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A LIFE SPENT CHASING TRAINS

  2. Trains
  3. 2014

India - Mumbai, the Konkan Railway & Kerala

A family holiday in India gave me the opportunity to ride and take a few pictures of Indian Railway's overloaded Mumbai commuter trains as well as taking two long distance services; the Mangalore Express from Mumbai to Mangalore down the Konkan Railway (train 12133) and the Parasuram Express from Kozhikode (Calicut) to Ernakulam Town (for Kochi). The latter is one of the slowest expresses I have ever ridden but, like every Indian train, the journey is infinitely entertaining.
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We passed an inbound train of older rolling stock.
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We passed an inbound train of older rolling stock.

IndiaMumbai

  • December 29th, Mumbai
  • There are elements of Italianate Gothic Revival (a la St Pancras) in the design but also of the Indo Saracenic style of architecture, which was prominent in the late 19th, and much favoured by Maharajahs when rebuilding their palaces.<br /> <br /> In front are a couple of Ashok-Leyland buses operated by BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport - formerly the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramway Company), the worlds largest civic transport and electricity undertaking.
  • These two worthies are Governor Generals of India who were instrumental in promoting railways, on the left is Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava who was the Governor General from 1884 to 1888 and on the right is James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie who held the post from 1848 to 1856, in the final days of administration by the East India Company.
  • Platforms 1 to 7 are for the famed commuter services, this indicator just outside the station entrance provied commuters with a view of what trains are going where. Two lines emanate from CST - the Mainline and Harbour Line. There was a very critical article on the latter in the English language DNA Mumbai on Thursday
  • The circulating area of the commuter side of the station, the platforms are on the left. Long distance arrivals and departures and the taxi rank are through the EXIT arch.
  • The long distance departure timetable.
  • December 30th
  • A trio of MU's, two inbound (left and right) and one outbound (centre) at Marine Lines. The Western Railway operates 12 and 15 car trains on the lines too and from Churchgate.
  • The Mumbai commuter railway is an integral part of one of the most remarkable logistic operations in the world, that of the Dabbawallahs or Tiffin Box carriers.
  • The Dabbawallahs collect thousands of tiffin boxes containing hot lunches from office workers homes or catering services, carry them by train to stations like Marine Lines and then distribute them to individuals at desks in offices across the city centre. Very few mistakes are ever made. And they do the whole thing in reverse after lunch. On the Western Railway the luggage compartment is reserved for the Dabbawallahs.
  • BEST also operate a fleet of rear platform double deckers
  • Later in the day we rode the Central Railway mainline commuter service from CST to Byculla. Track workers at work.
  • Oh blimey, a western tourist :-)
  • We passed an inbound train of older rolling stock.
  • The 5'6" broad gauge makes for very wide cars. Given the high temperatures, even in winter (30C+ today) trains run with their doors open.
  • Byculla
  • Just south of Byculla an outbound and inbound train pass each other, whilst on the left a long distance service enters the carriage servicing yard.
  • Outbound and inbound stopping trains on tracks 3 and 4 whilst we wait for a semi fast to CST.
  • That bloody tourist again, here in a 2AC car on train 12133 the Mangalore Express from Mumbai CST down the Konkan Railway to Mangalore, awaiting departure from CST. He's sitting in the lower berth (23L) of a two berth section. The picture was taken from the four berth compartment on the other side of the corridor. In a 3T AC car the compartment contains six berths. Well laundered blankets, sheets and a pillow are provided by the equivalent of the Pullman attendant. All in all it is a great way to travel. In non-air conditioned sleeper class or in second class it can get extremely crowded as well as hot and dusty, but here in AC things are very civilised.
  • December 31st, Madgaon Junction;
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