Sapt Kranti Express: Ruling the tracks with EMD Power - Keshav Singh

Among all the surprises served to us by Indian Railways, this was probably the best. Introduced towards the end of 2014, the Intercity express trains to Shivamogga town and Harihar were given a superb start with much fanfare and expectations. Towards mid 2015, the patronage for these 2 trains become somewhat clear. Though inducted into service with much expectations, these didn't yield fruitful results. At around the same time, some GS, 2S LHB coaches were allotted to South Western Railways and without being allotted to any train, were biting the dust in the yard of Yeshvantpur Jn.
While some trains were being speculated to get those LHB coaches, there was no news from the Rail front. All of a sudden on...
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the afternoon of April 5, 2016, A Railfan from near Tumkur posted pics of a train with boards reading 'Shivamogga Town - Yeshvantpur - Harihar' heading towards Arsikere. The train was running with LHB coaches. It didn't take long for people to figure out that it was the train which was almost on the verge of being canceled, the Intercity express from Yeshvantpur to Harihar and Shivamogga Town.
A Plan was quickly chalked out and it was decided that I will board the 09:30 passenger to Tumkur from Bangalore City the next day. My friend and Railfan Natarajan C joined me at Malleswaram. We got down at Soldevanahalli and headed towards the north end of the station to the huge Banyan Tree Canopy to find out that one side of the canopy was chopped down. And here people were complaining of Bangalore becoming hotter, what Irony!!!
Nevertheless, as the clock ticked towards quarter past 11, our anxiousness grew, and it reached the top notch when we saw that the LC had been closed and the train was given a through. Climbing down the gradient at the far north end of the section, the LPs decided to notch up as soon as the signal came into view. With extreme smoking and honking, the LHBfied Intercity express from Shivamogga Town rushed towards its destination, the loco doing the honors was WDM3A 14019 from KJM shed. Cherishing the memories of the day, the two of us headed home. Hoping the other trains which are heavily patronized soon get LHB carriages.
Coach Composition of the train-
LOCO-EOG-GS-GS-GS-GS-GS-GS-C1-D1-D2-D3-D4-D5-D6-EO G
YT Link- click here