So back with my another trip report.MUMBAI-HYDERABAD-DELHI-PATHANKOT-CHAKKI BANK-HARIDWAR-MUMBAI in November 2012.I will post my entire travel experience in parts.
1.MUMBAI HYDERABAD KONARK EXPRESS.
It was rains in Mumbai and as planned,dad was off to book tickets 3 months prior to our Journey in November.We had a long route to cover right from AAMCHI MUMBAI to the land of NIZAMS and then to the snow clad Dharamsala and to sacred Haridwar.
Being...
more... a rail fanatic since childhood,even this trip was exciting to me.We had decided to book tickets for Mumbai-Hyderabad express but changed the plans and booked in Konark express as it has much flexible time.After a long wait of 3 months,the day of our journey arrived.I was very excited as were mom and dad.Packings were done a night before.It was 1.30 pm and time to move.We had already booked an ac cab from KURLA to CST.As it was afternoon,traffic was not much.We breeze passed the highway and were at CST an hour before departure.Indicator displayed that Konark exp.would depart pf 14 on its schedule time 15:10.According to the display,our coach A1 was third from behind.I made my way to the coach through the rush of the Unreserved passengers.Our train was shunted on the platform and I was very happy to see that the coaches were very clean.Coach A1 had an advertisement sticked to it.Settled with our luggage.Our berths were SLB,LB,LB.
It was around 2.50pm and made my way to the stalls to get some soft drinks and saw that sewagram exp.was ready for departure from pf 17.I came to my coach and it was time to depart.We departed at exact time.Yet we were alone on our seats.No co-passengers yet.
The train made its way slowly on the main line and saw the WDM loco in the lead.I was able to see Kanyakumari express being shunted just as we left MASJID.Our train was just gaining speed and and Reached Dadar.We halted for 2 minutes and departed.After DADAR,the train showed a great speed.We were waving good bye to mumbai surbarb stations and overtaking local trains at great speed.We made upto Thane till 70 kmph.Saw Rajendranagar-Mumbai sf express having an unscheduled halt at Thane.After Thane it was a decent speed till Kalyan.We approached Kalyan outer almost right time but were made to wait for 15 minutes.We reached Kalyan 15 minutes late.Got down at Kalyan and saw people asking the TC for berths.Came back to my berth and saw that I had now company of a military officer.Again we were cruising after Kalyan way upto Karjat.Reached Karjat 5 minutes late.Got down and saw the bankers getting attached.We were on from Karjat.Being a hilly region,train never crossed 40 kmph.Now we were in the hills and the setting of sun was a true delight to watch.Crossed Udyan and Intercity.We then reached Lonavala and after that it was getting dark.We consistently maintained 60 kmph.Reached Pune outer at 6:30pm.But again we were made to wait for 30 minutes or so.Indrayani crossed us slowly.And now we were given a green signal.We reached PUNE late by 10 minutes on pf 3.Just as we reached Pune,our coach was completely full by passengers who boarded at PUNE.I had been on the pf to relax my legs and saw that Kanyakumari express was entering pf 2 with a KALYAN WCAM 3.Soon ours was going to departed and at 7.25pm we left Pune late by 20 minutes.
Just after Pune,pantry staff served salads consisting of Tomato,Cucumber,Beetroot,and Masala Papad for 20Rs.It tasted good.We did not order any stuff from the pantry as we already had bought food from home.Just took soup and salad as starters and had our dinner.Our train never crossed more than 60 kmph till Daund.Me and dad got down at Daund where we reached exactly on time 20:35.Kanyaumari exp.was happy to chase us.When I got down at Daund,I spotted a loco due to its headlight shining brightly killing the dark and I think it was Kanyakumari express waiting at a signal.We departed Daund after a halt of 10 minutes and next halt was directly Solapur,a complete 3 hour 35 minutes non stop run.It war dark and nothing was visible outside.So at around 9:30pm,decided to retire for the day as the train wasn't doing a good speed.Saw a movie on my laptop and slept at 11.Almost every one was off to bed.
Got awake almost midnight and saw that we were halting at a station.As I was in sleep,did not knew which station it was.But being a rail enthusiast,got down and saw it was WADI.People were sleeping on the pf.There I saw,Gulbarga Hyderabad passenger on the adjacent platform.Again off to sleep.Dad woke me up at around 6.30am.We were on the outskirts of Hyderabad.Construction sites were clearly visibly.Even here we were not exceeding 50kmph.We reached Begumpet at 7.30am and I was certain that we would be late to Secunderabad.But,we reached Secunderabad on time as we did not get any signals.Half of the compartment was empty here.
OBESERVATIONS:
1.Well maintained
2.Good till Secunderabad for an overnight journey.
3.Speed lovers,avoid this train.
4.Food was excellent according to my fellow passenger.
5.Lots of slack time.Can easily reach Secunderabad 30 minutes before.
I will cont.with my next part soon.Hope You like it.
