My first time experience in Shirdi ghats.
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I was on my way back to my home, after enjoying 3 days in places like Badami, Pattadakkal and Aihole group, Gadag, Almatti and Jog Falls. So, basically from Hubballi i have to come back to Thanjavur. There was even a direct option that day to Thanjavur and there are even combinations that would take me much early to my destination. But thing is, this is the first chance that I could get to explore the pristine beauty of shirdi ghats, that too in...
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diesel avtar. This one sentence just kept on running in my mind when I was planning my return. Without any hesitation, booked off ticket in the only special train that connects most part of Karnataka properly to the southernmost coastal city of karnataka. For my luck, there was some seats available as well even in the last moment in sleeper class.
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Though that there was an untold assumption that if one is exploring shirdi ghats, then the train of choice is going to be either Gomateshwara or Gomateshwara slot trains. But, my mind was fully occupied with trying this special train. I was wishing for a long time that won't i get a single chance to travel in this train, since this train's arrival time at Arsikere Junction was at 0520 am as per schedule last year and I assumed that if train gets bit delayed, there may be a chance for me to savour the entire section of Arsikere Junction - Mangaluru Junction in daylight.
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In a fine Sunday night, I was waiting, waiting and waiting for my train at Hubballi Junction Platform - 2, to which i showed up even before my train was announced at the same, since platform - 1 was horrendously crowded with back to back trains towards Bengaluru like Rani Chennamma and Belagavi - Bengaluru Superfast being recieved at the same platform, one after the other.
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It was quite surprising to see that Despite Karnataka Sampark Kranti bound to Nizamuddin being a prime train in that region, that arrived an hour late at platform - 4, halted for an hour, underwent reversal and departed, for that entire time not even a single announcement was made for the above-mentioned train. Meanwhile, the overnight to Mysore arrived at platform - 3, hauled by a single cab EMD and halted for nearly 20 minutes and departed. After few minutes, the daily overnight to port city of Goa from sillicon valley of India arrives at platform - 2. Though there was crowd that was deboarding, good crowd was boarding the train as well, indicating that even for such a short distance, this train was being used for overnight journey (time taken is comparatively longer though).
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The passenger from Tirupati arrived into platform - 5, hauled by some random WAG - 5, made its presence with a delay of half an hour. For a long time platform - 3 was vacant thereafter. Only at the time of its scheduled departure from Hubballi, the Hubballi - Bengaluru special fare special was shunted into platform - 3. The train was quite full. Till date, hampi is one of the dedicated trains between these two places but takes circuitous route serving the districts of ballari and koppal majorly. There is also a passenger train that later became an express, timings wise it is much dedicated for Davangere and ranibennur regions, than it is for Hubballi. For overnight journey with proper timings, the Hubballi people has to rely on trains that passes through Hubballi instead of a dedicated train. Wishing that it becomes a regular daily train and takes Hubballi rush from trains like Golgumbaz, Rani chennamma and Bengaluru - Belagavi.
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Every train coming from Badami side showed up late at Hubballi. It is bound to, given that two trains have to simultaneously undergo reversal at Gadag that has only 3 platforms and reversal in general does consume lot's of time. Though there is some slack for it to recover, due to platform inavailability and traffic in Gadag - Hubballi line, somehow Golgumbaz and our train was made to arrive with a delay of 45 and 60 minutes respectively at Hubballi.
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After a long wait, our train was announced and a brief honk with bright lights flashing from the distance appeared at Platform - 2 when clock showed there was just 10 minutes more for 1 am. As it was approaching towards us, it started to look Orange, which was kind of surprising and was eagerly waiting to look at the link. Yes, it was an engine, which is pretty unusual with this train. Yes, it was a long hood faced WDG - 3A from Kalyan No. 14647, fondly a.k.a Paryavaran Bandhu, draped in beautiful orange livery of Kalyan was pulling it very slowly into the platform. It was just 5 mts to 1 am when I boarded the train. Was wondering if it gets the same locomotive all the way till Mangaluru or gets fresh one from Hubballi. Anyways one thing for sure, though it arrived nearly 60 - 70 minutes delay and there's scope for the recovery of the delay, there is a fair chance for me to witness the entire section in the day time. Did i get to see the entire stretch in the day time? Was the delay recovered at Arsikere Junction? Stay tuned for the next part...

