Travelogue on Mumbai - Pune - Mumbai trip.
PART - 4 : /blog/post/4646795
PART - 3 : /blog/post/4640339
PART - 2 : /blog/post/4636107
for PART - 1: /blog/post/4631299
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more...

PART - 5 : Back to Mumbai. (Final part.)
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I kept running towards my coach and finally reached there. People were sitting in the door and my coach was heavily overcrowded. I asked them to give some way so that I can board the train. Understanding my situation, they quickly gave the way for me and I went into the train as soon as possible. After boarding, I was searching my seat and when I went near my seat, I found a man already sitting in my seat. Firstly, I removed my bag weighing some 10 – 15 kgs, placed it in the luggage rake. I felt a jerk that is characteristic for LHB coaches which marked the departure of train from khandala after brake testing halt. Now, I took my ticket and showed to that man, who was already occupying my seat. He realised and moved from that seat. Now I took my mobile phone charger and fastened it into the port and took my seat.
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Now, took my mobile camera, got up from the seat and took some photos of my seat. This was my first time in LHB reserved second class seating coach (2S). Till then I had travelled only few times in ICF reserved second class seating (2S) coach in trains like pallavan sf., in which the older coaches used to have a straight back rest and for longer distances, which will be uncomfortable for long distance journeys.
Reserved second class seating in janshatabdi express used to be okayish since backrest will be bit inclined and tray was there to place the food items and eat. The major advantage what I feel in LHB 2S coach is that we can recline the seat to our convenience, also tray was there in front to keep the food items and eat. Like ICF second sitting coaches, it was of 3*3 seating arrangement. Windows were wide and legroom was good. Seating capacity was also par to ICF coach without much increase or decrease. Some of the disadvantages which I noted was that the walkway between seat arrangement was narrower so it was difficult for passengers, vendors and staffs to move. Also, when train gets overcrowded, it will become so congested. Also, some seats were not par to the windows and came in between the gap of two windows. Apart from that, it was quite good.
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I was extremely happy since this was my first time in LHB second sitting coach. Mine was window seat, not on the side of the track luckily was not between two windows. So as usual took some selfie and plugged my phone to the charger and started enjoying the journey. As the train was now descending the ghats in a steady pace, sun was also descending down, biding bye to us. This time I turn ed nature enthusiast. Enjoyed the scenery and nature, the lights near the road, the colour of the sky during sunset in a typical summer. Also, at certain places, I was able to see pune – Mumbai express way which was glittering in lights. Enjoyed the trees in the hill, tunnels, track sounds made by LHB coaches.
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I did not go to the track side door and peep through since I was very exhausted after many memorable events that day and did not have proper meal that day. Was not aware when utkrisht pragati bound for pune crossed us but was sure that before we arrived monkey hill cabin. Our train arrived monkey hill in some time, we halted here for a moment. Meanwhile heard a sharp honk and it was the legendary deccan ki rani who was climbing uphill. But only could see the lights from the loco and coach from my seat. As we departed monkey hill, slowly the sky also became dark and was unable to see much outside. Still the lights in the tunnel, lights from the settlements below the hill, etc., was still a visual treat. We crossed jambrug and thakurwadi cabin meanwhile, was able to appreciate the gradient as the train descended and also was able to appreciate the curves which was beautifully negotiated by our train.
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As we descended down the gradient before the palasdhari station, heard a loud honk and humming sound. The sound intensified in few seconds. Yes, it was jaipur – yesvantpur suvidha express ascending the gradient at palasdhari. Well, I could not appreciate the full train as I was in the other side but had a glimpse of the EMD locomotive and some coaches of the train. still I can recall the way it accelerated to climb the upgradient, the honk, the track sounds it made and I get goosebumps even now when I recall this event. Even then I got goosebumps. Immediately after crossing that train, we also crossed palasdhari and after that, saw many goods train rake and some WAG – 7 and WAG – 9 class locomotives and we arrived karjat. As we entered karjat, I saw a local train rake at platform – 3.
