Long Race with Ganadevta Exp. - Bokaro Shatabdi Footplate

[andy25biotech]

Another gem from you...the train that crossed might be Jodhpur Express..

[vb642]

@andy25biotech Thanks! Due to the winter fog, trains to HWH were running 8-9 hours late, including the Rajdhanis. In fact, that very same night, we left by the Kalka Mail around 11.30 pm (which is the actual slot of the HWH-JU Exp.), so it's possible that the incoming train was horribly late that day.

[rajnikantsharma]

Seems like around 1:25, the LP of the Ganadevta suddenly got super-vision and took off!

[Arkchat921]

AT 2.03, WHICH TRAIN PASSED U??

[vb642]

Don't know, I'm afraid! I was so focused on the race with the Ganadevta that I failed to pay attention to the train that came in between.

[chakdeychar]

vb642, your videos are all superb, matchless. The diesel loco of Ganadevta is like "Oh, Hey !! That electric dare over-take me....here I come", and out lets the plume of smoke and that magical chug-chug-chug. Marvelous.

[vb642]

Thanks so much!  I liked how you described this race :-)

[razildre]

vb

have u travelled in any disel loco ??

Where do u get permission to travel in a loco??

[vb642]

Yes, I have traveled in diesel locos. A couple of times, it was based on official permission. On other occasions, I simply requested the driver to let me in and he did :-)

[hitmanranjeet]

I have footplated many times and I havent taken any permission till now. LPs and ALPs in IR are very helpful for railfans. I have even driven a WDP-4 for a small distance.

[polyphemus22]

When I was 15, I was going from Lucknow to Bombay (Pushpak Express), and my nana-ji asked the driver if I could go with him for a bit. So until Kanpur, he let me hang out in the engine and showed me around too. He let me pull the horn and all that. It was quite possibly the most amazing experience of my life!

[vb642]

I am sure you must have enjoyed that experience. Loco cab rides are always thrilling!

[polyphemus22]

Yeah. I wonder if a loco cabbie would take me up with him now...I'm 19 and things have changed (in terms of security and such) dramatically in the last little while. I remember up until 2000 when I was flying, I'd always get a tour of the cockpit and hang out w/ the pilots. It hasn't been the same since (flying). :(

[ramsfo]

Awesome VB!!! Thanks much for uploading the Video and the answers to several questions here. Just curious:

1. Do you work for Indian Railways?

2. If yes, May I ask what are you working as - Station master / Guard / Loco Driver?

3. Is there even a slight possibility that I could travel in the Loco if I were to meet you or someone you know? Like in a Shatabdi or Rajdhani? and I am not kidding when I ask this question :)

Cheers

Ram

[vb642]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Ram! No, I don't work for the railways. I am just an IR-crazy railfan who loves to take videos. I was able to travel on the loco because I knew a high-ranking official at that time.

[thevideographer1]

My uncle is CSO-HWH, and my father's sister's husband is ADRM-SDAH, so will they allow me to get an FP ride?

[vb642]

No harm trying!

[thevideographer1]

Actually what i meant was, are my uncles' posts higher than your friend/fellow/uncle? i mean the "High profile official" by you.

??

[vb642]

Unlikely, since my uncle was the GM of ER :-) However, since you know someone personally in IR, you should be able to get a footplate permission.

[srijit22007]

i have taken this train several times for bokaro and sometimes for ranchi upto dhn it can rightly be called the shatabdi however after dhan b/w bksc and dhn it is no less than a passenger crawling and irritating due to the weak land of coal mined areas

[vb642]

Has this started happening after the train got re-routed via Katrasgarh?

[srijit22007]

most probably , though it skips katrasgarh , it stops at chandrapura for quite some time (about 5 mins , though officially 2mins)

and crawls around this area at speeds around 40 kmph

[anulom777]

how did get in there brother...............is official permission reqiured,plzz tell me

[vb642]

Yes, this was with official permission.

[ravi008]

Vijay Sir, your videos are such a treat to watch. Did you take the train till bokaro?

[vb642]

Thanks. I took the train till Asansol. After a tour of the Asansol locol shed, I took the late running Kalka Mail back to Howrah.

[fanatic123boy]

can u tell me what do drivers do apart from driving engine like do they eat ... talk ... and is it scary to travel in engines ???

[vb642]

No, it's not scary at all. The drivers are pretty relaxed while in the loco. Technology has helped a lot!

[fanatic123boy]

ok ... and do they talk while running the train or they have to be all time attentive and talk very less

[vb642]

Actually, the chit-chat that you are hearing is between the loco inspector and myself. The drivers are usually very attentive.