DC Line - ये आग का दरिया पार कर पाना नहीं था आसान ...पर धनबादवासियों के इरादे हैं चट्टान.... चलाकर रहेंगे इसपर रेल गाड़ी महान... - Niket Karan

JOURNEY REPORT TO VARANASI (/diary/trip/22631)
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PART-1
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Welcome everyone to my Trip Report from Mumbai to Varanasi. The trip was undertaken on 02.03.2013 from Mumbai LTT by 12167 LTT-BSB SF Express.
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all began when I received a call from an admin asking me about my availability on 04.03.2013 at Varanasi, the reason being visit to Diesel Locomotive Works by a few admins. I readily accepted the proposal and confirmed my availability on selected dates. Got a week’s leave sanctioned from my office for the same, the reason given by me was pilgrimage to Varanasi along with my parents!!
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Now the main part, the train reservations – Since the DLW visit was on 4th March, I wanted to arrive a day before in order to explore the city, the attraction being Kashi Vishwanath Darshan and visit to other temples and Ghats of Varanasi.
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Initially I was a bit worried as to how I could get reservations at a short notice, that too in a train which ran from Mumbai - UP as all the trains are heavily waitlisted between these two places. Was going through various trains from Mumbai, viz. Mahanagari, Ratnagiri, Kamayani, Kashi, etc. To my pleasant surprise, 12167 was RAC so finally decided to book in 12167 as it had RAC 1 and would confirm sureshot. Booked the ticket and waited for the D Day to arrive. In the meanwhile, it confirmed.
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Finally, the D Day (01.03.2013) arrived. Though it was my birthday, I had to leave home on that day in order to board 12167 from LTT @ 00.30 hrs on 02.03.2013. Accordingly, booked a MSRTC Asiad Bus Ticket from Pune-Maitri Park, Chembur, Mumbai and went to LTT by Auto. Arrived at around 09.30 pm here, did a bit of RF and ensconced myself in the large waiting area outside PF-1. After a while, the rake of 12167 was parked on PF-3. My seat was confirmed in BX-1 coach. It was a 2003 made coach, the rake was a bit dirty from outside but clean from inside. My seat no was 8 which was SU Berth but saw the chart. My co-passenger on Seat 7 was to board from ET which meant that SL would be vacant till ET. "Good beginning for a Railfan, SL berth to start with" I said to myself. Laid the bedroll, readied the berth relaxed there till departure. Noted that many passengers were upgraded from SL Class to BX-1.
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The train departed bang on time at 00.30 with a customary KYN WCAM-3 in charge. After cautiously negotiating points and crossovers, slowly started picking up speed. Crossed Vidyavihar in no time and skipped Thane at MPS. Badly needing rest, I dozed off to sleep now....
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(To be continued...)