IR Transportaion

India is a famous country with different culture and heritage. Today, India has been noted for its rapid growth and development in areas like

transportation, production, infrastructure, tourism, information technology and other areas. Their transportation system is one of the best in

the world. However, the India transportation system is among the fastest growing in the world with modern facilities that is being put in place

by Indian government. Meanwhile, India has the best railways system and the largest railway network system in the world with more than one

million staffs.

Moreover, the central government of India has done so well by providing lots of modern trains to boost transportation in India. Not only that,

it also provided a luxury railway stations that is well equipped with modern facilities for passengers comfort. The introduction of Indian

railways system has really helped a lot of business to grow. Many people can now take the advantage and the comfort of Indian railway system.

The Indian railway also introduced a web based e-ticketing system and other services to take away the load off the railway ticketing

department. With web based e-ticket system, passengers can now purchase their tickets online right inside their bedroom without going to the

ticketing centers. With the e-ticketing system, passengers can even make reservations pending when they are ready to travel.

IRFCA

The Indian Railways Fan Club (IRFCA) is the internet's largest website devoted to the Indian Railways. The IRFCA is an electronic mailing list or discussion group connecting many fans particularly interested in railways in India. Mail traffic is moderately heavy, and runs around thirty to fifty messages a day most of the time.

Topics on IRFCA cover current passenger services, routes, timetables, technical details of railway operations, motive power, rolling stock, etc. It also has a large section on historical aspects of trains in India and the subcontinent.

IRFCA started with a group of rail fans discussing Indian trains in the Usenet newsgroup [1], who later decided to set up an electronic mailing list for themselves. The list was operational on 1989-08-29. The first incarnation of the list had just 9 members exchanging e-mail directly. The list was then hosted on various US university listservers (University of Maryland, College Park, Yale University, University of California, Santa Barbara) for many years, mainly because many of the members in those days were graduate students in US universities.

The list was later transferred to ONElist in 1999. ONElist later merged with eGroups, which was subsequently acquired by Yahoo! Groups. During the first ten years or so (1989–1999) the membership remained small, at 50 to 100 members, and predominantly consisted of persons in the US, with some members in the UK.

Derailment Of Punjab Mail

The derailment of the down Punjab Mail, (6 down in those days) on the East Indian Railway at about 1.20am of 17th July 1937 at Bihta, was a talking point for several railway and no-railway people alike, for a number of years. I was only nine years of age at the time, but being interested in trains and steam engines from a very young age, I used to listen to the "Accounts" and explanations offered about the accident by so many people, each one differing in a number of details, that even at my young age, I never knew which one was the factual one! For years I believed that the main cause of the accident was the XB locomotive, which I was told, was a very rough rider at high speeds. From time to time I heard it said that the Mail was not headed by a XB but, a passenger train ahead of it was, and that locomotive was to blame for the track damage which derailed the Punjab Mail.

It was in 1956 however, while talking to one of my uncles who was at the time, in the Traffic Department, Asansol Division of the EIR, and had retired to Hertfordshire in the UK, that I finally got as close to the truth as anyone could get about the cause of the accident; and even after hearing what he had to say, I was none the wiser than apparently, even the investigating team were! My uncle enthused about the accident and told me he was one of the EIR team set up to examine the likely causes of the accident. He confirmed that the train was not headed by a XB, as was generally put about, and then went on to say he had taken photographs during this inspection and disappeared for about ten minutes, returning with a photo-album full of railway photographs; Apart from being a keen photographer he was a meticulous man and went straight to the pages where he had placed the photographs.

PSMT

 The Patiala State Monorail Tramway (PSMT) has held a fascination for railway enthusiasts since it was "rediscovered" and described in the February 1962 edition of the magazine Railway World. This was furthered by the restoration to working order of one of its locomotives at the National Railway Museum (NMR) in Delhi in the mid 1970s. However, despite two articles being published in the railway press (the article already mentioned and an article written by H R Ambler in the Railway Magazine in February 1969) confusion and misinformation surrounds the system and its history. Using these two articles and records preserved in the Asian, Pacific & African Collection of the British Library (notably Mike Satow's records), the following is an attempt to compile an accurate history of the system, both during their life time and its subsequent history after their demise. The article in the Railway World is important as its author, J R Day, had previously made a brief mention of the line in his 1957 book Unusual Railways. After its publication, Colonel C W Bowles, the engineer responsible for the construction of the PMST contacted Day providing him with much detail concerning the PSMT. This means the Day article is the nearest thing to a first hand history in existence.

