Freaky Railway Quarters (17)

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A gang of five(Parashuram,Nooka Raju,Subba Rao,Seshagiri Rao) at a private house at the start of the journey at Hubli was reduced to two by the end of 12 months. Myself and Seshagiri were left and found it was not worth paying that much of a rent and using our influence got ourselves a railway quarter.

Nothing of special mention on the first few days except the only question by our neighborhoods - how did you like the house? We did not know if they were asking out of concern or curiosity. We hardly lived there. It was a resting place at the head quarters and we cooked seldom. While thus was our lives, we had a new entry called Raju who had got a job in shed in compensation for his father's demise at railways.

We thought it would also act as a security to the worthless utensils that we had in our quarter.As days passed by we encountered a few incidents which were not normal.

One night when myself and Raju were sleeping, in the middle of the night I saw Raju standing in front of me and staring at me. Not sure why ? I stretched my hands and felt Raju sleeping next to me. When I looked back the image had disapperaed.

A few days passed by where myself and Seshagiri did not meet each other. One afternoon when we were having lunch , Seshsagiri started describing the same incident and when I mentioned I too had a similar experience we were stunned.

Then we did a little bit of investigation with the neighborhood and got to know that a woman had commited suicide in the toilet of that quarter and since then whoever came to that place vacated in a very short time.
We did not have that much of patience to shift elsewhere,hence we continued to live on.... Only care that we took was when we were not around we had asked Raju to sleep in the opposite quarter with a friendly family.

This was truly a freaky incident and I should say I loved that experience too...

Renuka Bar and Restaurant (16)

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After a tiring trip of long hours when I returned to Hubli, neither did I have the energy to cook nor the interest. A quick shower & I would ride my bicycle to Renuka Bar & Restaurant. Silent atmosphere with a very good service and excellent vegetarian menu.

By the time I made my fourth visit to Renuka, I had made friends with the waiter’s and the Manager. They would play Rajesh Khanna hits for me and I would enjoy my food listening to them.

If there’s a name of a Restaurant that I wouldn’t forget, it would be Renuka opposite to the Railway Station Hubli.

Philately Club of Hubli (15)

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As days passed by there was something haunting me and that was about my hobbies. I used to so much absorbed in stamps,pencil sketches and my treasure trunk at home and I was missing all of them.That’s when I went to post a letter at the General Post Office and met Sajjan Rao-head of Philately club in Hubli.

I immediately opened an account and the next time I visited Bangalore I took back with me my collection of stamps. And the album that I had till then.

Sajjan Rao invited me for a couple of Philately club meetings and introduced me to the top philatelists. Thus my collection which had come to a halt started again and I would spend my leisure re-arranging my stamps.

Bison on Track Caution Order (14)

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What is a Caution Order? Caution order is a document which gives the rules and signals to be followed from the departing station to the destination station. It’s specific to the individual route and keeps changing depending on the maintenance of the track and the weather of the section.

On the railway lines you have bridges that are being constructed, ballast that are refilled, track tamping, rail welding, a new level crossing for which you have to blow whistle freely or worst case like what happens in the Londa-Castle Rock section : it’s migratory season for the herd of bison’s for which you have to be cautious.

You are asked to be cautious not to protect the bison but to protect the train, the driver, assistant driver and the guard. To quote an incident it was my friend Debjit Roy’s train to Castle Rock and midsection they ran over a Bison whose horns got jammed between the cattle guard and the rail and the cattle guard which is a 15mm wrought iron was bent out of shape. They had to stop the train, clear the carcass and then proceed to Castle Rock. There are incidents in the past where the herd or one of them have injured the staff fatally.

Hence during those days where the herd of bison’s are seen a special caution order is mentioned about bison on track and when you approach that kilometer number you slow down the speed of your train and watch out to see if you can spot any bison.

I’m sure we have all seen the herds on National Geographic or Discovery Channel and its no different here. They run in hundreds and when they cross the track the scene is a stampede of the worst order. Every herd has a leader who is huge than the rest and carries that look at his stance, he who would be watching the way and only when he signals the rest of the herd follow. I was lucky to have watched this once and I shall always remember that I was a part of that wildlife adventure.

Save WILDLIFE , the Planet also belongs to them.

DudhSagar Falls (13)

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DudhSagar in Hindi means Milky Ocean. And if you want to check that out yourself, you must be there to witness the majesty with which it flows. This falls reminds me of the treasures that nature tries to hide from man and keeps it in such a secret corner that only the brave can reach it.

