Departing Dhanbad, overtaking Ranchi- Dumka (Ex.) Intercity and accelerating hard: Sealdah Duronto
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30222 GZB WAP- 7 hauled 1 hour late running 12260 New Delhi (NDLS)- Sealdah (SDAH) A.C. DURONTO Express departs from Dhanbad Junction (DHN) after completing its final scheduled halt of the journey. Meanwhile, we overtake the 18619 Ranchi (RNC)- Dumka (DUMKA) (Ex.) INTER CITY Express hauled by WDM- 3A...
more... before crossing the 13351 Dhanbad (DHN)- Alappuzha (ALLP) Express, which was getting shunted to the station by a TATA WAM- 4. Finally after clearing the points, we get accelerated furiously by the white stallion in charge. You can also spot a few WAG- 7 and WAP- 4 in the Electric Trip Shed.
The 18619 Ranchi (RNC)- Dumka (DUMKA) INTER CITY Express earlier used to depart Ranchi at 05:25, and reach Dumka at 13:50. On the return journey, 18620 used to depart Dumka at 14:20, and reach Ranchi at 23:25. Ran 5 days a week.
Now, 18619 Ranchi (RNC)- Dumka (DUMKA) Express departs Ranchi at 21:25, and reaches Dumka at 06:45. On the return journey, 18620 departs Dumka at 18:45, and reaches Ranchi at 04:00.
Dhanbad Junction railway station:
Dhanbad Junction is the largest railway station in Jharkhand, handling over 100 trains and 100,000+ passengers everyday .Dhanbad is also is the headquarters of the Dhanbad Rail Division of the East Central Railway zone. Grand Chord rail-line that connects Howrah and New Delhi passes through Dhanbad junction. Dhanbad Jn is a Category A station as well as the divisional headquarters.It is the largest station in the adjoining area, and every train has a halt here.Lying centrally on the Grand Chord it is flanked by Gaya Junction on the Delhi side and Asansol railway station on the Howrah Jn side. It is not uncommon to find long distance trains getting their locomotives and rakes(occasionally) changed here. All the Duronto Express passing through Dhanbad have a technical stoppage here. Due to shortage in spaces, Dhanbad does-not have any loco-shed at present. It used to have a steam loco shed earlier. It has a trip loco shed at its outer section, has it's electric loco shed at Gomoh and it's diesel loco shed at Patratau. Being the largest station in the area it finds a very heavy patronage and a huge number of passengers use this station everyday. A lot of people from adjoining districts like Bokaro,Koderma,Giridih come to Dhanbad early morning to catch the 'morning trains' to various destinations like Kolkata,Durgapur,Jamshedpur,Ranchi,Patna,Burdwan and Gaya. The most popular train in the morning being the 12340 Dwn Coalfield Express , off to Kolkata and the Gomoh-Burdwan MEMU. Recently Dhanbad also became the 1st station in the country (along with Howrah Jn) to have an Ac Double-Decker express running in between them (see Howrah -- Dhanbad Double Decker Express) though this train has been a rare failure plying through this route.
Dhanbad division is a mainstay of the Indian Railway, it is the second highest revenue earning division in the IR. It's main revenue is from freight transportation. It is a major center for loading and unloading of coal.
