TLH/Tilhar (3 PFs)

तिलहर

تلہر

Track: Double Electric-Line

Ruthless MPS Overtake in Near Absolute DARKNESS l Ghaziabad (GZB) WAP-7 SHRAMJEEVI SUPERFAST Hunts Down Tughlakabad (TKD) WDP-4B KASHI VISHWANATH EXPRESS !!!
HD Video :- click here
Heard of Déjà vu? Experienced it? I Just Recently Did. “Kashi Vishwanath Express” Connecting New Delhi & Varanasi takes the Route Via – Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Pratapgarh & Janghai Jn. A slow and Patience Testing train; it has always been one of my go-to connections to Lucknow; that is if I don’t get tickets in the Overnight Superstars of this route; The Lucknow...
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Mail & The Lucknow AC Superfast. This time too; I was booked on the “Kashi Vishwnath Express” to Lucknow; but my excitement of travel was dampened by the rake of the train. Due to Unprecedented delays that later escalated to more than half a day over a couple of runs; Varanasi Coaching Depot Arranged a Spare Rake for this train, to run it in case the pairing train reached late; which happened on a regular basis off late. I still remember; recollect and cherish the previous Journeys I had undertaken in this train – “Kashi Vishwanath Express” which was known for its Tasty Pantry Food and Well Maintained Rake. The ISO Certification didn’t come just like that you see.
3 years We Got to Face the Beautiful Double Overtake by the “Amritsar - Saharsa Garibrath Express” that journey is still fresh in mind. In those days, the regular scheduled overtake was by a different train though; the Shramjeevi Superfast Express from New Delhi to Rajgir. The Timetable was so strategically formed that the Kashi Vishwanath Express Would Depart New Delhi almost 2 hrs before Shramjeevi SF Express and get overtaken just as the former approaches Lucknow; since the scheduled time of arrival for the latter was 20 mins ahead of Kashi Vishwanath Express. This scenario though; changed earlier this year. The schedule of Kashi Vishwanath Express was altered between New Delhi & Lucknow. Its arrival time was advanced to 21:05 hrs from the former 21:35 hrs; while Shramjeevi’s arrival time remained unchanged at 21:15 hrs; thus ensuring that the overtake was no longer possible; at least on papers. Kashi Vishwanath Express too enjoyed this change for the initial few days of its new schedule. But joys are usually short-lived; all the more for this train.
I was booked on Kashi Vishwanath Express from New Delhi to Lucknow on Oct 22; the Pathetic and Rickety Old rake that was sent that day was a disappointment; and adding to the woes was the priority that we received. The delay kept escalating and never seemed to reduce. The silver lining in this dark cloud though; was that I got to relive the olden days of Kashi Vishwanath Express getting overtaken by Shramjeevi Superfast Express. Our delay had gone past the 1 Hr Mark near Bareilly itself, so I anticipated the overtake in daylight or twilight; but alas, that was not to be. We dragged on till Tilhar; a scheduled halt for my train, 309 kms from New Delhi and about 184 kms from Lucknow. It was pitch dark when we looped in; and when we didn’t leave even after 5 mins; I checked the status of the Shramjeevi Superfast Express, only to discover that it wasn’t far from us. I quickly scampered off on to the opposite platform hoping that nothing blocks my view. In a few minutes the mainline signal went to proceed and so did the advanced starter.
What I wanted to witness for so long was finally going to happen. The approach to Tilhar from Bareilly side is on a curve; so I wasn’t sure how far the Shramjeevi Superfast Express was. But thanks to the Shrill 3 Phase Honk of the 6350 HP Monster Locomotive – WAP7; I could guess its approach. In a few moments; the GZB WAP-7 leading the Shramjeevi Superfast Express rounded off the curve and approached Tilhar like a beast possessed. And in a flash, all 24 coaches and the white beast at the helm disappeared at 100Kmph, like a hungry predator having devoured its prey in no time. It was a sight worth watching. As soon as the overtake happened; I hurried back to my coach, lest someone close the door on me. And engineering works further east didn’t spare the Shramjeevi too that day. We didn’t make it to Lucknow before 23:30; but the Shramjeevi though only delayed by about 25mins at Bareilly; had reached Lucknow at 22:30 hrs; 75 mins late. Overall, the journey had its minus points; but it had its plusses too; this Shramjeevi Overtake was the one of the best spectacle I had ever witnessed; and as a Railfan; enjoyed it a lot too.