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-----*****Trip Report*****-----
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Train : 06552 JP - YPR LHB SPECIAL
Loco : WDG 3A - 13256 (KJM)
DOJ : 23-JAN-2014
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: GULBARGA
DEST : YESVANTPUR
Coach: 13211/C, 2013 November made.
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Initially I had reserved seats in 22133 on 22-01-14 but as soon as this special train got extended, I was very quick to extend my stay for one more day, reserved tickets in this train (luckily I got Side lower) and cancelled tickets in 22133. Even though I had already traveled in 06551, LHB rake makes me want to travel in it again and again:)
On the journey day, I got ready at 10:00 hrs as the actual arrival of the train is at 10:53. I Called 139 to know train's location and shocked to hear that train was running late by just 15 minutes! I thought the right location of the train is not updated as it is highly impossible for a "SPECIAL" train to travel around 1700 km and run late by just 15 minutes. So i planned to go to station and enquire about the actual arrival time of the train (my home is close to Railway Station, 10 mins away). I went to the inquiry, a lady was sitting there, I asked about the train and this is what I heard from her - "I don't know where is the train but it should come in another half an hour". But I was unconvinced! But left with no other option, I went back home, got my luggage and came back to station at 11:05 hrs. As I entered, 12025 PUNE - SC SHATABDI Entered PF 1, it was late by 25 mins but would make up the lost time till wadi, thanks to slack. After a brief halt, it proceeded towards WADI. I was expecting the train to come behind SHATABDI, but instead, a fright followed. Again I went to the enquiry, this time a male person was sitting, he told me that the train hasn't even come to SUR and it won't come to GR before 13:30 hrs. Damn!! I went to cloak room and kept my luggage ( it was heavy as I was returning from my cousin's marriage). Went back home and came to station at 13:15 hrs. This time straight forward I went to enquiry, he told that train has just reached SUR and would come to GR by 15:00 hrs. Now what the hell do I do? I was tired of commute between home and station! This time I decided to roam around the station. PF 4 construction was going on in full swing. 1 escalator has come up on PF 1 and they were preparing for one more escalator beside it. Another escalator on PF 2,3 was just put up and work was going on. They were extending the roof on PF 2,3 on both ends. Goods shed on PF 1 is gone and I think they are building a waiting room in that place. I was amazed at the pace at which the work is going on. One has to appreciate Mr Kharge for his efforts. In the meantime Solapur - Falaknuma passenger had passed and the station was almost empty. It was 15:00 hrs and announcement came regarding our train.
Finally with a delay of 4 hour 27 mins, 06552 JP - YPR LHB SPL EXP entered GR at 15:19 hrs on PF 2. Soon it departed from GR at 15:22 hrs. After crossing ring road, train picked up the speed and in no time the KJM loco was pulling the train at 105 kmph. After sometime 11028 MAS - CSTM Mail crossed. With good speed and no unnecessary halts we reached WADI at 15:54 hrs. 11020 BBS - CSTM KONARK EXP was already standing at WADI well before it's scheduled arrival time of 16:05 hrs as mentioned in IRI!! This train is rocking since it has received the KZJ Twins after the link of SBC Rajdhani changed. We departed from WADI at 16:06 with a delay of 3h 51m (time gain of 40 mins due to slack b/w GR and WADI). With a given avg of 117 b/w WADI and YG, we were agin late by 4h 15m at YG. Departed from YG at 16:53 hrs. 12164 MS - DR SF EXP crossed at Yermaras, just before RC. The same delay of 4h 16m was maintained till RC and departed from RC at 18:13 hrs. My camera was starting to produce blurred images as it was getting dark. The train crawled till Mantralayam and the delay extended to 4h 47m. It was a 10 min halt at MALM water was filled. BHARAT DARSHAN train was waiting on PF 3 and it's loco was on GTL side. By Adoni, the delay crossed the barrier of 5 hrs. With slow run, reached GTL at 20:31 hrs on PF3, with the delay of 5h 31m.
Within 10 mins from our arrival, BHARAT DARSHAN Exp entered GTL at PF 6. Soon 18464 SBC - BBS Prashanti Exp occupied PF 4 and was standing along side us. The slip coach of 17604 YPR - KCG Prashanti Nilayam Exp was standing on a parking track b/w PF 4 & 5. In 40 mins, the loco was reversed from our train and we were given signal to proceed. As we were leaving, Prashanti Exp's loco was hurrying to go to the other end! We left GTL at 21:11 hrs with a delay of 5 and half hours. It was one more slow run from GTL to BAY which showed a flurry of activities. 06529 YPR - JP Spl was waiting in one of the stations and 11304 KOP - HYB Exp was overtaking it (Same thing happened when I was in 06551 YPR - JP LHB SPL last time). After some time 16533 BGKT - SBC Exp crossed us and as we were waiting at BAY outer, 16593 UBL - MYS Hampi Exp crossed us. We reached BAY at 22:50 hrs and departed at 23:02 hrs with an agonizing delay of 6h 17m! I slept at 00:00 hrs. When I opened my eyes at 06:00 hrs, we were just departing from TK, running with the delay of 3h 38 mins (there is a huge slack b/w CTA & YPR) I slep again knowing that it won't reach YPR before 07:00 hrs. I woke up at 07:00 hrs and the train was standing on a PF at Chik Banavar, just a station behind YPR. I had a good sleep, ride was really comfortable and there were very few vibrations. There is a world of difference between LHB coach and ICF coach! At around 07:40 hrs 16515 YPR - KAWR ICE crossed us. Still no sign of proceeding for this train. Then 16536 SUR - MYS Golgumbaz overtook us. With so many trains entering YPR at that time, I thought this train wouldn't reach YPR before 09:00 hrs. So I got down from the train and took BMTC bus to home.