#KnowYourTrain
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#ShivGangaExpress
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~~ A prestigious, highly preferred, ISO Certified SF train of NER meant to connect Varanasi with New Delhi ~~
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#Name: Varanasi, the Temple City of India is one of the most ancient and holiest places in India, the nucleus of pilgrimage of Hindu people. The place has immense religious significance, being situated on the banks of River Ganga. It is where one of the 12 Jyotirlingas are situated, in the form of Kashi Vishwanath. Since the train goes to Varanasi, it has been named as Shiv Ganga Express.
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#Regions of State: It passes through Middle Doab, Awadh & Purvanchal regions of UP
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#Physical Regions: It passes through plains of Awadh and Ganga-Yamuna Doab
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#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to North Eastern Railways. Enroute, it passes through #NER: Varanasi Division, #NCR: Allahabad Division, #NR: Delhi Division
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#Route:
> BSB-ALD: Single line diesel route via Gyanpur Road
> ALD-NDLS: on the HWH-ALD-NDLS Trunk route
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#Halts: 3 intermediate halts in both the directions; 1 halt in NER and 2 halts in NCR. All the halts are in UP State.
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#States: Serves 2 states – UP and Delhi
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#Base: Varanasi Jn
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#Soils: It crosses through region having Alluvial Soil
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#Rivers: Ganga, Yamuna
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#Languages: It travels through Hindi & Urdu speaking belt
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#Speed: Highest average speed between ALD-CNB: 73 kmph; Lowest average speed between BSB-MUV: 27 kmph.
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Photo Credits:
Pic-1: Train Board ( /blog/post/754800 )
Pic-2: Varanasi Station, Self shot ( /blog/post/688362/1 )
Pic-3: Kashi Vishwanath Temple & Jyotirlinga, Varanasi ( click here )
Pic-4: Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi ( click here )
Pic-5: India Gate, New Delhi ( click here )
Pic-6: New Delhi Station ( click here )

#KnowYourTrain
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#Hutatma Express
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A High priority SF primarily meant for people of Solapur to come to Pune in the morning and return back in the evening. A preferred train for...
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daily commuters.
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#Name: The word Hutatma means “Martyr”. During the British Raj, The British Government had imposed a "Shoot on Sight" order under martial law in Solapur in 1930 to suppress the freedom movement. Mallappa Dhanshetti, along with Shrikishan Sarada, Abdul Rasool Qurban Hussain & Jagannath Bhagwan Shinde, defied the martial law. In order to supress the freedom movement, the Government sentenced all four to death. A monument was erected in their honour in Solapur, known as “Hutatma Smarak”. Since the train connects Pune to Solapur, the train has been named as Hutatma Express.
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#Regions: The train entirely passes through Paschim Maharashtra (Desh) region.
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#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to Central Railway. The train plies through Pune and Solapur Divisions. Has 2 intermediate halts enroute, at Daund and Kurduwadi.
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#Route: Plies on the PUNE-SUR-WADI-GTL-MAS Trunk Route
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#States: Serves 1 state - Maharashtra
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#Base: Solapur
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#RSA: Shares its rake with 11025/26 Pune-Bhusaval-Pune Express
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#Soils: Black, Alluvial Soil
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#Rivers: Bhima River, Yashwant Sagar Reservoir on Ujani Dam
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#Languages: Marathi
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#Speed: Highest average speed – 79 kmph between Solapur and Kurduwadi, Lowest average speed – 61 kmph between Kurduwadi and Daund.
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Photo credits:
Pic-1: Self
Pic-2: Self
Pic-3: Self
Pic-4: Shaniwarwada Fort, Pune ( click here )
Pic-5: Siddheshwar Lake & Temple, Solapur ( click here )
Pic-6: Hutatma Smarak, Solapur ( click here )

***** #Know Your Train *****
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#Panchavati Express
~~~ The Lifeline of Nashik ~~~
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#Date of #Introduction: 01.06.1973
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#Name: Panchavati means “Garden of Five Banyan Trees”. These trees were present during Lord Rama’s exile. Panchavati is an area in Nashik City, on the banks of the river Godavari. The area has immense religious importance, being one of the sites for Kumbh Mela. The area also has the famous Kala Ram Temple. Since the train connects Nashik District to Mumbai, it is termed Panchavati Express.
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#Regions: #MH – Passes through Konkan & Khandesh regions, through Nashik, Thane and Mumbai Districts.
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#Zone: It passes through Central Railway – Mumbai and Bhusaval Divisions
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#Rivers: Mithi, Ulhas, Vaitarna
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#Language: It serves Marathi speaking belt
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#Physical regions: Passes through Kasara Ghats (Western Ghats)
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#Soils: It passes through regions having black alluvial soil and red soil.
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#State and #Zone: It serves 1 state and 1 zone (Maharashtra, Central Railway) having 8 intermediate halts in both the directions.
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#Speed: Max average speed: 82 kmph between Igatpuri and Devlali
Min average Speed: 43 kmph between Mumbai CST and Dadar. The track MPS is 110, restricted usually to 105 kmph max and is further reduced in Thull Ghats
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#Base: Manmad Jn
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Miscellaneous #Trivia:
a. Originally connected Nashik to Mumbai, later extended to Manmad
b. Used to run with Double Decker coaches a few years ago
c. Has the distinction of being host to a wedding on-board in its AC Chair Car coach recently
d. Connects Mumbai with Nashik, a region rich in onions and grapes.
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Photo Courtesy: All the pictures have been taken from the Train Gallery.

#Know_Your_Train
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#DeccanQueen
A prestigious and legendary, high priority ISO Certified train
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#Date of #Introduction: 01.06.1930
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#Name: The area around Western Ghats, is known as Deccan Plateau which extends to South. Since the train passes through the region, it is named as Deccan Queen.
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#Regions: #MH – Passes through Paschim Maharashtra and Konkan regions, through Pune, Raigad, Thane and Mumbai Districts.
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#Zone: It passes through Central Railway – Pune & Mumbai Divisions
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#Rivers: Mula, Indrayani, Ulhas, Mithi
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#Language: It serves Marathi speaking belt
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#Physical regions: Passes through Bor Ghats (Sahyadri Mountains) in NW Deccan Plateau
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#Soils: It passes through regions having black alluvial soil and red soil.
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#State and #Zone: It serves 1 state and 1 zone (Maharashtra, Central Railway) having 2 intermediate halts in UP and 3 intermediate halts in DOWN Direction
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#Speed: Max average speed: 76 kmph between Lonavala and Shivajinagar
Min average Speed: 40 kmph between Karjat and Lonavala. The track MPS is 110, restricted usually to 105 kmph max and is further reduced to 60 kmph in the Bor Ghats.
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#Base: Pune
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#Pantry Food: The most delicious and quality pantry food, popular items onboard being Cheese Toast, Cutlet Bread, Omelette Bread, Fish Fry, etc.
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Miscellaneous #Trivia:
a. India’s SF passenger train
b. India’s first passenger train to be hauled by electric loco end to end since inception
c. India’s only train with a Dining Car
d. A few years ago, the train used to get a royal departure, with Shehnai being played on PF-1 of Pune. This practice was going on since many years, until it was stopped in the recent past.
e. Famous station food en-route includes the Chikki at Lonavala and Diwadkar Wada Pav at Karjat.
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Photo Courtesy: The train board has been clicked by me. Rest all the pictures have been taken from the IRI Gallery and copyright vests with the original photographers.