Like a Tracer of a Bullet.

A sleep of just 6 hours isn't sufficient when I'm waking up to on a normal day, but I thank all gods if I manage to get a brief nap of "4-5 hours" when I'm waking up on a day when I have a train journey on the early in the morning. I experienced that couple of days before, as I was boarding my favorite train, Bengaluru City Rajdhani Express bound for Capital, however this time, it was totally different. I was all set to land my foot in the King of Indian Railways, the train which touches the maximum speed in India. Yes, it was the time for 12002 New Delhi- Bhopal Hababganj Shatabdi Express, and I just overworked the previous day, hoping that I'd fall asleep.

On the journey days, I don't even need an alarm for waking up, but just as a precautionary measure and to be on the safer side, I had set the alarm for 05:00 AM sharp, considering I'll have enough time for getting ready and have the maximum permissible sleep. As I was totally worked up, I could get a sleep somewhere close to 22:30 the previous night, and I was wide awake at 03:40, and yes, I tried to recall the dream I just had. It was related to the Bhopal Shatabdi, however I couldn't recall much better than that.

As I checked my phone, the clock was ticking very slow and seeing it was just 03:40, I randomly started messaging people, who were yet to sleep. They were all about to hit their sack, I wished them a good night and it was 05:00 when I got myself ready.

I moved out of my abode at 05:05, and I reached the platform by 05:30 as I had a samosa, all washed down by a cuppa. I noticed the coach marker boards, they were already displaying the coach positions of the rake which I was about to board. I stood at my coach position number and as the formality at New Delhi goes, the power of the train itself brings down the rake to platform from the yard. There were foreign tourists visiting Agra. There were school children, who spread the news papers they bought from their homes. Teaches were guiding them to spread the new papers on the platforms and they were made to sit according to their divisions.

Locomotive homed at Ghaziabad, WAP 5, with road number 30023 brought our rake on to the platform 1 of the capital station of India, and foreign tourists welcomed it with flashes of their cameras. RPF available there gave a quick reprimand, to be on safer side, I shot the video of train entering the platform without grabbing the attention of anyone. I wanted to check my seat direction, whether it would be towards locomotive or the other side. The last two times I boarded this particular class, I was assigned a seat which wasn't facing loco, which meant I had to negotiate with co-passengers so that I could feel the journey.

To my surprise, when I actually checked my designated place, I was facing the locomotive itself and the window seat was on to the right hand side, which is a paradise for all the railfans. Fully charged up me, updated my fellow railfans regarding the same and they wished me a happy and comfy journey. The coach was made in the year 1999, which meant strong vibrations and jerks sent down by the loco pilot were on the cards. No matter how smooth you would want the ride to be, I prefer a train ride with jerks and vibrations to get the feel of the speed.

The maintenance was on the top notch, after all it was the first Shatabdi Express of India and the one which cruises at 150 KMPH, flat. I just went on to the platform, cleaned my window with previous days handkerchief so that I could make a full journey video of this particular train.

The clock was ticking towards the scheduled departure time and no sooner the clock hit 06:00, there was a faint honk, cruising through the window pane to hit my ear drums and I could sense the train moving.

**ILLUSION**

The honk was real, but the train didn't actually move. I understood my excitement and finally it was 06:01, when my train started moving. Clearing the points at a decent speed, the chief gave a honk, which was faintly audible because of the vibrations the coach started making. However, that was the last time I heard the honk of the particular loco before getting down at Bhopal was before the train charged up to 70 KMPH. Within no time, we skipped Tilak Bridge at 90 KMPH. Yes I switched on the GPS and I was tracking the speed upto Agra Cantonment.

We respected the speed restriction at Hazrat Nizamuddin and then the loco accelerated more confidently. The vibrations were getting more and more as we hit the higher speed. There were not many jerks until then but no sooner the tea kit was served, I was mentally prepared for some strong jerks as the coach was pretty old. I carefully started hot water in the cup and then it came! JERK! JERK! Half of the people in the coach have successfully put the hot water on their thighs and couple of children started crying. Sometimes, being a railfan gives you additional advantages and anticipating the jerks is no excuse.

We were cruising at 110 KMPH and Tuglakabad was skipped. Faridabad was a matter of 120 and the brakes were slammed. Yes, we came to screeching halt, just before Faridabad New Town and I then realized that 150 show would be delayed. My friends started making fun of it but that was worth a delay.

I did experience a train accelerating directly to 150 KMPH from idle and there was no looking back. The loco pilots were stuck at 145 KMPH for quite a while and by the time we entered Asaoti, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express was in its full glory! The Shahenshah of Indian Railways, finally gave me something which I could never forget! My mind had started imagining how it'd be if I was on the platform of Asaoti but before I even completed imagining it, the train was slight shot into Palwal and I just experienced what it is like to cruise like a tracer of a bullet.