BWEL

Bharat Wagon & Engineering Co. Limited (BWEL) an ISO - 9001:2000 certified company is a central PSU. It was under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Department of Heavy Industry till 13th August, 2008. From 13th August’08 (AN) the administrative control of this company has been transferred to Ministry of Railways.

BWEL was incorporated in December 1978 by take-over of two sick private wagon making companies, namely M/s Arthur Butler & Co. Ltd., Muzaffarpur and M/s Britannia Engineering Co. Ltd., (Wagon Division), Mokama. The third manufacturing unit was added to the company in the year 1983-84 at the Industrial Estate at Bela, Muzaffarpur for manufacture of LPG cylinders. In the year 1986, the company became a subsidiary of Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Ltd., Kolkata, under the Department of Heavy Industry.

Both, Muzaffarpur and Mokama Units are traditionally Wagon manufacturing factories. The layout, plant and machinery and locations are ideally suited for this product. With a rich experience of steel fabrication of over half century, BWEL possesses almost all the desired infrastructure facilities for heavy steel fabrication. Availability of 316 MT Brake Press at Mokama Unit, a rare asset, speaks in this direction. All the three manufacturing works are self-sufficient in power by way of installation of Captive DG sets. Operational ease is made possible due to location of the Works adjacent to important Railway Stations.

First Class Air Conditioned

The First Class air-conditioned class is the highest luxury class in the India railway system for the regular routes. The cost is roughly comparable with the economy class airfare. For about $150.00 USD, you can travel from Trivandrum to Delhi on the India railway system in this class. A number of the important long-distance routes along the Indian railways have these coaches. You’ll find the elite class of Indians and business executives traveling in this class.
On a side note, I once met a businessman on this class on a train, who informed me that he was afraid of flying, and therefore traveled only by train. Being a private compartment, you can travel days without even making eye contact with your other co-passengers. India travelers tend to mind their own business on these coaches, busy with the usual stuff - the newspaper reading, staring at the laptop screen, acting sleepy, etc. I have noticed this contrast between the First and Second or Third class on the Indian train in almost all of my India train journeys. Someone explained this to me as it being the product of the physical distances in the luxury classes. In a Sleeper class you are more physically close to the co-passengers and this increases the drive to interact with others.

Maharaja Express

Princely India – This tour is of 8 days/7 nights and travels through Mumbai – Vadoodara – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Bikaner – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Agra – Delhi. It is a spectacular journey through western India and the legendary Taj Mahal. One can discover the  vibrant, bustling city of Mumbai, imperial Delhi, marvel at the immortal beauty of the Taj Mahal, come face to face with a tiger in Ranthambore, visit the Amber Fort in Jaipur and explore the shimmering Lake City of Udaipur. All of this in true-blue royalty, of course.

Royal India – This tour is of 8 days/7 nights and travels through  Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Vadodara – Mumbai. This route is actually reverse of the Princely India tour.

Classical India – This tour is of 7 days and 6 nights and travels through Delhi – Agra – Gwalior – Khajuraho – Bandhavgarh – Varanasi – Lucknow – Delhi. It is one of the most popular journeys  of Maharaja’s Express tours exploring the mystique of India. Embark on an unforgettable escapade that starts off with the capital city of Delhi. Travel through the sacred city of Varanasi and cruise on the River Ganges to observe ancient spiritual rites. Witness the immortal beauty of the Taj Mahal in Agra, the sensuous moods of the temples of Khajuraho, the elegance and imperial splendour of the Nawabs in Lucknow and the wilderness of the Bandhavgarh National Park.

Royal Sojourn – This tour is of 8 days/7 nights and travels through  Delhi – Jaipur – Kota – Ranthambore – Agra – Delhi.  Step back in time travelling  through the royal India, where some of the world’s most ancient civilizations  and royalties thrived. Embark on a tranquil voyage through imperial India discovering its fascinating heritage and exquisite architecture. Enjoy Champagne and pay tribute to the world’s greatest monument to love, the legendary Taj Mahal. Chase the elusive tiger in Ranthambore National Park. Visit the glorious city of Kota, set on the east bank of Chambal River and dine in the lavish Durbar Hall. Feel like royalty as you participate in an exhibition Elephant Polo Match followed by dinner. Soak up the spectacular regal heritage of Rajasthan, with its landscape of hilltop forts and palaces. This extraordinarily unperturbed Royal journey through the Sojourns of Rajasthan will leave you rejuvenated.