1980-2-1-1-0010-Simhadri-Express-Andrah-Pradesh
Simhadri Express & Rajahmundry, 1 Feb 1980
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After spending 31 January 1980 in Calcutta, we took the Coromandel Express overnight to Waltair. The Coromandel Express went through Rajahmundry, but did not stop in 1980, as it was a very limited stop Calcutta-Madras train. In 1980, Air Conditioned 2 Tier (open) sleepers were not yet common in India and the Coromandel Express was the only train where we rode them. Today, they have replaced the old non-AC 1st Class for people wanting better than non-AC 2 or 3 tier sleepers , but not wanting to spend what AC 1st Class costs.
We probably ate breakfast in Waltair, then boarded the Simhadri Express for the run south to Rajahmundry. The Simhadri Express and the Taj Express, which we had ridden between Delhi and Agra, were the only 2 long distance broad gauge trains we rode with steam power. All others were diesel or electric. I sat at th door of our coach and watch Andrah Pradesh go by outside, including a couple of meets with WDM2 hauled freights and a local passenger train behind a backwards WG.
At Rajahmundry, we arrived about lunch time and went to a nearby restaurant for refreshments, however, after we got beer, we noticed a rooster on a perch in the kitchen and decided to try another place for food!
The shed staff at Rajahmundry treated us like long lost relatives...this was the case everywhere we went in India We had come to Rajahmundry specifically to see IRS class XB and XD engines as well as the large IR WT 2-8-4Ts. Unfortunately, the last XB, 22153, had been retired a short time earlier. Colin Garrat in his book "Legends of Steam" has a photo of it live at Rajahmundry in November 1979. We were able to get photos. Grahame asked about buying a steam whistle from IR and instead, the shed foreman gave him one. He had a worker mount it on an engine, and blow it to see that it met with Grahame's approval.
We also visited the DMU shop, where the staff was having trouble getting parts. The Brit members of our group suggested that they write to BR engineering, who might have been able to help them.
After our shed bash, we treated the loco foreman to dinner, and I recall us eating at a rooftop restaurant on a warm evening.
Later that night, we caught the overnight Godavari Express to Hyderabad. The name is appropriate. Rajahmundry is on the Godavari River, and the railroad crosses it on a long bridge there.
1980-2-1-1-0010-Simhadri-Express-Andrah-Pradesh
Simhadri Express & Rajahmundry, 1 Feb 1980
·
After spending 31 January 1980 in Calcutta, we took the Coromandel Express overnight to Waltair. The Coromandel Express went through Rajahmundry, but did not stop in 1980, as it was a very limited stop Calcutta-Madras train. In 1980, Air Conditioned 2 Tier (open) sleepers were not yet common in India and the Coromandel Express was the only train where we rode them. Today, they have replaced the old non-AC 1st Class for people wanting better than non-AC 2 or 3 tier sleepers , but not wanting to spend what AC 1st Class costs.
We probably ate breakfast in Waltair, then boarded the Simhadri Express for the run south to Rajahmundry. The Simhadri Express and the Taj Express, which we had ridden between Delhi and Agra, were the only 2 long distance broad gauge trains we rode with steam power. All others were diesel or electric. I sat at th door of our coach and watch Andrah Pradesh go by outside, including a couple of meets with WDM2 hauled freights and a local passenger train behind a backwards WG.
At Rajahmundry, we arrived about lunch time and went to a nearby restaurant for refreshments, however, after we got beer, we noticed a rooster on a perch in the kitchen and decided to try another place for food!
The shed staff at Rajahmundry treated us like long lost relatives...this was the case everywhere we went in India We had come to Rajahmundry specifically to see IRS class XB and XD engines as well as the large IR WT 2-8-4Ts. Unfortunately, the last XB, 22153, had been retired a short time earlier. Colin Garrat in his book "Legends of Steam" has a photo of it live at Rajahmundry in November 1979. We were able to get photos. Grahame asked about buying a steam whistle from IR and instead, the shed foreman gave him one. He had a worker mount it on an engine, and blow it to see that it met with Grahame's approval.
We also visited the DMU shop, where the staff was having trouble getting parts. The Brit members of our group suggested that they write to BR engineering, who might have been able to help them.
After our shed bash, we treated the loco foreman to dinner, and I recall us eating at a rooftop restaurant on a warm evening.
Later that night, we caught the overnight Godavari Express to Hyderabad. The name is appropriate. Rajahmundry is on the Godavari River, and the railroad crosses it on a long bridge there.