International Railroad Discussion > India Part 1

I was recently in India with my younger daughter, visiting my older daughter, who is living there now.  Trip was January 1, 2016 to January 12, 2016.  This post covers a train ride we took from Delhi to Agra, and a few shots from a road trip.  Next post will cover a day of railfanning around Delhi.  BTW - most Indian railways are 5'6" gauge - same as BART!

1.  The Taj Express loading at Hazrat Nizamuddin Station in Delhi.  We rode from Delhi to Agra on this train.
2.  Interior of First Class coach we rode on the Taj Express. 
3.  This guy served tea in our car, and also sold breakfast trays at your seat if you wanted.  Our hotel had packed a breakfast so we did not sample the breakfasts.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/16 02:31 by dwatry.

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4.  Stopped at Mathura Station - intermodal train on adjacent track waiting for traffic to clear.
5.  Delhi-bound passenger train coming out of the fog at Mathura.
6.  Meet at Mathura Station.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/16 03:16 by dwatry.

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7.  Southbound container train (again coming out of the fog) south of Bharatpuhr.
8.  Another southbound freight train south of Bharatpuhr.  I believe the tank cars have LNG in them.
9.  Not all freight moves on rails in India.  Still have to pay a toll at the toll booth, however!
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/16 03:16 by dwatry.

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Interesting thread. How was you average impression on railfaning in India. It is in my plans to visit such land too. Is it safe? What about the costs there? Is it an expensive country to visit?

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Pedro - Prices vary considerably, depending on the degree of Western-style comfort you want.  Nice 4 star hotels in Delhi run about $80-150/night - slightly less than the cost of similar hotels in the US.  You can pay almost nothing for a hotel (from a Western perspective), also, depending on your tolerance for living without creature comforts.  Meals also vary considerably in price, but we had lots of good meals that were in the $5-8 range per person.  Street food is considerably cheaper, but it's always good to have someone who knows the area point you to safer street food vendors.  Try to get food that is served piping hot.  Water is the big thing to pay attention to.  In more expensive restaurants you can usually drink the "filter water", but out and about you need to make sure you buy sealed bottled water.  Most hotels catering to westerners will give you 2 bottles of water a day in your room. 

This was my second trip to India, and I have railfanned on both trips.  I have never been hassled by anyone and have always felt safe.  Indians are often interested in what you are doing - railfans are not that common there.  So lots of people stop to chat and ask questions, but no problems.  I often ride the suburban trains to railfanning locations.  Though crowded, they are a fun ride - especially because you can hang out the open door!   Trains are really cheap!  I took an hour ride in Delhi on a suburban train and it was 11 rupees, which is about 20 cents US.  

Duncan

pedrop Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting thread. How was you average impression
> on railfaning in India. It is in my plans to visit
> such land too. Is it safe? What about the costs
> there? Is it an expensive country to visit?

Depends on what you are used too.  The place is teeming with people, filthy and stinks.  Most of the people we sent there on work assignments came back and said "never again".  If you have a cast iron stomach I guess you can eat there.  But most people will get sick at some time or another.

jfrank39 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pedrop Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Interesting thread. How was you average
> impression
> > on railfaning in India. It is in my plans to
> visit
> > such land too. Is it safe? What about the costs
> > there? Is it an expensive country to visit?
>
> Depends on what you are used too.  The place is
> teeming with people, filthy and stinks.  Most of
> the people we sent there on work assignments came
> back and said "never again".  If you have a cast
> iron stomach I guess you can eat there.  But most
> people will get sick at some time or another.

India is a great fun and great culture to visit. You have to be very picky not to like it... Even if you're used to the "nicest", just find a way to navigate it and no problem. Filthy? Depends where you hang. I can't wait to get back there...

Thanks dwatry. I see Índia has a very good sample of old power, but the news says new technology like GEs AC44 will be a reality soon. It is a good time to visit the country before the common GE power dominate that country. Where are the best locations for railfans in India?
 

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Geep Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jfrank39 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > pedrop Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Interesting thread. How was you average
> > impression
> > > on railfaning in India. It is in my plans to
> > visit
> > > such land too. Is it safe? What about the
> costs
> > > there? Is it an expensive country to visit?
> >
> > Depends on what you are used too.  The place
> is
> > teeming with people, filthy and stinks.  Most
> of
> > the people we sent there on work assignments
> came
> > back and said "never again".  If you have a
> cast
> > iron stomach I guess you can eat there.  But
> most
> > people will get sick at some time or another.
>
> India is a great fun and great culture to visit.
> You have to be very picky not to like it... Even
> if you're used to the "nicest", just find a way to
> navigate it and no problem. Filthy? Depends where
> you hang. I can't wait to get back there...

