Date-11/4/18
Train-22973 Gandhidham Puri SF Express via VZM
Coach-A1
Timeline-
I travelled by this train from GIMB to NGP. Last time travelling by this train was a pathetic experience (in 2014) . That time it...
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was a Express train with avg speed of 45 KMPH and pathetic maintenance.I reached Gandhidham Rly Stn by 21.50 HRS and I missed spotting 22956 Kutch SF Express. Gandhidham Junction was completed revamped. New electronic coach indicators like the ones installed at Ankleshwar. Station was clean and as soon as was I entered I spotted 22484 Gandhidham Jodhpur SF Express being self shunted by BGKT WDP4 20096. My train was standing on PF3 with customary link VTA WDM3A which I could not capture because of RPFs. We departed correct time at 23.00 HRS. I had pre-planned that I would be awake to witness SIOB-DHG doubling. Between GIMB-SIOB 22973 thrashed many train at speeds of 105 KMPH. After SIOB the run was rather lazy. We were made to stand on the mainline for freight train most of which were hauled by SBI WDG4Ds. The max speed in SIOB-DHG section was a disappointing 95 KMPH. Between SIOB-DHG tracks are laid on some part and somewhere the land is not even levelled.After DHG I took a brief nap to wake up at Virochannagar being skipped at MPS making me realize that I have missed to spot Viramgam Junction. The run from VG-CLDY (CLDY-Chandlodiya)was very good with max speed of 109 KMPH. After CLDY we had a slacky run till ADI . At Sabarmati(SBT) we crossed a BOXN rake hauled by AJNI WAG9. we entered ADI PF4 at 03.58 HRS when I spotted BDTS bound Suryanagri pull out of PF5. VTA WDS6 shunted in the rake of legendary Karnavati Express on PF6 having a HS EOG. meanwhile a BRC WAM4 crossed from the track beside us which made me suspicious if 22973 was going to get WAM4.we pulled out of ADI at 4.20 HRS. In the ADI YARD I spotted Prerna Express rake plus a WR rake of HUMSAFAR having just one EOG at back. I again took a nap to get up at BRC OUTER where we were greeted by 12843 Puri Ahmadabad SF Express with BRC WAP4E. while we were entering BRC PF1 I spotted the empty rake of Mumbai Central Vadodara SF Exp with BRC WAP5. Besides us on PF2 was Vadodara Bhilad Express with BRC WAP5. After BRC we became late by 15 mins but skipped many stations at MPS. At Panoli we were looped. I was confirmed that we were to be overtaken but by whom? Soon the mystery was revealed by the distant view of a BRC WAP7 which hauled THE LEGENDARY NEW DELHI-MMCT RAJDHANI EXPRESS. The overtake was electrifying . Just I was hoping for a overtake by AK RAJ the train accelerated out of panoli rampaging the tracks at MPS . this again made me think if 22973 had got a BRC WAP7 as one was spotted at Sabarmati end.(Good to see that this train is given preference by WR). We reached Surat late by 20 mins at PF3. after 5 mins another legend AUGUST KRANTI RAJDHANI made its royal entry on PF 2 of ST with a BRC WAP7. just as I was thinking that that AK would be given preference we pulled out of Surat.At ST outer HWH ADI SF Express crossed us with SRC P4. At Udhna we were looped to enter the TV section where AK RAJ skipped us from mainline with electrifying speed. At the curve of TV SECTION I spotted my link and both my guesses went wrong as it was a BRC WAP4E. At ST some LOCO PILOTS boarded my train for Bhusaval. The run from ST-NDB was MPS run (of 100 KMPH). Between ST-NDB we overtook a Passenger train. I took my lunch at NDB. At NDB outer a RTM WDM2A was doing some freight duty(WHY??? ROUTE IS ELECTRIFIED). Just after NDB we crossed ED WAP4 hauled Navjeevan Express. After this crossing I got up at Paldhi to see that we were late and running 40 mins and by the time we reached Jalgoan we were 1 HR behind the schedule. We reached Jalgoan on PF3 . On PF2 was standing Mumbai Lucknow Puspak Express which was also running late. Puspak was given the starter after which we departed Jalgoan. Bhadli and Tarsod were dismissed at 110 KMPH. We arrived Bhusaval Junction 1 HR late. at BSL ELS I spotted a good amount of Freight Locos. The main of which were KYN WCAM2P twins coupled to a freight train.After Bhusaval BRC P4E showed it's true colours and Ripping off several stations by which we reached Malkapur 55 mins late. BRC P4E now was all set to reduce to the delays. Stations were skipped at MPS and insulted until we reached Akola 45 mins late. At Akola outer I spotted a GZB WAP1(SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!) and a VTA WDM3D(😱😱). After departing Akola again we were back to MPS and thrashing stations. We arrived 40 mins late at Badnerawhere I spotted Amravati Pune ACSF Express with a AJNI WAP7. After BD visibility started dropping and I could no more see outside. We arrived Wardha 30 mins late. After Wardha it was a Slacky run. This train had been allotted 1.53 HRS to cover a distance of 78 kms. The train was constantly being stopped at some stations . Finally we arrived NGP PF6 with Nagpur Secunderabad SF Express at PF5 thus ending a sweet journey
Other Details-
Maintenance of train was superb . Toilets were clean and coaches were new. most of the pax from GIMB,ST,BRC,ADI were travelling to PSA,SPT,BAM,CAP. in fact the train was filled 95% from GIMB itself . TTE told me that it was heavily demanded train from ADI,GIMB,BRC,ST so railways may argument it with a 3AC coach . The was running with good WL list as stated by TTE. It has a lot of slack between WR NGP and DHG-SIOB and VG-ADI which if removed would reduce 1.5 HRS of travel time .
Overall the train has improved a lot after conversion to SF. coaches were newly made.
Thank you for reading and spending your valuable time. Tried to keep it short.
ACTUAL CC-
LOCO-SLR-GS-GS-GS-S7-S6-S5-S4-S3-S2-S1-SE1-B1-B2-A 1-GS-GS-GS-SLR-HCPV