Indian Railways Thread

Harish · Post by **Harish** » 18 Mar 2009 00:18

Thanks to all who responded...

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 20 Mar 2009 10:41

Sachin wrote:A good news. Recently had to travel on the SBC-ERN route and the SRR-YPR route. The allotment of the Side Middle Berth has got cancelled . There is some fuzz about the whole thing because the coaches on the rake have side middle berth and the numbering has changed. The TTEs get a bit hassled but then finally things get sorted out. The sooner they physically remove the 'side middle berth' and do the re-numbering again, the better.

TTE use it to make some quick bucks, allotting unconfirmed tickets

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 20 Mar 2009 12:06

krishnan wrote:TTE use it to make some quick bucks, allotting unconfirmed tickets

May be.. but I felt relieved to find that even with a confirmed ticket I do not have sleep in old prison like setup. TTEs earlier too used to make money by giving off berths which are vacant (due to no-show etc, which happens at the last moment) to the highest bidder.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 30 Mar 2009 22:24

Gents,

Found a interesting article in "The Hindu" dated 30/3/2009. Could not find in the on-line edition though...

A pioneering journey: A giant leap for Eastern Railway
As the clock struck five on an early spring evening on 3 March 1969, Kolkata made history. Guard S.O Levy gave signal to Driver G.L Tocher to begin the first ever journey from Kolkata of India's superfast full AC train, Rajadhani Express.

The names of the driver and guard does look like Anglo-Indian to me

. Perhaps those were the days when Anglo-Indians consisted the bulk of the "running staff". The Hindu also has a couple of photographs of the crew. But the person shown as the guard did not seem to be the correct chap. Looked more like the khalasi assisting the station master.

And it also made me a bit happy to see the "engine drivers" referred to as such. Rather than "loco pilots" yada..yada..yada..

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 04 Apr 2009 03:54

Change of guard may revive Kashmir rail project

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 06 Apr 2009 06:24

Connecting India from every corner

This is about the dedicated freight corridor project.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Apr 2009 08:58

India's Longest Railway Bridge under construction at Vallarpadam, Kochi (Pix from Businessline)

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 24 Apr 2009 17:46

SSridhar wrote:India's Longest Railway Bridge under construction at Vallarpadam, Kochi (Pix from Businessline)

Not to sound a pessimist. If we check the image, we see that provision is only their for a single line? Once this terminal becomes operational, don't you think this would cause a bottle neck at this point? Single Line block working would be slow and time consuming IMHO.

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 24 Apr 2009 18:18

Sachin, look at the left side of the spans. There is provision for another line.

However, the section is pretty short between kalamassery and the terminal. SLBW can carry a lot.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 24 Apr 2009 18:25

Why "S" shaped? and why not a straight rail line?

John Snow · Post by **John Snow** » 24 Apr 2009 18:51

because of land aquisition problems and turning away the theodlites by bribing the survey guys

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 25 Apr 2009 19:57

BBC World News Assignment Editor, Mark Perrow, flagging off, BBC's India Election Special Train at Safdarjung station in New Delhi on Saturday. 40 BBC journalists to explore Ind ia in 18 days

How come the IR hands over the flag to a gora sahib when the Guard wouldn't let an Indian do the same ? Many a time we see that Indians bend the rules for white foreigners. Slavish mentality still.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 25 Apr 2009 20:14

SaiK wrote:Why "S" shaped? and why not a straight rail line?

Pretty sure they went for the parts of the bay where the bottom depth is low, and to keep it clear off the Goshree bridge which will need a twin span in a decade. The other benefit is keeping the bay view intact and allow for water sports in future. The pylons for the rail bridge are too close, making boating a difficult venture.

There used to be boats plying between as far north as the river periyar (30 miles north of mattanchery) and terminals at Cochin. Wonder if the passenger boats can clear this railway bridge ?

Yugandhar · Post by **Yugandhar** » 25 Apr 2009 20:16

SSridhar

Siridhar sir, it could also be 'Athithi devo bhava'

maberbach · Post by **maberbach** » 26 Apr 2009 02:32

Bade can you please send me an private message, there is something I need to discuss with you regarding somebody, it may be not be appropriate for

this forum, I am unable to send private messages to you , I am not sure if I can recieve the, you can pm me your email address if you want.

p_saggu · Post by **p_saggu** » 26 Apr 2009 04:02

Can some civil engineering guru confirm this? The convex part of the curved railway bridge faces the upstream side of the river. Perhaps this could have a role in bridges being washed off during massive flooding on the river.

Could this be the reason?

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 26 Apr 2009 07:10

^^^ The backwaters are pretty calm with little flow between the periyar and the bay, since most of the periyar river drains into the sea 30 miles north of the backwaters of Cochin. That probably is not the reason here.

