#KnowYourTrain
.
#Vananchal Express
.
~~~ Connecting Anga with Vananchal ~~~
....
more...

#Name: Vananchal is another / traditional name of Jharkhand. Since the train connects Bhagalpur with Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, it has been named as Vananchal Express.
.
#Regions (Physical): Ganga River Basin, Rajmahal Hills (Damin-i-Koh), Indo-Gangetic Plains, Part of Chhota Nagpur Plateau, Parasnath Hills
.
#Regions of State: Bhagalpur Division, Rajmahal, Burdwan Division, Santhal Pargana
#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to #ER Zone, Malda Town Division. The train passes through the following divisions: #ER-Malda Town, Howrah, Asansol; ECR-Dhanbad; SER-Adra, Ranchi;
.
#Route:
> Bhagalpur – Sainthia via Sahibganj Loop
> Sainthia – Andal Branch Line
> Andal – Asansol via Barabani Line
> Asansol - Muri via Asansol-Gaya Section of Grand Chord
> Muri – Ranchi Line
.
#Halts, #States: The train stops at 23 intermediate stations (excluding origin and destination) and the statewise breakup is as follows: BR-3, JH-11, WB-9
.
#Soils: Red, Black, Sandy and Laterite soils
.
#Rivers: Bansloi, Brahmani, Dwaraka, Mayurakshi, Bakreshwar, Hinglo, Ajay, Singaran, Jamunia, Barakar, Subarnarekha (2 times)
.
#Languages: Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika, Hindi, Bengali, Santhali, Mundari
.
#Speed: Highest average speed: 81 kmph between Sahibganj Jn and Tinpahar Jn
Lowest average speed: 26kmph between Pandabeshwar and Andal Jn
.
#Base: Bhagalpur Jn
.
Photo Credits;
Pic-1: Train Pic ( /blog/post )
Pic-2: Bhagalpur Station ( /blog/post/557662 )
Pic-3: Vikramshila University, Bhagalpur ( click here )
Pic-4: Sahibganj Station, Jharkhand of the famous Sahibganj Loop ( click here )
Pic-5: Ranchi Station ( /blog/post/698664 )
Pic-6: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Ranchi (click here )
Pic-7: Route Map

#KnowYourTrain
.
#Ahimsa Express
.
~~~ The Messenger of Peace and Non-Violence ~~~
....
more...

#Name: Ahimsa means non-violence. It means kindness and non-violence towards all living things including animals; it respects living beings as a unity, the belief that all living things are connected. Avoidance of verbal and physical violence is also a part of this principle. Hence it is said that “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” meaning Non-Violence is the Supreme Religion. Gandhiji was a staunch follower of the principles of Ahimsa. Throughout his life, Gandhiji followed the principles of Ahimsa to fight injustice. Gandhiji lived in Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Since the train connects Ahmedabad to Pune, it has been aptly named as Ahimsa Express as a tribute to Gandhiji.
.
#Regions (Physical): Western Ghats, Konkan Plains, Narmada Basin, Gujarat Plains
.
#Regions of State: Paschim Maharashtra, Konkan, Lata (South), Anarta (North)
.
#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to #CR Zone, Pune Division. The train passes through the following divisions: #CR- Pune, Mumbai; #WR –Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad
.
#Route:
> Pune to Kalyan by PUNE-CSTM Trunk Route
> Kalyan – Vasai: Kalyan to Dombivali by PUNE-CSTM Line and after Dombivali, it takes the branch line (Panvel-Diva-Vasai) to connect to Vasai Road
> Vasai Road to Ahmedabad by the Mumbai-Central – Ahmedabad Main Line
.
#Halts, #States: The train passes through 2 states, Maharashtra & Gujarat. The train halts at 14 intermediate stations (excluding origin and destination) and the statewise break-up is as under: MH-6; GJ-8
.
#Soils: It crosses through region having black, alluvial and sandy soil.
.
#Rivers: Mula, Ulhas, Daman Ganga, Ambika, Purna, Tapi, Narmada, Vishwamitri, Vatrak/Shedhi
.
#Languages: Marathi & Gujarati
.
#Speed: Highest average speed: 85 kmph between Dahanu Road and Vapi
Lowest average speed: 30 kmph between Bhiwandi Road and Vasai Road
.
#Base: Pune Jn
.
Photo Credits;:
Pic-1: Ahimsa Express on a Curve (/blog/post/602055 )
Pic-3: National War Memorial, Pune (click here )
Pic-4: Ahmedabad Station (/blog/post/711783/0 )
Pic-5: Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad ( click here )
Pic-6: IIM, Ahmedabad (click here )

#KnowYourTrain
.
#Jhelum Express
.