I am just telling people what it's like.  If you can deal with that then by all means go. 

jfrank39 Wrote:

> I am just telling people what it's like.  If you
> can deal with that then by all means go. 

What it's like in your opinion. Having been to India four times I don't recognise your rather sour description. I think India is endlessly fascinating with an extraordinary range of cultures, cuisine and peoples.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/16 13:56 by 86235.

86235 Wrote:
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> jfrank39 Wrote:
>
> > I am just telling people what it's like.  If
> you
> > can deal with that then by all means go. 
>
> What it's like in your opinion. Having been to
> India four times I don't recognise your rather
> sour description. I think India is endlessly
> fascinating with an extraordinary range of
> cultures, cuisine and peoples.

Your sense of smell must be broken and you are blind.

Pedro:
I agree with 86235 - India is endlessly fascinating and well worth visiting.   I don't really know the best locations to railfan in India - my experience is limited to 2 relatively short trips.  One place I would want to try to get back to, however, is the railroad between Mumbai and Pune over the Ghat Mountains.  It's an amazing mountain railroad - double and triple track electrified with helpers on the freight trains.  The different mainline tracks weave in and out on separate alignments, crossoing and recrossing each other - seeming to have been built at different times.  If you could get a car and driver (don't try to drive yourself in India), this would be a very interesting place to try to access the railroad.  Most of the big mainlines are very busy, so if you go to a station along any of the main intercity lines, you will see plenty of trains.  If you have a lot of time and can get to some scenic locations, check the photos on railpictures.net.  Some of the photos posted there are spectacular. 

Have a great trip!

jfrank39 Wrote:
-----------------------------------------
> Your sense of smell must be broken and you are
> blind.

Neither thanks, just more open minded.

pedrop Wrote:
------------------------------------------> Where are the best
> locations for railfans in India?

That's very difficult to answer, India is huge with huge variations in climate and topography. The Konkan Railway which runs south from Mumbai to Madgaon (Goa) and Mangalore is spectacular, with impressive bridges and tunnels, and the line up the Western Ghats from Madgaon to Guntakal is also pretty impressive.

Back in 2010 when we were in West Bengal, staying in Kolkata (Calcutta) I hired a driver for the day and we chased trains on the former East Indian Railway to Burdwan and back. I had a ball.

Thanks 86235. It's a good hint.

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

86235 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jfrank39 Wrote:
> -----------------------------------------
> > Your sense of smell must be broken and you are
> > blind.
>
> Neither thanks, just more open minded.

For the 'open minded'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhVinNmFlI&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs

jfrank39 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 86235 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jfrank39 Wrote:
> > -----------------------------------------
> > > Your sense of smell must be broken and you
> are
> > > blind.
> >
> > Neither thanks, just more open minded.
>
> For the 'open minded'.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhVinNmFlI&featur
> e=em-subs_digest-vrecs
Not sure what jfrank39 is trying to say but I'm afraid a YouTube clip doesn't alter how I feel about India. At least I know that next time I go I won't bump into him accidentally.

86235 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jfrank39 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 86235 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > jfrank39 Wrote:
> > > -----------------------------------------
> > > > Your sense of smell must be broken and you
> > are
> > > > blind.
> > >
> > > Neither thanks, just more open minded.
> >
> > For the 'open minded'.
> >
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhVinNmFlI&featur
>
> > e=em-subs_digest-vrecs
> Not sure what jfrank39 is trying to say but I'm
> afraid a YouTube clip doesn't alter how I feel
> about India. At least I know that next time I go I
> won't bump into him accidentally.

Definitely not.  But if you like trains and don't mind the India mess it should be the place to go.  The Indian railways are the largest employer in the country and the Indian railways go just about everywhere.  In a country of over a billion people it's just about the only way to get around,  If they all got in cars you would have national gridlock.

Wish I could go, but I am just too old to put up with all that.

http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/

Just curious - have you been to India, jfrank39?
Sure, it's not for everybody - but it's a worthwhile destination, especially for trains.