DudhSagar is around 14kms from Castle Rock on the way to Kulem, a wonderful trek on track with the dense forest that surrounds you and if you are lucky enough you get to see some leopards and bears. The moment you reach the advance starter of Castle Rock station, a chill runs down your spine looking at the gradient which is 1:24. The engine slowly takes the first left curve, you cross the rangers bungalow and you are amidst the wild and from then it’s a journey unforgettable.

The wonderful man made tunnels and bridges and the lovely creeks through which forms the mini falls here and there. Come rainy season and its bliss to be there in that route. You just keep watching the scenery on your left and right and suddenly without a clue DudhSagar captures the attention of all those awake and dead in the train. And those who woke from their sleep will remember that sight forever and will say “it was worth waking up”.

If you wish to trek, you can start from Castle Rock. It wouldn’t be a jungle trek, but it’s a trek on the railway track walking through the tunnels and bridges and enjoying the beauty that’s untouched. It would take around five hours from Castle Rock and then on arrival at DudhSagar you just jump into the water at the base of the falls.

If you are as adventurous as me, you can climb the falls and stand there on the top and say “awesome”. Or just go underneath the bridge and relax in the water with some shade from the trees. You can hang around until evening and take a train either towards Castle Rock or Kulem as the train frequency is good, especially the goods train.

When you have worked as hard as you could, a shower at DudhSagar revitalizes the strength in you and keeps you refreshed until your next visit.

Castle Rock - love at first sight (12)

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Life’s a journey and enroute you fall in love many a times with many a things and Castle Rock is one such destination which will hold you so tight with its serene beauty and untouched soul that you don’t want to come of that imprisonment.

Castle Rock is a small beautiful village which forms the border between the states Karnataka and Goa. The inhabitants are mostly families of railway men and forest guards. Surrounded by mountains and thick forest with a lot of streams that run through the forest, Castle Rock would be anybody’s love at first sight.

I was fortunate to have spent some wonderful moments of my life here. The railway station is one of the remains of the British establishment. You will also find a turn table for steam engines here.

A little bit of history here – British had the routes until Castle Rock and from Castle Rock they would transport all the goods by land to the port at Goa. Then one day they met this shepherd who showed them the route through the mountains to Kulem in Goa and on arrival at Kulem they shot the poor shepherd. And from then, they started laying the railway lines from Castle Rock to Kulem. They have left behind wonderful tunnels and bridges which are still healthy and would run another hundred years. The gradient at the start of the station from Castle rock to Kulem is 1:24, the steepest in the Indian Railways.

Opposite to the railway station you will find a building made of small bricks which is a monument in ruins and once upon a time owned by the Portuguese. Any train that would come from Goa to Karnataka will be taken into this building with only the entry and exit doors and the whole train would be searched for smuggling of gold. Offenders were shot if they tried to escape. And rumors have it that the jungle between Kulem and Castle Rock still has gold bricks thrown by smugglers and which they could not find again. This could be true because you can see a couple of trains in the valley which has not been restored (its mission impossible to take any machinery into the valley with the thick vegetation that the mountains possess).

Every season brings about a change in the weather and here it’s not only the weather it also gifts a new dress to nature. Leaves that turn from green to red to brown, the path of the streams that get dried and then runs as if in a race and the whole mountain that takes on a camouflage. Winter is the best of all that I have enjoyed here. The fog would be so thick that an object that is just two meters away will not be visible. When you stand at the door of the running train, the breeze that kisses your cheek and the mist that you feel on your skin and the cold pain that you experience when you do some mechanical work on the train are all reminders of how beautiful life is when you are a part of nature.

At the entrance to the Castle Rock is the Turva River and I shall cherish the moments spent here bathing or just watching it flow. I have had the best Jack fruit cutting it off myself from the tree, the best curds that had to be cut with a knife.

To visit Castle Rock you can catch a goods train or any passenger from Londa and you can get to Londa by any train that’s running from Hubli to Vasco or Hubli to Belgaum. Best place to trek and get lost in the wilderness. I wish I had a camera when I was in railways to capture all of Castle Rocks emotions.

I shall visit this place before death just to say “I love you Castle Rock “.

