My first journey story,that too alone (for 2nd time) and none of my family members know about it!!.Please read and excuse my English (being a Bengali medium student,I shall try best to write).
This all started when I just passed out of my school in June,2017 and got admitted to a college in July,'17.After school,And becoming 18...the so called adult...I became to show that I am can take care of myself and can go anywhere alone.But as usually my family members were very possessive towards their darling,ie,Me.Though on weekends,I went to my father's home at Howrah,from Singur...about 30 kms journey only...I planned to do something different this time!!!
The...
more... idea of exploring unexplored section spread out in my nerves!!I still don't remember why & how an idea of visiting Jhargram poped into my mind....secretly I started doing all the plannings inside myself!!
**It was not a lot of planning but surely it was lot to me!!!..I was too greedy to take a glimpse of Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express via-Tata...so set out on the very day of Asthami during Durga Puja Festival citing my Mother that I am going to make a small early morning trip to an SER destination,Abada,where i preferred RFing...and then I would visit my Father's place and return in evening...
"""""Now, to the main journey story-----"""""
**On 28th September 2017....I alone... without any companion set out for Jhargram....Money was a major factor to me....and I wanted to complete my journey in the cheapest manner possible as I am too much concerned not to waste my money....hence At 3 AM,I woke up and got ready to board the first Local train from Singur at 04:20 to Howrah...(My family members didn't feel odd as the knew I go RFing early in morning many times)...I boarded the local & I had a monthly till Shrirampur....I still continued in the train till Liluah,got down there and bought another ticket to Sardiha, bcos till JGM would have costed me more Rs 10.In another EMU,I reached Howrah at 05:30 AM.
**Some SER local was given on platform No.13 and it departed at 05:50...just ahead of Dhauli Express.Howrah station was rather empty but not too much due to Durga Puja vacations.The Jamalpur Express was on Pf9,Kumbh arrived on Pf12,Ranchi Shatabdi on Pf11,Malda Passenger on Pf5,Gaya Express on Pf4.
**My local departed at 05:50...I deboarded at SRC at 06:15 only to find Rupasibangla Express was shunted on platform and ANVT-SRC Exp of previous day had just arrived 12+ Hrs. late.Madras Mail was having PM.The ANVT-SRC Exp went to Carshed and Rupasi departed.Dhauli passed in slow pace followed by Barbil JanShatabdi & a local train to Digha.
**Now my train arrived... Santragachi-Jhargram MEMU... Passenger hurried into the compartments and it departed within 3 Mins.The train cruised through the beautiful Bengal... skipping many roadside stations & important stations...We Xinged with SER majorities...Late running Sri Jagannath,an LHB train,dozon of EMU & 2 MEMU,some passenger,Steel Exp p7,PRR-HWH Exp p4...etc,just after Balichak, parallel action started between our local & Ispat Express...till KGP outer,where it was given priority...the ETS had 2 GZB P7,a couple of SRC P4s and many freight locos.we arrived KGP with minor delay of 8 Mins.
**A lot of vendors were selling pre-packed Breakfast which seemed not hygienic to me...I could not resist a cup of coffee.It was very grand situation for me to be on one of the Longest platforms of world.Also saw the scissor crossing.As soon as we departed...Falaknuma was announced.As the train criss-crossed through outer and took turn leftwords...I got confused where we were going...a track went straight (later understood it was down track from TATA & BBS side)..and a single track took right turn which was none but to Midnapur.We started to cruise in full throttle through lot of yards and goods loco...also a MEMU & EMU parking shed.
**We went past Khemasuli and I started to record the debris of ill fated Gyaneswari Express...the twin freight loco's skeleton...and arrived Sardiha...where my ticket ends...but still I continued...and arrived Banstala...in the middle of a jungle...a fear ran down my spine....years ago... Rajdhani which was hijacked in this forest guarded station....our train Xinged with some ECoR train with P4 (maybe Neelanchal/Nandankakan one)...arrived Jhargram with delay of 15 Mins. And took a round around the station & boarded the same JGM-SRC MEMU and deboarded at Sardiha...now I was a bit nervous there...though it had locality all around... freights standing in loop lines & continuous announcement of KGP-TATA PGR. which was running late due to overtake by Pune Duronto which I captured.Hell crowded the train was....it left & station became deserted....started RFing with my camera... Ahmedabad Express & Gitanjali Express both p4.Then there was Haldia Express with p5 to Delhi.It was already afternoo and I relaxed and munched on my biscuits and tracking Rajdhani...I was following IRI time tabe which showed Rajdhani passing time at Sardiha...but actually it passed about 6 mins before time which I couldn't imagine.It was powered by HWH WAP7.Then Ranchi Intercity passed with a sore throat type honking SRC P4!!
HWH-GTS MEMU arrived and departed.Now,It was my time to return and I went to down platform and a young doctor & a lady doctor and also a senior member of their nearby sub centre hospital came & started discussing their job related problems...they sat beside me...I couldn't sit on bench because it was rather too hot...the green carpet of grass was raather preferable to me and most of the co-passengers.A newly wedded couple (probably destined to Puri;got to know from their speech) also arrived and started spend the romantic time.Actually due to delay of the MEMUs...all of us were sitting in like a round table conference....again we were joined by another man....Then it was announced Purulia-Jhargram-Kharagpur local is running 2 hours late & GTS HWH MEMU is 1 hour late....
**Now,I got a bit nervous thinking of if i would be able to return home in time....and if i didn't do...then my mother would really get angry at me...In mean time,Up BBS Raj p7 honked and I took a video....then i took suggestions from the co-passengers what to do....they told me to board Purulia MEMU & take any express to Howrah...so finding no other option...I boarded the MEMU till Kharagpur & then Aranyak Express till Andul (with ORD ticket) in SLR coach.The charge of my phone got exhausted and I didn't even had a power bank...I was like Extreme tired & wanted to eat & sleep anyhow...Aranyak Express stopped at Panskura and I bought 4 "alu-chop"...for what Panskura is famous....they were really delicious to my empty tummy....
**Aranyak Express stopped at Andul before taking Bypass flyover to SRC.I got down and got local to Howrah...I was much early beyond my expectations...got down at Pf13 of Howrah and ran towards Pf2 where Andolon local was ready to depart....arrived Home at 20:30 and none could know I went to such a long distance trip all alone......
**My next wishes to explore the unexplored sections are...
1.MSAE-BQA-->BQA-KGP-HWH
2.BDC-KWAE-->KWAE-BWN-->BWN-BDC
3.TAK-AMBG-GOGT
4.RHA-STB-KNJ-NDF
Hope u like my long story.This is my first time I am writing.After lot of hesitation (what would everyone think of my odd silly journey story)...I decided to post it here.Hope my writing skills would imporve eventually!!!
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Though I was a bit nervous all along the trip,but this trip gained me courage & I enjoyed every bit & part of it...What more do I want??Now I even have a great companion cum Rf friend with whom I went to another Rf trip to Gede.It was also a thrilling experience as that very day,we spotted 4 International trains,2 Maitree Express (IR & BR) and a pilgrim Spl and a Player's Spl.Will share that experience shortly!!!