~~~ Connecting Cultural Capital of Maharashtra to the Paradise of India ~~~
....
more...

#Name: The train was inaugurated in the year 1977-78, to directly connect Pune (the HQ of Southern Command of Indian Army) with Jammu Tawi, a strategic location in Jammu & Kashmir for military personnel. Jhelum is one of the important rivers originating in Kashmir and flows westward to join Sindhu (Indus River). It is a tributary of the Chenab river and is one of the five important rivers of Punjab (the other four being Chenab, Sutlej, Beas and Ravi). As the train connects Pune with Jammu Tawi, it is named after Jhelum River as Jhelum Express.
.
#Regions (Physical): Western Ghats, Khandesh Plains, Ajanta range, Asirgarh hills, Satpura Vindhya range, Bundelkhand, Sutlej Plains, Tawi Valley
.
#Regions of State: Paschim Maharashtra, Khandesh, Nimar, Malwa, Mewat, Bundelkhand, Middle-Doab, Malwa, Majha, Jammu region
.
#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to #CR Zone, Pune Division. The train passes through the following divisions: #CR-Pune, Solapur, Bhusaval; #WCR-Bhopal; #NCR-Jhansi; #NR-Delhi, Ambala, Firozpur
.
#Route:
> Pune – Daund by PUNE-MAS Trunk Route
> Daund-Manmad Line
> Manmad-Bhusaval by Kalyan-Bhusaval Section
> Bhusaval-Itarsi by Bhusaval – Allahabad Section of CSTM-ALD-HWH Main Line
> Itarsi-New Delhi by the Chennai-New Delhi Main Line (Grant Trunk Route)
> New-Delhi – Ludhiana by Delhi-Amritsar Line
> Ludhiana-Jalandhar Line
>Jalandhar-Jammu Tawi Line
.
#Halts, #States: The train passes through 8 states, viz. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. The train halts at 60 intermediate stations and the statewise breakup is as follows: (excluding originating & destination stations): MH-11; MP-15; RJ-1; UP-6; DL-4; HR-7; PB-12; JK-4
.
#Soils: It crosses through region having black and alluvial soil
.
#Rivers: Bhima, Mula, Pravara, Godavari, Tapi, Narmada, Betwa, Jamni, Chambal, Yamuna, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi
.
#Languages: Marathi, Hindi, Rajasthani, Haryanvi, Punjabi, Dogri, Urdu
.
#Speed: Highest average speed: 118 kmph between Khandwa Jn and Chhanera
Lowest average speed: 18 kmph between Vijaypur Jammu and Jammu Tawi
.
#Base: Pune Jn
.
Photo Credits;:
Pic-1: Train Board (Self) (/blog/post/463667 )
Pic-2: Pune Station (Self) (/blog/post/522667 )
Pic-3: Aga Khan Palace, Pune (click here )
Pic-4: Jhelum River near Srinagar, Kashmir (click here )
Pic-5: Jammu Tawi Station (clicked by AJ**) (/blog/post/703804 )
Pic-6: Aerial view of Jammu City and Tawi River from Bahu Fort, Jammu (click here )

#KnowYourTrain
.
#Kanchanjunga Express
.
~~~ Connecting City of Joy to the Gateway of North-East ~~~
....
more...

#Name: Kanchanjunga (8598 m, 28209 ft) is the third highest peak in the world, situated on the Nepal-India border (Sikkim). The sights of the peak from the various places in North Bengal and Sikkim have made the places popular amongst tourists. It is called Five Treasures of Snow after its five high peaks, and has always been worshipped by the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim. Since the train passes through North Bengal and also in the close proximity to Sikkim, the train has been named Kanchanjunga Express as an accolade to the peak.
.
#Regions (Physical): Indo-Gangetic Plain, Himalayan Region, Brahmaputra Basin
.
#Regions of State: Indo-Gangetic Plains, North Bengal Plains, Darjeeling Himalayan Hill Region, Dooars (Terai)
.
#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to #NFR Zone, Lumding Division. The train passes through the following divisions: #ER – Sealdah, Howrah, Malda Town; #NFR: Katihar, Alipur Duar, Rangiya, Lumding
.
#Route:
> Sealdah to Dumdum Jn via Sealdah – Ranaghat Line
At Dumdum, the train uses the Calcutta Chord Line to go to Dankuni Jn
>From Dankuni Jn, it uses the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Line
> New Jalpaiguri to Guwahati via Barauni-Guwahati Line
.
#Halts, #States: It serves 4 states, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam. The train halts at 30 intermediate stations, the statewise breakup (excluding originating and terminating) is as follows: WB:18; JH-1; BR-3; AS-8
.