Life at TGT - Tinaighat (11)

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Iron ore from Toranagal and Bellary mines get loaded to train no. TGT SPL and is on a wild run to reach it’s destination – Vasco port where it gets loaded to the ship bound abroad. This is the only goods train that runs on top priority and leaves a red trail even to the extent of stopping an express at the crossing.

There is the ship at Vasco in Goa waiting to get loaded with the red dust which is worth crores and runs the lives of thousands of families. For the running staff it’s a matter of pride to be driving the iron ore special which is bound for Vasco directly or to Tinaighat which is a station located between Londa and Castle Rock.

This is a station where you see activity day and night, in rain and in shine. There’s no room for errors and leisure and there’s no time to wipe the sweat off your face whether it be an old man, a woman or a child. These are mostly laborers from Andhra Pradesh and northern Karnataka. Because of the number of trains that arrive at Vasco and the shortage of lines and staff, railways don’t want any delay in the shipment of the ore and hence the pit stop called Tinaighat. The trains destined to Vasco are terminated here and the iron ore gets unloaded here at Tinaighat and from Tinaighat to Vasco it goes by Trucks.

As soon as the train reaches Tinaighat station the laborers run towards the train and in groups of four or five take on each vehicle. The total load that has to be unloaded is 5,500 Tons and efficiency being at its best the train gets unloaded in approximately 90 minutes. One has to see the action of the shovels which is synchronous and also the flow of sweat and the movement of the muscles which will leave you spell bound.

Sometimes it would make you sad to see the children and women in that laborious process, but you know it’s survival and people have chosen the hard way rather than turning to some anti-social activity. When they carry the pride of being honest and hard working there is no room for softness and you just salute them for the hard work they do.

Whenever I got an opportunity I would speak to them, listen intently to the narration of the life in the huts and most importantly about their health. It was really surprising that some of them had worked for about ten years loading and unloading the ore and they don’t remember the last time they fell ill or visited a doctor.

Life is really not about repenting or cursing your fate that HE chose you to play in the dust day in and out… It’s about the gratitude that HE chose you because you were the best and HE built you out of that clay that hasn’t heard of any disease.

My sincere thanks and regards to all those that work in Tinaighat, who shared their experiences with me and taught the courage that a man should possess when he walks alone in the wild.

Food and the Bone Mill Odor (10)

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Behind the Londa Railway Station at the UBL end is the famous bone mill. To the left of the station is the bone mill, adjacent to that are the paddy fields and on the right side of the railway track is a stream. Sometimes we had to wait at UBL end of Londa station for crossing or just detention which would extend to long hours.

Having confirmed with the station master we slowly open the Tiffin box and begin our dinner in silence. The pungent odor of the bone mill is something that everyone has to smell one day and during those initial days I was about to throw up if someone asked me to have my food there. Days passed and there was no option but to gulp down irrespective of how the place was.

Sometimes I would put my head outside the window and look at life near the bone mill, you can see the workers carrying baskets filled with bones on their head, crows, eagles, vultures feeding on the heap of bones and now and then a dog that would steal the biggest bone and bring it over to the track. All this made little impact on the people who lived in the quarters nearby or the villagers who lived in and around the bone mill. The odor of the mill would travel to more than a kilometer’s distance in winter.

I certainly am not complaining here about the bone mill but this was one of those experiences which taught me to respect food because when you’re hungry and you feel the cramps in your stomach, the place, the smell and the stink really doesn’t come to your notice and when you’re done with your food all that you think about is – how do the people working in the mill eat at the same spot they work in.

It’s all about what you think is imperfect and insane in the world because the same thing is perfect and sane in the same world.

Higginbothams and the corner bench at the Station (9)

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Higginbothams – name of the book stall at the stations on South Central Railway.

When I had to wait for the train to arrive at Hubli or Londa or Belgaum, I would walk to Higginbothams and pick up a book that would keep me engaged for a couple of days.

It would be so much fun to sit on the engine at a crossing or on an empty platform bench, hold that treasure in your hand and forget the world until you hear the whistle blow or the station speaker call out the name of the train which is arriving or departing.

On some evenings when I knew that was rest was guaranteed I would walk with a book in my hand to the station and spend the evening reading and observing life that always seemed so slow when compared to that of mine.

