Rail Fanning trip to Kasara

Today was my first railfanning trip in Bombay.

Deep had posted that he was planning to do a Rail fanning trip to Kasara and I also decided to join him in this trip. We came across WDM-2's, WCM-3's, WAG-5, WDP-4 on this trip and passed a lot of express trains on the way to Kasara and back.

I got up at 6.30AM on a holiday to go for this trip. I and Deep had planned this trip for quite some time. He was to join the trip from Ghatkopar. I took a taxi from my house at Bombay Central to VT to take the EMU to Ghatkopar and then onwards to Kasara. I had to take 2 first class tickets, one from VT to Ghatkopar and the other one a return ticket from VT to Kasara. I had to spend extra because I asked the counter lady that I wanted a ticket to Kasara with a stopover at Ghatkopar. She informed me that a stop over is not possible and I have to take a separate ticket to Ghatkopar and Kasara. A little disappointing that I had to pay extra though it was not required.

### As per the rules, one has to start journey within 2 hrs of
purchase of tickets for EMU. So, if your halt at Ghatkopar was less
than 2 hrs, then you could have used same ticket for entire journey.
Of course, as per rules, there is nothing like EMU ticket with stop-
over at particular station. - Comments by IRFCAian Yogesh B

After the recent heat on the IRFCA groups about taking photos at railway stations, I decided not to take any risk of taking photographs at VT, though there were some good ones which I wanted to take. As the EMU was speeding towards Ghatkopar I spotted the famous Punjab mail going towards VT, I also spotted Simhagiri Express both of them hauled by a WCM-2 (though I am not sure of the loco)

####The loco you have seen should be WCG2 loco of KYN loco shed.
Please clarify details about Simhagiri Exp. This train runs between
which stations? - Comments by IRFCAian Yogesh B

I reached Ghatkopar at 8.35AM and met Deep, though saw him at Vidyavihar itself. We took the 8.55AM fast to Kasara. When we were waiting at Ghatkopar, we saw Udyan hauled by WDP-4 speeding past us at close quarters. We could not take photos as we were conscious of the fact that there could be plain clothed RPF personnel. Seeing the Udyan hauled by WDP-4 was one of our highlights of the morning. As we took the EMU to Kasara, we passed a lot of trains, hauled by WCM-3's. The express we passed were Pushpak Express hauled by WCM3, Singhad Express hauled by 2 WCM-2 (Again not sure if it was a WCM-2 or another loco) at Thane outer signal, Mangala Express hauled by a Rajdhani Livery WDM-2, Deccan Queen hauled by a WCM-3 outside Kalyan junction, Panchvati Express hauled by WCM-3 as we crossed Shahd station, Mahanagri hauled by WCM-3 at Kasara.

### All locos which you are mentioning as WCM-3 are actually KYN loco
shed's WCAM3 locos! Sinhgad Exp is getting twin WCG2 locos these
days. (Basically WCAMx locos can run on both DC or AC Traction, where
as WCGx locos run only on DC Traction and WAGx/WAPx/WAMx locos - seen
beyond KSRA or actually ahead of IGP - run on AC Traction only).
Mangala Exp gets ERS WDM2 loco all the way from ERS to IGP! - Comments by IRFCAian Yogesh B

We reached Kasara at 11AM, took snaps of the EMU which we took us to Kasara. As we were crossing the platform, we chatted up with the EMU motorman on the speed of the EMU. We wanted to find out on which stretches did the EMU do 100Kmph. He informed us that from Bombay itself on some stretches they touch 100Kmph. Since we were standing by the door, we could feel the speed though we were not sure about 100Kmph. At Kasara we saw 4 WAG-5's stationed on platform 3 for banking duties.

### With KSRA-IGP Section getting converted from DC to AC Traction,
WCG2 locos now can not be used as bankers in this section. Hence, BSL
loco shed's WAG5 locos are the bankers now.

We somehow managed to get friendly with the only loco pilot we could spot amongst the 4 locos parked there. He informed us that he was an ex-army man who is now a driver and also allowed us to take snaps of the loco. Once we got a little familiar we asked him if we could step inside the loco and have a look around. He was gracious enough to allow both me and Deep to get inside the loco. He also explained the functions of the various switches and other stuff in the loco. He ofcourse did not allow us to take photographs inside the loco.

After spending some time with the loco pilot, we went to the main platform and got friendly with some Railway staff at the station. One of them was quite enthusiastic and showed us the Signal lamps and also posed for a photograph with a full green flag. He also took us around the station and showed us some old photographs of the GIP era put up in the station. He also informed that there was another photos of an express train of that era in the running room and asked us to get permission from the Deputy Station master for the keys. Unfortunately for us, the Deputy Station Master refused us the permission. We spent some more time at the station, took some snaps of a WDS-6 (The livery was that of old KK Express) and then took the 12.30 local back to Bombay. On the way we had to get down at Thane as both I and Deepash had dehydrated badly as we forgot to take a water bottle. Deep got down at Ghatkopar and I at Dadar.

I plan to do some more of these trips and will keep every one posted about the same.