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Blog Entry# 3641411

Posted: Jul 19 2018 (10:18)

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Travelogue

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Jul 19 2018 (10:18) 11005/Dadar Central - Puducherry Express (PT) | SLI/Sangli (5 PFs) | KJM/WDP-4D/40529

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Entry# 3641411 Tags Past Edits

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A Quick trip to Pune and Mumbai in the last week of May saw me go through a lot of hurdles. Plans, re-worked plans, ticket bookings, cancellations, it was all there. The plan was to return by Chalukya Express to Bengaluru. And my retiring room was booked in CST station. With all friends and acquaintances, including railway staff, advising against boarding a local to Dadar (The Chalukya originated from there), we decided to buy a First Class ticket and take a Door journey of the next available Mail/Express train, which happened to be the Kolhapur bound Mahalaxmi Express. Hauled by a WCAM3, we departed bang on the dot at 20:20 hrs, and ended up in Dadar pf5 at 20:35 hrs. With just 1 hr left for my train's departure, and with not much energy to hunt for places to have dinner, we ended up having Vada Pavs from a restaurant outside...
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the station.
Chalukya Express departed right time at 21:30 hrs, mostly probably hauled by some WCAMx, totally drained of energy, i didn't bother checking the power. From Pune, a KJM EMD took over, later learned that it was WDP4D 40529. When i woke up the next morning, we were nearing Sangli. This route was always in my bucket list to be covered in day time. Well I was glad that I at-least got a part of it, Shindwane still eludes me.
Post Sangli, the route mesmerized me a lot. Especially the stretch till Belgavi, the repetitive curves, windmills near Raybag, the Krishna River bridge, the crops fields and other scenes unfolding all around, had me glued to my window. This train doesn't have Pantry, and surprisingly, didn't halt anywhere long enough for me to scout platforms in search of breakfast, leaving me at the mercy of the on board vendors. 2 plates of Vadas were all I could handle, and they were enough to remind of the home kitchen. Outside the train though, the crossings kept coming every now and then, in many occasions we were given the proceed ahead, while in a couple of instances, we were shown the loop, for passengers that too.
Rushing along, we met the lines from Goa and Dudhsagar Falls at Londa Jn, the heat was beginning to show, and I feared that fatigue might kick in. Thankfully, didn't happen. For lunch, I didn't take much of a risk, and ordered a Veg Thali from an online catering app, which was duly delivered in Hubballi Jn.
A Veg Thali consisting of A Cup of rice, 2 Vegetable varieties, A Dal, 4 rotis, 2 Gulab Jamuns, Salad n Pickle, was devoured as we swept past the dry cultivation lands surrounding the Hubballi Davangere section. Meanwhile, the King of the section, the Janshatabdi crawled past us at Hubballi south, scheduled to overtake us later in the night. The climate was cooler now, and the rains came down pouring as we neared Arsikere. In the meanwhile, Janshatabdi had reversed in Hubballi and managed to catch up with us, but was still far away for the overtake.
Post Arsikere, a string of dark stations greeted us, courtesy powercuts. And finally at Golahalli, we were looped and Janshatabdi overtook us at MPS. Though it was a scheduled overtake, I would have liked it to have happened much closer to Yeshvantpur.
Post the overtake, the speed was moderate and we crawled for the last 10 mins or so, and managed to arrive Yeshvantpur pf2 at 21:50hrs, delayed by 20 mins. The journey was both enjoyable and tiring, and i was so drained that I decided to nap in the cab itself on my way home. Chalukya Express is definitely one of those trains one can prefer for a group travel with some friends, not much disturbance from Unreserved travelers, the absence of a Pantry may make a difference to a few, but if food can be arranged from outside vendors and on board caterers, it would make up for it.

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Railgarion ki Devi, Nanda Devi AC ko pranaam - Sunaina Malhotra