As I had described earlier, the Lines in Mumbai division, ahead of Kalyan, is classified into "North Eastern" (NE) and "South Eastern" (SE). The NE line is from Kalyan to Igatpuri, and the SE line is from Kalyan to Lonavla. SE line has been explored quite a bit, and we decided to do justice to the NE line this time. It was a program decided at short notice - On Saturday afternoon to be precise, that Arzan, Babloo (Rajendra) and I would head towards Atgaon on the NE line.
Atgaon (ATG) is about 95 kilometres from Mumbai CST, and is located between Asangaon and Khardi stations on the Kalyan-Kasara segment. The station is located under AC wires, and the section is cleared for 105 kmph (there exists a PSR on the UP line from the ATG Home signal till the starter, and the SR is at 85 kmph). The station has one island platform, with two loops lines used for departmental reasons only. The station has no book/snack stalls. The Mumbai - Agra National Highway (#3) runs parallel to the station, and that provides for a small "dhaba" right outside the station.
We decided on the EMU to board, and accordingly I left home at around 0915. The EMU was at 1040 from Kurla. I reached Kurla at around 1025. Babloo joined me a bit later. Arzan called up at around 1036 to inform that his train has crossed Sion. We joined him in the train at Kurla. The run was average all the way to Thane. At thane, the train was diverted to the slow line due to maintenance work on the Down Fast line. It was an agonizing run after that. We stopped at all stations en-route. We had a brief halt at Kalyan outer. This halt gave me the first surprise of the day - Kalyan's own WDM3A! WDM3A #18852R was seen waiting at the freight yard with a freighter. While leaving Kalyan, I saw a WAG5 inside the ELS. The run ahead of Kalyan was below average, and the AC/DC EMU totally disappointed me with a slow run. We crossed quite a few trains including freighters on the way. Just near Asangaon, we crossed a container train hauled by WDG3A #13410. (This loco is at Raipur)
We reached Atgaon sometime after 1230. Just behind us was the Chhappra Express with WCAM3 #21944 in charge. Some time later, WCAM3 #21937 rushed off with the Howrah Weekly Express. Then came WCAM3 #21883 with the Mahanagari Express. After these spottings, we left off in search of something to eat. We found a Dhaba on the road side, and headed straight for our lunch. Arzan feasted on biscuits, while I and Babloo had Roti and Paneer Makhanwala. The curry was kind of bland. The curry was on the costlier side while the roti was pretty cheap! We stocked up water also for the day from here. Just as we were heading back to the tracks, an unknown train rushed towards Igatpuri with a WCAM3 doing the honors.
A tree, and a Gang-man's refuge acted as the "Camp Office" for the day. The Varanasi bound Kamayani express rushed off with WCAM3 #21940 in charge at around 1445. Behind this train was a Kasara bound EMU. Then two Kalyan bound Freighters headed off with a gap of about 20 minutes. The Aurangabad Jan Shatabdi rushed off at around 1552 with WDG3A #13366 of Kalyan in charge.
Just behind the Jan Shatabdi was the Mangala Express to Nizamuddin with WDM3A #14139 of Ernakulam in charge. About 5 minutes later, the Hatia-LTT Express went off. We then headed back to the station, Just behind us was the Chhappra-LTT Express. We then spotted the Godavari Express as well as the Sewagram Express at the station.
We then took the Bhusawal-Mumbai Passenger to get back from Atgaon to Asangaon. From Asangaon, we took a Fast EMU towards Mumbai. We overtook the passenger train at Khadavli. Quite some trains crossed us on the way. We all jumped out at Kurla to catch the Udyan Express and the Koyna Express rushing off towards CSTM with their WDP4s! Both the trains literally crawled through the station! I and Babloo then took an EMU back to Navi Mumbai. Babloo got off at Vashi while I continued to Belapur...
Atgaon (ATG) is about 95 kilometres from Mumbai CST, and is located between Asangaon and Khardi stations on the Kalyan-Kasara segment. The station is located under AC wires, and the section is cleared for 105 kmph (there exists a PSR on the UP line from the ATG Home signal till the starter, and the SR is at 85 kmph). The station has one island platform, with two loops lines used for departmental reasons only. The station has no book/snack stalls. The Mumbai - Agra National Highway (#3) runs parallel to the station, and that provides for a small "dhaba" right outside the station.
We decided on the EMU to board, and accordingly I left home at around 0915. The EMU was at 1040 from Kurla. I reached Kurla at around 1025. Babloo joined me a bit later. Arzan called up at around 1036 to inform that his train has crossed Sion. We joined him in the train at Kurla. The run was average all the way to Thane. At thane, the train was diverted to the slow line due to maintenance work on the Down Fast line. It was an agonizing run after that. We stopped at all stations en-route. We had a brief halt at Kalyan outer. This halt gave me the first surprise of the day - Kalyan's own WDM3A! WDM3A #18852R was seen waiting at the freight yard with a freighter. While leaving Kalyan, I saw a WAG5 inside the ELS. The run ahead of Kalyan was below average, and the AC/DC EMU totally disappointed me with a slow run. We crossed quite a few trains including freighters on the way. Just near Asangaon, we crossed a container train hauled by WDG3A #13410. (This loco is at Raipur)
We reached Atgaon sometime after 1230. Just behind us was the Chhappra Express with WCAM3 #21944 in charge. Some time later, WCAM3 #21937 rushed off with the Howrah Weekly Express. Then came WCAM3 #21883 with the Mahanagari Express. After these spottings, we left off in search of something to eat. We found a Dhaba on the road side, and headed straight for our lunch. Arzan feasted on biscuits, while I and Babloo had Roti and Paneer Makhanwala. The curry was kind of bland. The curry was on the costlier side while the roti was pretty cheap! We stocked up water also for the day from here. Just as we were heading back to the tracks, an unknown train rushed towards Igatpuri with a WCAM3 doing the honors.
A tree, and a Gang-man's refuge acted as the "Camp Office" for the day. The Varanasi bound Kamayani express rushed off with WCAM3 #21940 in charge at around 1445. Behind this train was a Kasara bound EMU. Then two Kalyan bound Freighters headed off with a gap of about 20 minutes. The Aurangabad Jan Shatabdi rushed off at around 1552 with WDG3A #13366 of Kalyan in charge.
Just behind the Jan Shatabdi was the Mangala Express to Nizamuddin with WDM3A #14139 of Ernakulam in charge. About 5 minutes later, the Hatia-LTT Express went off. We then headed back to the station, Just behind us was the Chhappra-LTT Express. We then spotted the Godavari Express as well as the Sewagram Express at the station.
We then took the Bhusawal-Mumbai Passenger to get back from Atgaon to Asangaon. From Asangaon, we took a Fast EMU towards Mumbai. We overtook the passenger train at Khadavli. Quite some trains crossed us on the way. We all jumped out at Kurla to catch the Udyan Express and the Koyna Express rushing off towards CSTM with their WDP4s! Both the trains literally crawled through the station! I and Babloo then took an EMU back to Navi Mumbai. Babloo got off at Vashi while I continued to Belapur...
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