We crossed innumerable trains when we were at high speed and I could identify only a few of them. Grand Trunk Express, Late running Bengaluru City Rajdhani Express, Andhra Pradesh Express and Mumbai Central Rajdhani Express were the few I could identify.

Rundhi, Sholaka, Hodal were the few stations I remember which we hit full tilt and there were few unnamed stations, which might have been stations like Banchari. At Kosi Kalan, we overtook Firozpur Mumbai (CST) Punjab Mail at full tilt. Needless to mention, Chata, Ajhai were dealt with nothing less than ruthlessness.

Mighty King of Indian Railways was being throttled at 150 KMPH, with the full flow and sometimes, when I saw the rake ahead of my coach in a curve, the curve was negotiated much sooner than expected, giving me a nauseating feel. Traveling in normal trains usually reminded me of the classical test match cricket played by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. Traveling in Bengaluru City Rajdhani couple of days ago reminded me of the way Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir play cricket. And traveling in Bhopal Shatabdi Express reminded me of some blitzkriegj batsmen like Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle and Adam Gilchrist. Comparing Cricket and Railways isn't apt, but sometimes you get the similar feel.

Vrindaban Road was taken at full 150 KMPH and it was at Virandaban Road outer, we crossed Capital bound Bengaluru City Rajdhani Express which crossed me at a span of just 7 seconds. Relative speed was close to 270 KMPH and I was totally out of world, seeing my favorite train pass at 270 KMPH!

We slowed down at Bhuteshwar and we came to screeching halt at Mathura, where breakfast was served. Fresh and soft slices of brown bread with butter along with piping hot veg cutlet. Bandra Mumbai Garib Rath was waiting on platform 3 with a WAP 5 class locomotive homed at Vadodara. Yes that particular WAP 5 was one among very few branded locomotive, endorsing the AMUL design on its sides.

We departed Mathura bang on time and I head towards the door, trying my luck in getting it opened. I directly contacted the coach attendant, who obliged my request of opening the door, despite having standing instructions of not opening the door when the train was at full tilt. Although he allowed me, I just peeped out for couple of seconds and shut the door. The wind was never more fiercer. In fact I was scared of the tiny dust particles which would hit my face at 150 KMPH if I continued to stay on the door and hence, to prevent from being damaged, I decided to come back and enjoy the speed from the confines of a coach itself.

We came to a screeching halt, once again, in a no mans land. And this was getting better. Yet another 0-150 raw acceleration by a WAP 5 and I didn't miss out making a video of the same as it was not quite common.

We crossed Tamil Nadu Express somewhere after Raja ki Mandi and 75% of people in my coach got down at Agra, and it was the end of one of the memorable part of journey in a train.

A train journey was never more faster than this.

Video Compilation: Habibganj Shatabdi New Delhi-Agra Compilation [HD]

Bengaluru Rajdhani at Odela.

Bengaluru City Rajdhani bound for Hazrat Nizamuddin attacks Odela at 120 KMPH.

HD: https://www.flickr.com/photos/85992756@N05/15781914672/

The First MMTS

The first MMTS rake in its final hour of rest before it wakes up to serve people. Location: Hyderabad Railway Station

Chennai Egmore-Kacheguda Express

Chennai Egmore-Kacheguda Express cruises towards Kacheguda with Guntakal WDM3D #11153 in the lead.

Secunderabad to Hazrat Nizamuddin Journey Compilation in 22691 Primo Supremo Bengaluru City Rajdhani Express

Full video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IIusjTPZHI

Full video:

I happened to travel in 22691 Bengaluru City- Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express on September 5th, 2014 and I managed to record few very rare clips.

Here is a compilation of those clips. The videos are as follows:
1) Departing Secunderabad Jn.
2) Skipping Moula Ali and crossing Bikaner Secunderabad Express.
3) Crossing Kakinada-Secunderabad Cocanada AC Express powered by Vadodara WAP 4E.
4) Skipping Ghatkesar
5) Overtaking Secunderabad Guntur Intercity Express at Pendyala/Pindial.
6) Entering Kazipet.
7) Overtaking Secunderabad-Gorakhpur Superfast Express powered by LGD WAP 7.
8) Crossing mighty Godavari River.
9) Crossing Wardha river bridge.
10) Entering Balharshah and meeting LGD WAP 7 powered counter part Bengaluru City bound Rajdhani and LGD WAP 7 powered Andhra Pradesh Express.
11) Overtaking Nandigram Express at Majri Junction.
12) Overtaking Hyderabad New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express at Nagari.
13) Sewagram Curve
14) Crossing Shalimar Lokmanya Tilak Express.
15) Passing by Vidharba Cricket Stadium, Nagpur.
16) Entering Nagpur- LGD WAP 7 30307 which pulled up up to Nagpur pulled up some technical glitches and AJNI WAP 7 30296 took honors from Nagpur.
17) Cruising amidst Ghats!
18) Negotiating a tunnel in Ghat section.
19) Skipping Amla Junction.
20) Overtaking Tamil Nadu Superfast Express.
21) Entering Hazrat Nizamuddin- the destination.