#Soils: It crosses through region having black and alluvial soil
.
#Rivers: Hooghly, Farrakka Barrage (Ganga), Mahananda, Teesta, Jaldhaka, Torsha, Raidak, Sankosh, Beki, Pagladiya, Brahmaputra
.
#Languages: Bengali, Hindi, Maithili, Surjapuri, Assamese
.
#Speed: Highest average speed: 78 kmph between Barpeta Road and Nalbari
Lowest average speed: 14 kmph between Kamakhya Jn and Guwahati
.
#Base: Guwahati Jn
.
Photo Credits:
Pic-1: Kanchenjunga Express at Prantik (/blog/post/543193/0 )
Pic-2: Sealdah Station (click here )
Pic-3: Victoria Memorial, Kolkata (click here )
Pic-4: Kanchanjunga, Darjeeling ( click here )
Pic-5: Tea Estates of Assam (click here )
Pic-6: Guwahati Station (click here )
Pic-7: Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati ( click here )

#KnowYourTrain
.
#Chetak Express
.
~~~ The Flying Horse of Mewar ~~~
....
more...

#Name: Pratap Singh, popularly known as Maharana Pratap was a Rajput ruler of Mewar province of Rajasthan. The Chittor Fort at Chittorgarh, which was Pratap’s ancestral home was under Mughal occupation. It was his dream to capture Chittor in order to give Mewar its lost glory. On 21st June, 1576, the two armies (one of Maharana Pratap and other of Akbar) met each other at Haldighati. The Mughal forces outnumbered the Rajput forces and Pratap’s generals prevailed upon him to flee the field so as to be able to fight some other day. Myths indicate that to facilitate Pratap's escape, one of his lieutenants, a member of the Jhala clan, donned Pratap's distinctive garments and took his place in the battlefield, so that Pratap can safely escape. He was soon killed. Meanwhile, riding his trusty Chetak, Pratap was able to successfully evade captivity and escape to the hills. However, Chetak was critically wounded on his left thigh by a mardana (Elephant Trunk Sword), with spear of weight 26.3 kg while Pratap had attempted to nail down Emperor Akbar. Chetak was bleeding heavily and he collapsed after jumping over a small river a few kilometres away from the battle field. A famous couplet in a poem narrates this incident of the battle:
~ Aage nadiya padi apaar, ghoda kaise utare paar; Rana ne socha is paar, tab tak chetak tha us paar... ~
English Translation :
Lies the boundless river ahead, How will the horse cross it? While Rana was thinking still on this side (of river), Chetak was that side!
.
Since the train connects Delhi with Udaipur, one of the important cities of Mewar region, the train is named as Chetak Express as a mark of respect to Chetak who was a horse of unparalleled fame, courage, speed, intelligence and sacrifice who gave up his life for the cause of freedom.
.
#Regions (Physical): Delhi Ridge, Aravalli Ranges, Mewar Plains
.
#Regions of State: Delhi, Gurgaon Division, Dhundhar, Mewar
.
#Zone, #Division: The rake belongs to #NWR Zone, Bikaner Division but for this run, it is maintained by Ajmer Division. The train passes through the following divisions: #NR: Delhi; #WR: Ratlam; #NWR: Jaipur, Ajmer
.
#Route:
> Delhi Sarai Rohilla – Rewari Line
> Rewari to Ajmer via Ringas Jn
> Ajmer – Udaipur Line
.
#Halts, #States: Serves 3 States – Delhi, Haryana & Rajasthan. The train halts at 16 intermediate stations, the statewise breakup as follows (excluding originating & terminating): DL-1, HR-3, RJ-12
.
#Soils: It crosses through region having black, sand-clay mix and red-loam soil
.
#Rivers: Sahibi, Hameer Lake, Luni, Banas, Berach, Ahar
.
#Languages: Hindi, Haryanvi and Rajasthani (Mewari & Marwari dialect)
.
#Speed: Highest average speed: 82 kmph between Phulera-Kishangarh
Lowest average speed: 15 kmph between Ranapratapnagar and Udaipur City
.
#RSA: 22471/72 BKN-DEE-BKN SF Intercity Express
.
#Base: Bikaner Junction (due to RSA)
.
Photo Credits:
Pic-1: Train Board ( /blog/post/598074/0 )
Pic-2: Delhi Sarai Rohilla Station ( /blog/post/556715/0 )
Pic-3: Red Fort, Delhi ( click here )
Pic-4: Maharana Pratap on Chetak in City Palace, Udaipur ( click here )
Pic-5: Chetak Smarak ( click here )
Pic-6: Udaipur City Railway Station ( /blog/post/384146/0 )
Pic-7: City Palace Complex, Udaipur at Night ( click here )