@All, Please dont rush to create new VBs without proper notification

Following TTs are tentative TTs and subject to change.

20893/94 TATA PNBE TATA VB /blog/post/6182879
22500/99...
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BSB DGHR BSB VB /blog/post/6182881
20891/92 BAM TATA BAM VB /blog/post/6182880
20176/75 AGC BSBS AGC VB /blog/post/6182882
xxxxx/xx HWH ROU HWH VB /blog/post/6182884
20829/30 DURG VSKP DURG VB /blog/post/6182885
22303/04 HWH GAYA HWH VB /blog/post/6182886
20669/70 UBL - PUNE - UBL VB /blog/post/6182890
xxxxx/xx HWH - BGP - HWH VB /blog/post/6182891
xxxxx/xx NGP - SC - NGP VB /blog/post/6182892


E.&O.E.

Can we continue the call for another 10 mins , asked the partner , as clock ticked to 5PM. Quick call sir , I have to leave and finish lunch as well . Very quickly the conclusion matters were discussed and closed as clock ticked to 510PM, with my mom calling continuously on WhatsApp whether I have started . 5 to 10 mins I messaged , as they were already half the way through

A quick booking through uber and a 3 mins wait and auto was already there . A quick...
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run through Saturday traffic to the back gate . 1st time understood that the ramp connected into the station from the new flyover , instead of taking a U turn as earlier and 30 mins of boarding the auto recahed the back gate of KSR SBC as mobile called from mom ,

We have already reached PF-10 with luggage , you have coffee and come . We have got dosa for your lunch my mom said . Had a coffee at the entrance watching the display board

12786 had already arrived on PF-5 . 16595 was not in display and neither on PF. A MEMU had arrived from YPR end was standing on PF-8, ready to leave as Hindupur MEMU . 16232 was still showing as Mayiladuthurai express in display board


Took the ramp to reach PF-10 while my aunt and uncle came in opposite . Hi they said . Why use ramp when you can use trolley ramp at PF end I asked. Ok we will come back in that post coffee I said and went to the PF

Here have set dosa , told my dad handing over a packet . Put it in plate and filled with sagu. A packet of pakoda was also taken. The dosa was pretty sour , but with saagu managed to finish 2 of the 3 as Hindupur MEMU left from PF-8. A DMU took its position soon, to leave shortly as Kolar DMU . 16595 and 16511 were reported cancelled , following the landslip in the ghat section


Rake of 22691 Rajdhani was standing in the pit , with the staff cleaning up and arranging the coach accessories to start the evening . A WDP4B pulled into PF-10 with the ICF rake of Channapatna Bangalore passenger , to leave as Arasikere passenger shortly . Left after 10 mins halt with coaches full to seating but not standees

Mysore bound Chamundi express soon left from PF-6 as clock ticket to 1820 hours . Soon announcement was made for the 16535 to enter and KJM WAP-7 bought in the train on dot 1825 hours onto PF-10. No trolling , no held ups today thought to myself as the LHB rake was pulled in

Boarded the B3 coach. For lower berth sake had booked 2 tickets under senior citizen quota and 4 under regular quota resulting in 3 LB, 1 SL, 1 MB and 1 UB

The cooling was perfect , slightly high and at 1835 hours we started on dot . The coach was slightly empty , with about 10 berths vacant in our coach as per chart . A slow run for 10 mins, and weslowly pulled into PF-3 of YPR as 22688 Varanasi Mysore express pulled out of PF-2 . PF-1 was occupied by the 16571 Bidar express , fully packed with the weekend crowd in the UR and SL full