It’s on the railway platforms that life shows you so many colors, so many moods, so many emotions and so many lessons which I always wished were taught to me in my school. One was on a journey for his honeymoon and the other was going for a funeral. One was leaving his home in search of opportunities and the other was running away from responsibilities. One had come to bid good bye to a beloved and the other had come to welcome his love. One carried the load that his strength would permit and the other swung his hands free. One would laugh throughout the journey and the other would sit on the footboard gazing at the silent sky. One would walk like he owns the world and the other would walk like he doesn’t care who owns the world.

I read a great deal about Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azaad, Subhas Chandra Bose, Chatrapati Sivaji, Swami Vivekananda and Adolf Hitler. Every time I read them they gave a new insight and some times intoxicated my brain so hard that I fell asleep on the bench itself.

Every time I fell, I only learnt to stand up more firmly and determined that I will succeed in the exams that life can throw at me. It was then I set this constant reminder “know what’s more than enough for you before you can ask for more”.

Muddy boots and wet sandbox (8)

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Let me give a little technical background here – Any Loco will have two sand boxes attached to the engine and dry free flowing sand is filled during rainy season so as to avoid wheel skidding. It is operated by pneumatic pressure by the button on the control stand. Sand is injected between the wheel and the rail and with that friction the wheel doesn’t skid instead moves forward. Sometimes when it is raining heavily and in the rain when sand is filled, it gets wet and forms blocks of sand which will not flow through the pipe and that is when it’s a memorable pain for the spinal chord.

It was a trip from Alnawar (LWR) to Ambevadi (AVA) a distance of about 20kms.This route is one train system where until the train has returned from AVA to LWR no other train will be sent in the same route and also it’s a side line. East Coast Paper Mill is located in Ambevadi, the forest range that belongs to Dandeli. Trains carry bamboo and other necessary raw material to the paper mill and from the mill the trains transport finished paper products.

Permanent speed restriction while going to AVA is 25kmph and on return its 30kmph.The road is steep and is a ghat section.

It was around 2200 Hrs when we departed from AVA. The weather was cloudy and the wind was chilling. We had 40 vehicles to carry; I suggested that we carry it in two halves so that we won’t experience any difficulty enroute. But the Driver Mr.S.B.Bhavikatti was confident or rather over confident that the WDM2 Loco would pull that load uphill.

We started with all his prayers to the Gods that he believed in and that which he kept on the control stand. It would have been 3kms that we had crossed and it started raining cats and dogs in the section. For another 2kms he used up all the sand even when it was not required. The sandboxes were empty or clogged when we had crossed 5kms and it was still raining heavily.

I helped myself with some tobacco and had kept the window open to let the breeze hit my face. The engine experienced a jerk and when I put my head out of the window noticed sparks flying of the loco wheels. Immediately opened the extra sand bag stored inside the loco and took out my Tiffin box and filled it with sand. I forced opened the door and the next minute I was running next to the track putting sand on the rail. This took the wheel off the skid and it started moving slowly, but the section was so rough that the horse power of the WDM2 was no good to haul the load. I took out my dagger and pierced a hole at the bottom of the sand bag. With all the strength I held the bar with my right hand and holding the bag in my left stood on the foot board letting sand flow on to the rail. This exercise continued for nearly 12kms in the middle of the night.

Finally we arrived at LWR and from there w headed to UBL. On reaching UBL, I thanked Mr.Bhavikatti for his stupidity and on reaching home, lay dead on the floor.

When I woke up, for a moment I felt I had lost sensation of my back and when I tried hard to wake up from the floor, it was an electric shock that ran through my spine and I collapsed on the floor. My fried Seshagiri helped me sit with my back leaning on the wall and immediately applied Iodex and Moov and I sat there half dead and was not quite sure what had happened to my back.

Thought of calling sick to work that day but my instincts said “don’t escape” and sincerely I reported on time for the next train that I was booked.

Long Hours on Track (7)

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First experience of long hour’s duty- on 18th Mar 2003 I was booked for Train No. SEJ to Hospet (HPT) at 2215 Hrs,while checking the engine I broke MR1 drain coc of WDM2 and the train was detained for 4hrs at the shed. I arrived at Hospet at 1130 Hrs on 19th Mar. The same night I was booked for LE/Bullet at 2000 hrs to UBL and I arrived at UBL at 0115Hrs on 20th Mar and continued duty for crane spl. to Gadag (GDG).It was all about loading and unloading of MG coaches and the work continued till 2100 Hrs.

I slept on the platform in peace and woke up at 0530 Hrs on 21st Mar and continued duty and finally arrived back at UBL at 0000 Hrs on 22nd Mar. I had worked 52 Hrs on this trip.

