered as an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.
.
Accordingly, arrived at station at around 8.30 am and as usual it was buzzing with activities. There was an empty rake of 12940 JP-PUNE SF Express standing on PF-1 which was waiting to be shunted tothe yard. The announcement for 17032 HYB-CSTM Express was made which was scheduled to arrive 10 mins. Late. After a bit of railfanning, we proceeded towards PF-2, to be greeted by PUNE-TGN Local which was supposed to depart at 08.57. She soon departed and at exactly...
Read more...

09.03, we could see 16671 ED WDM-3A coming towards PF-2 with the rake of 22105 CSTM-PUNE Indrayani Express in tow. 22105 Indrayani changes its avatar in 20 minutes runs as 12169 PUNE-SUR SF Intercity. Our seats were 61 (WS) and 62 and 63. No sooner had we settled, a man came and started arguing with us stating that 61 and 62 were his seats. We said its not possible, since we have already been allotted the said seats. After a heated discussion, when we asked him to show the SMS which IRCTC had sent, the DOJ was 21.03.2013. My father pointed him out that his ticket was for the next day and had come a day earlier and how could he be so ignorant in not knowing today's date. The co-passengers had a good laugh and the man fled away from the scene in no time.
.
At exactly 09.30 am, we chugged out. After crossing the points, the Ghorpuri yard and pitlines, we slowly picked up speed and hit MPS in no time. Crossed the 12158 Hutatma Express and 11014 CBE-LTT Express both blasting at MPS. Continued the non-stop blast at till Daund and arrived bang on time on PF-3. Soon, the legendary Karnataka Express arrived with customary ET Twin Alcos. After a brief halt, we departed. There were vendors in the train selling foodstuffs, guavas, ice cream, etc. The catering service is decent. Continued our run and we were made to halt in between for crossings with a few freight trains and arrived at Kurduvadi about 30 mins late.
.
For the final leg of the journey, the controllers assigned us priority and the Alco was in no mood to listen and tried its best to make up lost time by hitting MPS straightaway. We enjoyed the aggression of diesel beast to the core. The attendants in the meanwhile tidied up the coach by cleaning, picking up cups, bottles, etc. To ready the coach for return journey from SUR-PUNE-CSTM. At 13.25, we were at Solapur outer. We chugged into PF-1 at 13.35 and made our way towards the exit.
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Ratings:
Cleanliness: 8/10
Speed: 8/10
Food: 7/10
Overall: 8/10