Trip to Katra: Part-III
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Pics taken at SVDK already posted in IRI, take a look at it, in case you missed out: /blog/post/2315011
June 2nd, 2017
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Darshan was completed peacefully. The health issues seemed to be a thing of past, as we came out of Banganga checkpost in the wee hours of 2nd June. We started our trek at 2:30PM on previous day. Initial part of trekking was bit difficult for me, but gradually I started feeling better and started increasing the pace and after a trek of 6:30 hours, we reached Bhavan. By the time we finished darshan and came out of shrine it was 11:30PM and we started our return trek at 12AM. We took 4:30 hours to come down and headed back to hotel to have some rest.(Pics taken from Trikuta parvat: /blog/post/2310645)
At 12PM, we checked out from the hotel and headed towards the railway station after having some Aloo parathas. The temperature was touching 40 Celsius and after reaching station, we headed towards upper class waiting room located on 1st floor, opposite to IRCTC lounge and food court. From 1:30PM to 6PM, we spent time doing some shopping in the lounge, trying some “without garlic and onion” quoted fried rice and Manchuria in food court and taking brief nap. At 6PM, I headed out towards platform with my camera to take some snaps of the beautiful and well constructed railway station. By that time, the rake of Uttar Sampark Kranti express was already parked on platform 1(/blog/post/2311876). Doors were opened, but passengers preferred to stay in the main building till stipulated time and platform was filled with countable number of passengers enjoying the location and taking snaps. Ludhiana WAP4 22956 was ready waiting for the departure time. On the adjacent track, the rake of Sri Shakti AC express was standing along with its loco 22699 WAP4 from Gaziabad shed with huge P-4 marking on it(/blog/post/2308388). Distant visitors Lalaguda WAP4 22355 and Kanpur WAG7 27648 were resting peacefully. Platform 2 and 3 were empty and the rake of Andaman express was undergoing maintenance at pitline. As clock ticked 7PM, gradually the rake of Uttar Sampark Kranti started filling up and right at 7:10PM when sun was still shining bright, Delhi bound train got the starter and departed to kickstart 655KM journey. While the rake was moving out of the platform, all the coaches were filled to the capacity and the amazing part was, there was no hustle and bustle of typical railway station in India at that time during the time of departure. Again, the platform looked deserted and I decided to go out of the station. After getting some pooris and curry packed from a hotel, I came back to the station. After finding out that the rake of Sri Shakti AC express was parked on platform and the hot waves were replaced by cool breeze, we headed out of the waiting hall with our luggage on to the platform and finished our early dinner before other passengers end up on the platform. The platform resembled a large mirror, reflecting the light of illuminating LEDs. Next it was time for pantry staff and coach attenders to make their presence felt. While the pantry boys were busy loading food, coach attenders were swiftly putting covers on pillows in their designated coach. Approximately at the same time, a roaring EMD made its presence felt, as it was shunting the rake of Andaman express on to platform 2. On checking it was WDP4B 40078 from Tuglakabad shed who would be doing honors of leading Andaman express. Amidst all the happenings, I was waiting for Malwa express, which supposed to enter Katra for the first time on that day, after getting extended from Jammu Tawi. Being completely isolated from the network connectivity, I couldn’t track it. Time was 9:40PM, still there wasn’t any announcement of departure of Andaman express. At 10PM came the boy. The extended candidate Malwa express entered slowly, without making any noise on to platform 3 and immediately Andaman got the starter to depart. Meanwhile, EOG was switched on and coaches were opened for passengers to enter. Immediately after entering our coach A2, we decided to set our bedding and call the day. Even before the departure, we got our tickets checked by TTE and after making a bang on time departure, we peeked out of the window to have a look at the glittering Trikuta mountain for final time in the trip and prayed that we will be soon here again. With complete darkness dominating, we were quick on to close our eyes and started floating in dream world.
3rd June,2017
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At 6:15AM, I opened my eyes. We were cruising through the cultivation lands of Punjab and everyone in the coach were still busy sleeping and snoring. I wasted no time in getting freshup before the passengers wake up and make the entrance of coach look like a highly demanding place. At 7:30AM we were cruising slowly towards Ambala Cantt. And after a 20 minutes crawling we reached our penultimate halt. While we were killing time on the platform, first Garibrath of India, Amritsar-Sahasra Garibrath entered the adjacent platform being hauled by a tigerfaced WAG7 from Ludhiana shed. At 8AM we made an on time departure, leaving the Garibrath behind and making it to trail us all the way till Delhi. After departing from Ambala Cantt it was an MPS run all the way till Taraori, where we made a brief unscheduled halt on the mainline. After departing, WAP4 showed its might and we skipped the next station Karnal at MPS, where we overtook a MEMU. Again it was constant MPS show and we were running before time. Panipat was done at 9:20AM, where we overtook a single stack container rake hauled by twin Barbie WAG5 locos and we were witnessing back to back crossings. After constant run for almost an hour, we were halted at Sadar Bazar. The empty rakes of Tamil Nadu express and Shivganga express were getting shunted into the yard. After almost halting for 30 minutes we finally entered the destination on to platform 4. While crossing ETS, I saw Howrah WAP7 30330 taking rest, probably after bringing Poorva express. Little did I realized that this loco will become the first WAP7 from Howrah to enter God’s own country. Paschim express was standing on platform 5. After alighting, we headed once again towards platform 1.
Coming up next: Report of final leg of the trip.
Pic 1: LGD WAP4 and CNB WAG7 resting at SVDK
Pic 2: Ambala Cantt
Pic 3: View of Trikuta parvat.
Video: Malwa express entering SVDK for the first time after getting extended.