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We accelerated constantly and skipped karjat and we hit maximum permissible speed in next few moments. What I could see for next ten minutes was our train was moving somewhere after karjat and we skipped some stations in high speed. Meanwhile, checked my phone which was plugged to the charger, it was 100 percent charged. I removed the charger and the phone, put the charger into the bag. As this was my first time to mumbai and pune, and the previous day I enjoyed different type of chat items in Mumbai. Since I did not have my food properly this day, took my phone and checked about the local cuisine and type of local cuisine available. Then checked the hotels which are offering such cuisine and their proximity to the local train station. Since dadar had many such options, planned to deboard at dadar.
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Meanwhile, I contacted my family and friends and enjoyed the comfort that window seat of LHB 2S provided me. Felt our train getting slowed down. Yes, signs that we were arriving kalyan was evident. As per schedule our train does not stop at kalyan and this is the first time for me to witness the same, was eager to see it. but at the same time, was doubting that will it stop or not. I thought to take video of our train skipping kalyan but unfortunately, as I was not in the side of the track, I was not on the side of platform too. Hence, dropped this idea and enjoyed kalyan skip with both my eyes. It did not stop at kalyan and we slowly skipped the same. Meanwhile, some passengers standing near the door they deboarded from the running train which is not safe.
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We gained speed after skipping kalyan and when I crossed the yard near kalyan jn. Spotted 15543 numbered tejas liveried WDP – 3A class locomotive of kalyan loco shed, that was the first time I am seeing such loco. But, as it was night, there was no proper lighting and our train was moving, I managed to capture only a blurred picture. But I still treasure it for my memories. touched maximum permissible speed in no time, and negotiated the ever beautiful parsik tunnel in the night. we arrived thane in some 20 minutes of time and nearly 40 percent of the train got empty and the nearby platform was very much crowded as some train is expected to arrive there.Our train departed thane after a brief halt and started picking up speed. I took my luggage and went near the door.
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Near Bhandup, saw a long train passing in the line towards lokmanya tilak terminus line and we were overtaking it. But, could not capture the same as it was dark. Somehow, managed to see the engine in the light and it was WDP – 4D locomotive numbered 40450 of krishnarajapuram diesel loco shed. I spotted the same loco with around six and half hours late Coimbatore – lokmanya tilak express, just moments before boarding this train at khandala. Yes, as we overtook it, we passed suburban station in good speed and in next twenty minutes after leving thane, our train arrived dadar. I deboarded the train, managed to take pictures of the small train board in my coach. After a very brief halt in dadar, it literally accelerated out of dadar in good speed and was mesmerized on the way it accelerated out of dadar.
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Meanwhile, I was searching for a restaurant which offers good local cuisine, though many are there near dadar station itself, I felt the one near the byculla suburban station better, went to ticket counter to take ticket for the same but unfortunately, it was crowded like a hell and I was too hungry enough. Already it was 9 pm by that time. So, came back to the same platform and a fast local bound for Mumbai was already standing there. So, decided to board without the ticket and did the same. I am not promoting the same but my circumstances made me to do so. Even today, I regret for the mistake I made. Immediately after I boarded the train, the fast local accelerated out of dadar and my coach was less crowded. But one positive thing to think that time was next stop was Byculla. So Byculla came in few moments and got down to the platform.
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Thank god no ticket checker was there at that time and local train left in no time. In the opposite side platform, devagiri express bound for secundrabad was passing Byculla in a good speed with gooty based WDP – 4D locomotive. Now, I came out of the station, checked for the location of that restaurant in google map and went as per the navigation. Had a hearty meal and after 45 minutes, again came back to Byculla station, this time took ticket till Mumbai csmt and in display board, it showed that a fast local bound for mumbai csmt will arrie shortly, went to that platform, boarded the fast local and went to mumbai csmt in ten minutes. It was around 10:30 pm when I reached Mumbai csmt. I was very tired and I walked to the dormitory thinking about the places that I should cover the next day, i.e. the final day of my stay in Mumbai.
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THATS ALL FOLKS!
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A big thanks for the people who read all five parts of travelogue with patience.
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This is my first such sequential write - up on a days journey. Please comment. If you people like it, will continue to write.
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THANK YOU!!