RAILFANNING AT MY HOMETOWN!
It was saturday the 25th of July, when I set off for Kolkata. I reached Dhanbad Junction at 10:00 AM so to click some photographs of Dhanbad Junction. I was aiming for the 12988 Ajmer-Sealdah Superfast and planned to avoid the 13152 JammuTawai-Kolkata Express.
The PRS came to life and announced that both of the train were delayed by over an hour. Still wanting to avoid the 13152 I took a stroll along Platform number 1, and clicked a few snaps.
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it can be seen, it was a beautiful overcast morning, with occassional torrential downpour. The station drenched in the rains looked very fresh and was an eye-soother.
At 11:00AM sharp 53061 BWN-HTE passenger chugged in with a TATA WAM4, I couldnot take a picture as a freight train blocked the view as the passenger entered, simulataneously VSKP WDM3A 13282 chugged with the 12832 BBS-DHN Garib Rath. I was cursing the freight for a wasted oppurtunity,when all of sudden a twin-honk alerted me .I turned to see HWH WAP7 30311 pulling in 22387 HWH-DHN Black Diamond Express.
At 11:45AM the 68087 Bankura-Dhanbad came in,simultaneouslly 63522 GAYA-DHN-ASN memu chugged in.
At 12:00 sharp JAMMU-KOAA express came in. Majority of my fellow passengers got in, myself and the daily passengers waited on for the 12988 which the PRS announced would be arriving shortly. The daily passengers theorized that that 12988 would overtake 13152 sometime ahead, so it would be wise to wait for 12988. Why settle for Silver when you can get Gold,right!
An hour later we would be deeply regretting our decisions.
12988 came in with HWH WAP4 22286 at 12:15PM, I quickly scurried around looking for a seat. None, there was none, and none of the passengers around were inclined to share their precious seats. I stood at the door, amongst the commotion, hoping that I would get a seat at ASN. 1 hour of standing isn't such a bad deal ,right! Besides I was getting a beautiful view of the natural scenery and would be getting a good look at DHN trip Loco shed as the train would passby. I was happy.
The train waited and waited, would'nt start. Some of my fellow passengers started speculating that probably the incoming 12382 NDLS-HWH Poorva Express would be given track priority over the 12988 as Poorva was the senior train. An intimadating honk followed. I put my head out and saw MGS WAP4 22509 draw 12382 to a rest at platform no 2 beside my train. My heart sank! The daily passengers were right, Poorva would get track priority. I watched with a sad face, as almost all the daily passengers jumped ship to the Poorva. Only an old grumpy uncle remained. Like me he had purchased a ticket for SDAH. I stood there looking at probably two hour delay in my plans.
Half an hour went by, none of the two trains budged an inch. It was then a commotion was heard outside of the platform. I stepped out of the train,and went up to the Loco-Pilot to ask him about the cause of delay. What he said sank my heart!
What happened was that 13152 whilst passing through had tore open a piece of overhead wire with it's loco's Pantograph at Pradhankanta. Repairs were underway,it would take atleast two hours to get the wire functional again! I was devastated! In my imagination I could see the HWH WAP4 of the 13152 laughing out loud as it had prevented not one, but two of it's illustrious cousins to overtake it. The Jammutawai would reach KOAA on time, while the usually punctual 12988 and 12382 would reach their destinations atleast 3 hours late.
Meanwhile the 68088 Dhanbad-Bankura MEMU was ready to depart on it's homerun to Bankura, but was stuck at Platform 1A for the same reason. All these while Black and Garib Rath got shunted and 13352 ALLP-DHN express had arrived on Platform 7/8. Meanwhile the VSKP WDM3A was all over the place chugging around happily, honking heavily as if to remind us that it did'nt require the wires to move around.
It was 14:30PM.I was still conteplating the 13152's devillish act of jealously when suddenly there was a honk from one of the two WAP4s. I put my head out, and saw that it was ours.
Ours signal showed a faint yellow glow in place of the bloodish red, that was their until a few seconds ago. I turned to my right on hearing a noise and saw a mass immigration of passengers from the Poorva into our train. With a faint start, the train slowly started out of the platform. With multiple triumphant honks the WAP4 started accelerating out of DHN JN. We passed by Loco Shed but I wasn't interested anymore, I was simply too tired. The solitary WAP7 30311 was resting peacefully, two dirty MGS WAP4 lay as if dead, a very dirty rajdhani livered ancient MGS WAM4 was the only thing with it's panto on.
The end of the Dhanbad Loco Tank and the flash of green of the signal post were the sign that we were finally leaving DHANBAD behind.......and gradually speeding towards SDAH!
These are the clips that I clicked on that day:-
1,2 & 3 show WAP7 30311 getting ready to shunt the Black-Diamond Express
4 shows the BBS-DHN Garib rath in the background of the WAP7
4&7 are panoramas of DHN JN taken during a light shower.
5 shows 68088 ready for Bankura
6 Self Explanatory
8 & 9 show the unusually deserted trip Loco Shed from the platfrom
10&11 show the station during a light shower
12 shows HWH WAP4 22286 arriving with 12988 at platform 1
13,14,15 & 16 show the arrival of 12382 with MGS WAP4 22509
PS:- I reached SDAH at 19:00 hours that day. The train was stuck outside Dum-Dum Jn for a futher 1 hour.
The Poorva reached much before 12988
Call it Deja-vu but I spotted MGS WAP4 22509 next day at HWH station, shunting a LHB rake of the Poorva EXP.
Very soon, my return journey to DHN from HWH by 12340 HWH-DHN COALFIELD EXPRESS!

It was my luck that Ajmer - Sealdah Express stopped at Dankuni. I boarded on this train at Agra Fort yesterday after returning from a 10 day tour with my Family. We deboarded at Dankuni but ticket was booked till Sealdah.

Ajmer express was stopped at Dankuni due to crossing with Howrah - Patna Vande Bharat Express.

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pic: my coach A2 in 12988 Ajmer - Sealdah Express with Howrah WAP7 37016 (Bombardier propulsion and High rise pantograph fitted)