Footplating on Howrah Rajdhani in India

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

jis

Permanent Way Inspector
Staff member
Administator
Moderator
AU Supporting Member
Gathering Team Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2003
Messages
39,116
Location
Space Coast, Florida, Area code 3-2-1
Here is a neat video taken by Suman Ghoshal while riding in the cab of a WAP7 (25kV 50Hz AC Passenger Locomotive) pulling the Howrah Rajdhani Express at track speed (130kph) near Bardhaman.



Note the following:

  • Calling out all signals - Indian LD trains are always two in the cab
  • Waving the Green Flag in acknowledgement to the section controller in the signal cabin
  • Overtaking a slower train
This train departed its last stop at Dhanbad 260km from Kolkata. Its next stop is Howrah (Kolkata). It is approaching Bardhaman 95km from Howrah at track speed on the four track Main Line between Sitarampur Jct. (the Grand Chord and the Main Line - both from Delhi, come together here) and Saktigarh Jct. (Main Line and Howrah Bardhaman Chord separate here, both to Howrah, both soon to be triple track). The Rajdhani came down the Grand Chord and will take the HB Chord at Saktigarh. For those interested a quick glance at a railway map of Eastern India will give the lay of the land better.

The Eastern DFC that we discussed in another thread adds two tracks over and above the 4 tracks that is seen in this segment, and the 6 tracks east of Saktigarh Jct..
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice video, reminds me of my employment, whizzing along on the British Rail lines, eyes always alert for the next signal!

I did not notice audible cab signal indicators in the video from AWS systems, do they not exist?

Ed.
 
They are in the process of installing ERTMS L2 on all main lines. So the new engines may be equipped with some of the basics, though none activated yet on this route. Some Ghaziabad homed locos that are used on the Hazrat Nizamuddin (New Delhi) - Agra - Gwalior 160kph cleared route have activated systems. But this loco is most likely homed in the Howrah shed unless it is running off-link from somewhere else.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Why do Indian locomotives have those grilles over the windows?

Is stone throwing a big problem in india?
 
Back
Top