This memorable trip laid the foundation for many such trips where I worked for long hours and on another instance working with water spl. I had achieved my all time highest of 63 Hours on duty.

Lessons learnt while working for long hours :-
- Eat anything that you get and don’t smell your food before you eat (in summer rice and dhal in the Tiffin would have started to decay within 4hours of filling it).
- Sleep is not the most important thing in life (public service is of utmost importance).
- Don’t look at your watch, because looking at it will not get you relief.
- Don’t complain of pains and aches (everyone has it), learn to get a kick out of it.

Settling in Hubli (6)

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On January 22nd 2003 I reached Hubli at 1230 Hrs. Myself,Seshagiri Rao and Subba Rao took a room in Modern Lodge and went to DPO’s office but we were asked to come tomorrow.

On 23rd Jan, we filled the Service Record and we were divided into four groups and my group was under the guidance of Mr.H.I.Kallimani.

On 24th Jan exactly at 0000 hrs we started the first handling (Handling is the term used for on the job training, this is very important as this is the only time you get to learn the signals and the road for all the routes) on the Train SVM77 heading to Castle Rock. The first time when you are in action, you feel like the world is moving around you but you are constant. The first handling with Driver Daffedar was informative as he mentioned the position and gradient of the signal and the track. We returned to UBL (Station code for Hubli) with Driver Siddique.

On my return it was a real surprise to see that Seshagiri and Subba Rao had shifted the entire luggage to our rented house at Chalukya Nagar.Now the room mates were Seshagiri, Subba Rao, Venkataramana and Parashuram. Handling continued and on 27th Jan myself and Seshagiri purchased provisions and also made 4 duplicate keys for our house.

On 28th Jan, I collected the South Central Railway Identity Card which is a possession in my collection now. Mr.Kallimani was kind enough to sanction leave and I left to Bangalore by Ranichennamma at 2230 Hrs.

From 29th Jan to 03rd Feb I was at home, catching up with friends and relatives. In such a short span these are the folks that I met – Mr. Philips who was my employer when I left for Railways. Sridhar with whom I played a match of caroms, he lost this time too. Mr.Selvaraj from Shivamani industries in Jalahalli.Relatives in Mathikere and BEL, relatives in Vijayapura and KR puram.MICO friend Guru Prasad, School friends Reshmi,Arathi,Mangala and Pushpalatha. (Today I’m in Bangalore and hardly meet anyone owing to the busy schedules that each one of us have).

By 8th Feb 2003 we had all that a house needs which included a gas stove, all utensils and most importantly a Tiffin carrier for the trip.

On 11th Feb 2003 I received my second stipend of 4610/-. On 21st Feb 2003 we had a viva with the ADME at Hubli.

On 1st Mar 2003, I got the ZTC results – 4th Rank with 84% Marks. On 2nd Mar 2003 I was in Bangalore for a day.

On 3rd Mar 2003 I was in Hubli again and I gave my Citizen watch for service. My uncle Srinivasan had presented this watch to me when I stood 1st in my 7th Standard public exam. And since September 2007 I hadn’t worn a watch.

On 4th Mar 2003 we filled the bio-data at DPO’s office and I signed a LIC policy (Jeevan Anand 1,00,000) which I took from Mr.Pulliah (He was the one who got us the rented house and this was an obligation)

On 5th Mar 2003 , I went to Combined Crew Booking lobby and was informed that the independent duty may be booked anytime.

On 6th Mar 2003 I prepared small charts that would help me in identifying the signals and the stations.

On 7th Mar 2003 at 0730 Hrs my independent duty with Driver A.S.Lazarus carrying the Train SVM-10 to Castle Rock (CLR). CLR arrival was 1955 hrs

Thus started the job as a Diesel Assistant in South Central Railways working for Hubli Division.

My Leisure at Guntakal and Moulali (5)

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When I thought of writing this post, the first thing that struck my mind was my Father’s saying “change of work is called leisure” and he always intended and many a times scolded me for sleeping a lot during my school and college days. Now I realize how true that was and later on I came up with my saying “what will I do in my coffin”? And I thought of leaving behind a history that I would love to read in my old age-which I doubt will never come.

