Recount #008 : Stay aboard Heritage Tracks Chapter 1

Hello all fabulous people. First of all, thank you so so so much for an amazing response and appreciating my writing. I hope to keep up all of you with amazing and exiting incidents about The Majestic Indian Railways..........

Its my 8th post and I am going to initiate four inclusive chapters forming *The Heritage Tracks of India* Its the magnificent, royal and elegant beauties of Indian Railways which will leave you flabbergasted and astound to the pinnacle. Okay...fine........ I might sound a bit stretchy and exaggerating but honestly these trains are mesmerizing and definitely accessorize India.

So, here I start with the post : **Stay aboard Heritage Tracks Chapter 1**

STEAM EXPRESS: THE FAIRY QUEEN

The Fairy Queen is aptly placed at the top rank of heritage train. The reason being that it is the oldest rolling locomotive of the world certified by Guinness Book of World Records  ! Pretty amazed **What say !**

It was first put on the track in 1855 by East India Company. It served till 1908 and made a comeback on 1st of February,1997. Since then, it commutes from Delhi to Alwar (Rajasthan).

Indian Railways has brilliantly used this elegant locomotive by providing tourists to reach the picturesque town of Alwar the same day, from where the guests are taken to Sariska Tiger Reserve for an overnight stay. Its a unique two days all-inclusive package combining thrill, romance, wildlife and steam heritage on the Fairy Queen. Isn't it brilliant. It's definitely part of my wishlist. What about you ????? Though, the engine is time to time replaced with a 1965 built steam engine so as to keep in maintenance.

The tour package is undertaken by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC). The train departs every 2nd and 4th Saturday morning from New Delhi. This 60 seater Air-Conditioned Chair Car Saloon Car is hauled by a steam engine & vows to take you back 50 years in time for once-in-a lifetime experience.

You are met by the guide on arrival at Alwar Railway Station in the afternoon and transferred to Sariska by Deluxe Buses for overnight stay in RTDC Tiger Den Forest Lodge or any of the other guest houses. 

I should definitely tell you that Sariska is a Wildlife Sanctuary and home the Royal Bengal Tigers among the other wildlife preserved species like leopard, jungle cat, caracal, striped hyena, golden jackal, chital, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara, four-horned antelope 'chousingha' , wild boar, hare, hanuman langur, Rhesus monkeys, and plenty of bird species and reptiles with lush green vegetation. Just Wow!!!

The Royal Bengal Tige

Alwar Museum entran

En route one gets to see the serene Siliserh Lake.You can see yourself from the pic below.

The tour carries on with evening enjoy cultural program at Sariska. On Sunday early morning proceed for Canter Excursion to Sariska Tiger Reserve. Later one visits museum in Alwar town which secures belongings of the royal families to culture to history which is captive. Followed by boarding the train by noon and arrive back in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

Siliserh Lake

I hope this virtual miniature actually enthrall you to travel and unravel yourself this amazing trip on none other than *The Fairy Queen*

So, just google....plan up.......and aboard this trip which will surely give you a magical experience. It is a Fairy Queen.

Till then keep travelling. 

Rise and Shine. 

Recount #004 *amazing facts : part 3*

A very Namaste to all. :) :) :)

I am back with the last part of amazing facts about the Indian railways. I hope the amazing part is actually sounding  or reading **to be precise** ;p amazing for all !!!!

 Do comment people......It will be appreciated ! Thanks a lot !!!!!

So.....continuing :-

Fact 11 :-

To start with, I present Longest Railway Platform of what ? 'India'. Nah ! The world . Yes,...... 
Kharagpur is the city situated in eastern side of India in the parameters of state West Bengal. And this same city has the*longest* railway station in the world !!!!
As a student, I always heard the city name only to mention the famous engineering college - Indian Institute of Technology branch - kharagpur. Frankly speaking, this train fact caught my interest equally leaving me surprised and yes amazed ;p !!!

Fact 12:-

Longest railway Bridge :- Well, this title was a bit tricky as I found many competeting bridges.One
mentioned in Indian Railway official website is the Nehru setu built upon Sone river(Bihar), a stretch of  3.064 m (10,052 feet).
It was built in 1900. But, it has been taken over by many rail-cum-road and only rail mode bridges. So, the most recently built and the actually longest railway bridge is Vembanad Rail Bridge spanning 4,620 m (15,160 feet) over Vembanad Lake in Kochi, Kerala. 

Fact 13 :- 

Karbude tunnel

Every couple's choice of rail route.....one with the longest tunnel and also, *not to forget* every thief's choice too. Lol !
Officially, Karbude tunnel of the Konkan railways covering 6.5km of the rail-track is the longest tunnel.  It connects Mumbai and Mangalore cities.
Recently in 2013 a  tunnel named as Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel was constructed on Jammu Tawi -Udhampur - Srinagar-Baramulla- Railway link (These are the prominent cities of Jammu & Kashmir). It covers a distance 11.215 km (7 mile) and shortens the connecting distance by 17km. It shows the brillian work of engineers as it is really tough to build such architectures over Himalayan ranges. Commendable !


          Pir Panja Railway Tunnel.

Fact 14 :-

Indian railways fastest train award goes to - Bhopal Shatabdi (official name - New Delhi - Habibganj Shatabdi Express).
It connects Delhi (capital) to the centrally located state, Madhya Pradesh city, Bhopal. More interesting things about this train are :-

• Firstly, it travels at a speed of 84km/hr (52mph).
• Secondly, it was the first among the shatabdi trains to be launched.
• Thirdly, last but not the least, I have travelled in it. ;p

 Its a brilliant journey. The only point which made me uncomfortable was being seated for 8 hrs. Sighhhh ! 

Fact 15 :-

inside view

Oldest Preserved Locomotive is is **The Fairy Queen** launched in 1855 and is still in working condition ! It is among the royal trains of the country. It was built in West Bengal region with the parts exported from England by the then ruling East India Company.  It has been restored in fully functioning mode in 1997. Its a steam train which travels from New Delhi Cantonment station to city Alwar (Rajasthan).
 Only 60 passengers can be accommodated in two coaches. It works only on 2nd and 4th saturdays in months October to March and is part of a two day tour. It is among the hot list of travel lovers.

                            

Only this much for today......

Thank you all for liking my posts which encourages me more to write and post ASAP.

Do comment. If any queries or doubt feel free to ask and express. 

Till then Keep travelling !

Rise and shine