SBC-MAS TRIP:
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Date:14.06.2017(Wednesday)
Train:12608 Lalbagh Superfast Express
Loco:RPM WAP7 30357
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As per the original plan, we were to return by 8 Mail, but due to some inevitable events, the entire plan changed. I grabbed this opportunity to return by Lalbagh. It has been a long time since I travelled in 2S coach and its been almost 6-7 years since I travelled by Lalbagh. Now, this train is one of the best ICs from Bangalore to Chennai and one of the hit trains of SWR. I was so excited about this train.
This train was introduced by Southern Railway(SR) in the 90s as a counterpart to Brindavan by the then RM Jaffer Sherif and if I am right it is believed that it was introduced for the sake of his daughter studying in CMC and it had stoppages at KPD and BNC. It was named after the famous Lalbagh botanical garden in Bangalore.Not just the RM's daughter, but also the common people got benefitted from Lalbagh. After SWR's formation, Lalbagh was handed over to SWR and RSA was made with SBC SF thus discontinuing perhaps one of the oldest RSAs in IR that is RSA between Mail and SF.
We reached KSR Bangalore station by 05:40 hrs. My coach was D6 of 16 make. The power for Lalbagh was white stallion from RPM,30357. 12610 was also ready with its power RPM WAP7 live on PF.No.2. LGD WAP7 30289 was in a deep slumber on the sidings near PF.No.1. Announcements were being made for the Chennai bound Shatabdi and Hubli bound JanShatabdi. At 6:15, the ERS IC departed with a loud EMD honk.
At 6:30 Sharp, 30357 whined and we were off. I had got a track side WS. The P7 was shining white and was sparkling clean. We slowly curved out of the platform and cleared the points. In this process, we crossed the SBC KIK passenger waiting to be shunted. After the entire train was on the mainline, P7 gave a sharp toot and we accelerated to 60 Kmph. We arrived BNC bang on time where TN-MYS Express was waiting with ED alco twins. After a 2 min halt, we departed and accelerated. The BNCE curve+gradient was negotiated slowly after which we started hitting MPS. It was all green for us. Fluttering green flags were shown by the LPs and the guard acknowledged the same. BYPL was skipped quickly. We arrived at KJM late by 5 mins where we met TPTY-CMNR passenger with AJJ WAM4 21320 waiting for clearance. Announcements were being made for Island's arrival. Both Lalbagh and TPTY passenger simultaneously. Soon after KJM, we crossed ED WAP4 led Island Express. Hoodi halt and WFD were skipped at MPS. We slowed down at DKN due to caution signal which turned green later and again we accelerated to 110. MLO was skipped at 110 flat with wonderful track sounds and mad honking. At TCL, ED WAP4 22357 crossed us with KCVL SBC Express raising dust at the LC. As we neared MZV, WAP7 started honking furiously to warn people sitting on the tracks. MZV needs a proper platform. Lot of people were sitting on the tracks waiting for the train. Soon after MZV, 30364 sped past us with Swarna Passenger. We reached BWT bang on time. The KPN SBC MEMU departed from PF.No.3. It was running jampacked. Also, an LGD WAG9 was resting with a CONCOR rake.
After a quick halt, we departed from BWT. We negotiated the BWT curve and very soon the WAP7 accelerated to 110 crazily after seeing the termination board. VRDP was skipped at MPS where a freight rake sped past led by WAG7 twins towards BWT. KSM,BSM and GDP were skipped at 110 flat. All the way, it was green and green which meant good priority and speed. We slowed down near KPN due to a danger signal but soon enough it turned green. We pulled onto the platform at KPN 7-8 mins BT. /blog/post/2320536.After a nearly 10 minute halt, WAP7 pulled out of Lalbagh's last halt in SWR. In the KJM-BWT-KPN section, there could be seen atleast 2-3 PSR boards indicating MPS of 75kmph and one such board had something scribbled on it under '75'(Probably it was 'night' or something).