Special thanks to Sai Venkat, Vamsee Teja, Dr. Raghav Praveen, Adithya Vaidyanathan and Dennis Jacob for updating me the live happenings regarding the overtake- especially Vamsee Teja who was wide awake up to 01:30 in the night, waking me up so that I could capture Rajdhani overtake Tamil Nadu Express. And without Sai Venkat lending me his camera, this video couldn't have been possible.

A Night at Marine Drive.

Having got off a train which gave no more than a uncomfortable ride and dropped us close to 2 hours late at VT/CST Mumbai, we had to search abode for the night. Food was never below its expectation. The best Pantry Car of India gave us a perfect food for the entire day. However, close to 2 hour late drop meant we had all our plans shattered and that was calling for almost a night out.

The particular part of junket was the most interesting one, considering it was the second time I was visiting Marine Drive in six months. Last time I visited, I had taken a brief idea on how a perfect image would be like, however at that time, I made dreams to capture that place at its best with a DSLR of mine, if anything of such kind was coming at all.

The way I received was a totally unexpected and I'll leave that for another time, somehow I was lucky soul on this earth who got DSLR 4 months from when I first visited this place and that is what made me do all possible research on the internet regarding the EXIFs to use at Marine Drive. Upon intimation of this visit to one of my friend, she gave clear cut instructions "not" to miss out visiting Marine Drive and also instructed to "miss out" meeting her in case if I don't get a picture which was something even a little lesser than "Picture Perfect."

8 of us and I and Sany were like if others aren't game, we would go on hunt for Marine Drive necklace picture. However slowly the count took a hike and at the end it reached the maximum it could. Yes, all 8 of us were on for the expedition and we decided to walk as it was just 1.5 KMs away from where we were actually staying. Return was planned in cab.

We got ourselves freshened and we started at 00:00. We were told that people would be sent off by 02:00 hours. Planning the coming two hours, we walked the empty streets of Mumbai with our bazookas and tripods and shot random buildings. Hutatma Chowk, Churchgate Station Building were ones which I remember and we had shot 20-25 of such buildings and deserted roads.

We hit our destination and it was lively! Many people were hanging out at 00:45 hours and there were vendors who were getting last profits. Couples were dating, nuclear families were present with one or two children, and then, there were giant families as well. Of course, a place like Marine Drive at 00:45 is incomplete without a bunch of friends constantly pulling legs. Needless to mention, even they made their presence felt. Some posh cars and bikes were accelerating madly by young men. Among the posh cars and bikes, Hayabusa was one present.

And this would be absolutely incomplete without how the Arabian Sea sounded. Mild sound of waves locking their horns with the haphazardly thrown stone blocks, eventually giving up penetrating forward. Florescence from Marine Drive Necklace shining on the serine Arabian Sea eventually fading into darkness and then again light from the other end of Marine Lines with tall buildings which could be identified with their lights on the other end of the sea. Few air crafts taking off to their respective destinations,  the yellowish orange florescence and the mighty moon playing hide and seek with clouds. Words can never describe Marine Drive.

Once I realized that I am about to live a dream which I had planned very few months ago, I started thinking the possible perfect shot. I had always dreamt of a perfect shot and it was soon evident that I had to use all my resources (wireless shutter + Tripod) and I had to choose a place where no one could obstruct. Having taken all precautionary measures so that the picture would be something which will be qualified to get a tag "Picture Perfect," I decided to block a particular area so that no one disturbs the view of Marine Drive when seen from my 18-55 mm eye.

I was about to live my dream, when I leave my camera away in bulb mode, set at a firm position, and I clutch my wireless shutter.

*Click*

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

*Click*

Ten seconds exposure shot and VOILA! It came out just like how I had been imagining it right at the first shot! A image which I was dreaming of last 4 months was finally frozen by my 18-55 mm lens.

Marine Drive was never more beautiful than this from my eye!

The ultimate reason for the expedition was fulfilled and yes, inner peace was achieved.

A subset of Mumbai as seen from Marine Drive.

__________________________________________

Very few get to live their dreams within short span of time and there is only one person who could make me live my dream with the short span. He understood me, he encouraged me, he guided me through right path even though I totally thought in a different way. A special special special thank you to my dear brother, Yuvi, who instantaneously agreed to bring down the Canon T3i Rebel.

Tiger eats Man at New Delhi Zoo.

This may be a disturbing video but I'm still uploading it on my blog only to illustrate how cruel animals can be if you aren't at your own safety.

Kindly do read the instructions given at Zoo and follow them. They are given for some reason.

See the man fighting for his life with demon right in front of his face, what could have been  him being in the place where the person who is recording could have been at.

See the tiger take charge of the person and see how it runs.

Love animals, care for them, but do it in a way it must be done.

Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCy73kt0p4w