September, we decided to make this trip to Ganagapur and started exploring various options for trains. A few of the long distance trains were waitlisted, a few of them had inconvenient timings. Finally we zeroed in on 12701 Hussain Sagar SF Express where berths were available. We booked the tickets and eagerly waited for the day to arrive.
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PRE-BOARDING ACTIVITIES:
The D-Day arrived. Since the journey was in the night, I came from office at around 7.00 pm and then after dinner, we proceeded towards station. My parents decided to relax a bit in the Upper Class Waiting Room on PF-1 while I decided to venture out for some night RF and spotting.
As we arrived, 11039 Maharashtra Express too arrived on PF-1 in a short while with GY WDM-3D. The train undergoes reversal in Pune, but I was surprised to note that a PUNE WDM-3A was attached to this train instead of the same GY 3D continuing further. 12026 SC-PUNE Shatabdi arrived on PF-2 behind PUNE WDM-3A, 11028 Chennai-Mumbai Mail on PF-1 with twin KZJ Alcos, the trailing loco being dead, 11020 Konark on PF-3 with KZJ Alco. 16382 was slated to arrive on PF-3, 11021 DR-TEN Chalukya on PF-1 and 12702 Hussain Sagar on PF-4. 51401 PUNE-MMR Passenger departed from PF-6. At around 01.05, we decided to go to PF-6 where our train 12701 was expected to arrive. At exactly 01.15, 12701 chugged in with an
#offlink KYN WDG-3A. Our berths were in the bay immediately next to the door, so we didn’t have much trouble. I was mighty pleased when we entered our coach – Full marks to SCR for maintenance of trains – The coach was new (SC 12130), cooling was amazing, clean – not a speck of dust, bedrolls were clean and fresh neatly wrapped in brown paper marked – SOUTH CENTRAL RAILWAY – SECUNDERABAD DIVISION. The coach was fitted with bio-toilets, which were again clean. There was liquid soap and also napkins in the toilet. All in all, it was impeccable. All zones MUST follow and take some leaves out of SCR’s book.
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THE ACTUAL TRIP:
We departed at 01.30 and after negotiating the points, the Alco started accelerating. Having ensconced myself into a comfy berth with bedroll, I had not option but to sleep!! The sleep wasn’t completely a sound one, used to wake up intermittently. I found myself woken up at Pophlaj, a station for the famous scissors crossing. Our train stopped and started going in reverse direction for some time. It again stopped and then after clear signal, we started moving again. At 04.35, Kurduwadi arrived. A couple of ladies on the SU and SL berths mistook KWV for SUR and started panicking as they wanted to get down. They later on came to know it was KWV and not SUR. They did not sleep later on, both of them just sat down instead of sleeping.
By this time, I was getting bored so I decided to go near the door. At 05.20, I opened the door a bit and sat on the attendant’s chair enjoying whatever was visible to me outside. The sun was yet to rise and the Alco was blasting past at MPS. We arrived in SUR on PF-3 at 05.50, some 20 min late. I got down just to stretch my legs. The attendant of 2AC and TTE too got down. 12219 LTT-SC Duronto was trailing us and it arrived at 06.00 on PF-2 behind GY WDM-3D for a brief halt of 5 mins. It departed soon. 12158 Hutatma Express was on PF-1 while 11423 SUR-UBL Express was on PF-4.
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The announcement for 11014 CBE-LTT was already being made and was expected to arrive soon. We departed at 06.15 and soon started gaining speed. The sun had already risen and the morning seemed fresh. Spotted a few cranes and other birds at Sambhaji lake on the right hand side. Crossed 11014 with KJM EMD in SHF and hit MPS in no time. A BCNA with UBL WDG-4 was standing at Hotgi Jn. Crossed A BCNA again with PUNE WDG-4 at AKOR on PF-2 while late running 57130 HYB-BJP Passenger was on PF-1. The controllers did make us stop intermittently and finally we arrived at Ganagapur Road at around 07.45. Just as we made our way out of the station, 22134 YPR-SUR SF blasted at MPS behind PUNE WDM-3D. An end of a brilliant trip, Thanks to SCR and above all, blessings of the Almighty.
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My ratings of this train:
Speed: 8/10
Cleanliness & Passenger amenities: 9/10
Punctuality: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10
Train running Staff: 9/10 (TTE and Attendants were very polite and helpful).
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Thanks for patient reading. Pics would follow soon.
