START OF THE RETURN JOURNEY…..
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13020 – BAGH EXPRESS, From HDW to LJN. 4th January 2013.
Pnr Entry:
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4th Jan, 2014 - HALDWANI
We entered into the railway station at 3:45 pm into Haldwani station. We came here so early in a hope that there would be a cloack room to keep our luggage and then go out to do some shopping or eating. For our misfortune, the stations authority said that the cloack room is no more operational . There was one retiring room at the station, but looking at the condition of it, we didn’t opt to rent it even to keep our luggage. So decided to wait in side the AC waiting hall meant for free to the AC class passengers.
We settled ourselves to a corner and though it was time to do some rail fanning. As the announcement said, Kathgodam-Delhi Shatabdi would soon arrive on PF 1.
We went to the front end of the platform and started capturing pics as the ICF shatabdi gracefully enters the HDW yard.
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We still had to wait for 7 more hours to embark on a journey to LJN by Bagh Express.
So we walked to all corners and even to the banks of Koshi river which flows by the station. There was not much water so we can get close to take pictures. So just took some pictures of the station and SBs. And waited for the next train KGM – MB Passenger to arrive. Captured pics of her which I would post soon. And then the Izzathnagar WDP4D hauled MB-KGM passenger. The same Dp4D would haul the Bagh express later in the night to LJN. Captured all the pics by then the time was 7 pm. We then started talking about dinner so opted to buy 15/- per plate puri-bhaji from the station’s only vending stall. Then I went out on to the street to just go around find something to buy. I bought few cloths for temporary usage and turned back.
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Now it was the turn of the Dehradun Link Express at 8 pm followed by Ranikhet at 9 pm. I captured the pics and waited for 10 pm to tick. As clock turned 10:05 pm, the announcement was heard saying the BAGH would shortly arrive on PF 1. But the UKSK, arriving from Delhi which would usually come to PF 2 if running ontime and cross BAGH at HDW, was running late by 1 hr and would arrive at 11 pm on to PF 1 again.
We got into the coach and started our journey to LJN.
As LKU was shortly arriving, I saw an argument taking place between few passengers and TTE. The passengers had a ticket booked from LKU but they had instead boarded at KGM. Instead of requesting the TTE to allow them to travel, a lady among the group raised her voice and questioned the TTE on why they can’t travel. Localites of UK, they started giving some wague example of their daily travel from HYB to somewhere even though the pass was applicable from SC by HYD MMTS service.
The TTE asked me if what they claim is correct and if what he was saying is correct. I told the TTE that he was talking sense and that’s the rule even though there was no fare difference.
Soon the matter was settled as the TTE asked to pay them 6000/- for 6 passengers as fine. Now the lady reduced her voice and apologized. Then the TTE readily permitted them to travel without paying any extra penny. Then we peacefully slept
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5th Jan, 2014 - LUCKNOW
I got up at 5:30 am next morning and learnt that the train was running on time and would soon be arriving at LJN. We got down at went in search of retiring room so that we could freshen up. Nothing was available. We still have 5 hrs to board our flight to Mumbai. So we opted to use the waiting rooms in the Floor 1 of LJN and got freshened up in about 1 hr. We then met our friend and engaged an auto to take us around Lucknow’s Bara Imamabara, City, Hazratganj & Chikan market.
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We visited the places from outside took some snaps. My wife bought a chikan saree. Our friend departed and we set ourselves to the Lucknow Airport. There was a cafeteria in the airport entance, we had nice masala dosa, bread pakoda, puri-bhaji for breakfast at 10:30 am and then checked in and proceeded to the security check. Cleared it in no time and headed straight to the flight as the boarding already started.
We departed at right time at 11:45 am from Lucknow airport by jet airways towards Mumbai.
What happened from there would be present in the LEG 6, the last one of the lot.
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To be cntd…………