I was traveling on the Kanpur Balamau Passenger (54336). This train is now running after four months of cancellation and is operating for the first time with its regular passenger number after COVID.

I started my journey from Unnao Junction, and as we are all aware of the world-famous management of Northern Railways, this train didn’t receive any announcement at Unnao Jn.

I was shocked to see that neither was the announcement made before arrival nor after arrival. The train arrived, people boarded, and the train departed—no announcement, no loud voice, nothing. I felt like I was boarding a train that didn’t have a stoppage here and had currently stopped due to signal clearance.

Well, after leaving Unnao 10 minutes late, my journey continued further. I was lucky as I got a single window seat because people weren’t aware that this train was now running, hence the whole coach was filled with only 12-13 passengers. By the way, I was sitting in the very first seat of the very first coach of this train.

Due to the cancellation of all trains on the Unnao-Balamau route, nearby shrubs and tree branches started taking shape on the empty rail track. Those plants were planning to start a new habitat on the rail track and were continuously fighting with my train to retain their existence. The window of my coach was constantly striking against large branches and trees and was continuously doing the drum beat.

After crossing Makhi, a long shrub struck my window. I was busy on my phone, and suddenly this strike shivered my whole body. Suddenly, a leaf from that shrub fell on my phone. I lifted that leaf and looked at it. I drowned into the deep thought of how cleverly nature overtakes human development, that only four months of loneliness caused these heavy shrubs to reach near the tracks. I looked at that leaf and threw it outside of the track so that the leaf could go back to its natural place instead of getting inside a human-made metal body carrying some families and solo travelers. I was amazed to see how quickly things change and how quickly man-made structures lose their significance in this nature. I bow to the power of Mother Nature.

I was in my thoughts, and suddenly I felt that the train had stopped. I looked outside and found that a very famous station, Safipur, was about to come. Safipur is famous for its Besan Aalu Tikki, and when I was a small child, I always insisted my mom buy those yummy aalu tikkis whenever this station used to come.

I still remember the time when there used to be four tikkis for ₹10. Now, inflation and other factors have decreased its popularity, still, this station holds a significant value as a good rest stop for passengers.

After we departed from Safipur, the train drove into the famous mango orchards of Unnao (that area is often known as Ambauiya). Since summer is coming, all mango trees have bloomed. My train was filled with the sweet, earthy fragrance of fresh mango blossoms. That mild, refreshing scent made my brain completely relaxed, and I started thinking about the upcoming season of my favorite tasty, yummy, sweet Dussehri and Lakhanuwa mangoes.

For the very first time, I actually heard the bell rung by the Station Master signaling the proceeding signal for the train. I used to see that scene in Bollywood movies where the station master struck the bell but this first time I saw and heard it by myself.

After departure, I took a little nap and woke up when my train was about to cross the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. I still remember those days when I was a 13-year-old teenager, and when we used to cross this expressway, I used to look outside from the window as if there was any famous monument there. Those high structures used to fascinate me as if they were one of the Seven Wonders of the Universe.

Nevertheless, after crossing Ganj Muradabad, I started collecting my belongings as my stop was about to come.

I reached Mallawan, and after getting outside of the station and when the train left the station, I

Railfanning at Tatanagar Jn.

TATA ERS
TATA JAT
TATA HWH
TATA THAWE
TATA GODDA
TATA JYG

The rake used for 03105/06 SDAH NJP SDAH SPL is in very good condition as they were POHed for Kumbh Mela trains. Considering this, 03105/06 should run the whole year and must be included in TAAG 2026. It will really be a game changer after Jalpaiguri Road Humsafar and BAK loop will get a new train to NJP.

Earlier, there were demands to continue running the 03027/28 HWH NJP SPL, but as it has RSA with Himgiri Express, the punctuality of Himgiri Express was affected drastically. But since 03105/06 SDAH NJP uses a new refurbished cum independent rake and uses the same slot of 03027/28, so it is feasible to run with infinite trips. Share your opinion if you like it.