Journey to Remember- 51DN Bombay Rajdhani Express.

                                 "Being a rail enthusiast, a rail journey is not just a journey to reach destinations, its a memory. A memory which I wont be able to forget till my last breath. "

                              Finally the day had arrived when I was going to board the 51DN now the 12951DN Mumbai Rajdhani Express after 10 years. Hectic schedule from 4months. Board Exams and entrances. Everyone deserve a break and so did I. Instead of sitting back at home, I decide to visit my relatives and decide to board the Rajdhani Express.

                                  

                            I reach Mumbai Central well before time. I saw the Premium Express getting ready to leave Mumbai bound for Delhi just 40minutes before time. My train gets shunted and on platform-1 of Mumbai Central. The journey was more exciting as I was booked in Air Conditioned First Class. My coach was H1. Getting settled into the Cabin as soon as the rake was shunted, I come to the door to see off my dad who was there to drop me.

                                   

                              The clock ticked 16:40hrs and my 51DN leaves Mumbai Central bang on time with Ghaziabad WAP7#30235 in lead. WAP7 is the most powerful locomotive on Indian Railways. Soon we cruise through each and every suburban station at a good speed and being in First AC I was expecting some top quality food service. Soon the snacks were served. Cheese Sandwich, Tea/coffee, cashews, gulab jamun were in the menu. Soon we leave Borivali the first halt for the mighty King. The WAP7 showed its true power and one of the best accelerations. We cruise through every station at flat 120km.ph after Virar. We were soon served soup before Surat. There were two options available one being the regular Tomato and one was Sweet Corn. We depart Surat the second halt for 2951 Mumbai Rajdhani and head towards Vadodara.JN Delayed by 12min.

                               Cruising at MPS we halted many times in between with full clearance. During that time we were served Dinner. One of the finest food on Railways. It consisted Paneer Capsicum, Aloo Gobi, Dal, Rice, Chapati's, Curd, Pickle, Ice Cream. Being aware of the fact that the food for passengers onboard 1AC is cooked onboard the food was upto my expectations. Soon as we finish dinner we reach Vadodara.Jn the third halt for the King. The halt was slated for 10min and we were running 6min behind schedule. But we waited for more than 20min. Soon the news was reported to the Guard that it was a loco failure. I soon get down and rush towards the locomotive which was to be coupled exactly at the other end of the train. While rushing past every coach I had set in my mind that it was going to be a Vadodara based WAP5 locomotive since they hold WAP5's and have them in plenty of number.

                                            As soon as I reach the other end, I saw a beam of light heading towards us and I was sure that the replacement locomotive had arrived. And then came the turning point of the journey. The most unexpected link powered our 12951 Mumbai Rajdhani. Ghaziabad WAP5#30011 "Navodit" which was the link of Trivandrum Rajdhani was given the duty to haul our Rajdhani. Seeing a WAP5 loco coupling to my train at Vadodara made me nostalgic when few years before this was a regular scenario. 

                                            Soon we proceed for Delhi and we faced a heavy delay of 1hour. Being the top most priority holder on the Mumbai-Delhi route we soon came to MPS and were ripping through each and every station. While in the meantime I make my bed, jump on the upper birth and go to sleep. I woke up at 2am and found that we were ripping through MPS again and then went to sleep again. Finally I woke up at 4 and we were at Kota.Jn the 5th halt for the King and Ratlam being the 4th. Now was the time for some amazing speed journey. We leave Kota at 4:10 in the morning delayed by 50 minutes. Soon we get back to MPS and now the MPS(Maximum Permissible Speed) was 130km.ph.

                                        Being the top priority holder we soon rip each and every station. Seeing me in the corridor for a long time, the guard which was in the next coach comes to me and asks me if I was comfortable, I soon tell him that it was too cold in the cabin and it was making me uncomfortable. With the attendant asleep and not listening to my requests I could not do anything but come out and make myself warm. On listening to his the guard was disappointed and he soon wakes up the attendant in rage and orders him to lower down the cooling. Soon I am on my berth again. But with the sun rising up, I couldnt control myself and I walk out again and open the door. The early morning water droplets smashed my face as if they are some stones and there I came to know that we were hitting 130km.ph . We rip through each and every station, each and every curve, each and every bridge, each and every Level Crossing. Just slowed down on stations which had PSR(Permanent Speed Restrictions ) and TSR's(Temporary Speed Restriction). We soon reach Mathura.Jn and skip slowly at 6:56 hours in the morning. Kota-Mathura flat 2hours:46minutes with an average speed of 117.10km/ph . One of the best runs of 12951 Mumbai Rajdhani.

                                    We were served the morning tea/coffee and with special request we were able to have the Pantry made Masala Chai(Tea) which surely woke up everyone. As we cleared Mathura we gain speed and hit back to the MPS speed as well. At Vrindavan Road we cross the fastest train on Indian Railways Bhopal Shatabdi hauled by WAP5 locomotive. We were soon served the first course of Breakfast which had Cornflakes and fruits in the menu. 

                                 After finishing the breakfast I move out of my cabin and adjust myself on the door again with my camera. After ripping each station at MPS, we slow down at Rundhi Outer. I soon see an WAP7 approaching us. As we approached the LC, LGD WAP7#30345 hauled Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express crossed us. We crossed Rundhi as a snail pace. Maybe a TSR or an open level crossing. As soon as we started to gain speed, I head back towards my cabin for the next breakfast course. The breakfast had Hot Breadcutlets, Hot and Crisp French Fries, Orange Marmalade, butter and tea. We rip through Asaoti at 140km.ph running bang ontime. 

            

                        Running ontime, we soon were given the third line from Faridabad till Okhla. We cleared every station at a moderate speed and crossed H.Nizamuddin at a good speed. We were about to end our journey really soon. We pull in New.Delhi railway station at sharp 8:40am delayed by just 5minutes and covering a total delay of 55minutes. Hats off to all the controllers, to all the crew and the coach attendants for such a memorable experience. Walking out of the station, I quickly turn around with a feeling to board the train for another journey but it was time to get going. :)