A quick stop halt go , and we exited YPR and picked up pace pretty quickly . At YPR outer , the Dharwad Bangalore Vande Bharat whiZed past , as we gained speed, but I was sure that speed won't last long . The Hassan Solapur express 11312 quickly went past behind the Vande Bharat

The passenger ahead would get clearance ahead us , and as expected , we quickly came to unofficial halt at Doddbele for passenger to clear the halt ahead . The next 2 stops were trotted past quickly , before coming to a halt again at Nidvanda and Dobbspet for the pass ahead . The same repeated at Kyatsandra and right at Tumkur outer , the 12080 Jan shatabdi whizzed past us towards Bangalore

Puducherry bound 11021 Chalukya express was on PF-1, the general half filled and sleeper full . The Arasikere passenger was looped here for overtake on PF-4 as we were on PF-3 . Left soon after a 2 min halt

Time ticked close to 8PM and time for dinner , and confines of AC couldn't spot much activities outside. The dinner was served then had and the time by then had passed quickly. A quick stop go at Tiptur just as we finished dinner . The stream of lights across the tracks wass blocked by regular freights blasting past us, giving an impression of lights flickering rather than train crossing

A quick run and at 2110 hours arrived into PF-2 of ASK. The Chennai Central bound 12692 weekly from Shimoga was stationed here on PF-1 , delayed by about 2 hours . The sleeper was about 50% occupied but UR was sparsely full. Announcement was made for the Mangalore Vijayapura express , short originating from Hassan owing to the landslide

A long stop for crew change and we were off again . In meantime the UB was exchanged for another LB, leaving an odd MB for me to take for the night . The 16209 Ajmer Mysore express closely followed the Chennai express .

A quick run and we slowly pulled into Kadur main line after about 25 mins run . The Shimoga bound DMU from Tumkur was ahead of us and we waited for it to clear the block ahead . A couple who had to deboard at Birur and head off to Chikmaglur took it as an opportunity to get off at unscheduled halt. After 3 mins we left and arrived Birur junction where few more people got off the train

It was time for us to sleep and laid down the berths to sleep . The sleeper took over me quickly as I reminded mom, dad and aunt to keep alarm at 415AM for getting off at scheduled arrival of 440 at Badami .

Woke up in middle of the night to find us standing at a station. Hubbali junction indicated WIMT as announcement went on that 16535 was on PF-4. Time was 135AM, a 20 mins before time arrival and a sharp 7 hours run from Bangalore for the 470 kms . Turned and tossed in bed for some time as we got clearance to proceed at 210AM and sleep took over me as we crossed the Hubbali yard and curved left

A good sleep later woke up to see clock ticking to 415AM and about 10 kms to Hole Alur . Checked for crossing with 17320 and he had already reached Gadag .


Woke up my parents aunt asking them to get ready slowly . Hole alur was quickly crossed and sharp 440AM arrived at Badami station in a very dimly lit PF-2 . There were works happening all across PF and PF-2 exit was blocked , as all passenger made a jump across tracks to PF-1, while we went back to stair case to climb over to PF-1 and slowly moved out of station . The auto stand was also away from station owing to station works and we made our way to the sound of the gurgling autos with crew calling our "Banashankari" and "Badami bus stand " to the passengers , as our visit to the historical capital started


Thanks for reading. Feedbacks welcome !!

Please introduce a new set of trains called "Alphabet trains".
This MYS CUPJ train route is N.
MYS PVR Golgumbaz is M.
MYS BGK Basava is inverted C.
YPR MAQ 16565 is G
MYS...
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SNSI 16217 is M and L
MYS UBL Hampi Express is inverted C.
YPR NZM KSK Via Ballari is C
SMVB MRDW is U
DR TEN Chalukya is multiple S
SBC CAPE Island is inverted S

Others can add to this list.