The ghat section was crossed effortlessly thanks to the power of WAP7. At MAR, we had to obey the speed restriction to cross the ghats. At PU, AJJ WAP4 22785 led MFP-YPR express crossed us at sedate pace. After PU, we once again started speeding at 110. SKPT was thrashed at MPS. Just before the JTJ curve, there was a board indicating '75' indicating speed restriction for trains to SBC and a board which had markings "SBC division welcomes you" on one side and "SBC division wishes you a happy journey" on the other side. After crossing ED WAP4 22527 hauled GHY-BNC SF Express, we pulled onto PF.No.4 at JTJ 5-6 minutes ahead of schedule. JTJ was deserted and silent. At 08:45, we pulled out of JTJ. In the JTJ yard, KYN WDP4D 40346 was resting dead coupled to a DEMU engine car. After pulling out of JTJ yard, once again it was all clear which meant a crazy and furious MPS run. We had unscheduled halts twice at VN outer.Just then the honk of a WAP4 was heard in the distance. At the same time we got clearance. As we accelerated through the PF, the Seshadri Express departed from VN with a blood red BZA WAP4 25005. Soon after VN, RPM WAP7 hauled Kovai whizzed past. Before VGM, we crossed a bridge over a dry river(probably Ponnai) where 30426 led CBE Shatabdi with silent EOGs rumbled past at MPS. We arrived AB with a slight delay. After a quick halt, we departed from AB. 30358 led DD with roaring EOGs crossed us somewhere near MPI with loud sounds of FIAT bogies.
As we were looping onto the PF at KPD,I could see a WAP7 at the distance at PF.No.1. It was the Brindavan,SR's yesteryear pride and was hauled by 30349./blog/post/2320578. Huge crowd was waiting to board the train. Some people and pantry staff jumped off Brindavan and hopped onto Lalbagh and vice versa. Both the hit daily trains departed simultaneously from KPD. At Sevur, we crossed AJJ WAP1 hauled AJJ-SBC Passenger. After a speedy run, we reached WJR delayed by 15 mins. The WAP7 was too impatient. Within a minute, WAP7 gave a twin tone honk and Lalbagh departed from WJR. We arrived at SHU delayed by 10 minutes. We had an unscheduled halt at CTRE and near AJJ bypass line. When Lalbagh was halted near AJJN, a loud alco horn was heard. It was an ED alco moving slowly with some freight wagons on the newly laid tracks which diverge from PF.No.7 and PF.No.8. Work is going on in full swing on these platforms. We arrived at AJJ 13 minutes behind schedule. After a brief halt at AJJ, we pulled out of the PF and slowly cleared the points and took the newly laid fourth line to TRL. After PLMG, we accelerated to 110 kmph. AJJ to PER was a non stop run with furious honking and crazy speed except for TSR at PAB and KOTR. At TO, SNSI express were switching tracks from the new to old line. Shirdi Express was led by TNP rebuilt twins which had EMD horns. TRL was skipped at MPS. A TNP WDM2 raced with us from PCW. There were some accident relief vans for NWR and 17 made CBC coaches and 17 made LHB SL coaches for CR on the ICF sidings. Finally, the penultimate halt, PER was reached at 11:55 were the TNP WDM2 overtook us only to be halted at VJM where we overtook it.
PER-MAS was a non-stop run. We skipped BBQ slowly. At BBQ, 30409 was resting with few WAP4s and one more P7 was being brought to the ETS by a WAP4. At the same time, AJJ WAP1 led CSTM Express crossed us. As we were nearing MAS, 30408 was moving towards ETS. Finally, we arrived at MAS on PF.No.9 at 12:05 PM, 10 minutes early.
Overall rating:
Cleanliness- 10/10.
Comfort-10/10.
Speed & Punctuality-10/10.
Railfanning-10/10. (Numerous crossings and a surprise spotting of KYN WDP4D at JTJ).