******** Railfanning Done at Howrah and SER Territory Today**********
Attached Pictures:(Please Note that all the Attached Images are clicked by me with the 2.0 Megapixel Camera of my Nokia X2 Handset)
1 12302 Dn Rajdhani at PF No: 8 of Howrah with HWH WAP-7 30321.(Can't be able to take the Nearer View of this Loco and of the Train as because of Tight Security by RPF and Other Railway Staff and porters unloading Cargo constantly from the 1st EOG of the Train)
2...
more... Front View of HWH WAP-7 30372 which was the Charge of Dn Kalka Mail today standing at PF No: 14 of HWH
3 Side View of HWH WAP-7 30372 which was the Charge of Dn Kalka Mail today standing at PF No: 14 of HWH
4 Siemens 3-Phase EMU Rake of Eastern Zone Captured at HWH outer.
5 New Shining LHB Rake of Chennai AC Premium Exp standing at SRC Yard.(It was 3 AC Code:LWACCN). The entire rake of this train is mixed with Duronto and Raj liveried LHB Coaches.
6 BHILAI WAG-9HI 31400 with a Freight Train captured at Andul.
My Conversation today:
I had a "Brief Chat" with the LP of HWH WAP-7 30369 the Loco in charge of DN Coal Field Exp today regarding "Regenerative Braking" as soon as he "Step Down" from the Loco and stop the Train by pushing it's Brake. I introduced myself as a "Rail Enthusiast and fan of 3-Phasers" and inquired him whether it is "Regenerative Braking" which he has just used to stop the Train ? He said "Yes. It is Regenerative Braking ." I also inquired him whether this Loco is GTO or IGBT Technology built?
He said it is a "IGBT WAP-7" and IGBT System is more user friendly than GTO with regards to Trouble shooting of 3-Phasers. He was in a hurry to release his duty formalities so I let him go without sparing his time more.(I can't Capture WAP-7 30369 as all LPs and Rail Police are there at PF-12 of HWH. Sorry for that)
I had also a "Brief Chat" with one of the LP of Electric Locomotive of South Eastern Railway today who catch our train(Midnapur HWH Emu) from SRC. I also introduced myself as a "Rail Enthusiast" here and inquired him whether SER will take "WAP-7" in future ? He straightforwardly said "No" for some reason best known to SER. Then I asked him now when these WAP-4/WAM-4 etc will retire and Conventional Loco Production will stop then what SER will Do ? He said "SER knows it best"and also agree with me that "SER is a Stubborn Zone towards 3-Phasers in spite of its advantages."
My Observation:
In SER now most VSKP WAP-4s recently turned out from CLW with AC Cab fittings like 3-Phaser are used with most of the trains like East Coast Exp, Puduchery Exp etc. These WAP-4s have cab lights completely identical to that of WAP-5/WAP-7 & WAG-9.
The entire Rake of Kalka Mail is "Bio Toilet Fitted" observed at PF 14 of HWH today.
Many "Bio Toilet Fitted" ICF Rakes are seen at many Stations of SER today.
WAG-9 of LGD,AJNI,TKD, BIA frequently seen in SER with Freight Trains.