TRIP REPORT
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Vasai - Kopar on the BSR-DIVA DEMU | 30th OCT|
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Finally,...
more...

after a long span of time, yours truly had an opportunity to travel in the DEMU train. This was my first experience on the DEMU. The last time I travelled, it was running as a DMU.
It was hectic day and i had travelled a lot from Dombivli to Ghatkopar-Andheri-Borivali-Vasai. Soon it was time to head back. nobody in their right senses would have taken the longer route via DDR/DR, hence i opted for the BSR-DIVA DEMU which departs BSR @ 19.15.
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We reached the statin quite early, anticipating a huge rush for tickets since it was the D day- meaning DIWALI day. Purchased the tickets and headed to PF 6. PF 7 was already occupied by a BCNA rake towards JNPT with a BL WAG 7. On the side loop was a CONCOR rake headed byb some unknown sheds TIGER FACE.
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Soon ST bound Flying Ranee rushed past with its customary WAP 5 link from BRC. At the CCG end, i could spot 3 glowing light and slowly the DEMU creeped into the PF. There was a huge rush, but being a typical Mumbai wala, i could rush in and grab the elusive window seat. There was no action for almost 15 mins and at exact 17.15 the train let out its typical hoot and soon we moved out of the Station. We crossed tracks and took the 75 degree left turn to enter into CR territory and head towards JUCHANDRA, a small and remote village accessible only by the couple of trains that run on the KOPR-BSR route. We crossed some WDM hauled express train at juchandra. and then it went all BLACK. not a single light in the entire train. may be it was due to some electrical failure. But we were picking speed and we were cruising at a lazy 65 kmph till Kaman Rd. This also is another small station.
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The run till BIRD was pretty much uneventful. at BIRD we overtook another BCNA freighter hauled by twin WDG`s from UBL. This route is actually part of the DFC or the Dedicated Freight Corridor. It starts at the JNPT port near Panvel and touches the industrial towns of Panvel, Taloja. It intersects CR at Kopar and joins the Mumbai Delhi WR line at BSR and continues all the way till Dadri ICD. This was a single line route untill the early 2000`s and was simultaneously doubled as well as AC fied, making it the earliest AC traction enabled region in CR Mumbai Division. Soon 2 additional stations at Kharbav and Kopar were added on the route.
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KOPAR was reached at 20.00 sharp, ensuring that the train kept its time. However lack of lighting in the train proved spoilsport. No pictures were taken. I am rather happy describing my experience in words. Videos and pictures are sometimes inadequate to give a vivid description.
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The BSR-DIVA route has lots of nostalgic memories. It was here that rail fanning was born in me. It was here i where i hit the biggest six of my life(we played cricket on the under construction station of KOPAR). It was here where i took my first ever photo and video of train and co-incidentally my first ever post on IRI was made when i was sitting at KOPR station and it has been a long journey since
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To the new members, IRI was a lot different in those days. Imaginary trains were unheard of. Blogging quality was at it prime. NO race blogs, no objections. The only sections were poeple could contribute was the PNR forum, Blog and the FAQ. And man!! the quality of posts were awesome. BG, Pradyu, PKV, Vijayaditya, Soumitra, Sayantan Sinha, SV Iyer, Arkya Chatterjee, Anil Garg are some of the names i can remeber. I am sad, i dont see that kind of genuine rail fanning these days. Many of the old members have left. Few like me make rare visits to the site. Perhaps, all of this is a part of evolution. Oh god i miss those trip reports. Sometimes i wish i could go back in time and re wind those moments. But alas! time can move only forwards.
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-- RAHUL