Making peace with the electrics
On my last trips to India I have done my best to avoid any electrified areas, focusing on chasing down the remaining ALCO action or narrow gauge. However, today chasing ALCOs is a rather desperate game. There are few strongholds left and many of them none too photogenic. Instead I decided to spend a free day photographing some scenic areas that I had neglected previously due to them being under wire. The Thull ghat is one of the older electrified segments, and was electrified in the early half of the 1900s with 1.5 Kv DC current. The DC voltage lasted until 2007 when the line was switched over to 25 Kv AC like the rest of the Indian railways. The line is triple tracked in the Ghat segment with 1 uphill line and two downhill. Due to the steep 2.7% ruling grade, all trains must be pushed uphill by atleast two big six axle electrics. Here a trio of "BC Rail" WAG-7s assist a uphill BCNA train over the Bhima 2 viaduct in Igatpuri.
Making peace with the electrics
On my last trips to India I have done my best to avoid any electrified areas, focusing on chasing down the remaining ALCO action or narrow gauge. However, today chasing ALCOs is a rather desperate game. There are few strongholds left and many of them none too photogenic. Instead I decided to spend a free day photographing some scenic areas that I had neglected previously due to them being under wire. The Thull ghat is one of the older electrified segments, and was electrified in the early half of the 1900s with 1.5 Kv DC current. The DC voltage lasted until 2007 when the line was switched over to 25 Kv AC like the rest of the Indian railways. The line is triple tracked in the Ghat segment with 1 uphill line and two downhill. Due to the steep 2.7% ruling grade, all trains must be pushed uphill by atleast two big six axle electrics. Here a trio of "BC Rail" WAG-7s assist a uphill BCNA train over the Bhima 2 viaduct in Igatpuri.