Part IV : Dharwad-Hubli Run and Morning Observations at Hubli!
I woke up at 06:25 hrs exact due to a small jerk! And my train 1047 Miraj-Hubli Exp had arrived and just halted at Dharwad
(DWR) station! The train was 'bang' on time!
At DWR, one one of the siding lines, twin KJM WDG3A hauled goods train was waiting to proceed towards Miraj direction!...
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The locos were orange KJM WDG3A # 13368 Shakti and standard blue liveried KJM WDG3A # 13267 Shakti!
Soon, 6201 Mysore-Dharwad Express arrived behind blue KJM WDG3A # 14660. The train was late by 30 minutes!
The train seemed to have low patronage. Also, the rake was of short length only. The train had 1 AC2T coach also.
As Dharwad-Hubli is single line track, once the 6201 MYS-DWR Exp came into Dharwad, my train 1047 got starter signal and finaly leg of DWR-UBL journey which is 20 Kms long, started. 1047 has lot of slack. They have provided 50 minutes time for last 20 kms run!
The train picked up good speed and soon came to a screaching halt at Navalur (NVU)! At NVU, 6589 Bangalore-Kolhapur
Rani Chennamma Exp speeded towards Dharwad/Miraj, headed by KJM WDP4 # 20006 loco. This WDP4 was in short hood forward (SHF) mode towards Dharwad/Miraj direction. Also, lot of work of expansion of Navlur yard was seen going on full speed. Rake of 0689/0690 Hubli-Bangalore-Hubli Winter Special Intercity Express was also seen lying idle at NVU yard.
The train started journey again and slowed down at station named Amargol (AGL). Here, a goods train with sand/soil/stone,
etc was standing, without any loco. Lots of trucks were getting filled with soil that was being removed as part of earth work
being done at AGL. Earth work is probably for track doubling.
Near Unkal (UNK), a long goods train was waiting to proceed towards Hubli (UBL), headed by twin WDG4 locos! This is my
first sighting of twin WDG4 locos (which seem to 'rule' this sector - please see next part of the report)! Both WDG4 locos
were coupled such that while moving in any direction, the leading loco will be SHF, which is 'ideal' for the loco pilot! The locos
for the goods train were UBL WDG4 # 12112 and UBL WDG4 # 12135! 12135 WDG4 was leading the train and ready to take it towards UBL!
Finally, my 1047 MRJ-Hubli Exp reached UBL at 07:05 hrs (15 minutes before time)! On the adjuscent platform, I saw 5-6 coaches with board of 2780 Goa Exp headed by orange PUNE WDG3A # 14886! The same loco and same train was seen by me on earlier night at MRJ.
The Hubli Link coaches (called as 7305/7306 Link Exp) that arepart of 2779/2780 Goa Exp were detached at Londa (LD) Junction and the link express came to UBL with same Pune loco. And 2780 Goa Exp must have gone from Londa to Madgaon with GY WDG3A loco!
A goods train was ready in UBL station to move towards Dharwad, headed by single UBL WDG4 # 12029 loco.
Also, 6506 Bangalore-Gandhidham Exp arrived at Hubli behind single orange KZJ WDG3A # 14898 loco!
Soon, I left Hubli Station as I had to finish my work and quickly return back to catch 1620 Hubli-Miraj Passenger.
To my 'disappointment', TC (ticket checker/collector) at the exit gate of UBL station took away my SL ticket for 1047!
Local/Public transport bus service in Hubli seemed to be good! Plenty of buses with good frequency were seen running all over. Hubli city looked dirty, unclean, unplanned (similar to many other cities in India). However, UBL Junction Station Area
seemed quite good, with good cleanliness and planned areas for entry/exit, auto stand, etc! Local buses in Hubli (KSRTC skblue buses) have automatic electronic ticket vending machines (hand held devices with bus conductors). Similar device
is implemented at Pune also (PMT or now PMPML buses), however, the same is in discussions (hot topic) due to 'fraud' etc!
Very interesting last part, part 5 with afternoon observations at Hubli (UBL) Junction to follow soon!