Most of my leisure at Guntakal was spent playing caroms and watching movies in the re-creation room at the quarters. I would spend every evening drawing the engine parts and practicing engineering scripts on my fair copy of the notes. All my sleep started to fade away here and in the night I would sit outside in the balcony smoking, reading poems from “The Golden Treasury” and sometimes writing letters to Sridhar, Naveen and Arathi or to my Sister.

Initial days at Moulali was spent exploring the roads around the ZTC.Then began the worst hobby where I would spend all night writing thoughts in my diary and I would travel all over the world including Christ School, Christ College, MICO Vocational Centre, Belgaum and all the faces that have crossed my life and all the faded memories were brought back to life and I was playing the same old games in my mind. (I will post all the thoughts I have written one day and would get some brains going dead and hopefully save my own as they mean a lot to me)

Letters from Sridhar Machani and my Sister deserves a special place on this post. The only thing that I have ever waited for in my life -Letters from my friend and Sister which was a solace and on which they would give all the updates of Bangalore and family. In the world of e-mails where reply becomes such a tedious task, Sridhar would take all his time to reply to every thing that I wrote on the letter (If he permits I can publish some of them) it’s the scent of the ink, the words stressed which would make the ink blot and those smiley and symbols and the signature on a letter which would convey a lot more than the deepest thoughts on an e-mail.

Whenever I was in a pensive mood I would sit alone with a burning stick in my hand and compose poems or make a pencil sketch or think about Shilpa-who still smiles and dances in the corner of my brain.

Thus I enjoyed whatever I was doing wherever I went and I would do those things again and again as it was pleasant at that time and writing this post brings a pleasant fragrance of life’s wonderful moments spent in a crowd - yet alone.

Secunderabad Life at the Hostel (4)

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Our room was on the first floor and my room mates were Anand Rao, Jay Prakash, Seshagiri Rao and Ravi.I had taken a bed at the centre of the room and all luggages were unpacked and arranged in the cupboard. Life at the Hostel was luxurious with a separate study table for each, canteen on the ground floor and an open balcony from where the view was wonderful of the Centre, playground and also a top view of the kitchen. We had Times of India newspaper delivered to our room at 0500 Hrs and we could happily take a 30 minutes nap after lunch.

Couple of days passed and we had to get serious about our studies on G&SR (General & Subsidiary Rules). The marks what you score in the final exam at ZTC is what decides your seniority for promotions when you hit the job as a Diesel Asst. I was reading rather than studying the Manual given and spent most of my time drawing signals and warning boards and coloring them.

Saturday evening to Sunday midnight it was just fun and travel and the places that I visited during my stay in Moulali were Birla Mandir, Charminar, Salar Jung Museum, Tank Bund Road, and Golkonda Fort. We did watch a couple of movies and I used to travel everyday to Secunderabad for a good cup of tea.

Had forgotten to mention about my study table – creativity is something some people are born with and cannot live without. I would cut all the beautiful pictures from Hyderabad Times and with Seshagiri’s help paste it on my table.

December passed and it was New Year 2003, a time for celebration, time to shed all your inhibitions, sing and dance to your own tunes and any tune that people around you play. It so happens that the entertainment is the same but the faces change when compared to the past. Room mate Ravi had left Railways as he had got an offer from BHEL in Chennai.

On Jan 04th 2003 we left for Vijayawada for an educational tour , we studied various signals, walked over Krishna Bridge and also took time off to visit the book exhibition where I had purchased a book on Pencil Sketches and that unleashed a hidden talent which was unknown to me until then.

After our return from Vijayawada it was serious study time and we would stay awake until late in the night but half the time would be only laughter and jokes cracked by JP (Jay Prakash) or by “O Hansini” a song which was Debjit Roy’s favorite and later became everyone’s favorite.

On 21st Jan 2003 we had the final exam and on the same day we bid good bye to Moulali and boarded the Train no.Kacheguda-Dharmavaram express to Hubli.

Secunderabad Life at the RPF Barracks (3)

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It was November 2002 that we arrived at Secunderabad Station and caught a bus to Moulali , Headed straight to Trainee hostel and the time was 0730 Hrs.When we met the Warden , he informed us that the hostel was full and that if we wanted accommodation we had to manage in the RPF Barracks. I did not think much but headed from there to the RPF Barracks which was a 15 minutes walk ……..

From the main gate to the barrack would have been 600 mts and it was just a big hall with some shaky cots and broken glass windows with a door which did not have a locking arrangement. Took bath and headed back to the training center. Everybody was concerned about their luggage back at the barracks.

