Ludhiana Shatabdi Express Full Journey Compilation!! One Last Time in India's Last ICF Shatabdi!!
Hello Guys and Welcome back to my channel!! I sincerely hope you all are safe and doing well.
The train that we would reflect on this video was the 12037 New Delhi - Ludhiana SHATABDI Express, a train that's no more existent now. Due to poor patronage, this SHATABDI along with the 12043/ 12044 New Delhi - Moga SHATABDI were discontinued last October, and replaced by INTERCITY trains. The main motive of taking a ride on this SHATABDI was...
more... that the train did not follow the main line from Delhi to Ludhiana Via Ambala Cantt., which is obviously taken by the other higher profile trains on this route, like the 12013/ 12014 , 12029/ 12030 , 12031/ 12032 New Delhi- Amritsar SHATABDIs, JAMMU RAJDHANI, SHRI SHAKTI A.C. Express. Instead this SHATABDI follows the branch line Via Rohtak, Jind, Jakhal and Dhuri, which is less taken by. And while following this route, the train traverses the smaller branch from Jakhal to Dhuri, which uses the age old semaphore signals and the Neale's Ball Token Exchange system. And as most of the railfans have heard of, DHURI JN. used to a paradise for semaphore signals. And the added incentives of the SHATABDI were that it was the LAST EVER SHATABDI Express to run with the ICF rake, and one of the very few in India to be hauled by an Alco Locomotive. Although once or twice, the train used to spring up with en EMD, but thankfully on our day, it was indeed hauled by a Macho Deemer from Ludhiana Diesel Loco shed. And for a long long time, I used to dream of taking a particular picture. A picture of the classic blue- cream ICF SHATABDI with an orange- ash Alco waiting at DHURI JN. waiting for the semaphore to drop down (As the route uses lower quadrant signalling method). And this was a dream come true when I managed to take exactly the same picture on that day (The same picture you saw in the thumbnail).
So here is a detailed journey compilation from the days gone by. A walk down the memory lane. A view at the pages of history. Just after arriving at New Delhi railway station, we rushed to spot the (Back Then) Brand new VANDE BHARAT Express, or TRAIN 18 (As I prefer calling it).
Anyways, our train departed from New Delhi, and slowly made its way past Delhi suburbs and through thick fog. On way, we cross numerous train, most of which are captured by me and shown in the video (Although I missed a few). Although a few things did hamper the journey, which included camera malfunction, harassment by RPF and the pathetic condition of the rake, but overall it was a dream journey come true. And as if to pay tribute to our determination, we ended the journey by meeting a train from our homeland.
