Here is the Trip Report of Journey dt. 24/1/2015 , A memorable journey from Sindhudurg to Thane.
My first rail journey of this New Year 2015.
Since I had booked the ticket from Sawantwadi QRS a month before the journey, I was allotted A1 berth no. 45 SL berth in AC 2 tier.
The train was scheduled to arrive Sindhudurg at 20:10, hence I...
more... left my home towards the station at 19:30 n reached at the Station at 19:50. Announcement was made at 20:05 that the train would arrive shortly on PF # 1. I spotted a signalman before the arrival of the train n asked him whether Mumbai SF Exp would overtake us here itself, he affirmed n said Yes, I doubted his affirmation as Mumbai SF had crossed Pernem at 20:02, it would take about 40 mins atleast to overtake us at Sindhudurg, now at 20:15 I could see a bright light entering the PF 1 loop at Sindhudurg, it was the Queen Konkan Kanya Express but something seemed to be different, usually KJM WDP4 EMDs r in SHF mode towards Mumbai side. Soon I noticed the ALCOs chugging when the train was nearing me, it was hauled by twin
#offlink Erode (ED) WDG3A # 14741 n 14664.By the train train came to a halt at Sindhudurg stn it was 20:18. I entered the train n kept my luggage underneath my seat by that time I heard GOC WDP3A (Toaster) hauled 12218 Sampark Kranti express crossing n accelerating past us from mainline. Now I thought that signalman was wrong n we would be given a starter in another 2 mins. But as the things turned out we were kept waiting, so I decided to move around on the PF, there I spotted our LP, n had a small chat with him. Now it was between 20:45 n I could see another train towards Mumbai entering d loop of PF2 at Sindhudurg it was Mumbai SF, it was looped on PF 2.
N mainline was given a Go Green after few mins I could spot a EMD light n started my camera recording. It was Netravati Exp TVC bound. It took 40 sec to reach me at the point I was standing 5th coach from loco, n it was at full throttle, this showed that the track is dead straight at Sindhudurg Station atleast for 3-4 kms, it zoomed past me at full throttle lead by GOC WDP4D. What a Blast!!! 23 coacher train crossed me in exact 18 sec speed was round about 105 km/hr what a nocturnal blast. At 20:56 Mumbai SF left Sindhudurg.
The signalman was right overtake was fixed at Sindhudurg only
Now some friends started teasing "Joshua jahan jahan train late wahan wahan :P" via text msg, I guess they must have remembered my 18 hrs Double Decker Premium trip, few mins later yet to leave Sindhudurg attendant called me inside the coach since the dinner had arrived. Dinner which I had ordered was Fried Rice, Chicken Lollipop n Gulab Jamun for desserts. Now at 21;16, after 58 mins halt at Sindhudurg Station after crossing two Manglore bound train n getting overtaken by Mumbai bound train, finally the Alcos blew d horn n started chugging.
To be continued.
By the time we departed Sindhudurg we were late by 1h 5 mins exact.