The prayer started at 0900 Hrs and with a small speech by the Principal we found ourselves in the classroom. Mr.Murthy entered the class announcing that he will be the class teacher and it sounded like I had long forgotten that word.Anyways there was a round of introduction and when it came to electing a Class Leader I was unanimously chosen as I had been the best at Guntakal (even though Mohan Rao had warned me that I should opt out of Leader role at Moulali, because there would be too much to study).

We had lunch at the hostel canteen and I don’t remember the taste as I was very hungry. After the class we all rushed back to the barracks and this is where the actual life at ZTC (Zonal Training Centre) begins……..

Luckily the luggage was undisturbed. I unpacked a few daily usable clothes, shoe polish tin and the brush. After cursing all the officials possible for not having sufficient rooms at the hostel we headed back to the hostel mess for dinner. After dinner the 15 minute walk seemed a little too long as I was tired after the travel from Guntakal to Secunderabad and the already three trips from the barrack to the centre. On reaching the main gate, we realized that there was no power and it was pitch dark and none of us had a torch. Slowly we crept to the hall and lay on the cots and it was only when one of the alarms went off that I woke up.

Day 2 was mostly spent in the class and during breaks trying to convince the warden to allot rooms and also mentioning that we would adjust with whatever is given. As I spoke in Telugu, he asked me to check out some ladies quarters at the back of the centre. After the class, I went with some of my friends to check them and the word that I may use with all rights is pathetic. The cots were broken and twisted and the beds were happily conquered by bed bugs. Saying a big NO I walked back to the barracks.

When the news came to us that the hostel rooms would be allotted, we were actually jumping with joy.

Around a week and a half had passed in the RPF barracks and I was enjoying the long walks and the stillness that existed in the darkness of the night.

Something’s happen by chance (2)

Note : Railway Diaries follows the Number on the Post Title

It was just like any other day except that My friend Naveen who was doing MBBS in Davanagere had come home to Bangalore to purchase his Medial books and as usual since he did not possess the driver’s license nor knew how to ride a bike, I had to be his driver to Avenue Road.

He purchased his books and on the way back to the parking lot, along the roadside I noticed this advertisement for Diesel Asst. for South Central Railways and the Qualification asked was ITI in fitter, Millwright Mechanic and all bench trades. As it cost only ten rupees for the application, I picked one and filled the details and posted to the address mentioned.

After that I had to leave to Belgaum to work for Fairfield Atlas on behalf of Dynamic Services & Engg Consultancies. I completed the work there and after My return to Bangalore My uncle Anantha Krishna sent me on a project to Gurgaon as an Engineer from Atreya Integrations (never did I want to become an engineer). I returned from Gurgaon on 12^th Sep 2001.

When I reached home, mother informed me that there is a written test on 13^th Sep for South Central Railways and gave me the hall ticket. Half heartedly I wrote the test which wasn’t all that difficult and I did not have any hopes because all the candidates who had come there had thick books which they had studied for more than 6months and for some of them it was the 5^th or the 6^th attempt. Whereas I wrote it, without turning a page of my MICO or any other manual.

Life went on as usual with the maintenance work that I did for Dynamic Services & Engg. Consultancies and also for Atreya Integrations. Financial earning per month was 3000/- INR from Dynamic Services & Engg Consultancies and nothing fixed from Atreya Integrations (I really cared less about my earnings because I knew my time would come and I have to hone My Technical skills to the sharpest possible on Earth).

GOD blesses you with such surprises that you don’t realize what HIS plans are. I received a letter calling for the Psychological test. Again without a clue answered all the questions in the time given. This was a cake walk I can tell, after all the practical training I had at MICO.

Now almost confirmed that I would get through this round, I was awaiting further communication and finally it arrived asking me to come for a final Medical round at Hubli (which was bound to be my home station for two years).The wait was more than two days and My father who had accompanied me had to leave after two days. I was staying at my father’s friend’s in-laws place where Badrinath their son became my friend (hospitality received in their home for more than a week cannot be forgotten).

Here GOD puts me through another test. When I was examined for 6/6 eye test, the first day I really couldn’t make out the direction of opening of ‘C’.This examination is conducted in a dark room where you have to sit at a distance and at the other end you have a small ‘C’ with a faded light at the background. The attendant rotates the ‘C’ and you have to tell the direction of the opening of ‘C’.The doctor whose name was Renuka asked me to reappear for this test the next day as I had passed in all other tests and also for the fat that I was the only from Karnataka in that Batch.

