Got an opportunity to go to LTT (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus) last evening. My parents were traveling to Ernakulam. I was lucky to get tickets for them on the newly inaugurated LTT-ERS Duronto Superfast Express. In fact, this service was introduced only on the 18th of January. As is the case with most other Durontos, there are hardly any stops - in fact, the train travels non-stop to Ernakulam (with only about 5 technical halts - maybe for crew change, etc., but not to pick up passengers).
The train's scheduled departure is at 20:50 from LTT, and I reached there about an hour earlier. The rake (brand new LHB coaches, but with a "fractal" livery - printed plastic stuck over its original paint) was spotlessly clean. I could see the inside of the luggage compartment - it was all shiny stainless steel. The service crew of the train (in uniforms) were busy loading bottles of water and other stuff onto the train coaches. There were 1st AC, 2-tier AC, and 3-tier AC coaches. And, of course, the pantry car and a hot buffet car as well.
The loco was still not attached. After I got my parents settled, I went off to the front of the rake to see what I am always keen to see - the coupling of the loco to the rake. There was no activity related to the coupling. I sat down patiently. When it was about 20 minutes to departure, I could hear a short horn - a typical WDM3 / WDP4 horn. A couple of khalasis turned up with a wireless radio and the work gloves. One of them asked the other whether it was an AlCo, and the other replied in the affirmative. Moments later, the Kalyan loco shed WDM3D #11254 had arrived on the same track as the rake. A couple of hand signals later the loco waited about a few hundred meters away. The khalasi jumped onto the tracks, adjusted the coupler of the rake, clambered back up onto the platform. Meanwhile, a handful of engineers arrived at the spot - making checks, giving comments, studying or whatever else they seemed to be doing. I got a feeling that this unusual visit by the engineers at the everyday event of coupling could have been because of the presence of the LHB rake at LTT. (Usually, only Rajdhanis and Durontos have these coaches - and this might have been one of the first services with LHB coaches at LTT).
A few more hand signals later, the loco was moved very gently to be attached to the rake. The khalasi jumped back again, and coupled the rake - air brake pipe as well. Another one did the checks. With all final checks in place, the pilot started the compressor, and all was well.
A few minutes later the engineers were in the SLR coach checking out the diesel generator sets, the brake van, etc. Another 10 minutes later, the train revved up, and departed - albeit a few minutes later than its scheduled departure time.
The train's scheduled departure is at 20:50 from LTT, and I reached there about an hour earlier. The rake (brand new LHB coaches, but with a "fractal" livery - printed plastic stuck over its original paint) was spotlessly clean. I could see the inside of the luggage compartment - it was all shiny stainless steel. The service crew of the train (in uniforms) were busy loading bottles of water and other stuff onto the train coaches. There were 1st AC, 2-tier AC, and 3-tier AC coaches. And, of course, the pantry car and a hot buffet car as well.
The loco was still not attached. After I got my parents settled, I went off to the front of the rake to see what I am always keen to see - the coupling of the loco to the rake. There was no activity related to the coupling. I sat down patiently. When it was about 20 minutes to departure, I could hear a short horn - a typical WDM3 / WDP4 horn. A couple of khalasis turned up with a wireless radio and the work gloves. One of them asked the other whether it was an AlCo, and the other replied in the affirmative. Moments later, the Kalyan loco shed WDM3D #11254 had arrived on the same track as the rake. A couple of hand signals later the loco waited about a few hundred meters away. The khalasi jumped onto the tracks, adjusted the coupler of the rake, clambered back up onto the platform. Meanwhile, a handful of engineers arrived at the spot - making checks, giving comments, studying or whatever else they seemed to be doing. I got a feeling that this unusual visit by the engineers at the everyday event of coupling could have been because of the presence of the LHB rake at LTT. (Usually, only Rajdhanis and Durontos have these coaches - and this might have been one of the first services with LHB coaches at LTT).
A few more hand signals later, the loco was moved very gently to be attached to the rake. The khalasi jumped back again, and coupled the rake - air brake pipe as well. Another one did the checks. With all final checks in place, the pilot started the compressor, and all was well.
A few minutes later the engineers were in the SLR coach checking out the diesel generator sets, the brake van, etc. Another 10 minutes later, the train revved up, and departed - albeit a few minutes later than its scheduled departure time.
