Me: "Can I take a Look inside?"
"Hop In"..
This is how it started.
was going back to my home town and about 50 kms from my place, where the "bogie" dumps the Express and runs off with a local Engine; I had the conversation above.
Now I'll let the pics do the talking. All pics taken from my then trusty and now rusty N73 phone Cam.
1) The View from the Cockpit & the "Driver"
2) The "Clinner" - This guy also pays attention to the platform and pays attention that the passengers and not attempting funny while the train starts moving. The Thing hanging beside the door under the mirror is one of the five brakes of the train (I think an Emergency one)
3) The view from the Driver's Seat. Imagine you only needing to watch one side of your car - The "Clinner" is watching out for the other side.
Also, check out the "Agarbatti" on the top of the console - No cup holders / slots needed to hold your stuff. You can even keep a Keg of beer / a mini fridge, computer, a 60 CD Changer, and a small size Cooler (as in Desert Coolers etc) inside and still have enough space left to "Get Lucky".
4) The Driver was gracious enough to answer all my queries about the engine of the engine. They get 2 years of training for this. Too bad he couldn't remember "Torque" part.
One 100 kms run of 3/4 hours and you are done for the day. (This is a kind of local shuttle for 3 times a day) Man I would love this Job. Even if the engine gives up on you, try to fix it only for 15 minutes and then call for Backup. Now a days they use cell phone, earlier used to "Hotwire"(?) the Telephone lines and call for Help. (Me would just have a smoke and then call for Help )
5) The 'Driver' operating Horn. Engine / Train brakes can be seen on the right of the hand (right of the drivers left hand). Engine / Total Train brakes are different. The horizontal lever far below left (yours) is the brake (again engine type). The lever above that is the 'Throttle' (Imagine yourself trying of show off revving your engine with that kind of throttle). Gauges show the Pressure of Air Brakes (yup.. Truck type) & other things that I couldn't remember. Speedo can be seen on the center right. The Book contains the log of reaching time of each station, Walkie Talkie to say "Tata" to the Station Master.
6) The operating console - We can see the two brakes & the white lever at the bottom is the 'Accelerator'.
Here is a catch. The brakes lack the lever if you watch carefully. Wait for it - This a an extra set - YES. This is an extra set - The one blocking the "Clinner's" view in the Pic# 2. This is used when the train engine goes in the opposite direction - "Reverse" in our language.
7) The Speed Limit board - These things actually have speed limit depending on the track types. No Speeding tickets though - But based on the material of the tracks (yup, Material) this could prove to be Dangerous. This one says 50kmph.
8) This Board (146 Down) shows the down gradient. After 146 meteres, your level would be down by 1 meter from the sea level. Imagine that kind of boards in the Ghats?
9) Another Speed Limit Board
10) The Clinner can be seen in the Pic.
Massive Hulk of 118 Tonnes/2600 bhp (180 bhp only used to move the engine)
16 cylinder with about 10 L per cylinder (Apne aate ke dabbe jitna bada ek cylinder hota hain ) (Newer models have about 12 cylinders)
top speed of 160 kms(when empty and the track permits)
Normal cruising at about 90kmph
mileage of 400 litres of Diesel per 100 kms
Idling at 25 Lit. per hour
engine oil capacity - 500 L
Radiator capacity 910 litre
Crank weighing 910 Kgs
serviced every 3000 kms (This one is sent about 5/600 kms round trip for servicing - Imagine the Oil filter and all)
Automatic transmission
Vacuum assisted Air Brakes similar to Trucks
5 Different Brakes including emergency
8 Batteries - 8 X 8V
Aux generator for Battery charging
separate unit for the Lights and the Laptop Charging points inside
u can also Jumpstart a train.
The Indian Railway's main income comes from the Goods business. One "Bogie" of those carries 56 tonnes. Passenger trains are just the courtesy service.
11) Cherry on the top - ride in the "Uno" HP thing after 14 years. The brake is at the "tail" end (engine braking on a descent)(check out the two belts coming towards the exhaust) and the Accelerator is at the chest(Pulling up on an ascent). Leaf type suspension (in the shape of "()" rotated in 90 degrees). Mileage of Rs 50 worth material in a Day. Yours for 40/50K on road. I asked for a TD but was told that this "Engine" is running a bit rough. The spare one is smoother. This guy can be called and booked in advance for a Cab ride or just a Horse drag.
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