Feeling low I returned back to Badrinath’s home. I called up home and informed them that I had some defect with my eye and I doubt passing it the next day.

I hardly get any dream even to this day but on that night a miracle happened – Lord Venkateshwara came in my dream and I remember it well, it was the gopura of Tirupathi. Quite amazed after I woke up, I recollected that on my earlier visit to Tirupathi when I had to wait in the queue for nearly 24hrs, after the darshan I had told to the Devine unseen that I will not visit you again. When I mentioned about my dream to Badrinath’s father, he told me to make a wish telling if I get through the medical test, I will visit Tirupathi for Lord’s darshan.Not quite trusting my own wish I went to the Railway hospital the next day and the ‘C’ was crystal clear and they had to do multiple rotations to confirm the same.

When HE calls you, there’s no stopping and as all the elders later told me, it was God’s way of calling me to Tirupathi again.

Thanks LORD – I did not have to strive much to be noticed by YOU.

After the medical round, I had to go through a final round – a one on one with AME and then take off to Guntakal for LOCO Training. I traveled on a pass for the first time in my life.

Journey from Guntakal to Moulali (Secunderabad) in my next post…

Railway - Begin (1)

Note : Railway Diaries follows the Number on the Post Title

Vishwanath Sir, Vishwanath Sir…that’s the wake up call by the call boy to book me for a train at 0300 Hrs. I look into the Train no. its PSJT Spl to Hospet and Driver Mr. Christopher.

After signing the call book I get ready. Bath a mandate for me no matter what time it is, a short prayer asking for blessings for myself, driver and the train to reach the destination safe. Depending on the time left is when I decide if I have to cook something for enroute.

After reaching the Lobby, sign the log register with the Train/Driver’s name, collect the Caution Order and wait for the Train to arrive which sometimes has already arrived and most of the times the wait in the Lobby itself takes 5-6 Hrs and after 6 Hrs if you want to sign off and go home you can (But rarely we sign off, because we all understand that there is a serious shortage of Running Staff).

Finally the Train arrives and I check the fuel balance and the following-, headlight, flasher light, all brake pipe hoses and the coupling, radiator room, generator room, brake shoes, water level gauge, expressor room, sand in the sand boxes and finally clean the wind shield and the control stand.

Now comes the second part of the wait time, you wait for the signal of your line.

Main line starter, advance starter proceed .oOo that’s the whistle code, one short one long one short when the train starts the station. At the first curve where you can see the full formation, I look back and shout, formation rolling intact and Guard signal right.

Approach of the next station – Distant signal caution…….Distant signal caution Home danger and then Home signal caution line 1 ….. Line 1 starter danger.

You get down, do a check of the break shoes, and blow down the air tank to release moisture. Wait for the train to cross and exchange signal (green flag in your left hand and red flag in your right hand, the moment you notice something wrong in the crossing train you raise the red flag immediately)

Line 1 starter caution, advance starter proceed and the short long short whistle code and the train leaves the station.

Then between this station and the next station you have a level crossing for which Gate Distant proceed and then Gate signal proceed (If gate signal is danger then Gate Distant is caution).

Approach of next station – Distant signal attention, Line 1 Caution, line 1 starter caution, advance signal proceed and exchange signal with the station staff.

Finally after crossing all the stations you reach the Destination, halt your train, apply hand brakes, note the fuel balance and if charge is not taken over unscrew the lever for throttle and break and take it to the Combined Crew Booking Office. Sign off and rush to the Running Room.

Depending on what time of the day it is you give rice to the cook and get vegetables and toor dhal and also oil for the curry from a near by store.

A quick shower, a full house meal and then off to the bed.

And the trip continues in a similar routine.

Terms :-

Call Boy- the designation for the person who comes to inform you about the train in advance.

Call Book- the book where you sign telling that you will report to work or if you are calling sick.

Lobby (Combined Crew Booking Office)- office where you report and sign the registry.

Running Staff- Engine Driver, Assistant Driver and Guard.

Running Room- place where the running staff stays at destination.

Have had great experiences in two years of my life (2002-2004) that I spent in Railways as a Diesel Assistant. Will share more in the near future and this post was to set foundation and also I was checking myself if I still remember the terminology.