The munnar dam is a curved structure is what I heard like the Hoover dam, for the reason you mentioned.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 26 Apr 2009 07:11

maberbach wrote:Bade can you please send me an private message, there is something I need to discuss with you regarding somebody, it may be not be appropriate for this forum, I am unable to send private messages to you , I am not sure if I can recieve the, you can pm me your email address if you want.

I am no admin. So you have a case of mistaken identity.

negi · Post by **negi** » 26 Apr 2009 07:23

The curved surface in case of a Dam iirc works to deflect the force of the water on to the hills/embankment ; however in case of the bridges which are in layman's terms concrete slabs resting on piers/pillars do not face the above issue due to obvious reasons and in any case a curved design layout would still mean the impinging force per pillar would remain unchanged (for a pillar of given dimensions). The reason for the curve in this case might have to do with the suitable path along the rockbed which might be suitable for laying the foundation for the pillars and obviously more to do with the end points which the structure is meant to 'bridge'.
JMTs.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 26 Apr 2009 13:50

IR to build a line to Ladakh

High time we did that.

The first rail link is proposed to be between Leh and Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh and six passenger trains and nine goods trains are planned on the 498 km-long section.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 26 Apr 2009 20:18

Dileep wrote:Sachin, look at the left side of the spans. There is provision for another line.

I did not notice that !

. Good to see that the planners also have kept an option of doubling the line at a later date. BTW, why do you feel Single Line Block working (SLBW) can work effectively here?

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 26 Apr 2009 20:21

SSridhar wrote:How come the IR hands over the flag to a gora sahib when the Guard wouldn't let an Indian do the same ?

Most likely this was just for a photo session. Notice how the BBC crew are all posing for the photograph and one chap waving the green flag. They certainly are not in a mood/position to rush back to their coaches

. After the photograph was taken it was all standard operating procedures which would have taken place

.

maberbach · Post by **maberbach** » 27 Apr 2009 04:44

Bade wrote:
maberbach wrote:Bade can you please send me an private message, there is something I need to discuss with you regarding somebody, it may be not be appropriate for this forum, I am unable to send private messages to you , I am not sure if I can recieve the, you can pm me your email address if you want.
I am no admin. So you have a case of mistaken identity.

Yes I know, but are you able to send me private messages, I wanted to email you about someone who I am getting to know and whether or not you know him that well but not necessarily in a public forum.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 27 Apr 2009 05:37

I can safely say that I do not know anyone on this forum currently personally, to be able to give you any safe advice. Sorry that I could not be of any help in the matter.

If it is anyone who is not on this forum, it would be very bad of me to discuss in any case. Anything public can see is fine, or else it is a no go area.

maberbach · Post by **maberbach** » 27 Apr 2009 10:55

I live in New York and you mentioned a Ravi Dattatreya, somewhere on the forum do you know him personally?

He went to IIT, The reason I asked if you could pm me or email me is because if there are any personal information about you/me/him that you wouldn't want on a public forum.

He is well know though, I was wondering if you knew him, worked or went to school at IIT or in America with him?

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 27 Apr 2009 12:11

How common is it to transport rail engines and coaches by road ?

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 27 Apr 2009 13:53

Sachin, because the line going to vallarpadam is a small spur, IIRC around 7 km long. Pretty short segment.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 27 Apr 2009 14:14

John Snow wrote:because of land aquisition problems and turning away the theodlites by bribing the survey guys

the best answer so far!

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 27 Apr 2009 20:09

Maberbach, I do not know the person you mentioned, and it is unlikely I mentioned him ever on this forum.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 27 Apr 2009 22:54

jamwal wrote:How common is it to transport rail engines and coaches by road ?

See some coaches being transported by road on huge trailers
from the BEML factory in Bangalore. Not too frequently though.

maberbach · Post by **maberbach** » 28 Apr 2009 02:01

Bade wrote:Maberbach, I do not know the person you mentioned, and it is unlikely I mentioned him ever on this forum.

Bade,

you mentioned him on this forum http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... &sk=t&sd=a , however I am assuming you may know

about him but not him, ramana brought him up, are you friends with ramana, I have not been able to get through to him as I am unable to message him.

Are you from New York by any chance?

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 28 Apr 2009 02:25

^^^ That was not in reply to the person in question. No, I do not live in NY area.

I do not know Ramana either personally.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 28 Apr 2009 14:49

chetak wrote:
jamwal wrote:How common is it to transport rail engines and coaches by road ?
See some coaches being transported by road on huge trailers
from the BEML factory in Bangalore. Not too frequently though.

Imagine every single bogey and engine being transported by road to Kashmir.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 29 Apr 2009 16:04

Some local Mallustan dailies reporting a train crash at Vyasarpadi Jeeva station, in the suburbs of Chennai. 7 people killed. A passenger train coming from Chennai central rams into a goods train coming from Arakkonam Jn. A rumour is floating that an unauthorised person was driving the train and this was a kind of sabotage.

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 29 Apr 2009 16:47

A suburban train that was ready for departure was highjacked by someone and drove in the Arakkonam direction. It collided head on with a goods train near Vyasarpadi Jeeva station. Railways suspect the person to be lunatic, but chance of sabotage or terrorism is not discounted.

Butttt.. The suburban trains run on dedicated tracks, so how come it went to the main line?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Apr 2009 17:45

From ToI

Very bizarre.

In a bizarre rail accident, an "unauthorized man" ran an electric train for about seven kilometres unnoticed before ramming it into a goods train, leaving six persons dead and 11 others injured near Vyasarpadi Jeeva station in the city's northwestern suburbs. ( Watch )

As the Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) parked in the Moore Market complex was about to be moved by the unauthorized man, some passengers boarded the train believing it was a regular service, railway sources said.

Southern Railway general manager M S Jayanth said the train started "unauthorized" half-an-hour earlier than scheduled and went on a wrong line, colliding with a departmental train hauling empty wagons.

The train was to start at 5.15 am. How it happened is a matter of inquiry, Jayanth said. Seeing the fast EMU train approaching, two drivers of the goods train jumped off the locomotive.

Railway officials at the accident spot said the speed instrument of the EMU showed it had clocked 91 km/hr at the time of mishap.

While two compartments of the EMU were destroyed in a fire that was triggered by the collision, the rest with a few passengers were thrown off the tracks.

Sources said they were puzzled by the incident as the train had to pass two railway stations including the important Basin Bridge junction.

Eleven persons including the two drivers of the goods train were admitted to different hospitals. Some bodies were believed to be trapped inside the train, sources said, adding fire and rescue services personnel were using welding equipment to break open some mangled compartments.

People living near the tracks were also helping the injured. Railway tracks at the Jeeva station were twisted due to the impact of the collision.

Inter-state and suburban train services on the mishap route have been affected due to the accident. Many trains were running late at least by three hours, officials said.

dinakar · Post by **dinakar** » 29 Apr 2009 20:52

Dileep wrote: Butttt.. The suburban trains run on dedicated tracks, so how come it went to the main line?

Dileep saar ya we have dedicated tracks for suburban train in arakkonam section.. but since the train starts without getting signal it ran in different track not one in which suburban train from central to Ajj(Arakonam junction) runs..... This train didnt stop even in basin bridge junction which is the stop between chennai central and vyasarpadi jeeva and this train clocked around 90 kmph

(a evening daily maalar says but i doubt this one it might be our usual ddm) during this travel.....

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 29 Apr 2009 23:10

rshyam wrote:This train didnt stop even in basin bridge junction which is the stop between chennai central and vyasarpadi jeeva and this train clocked around 90 kmph

This looks really strange. Especially the part this train got a "run through" in two stations and that one of them is a junction - Basin Bridge. If my understanding is correct, positions of a train gets displayed on the signal panel etc., and I am sure some one would have noticed a train indication (generally a set of red lights flashing on the white line indicating a track) appearing on the panel when it was not supposed to be there. And that the "original" driver at the EMU yard did not notice that his train has gone missing for quite some time.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Apr 2009 06:34

The EMU hijack is being investigated as a possible terrorist action.

Train hijack comes amid heightened threat perceptions

Hijacked train leads to collision: 4 dead

It is not only unprecedented but also questions the basic safety standards of Railways.Three of the four persons who died in the incident have been identified and the police suspect that the fourth could be the person who hijacked the train. . .The keys required to start the train were left in the driver’s cabin. . . The technician who prepares an EMU for service should hand over the ignition key to the driver or motorman in person. . . . . "It is possible to turn the ‘dead man’s handle’ or speed lever to top notch and jump out…the train will come to a halt after traversing 120 metres,” he said. . . the cabin crew at Basin Bridge Junction could not sense trouble from the moving train while the Station Master alerted the Control Room that there was no exchange of signal from either the motorman or the guard. But, there was little time to stop the train or divert it to the sand hump.

According to Inspector General of Police (RPF) G.M.P.Reddy, suburban train platforms are not covered by the surveillance camera network.

Following Picture from Businessline

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 30 Apr 2009 16:04

I wonder why the point at basin bridge was set to the main line. That is never done. That might indicate that there was co-ordinated sabotage. The suburbans going to the beach side must cross over the main line at basinbridge (that is why it is a junction) . But with a train at vyasarpadi coming in to basinbridge, the argument that a previous point setting being left there doesn't hold water.

Worthy to note that the distance from basin bridge to vyasarpadi is only 1.8 km. From start to vyasarpadi is just 3.5 km.