15 Trains in 2 Hours - Lovely Monsoon Morning at Khandala - Beautiful Trains in Fog and Rains!!!

Khandala railway station of the Central Railway is a very pretty station about a hundred and twenty kilometres from Mumbai city. It is located on the Mumbai - Pune railway route and on a section known as the Bhor Ghat. The ghat section is between Karjat and Lonavala stations and the track climbs almost 2000 feet in 30 kilometres. Khandala is located towards the top of the ghat, near Lonavala. The incline of the ghat is quite steep and all the trains going up the ghat require banker locomotives to be attached at Karjat. The heavy goods trains get braker locomotives while going down the ghat as well. Infact there is a very steep gradient just on the Mumbai side of Khandala station, which can be seen in the video as well.
So few days back on Saturday, I spent about two hours and fifteen minutes of the lovely monsoon morning at Khandala station, taking videos and photographs of trains passing through the station. In that time I got to see eleven passenger trains, two goods trains, and two sets of bankers at Khandala. A total of fifteen consists which makes it almost seven per hour which is amazing for the ghat section. The best part was I got to capture the trains in all kinds of weather. Some very clear videos are there, some in total fogged up conditions, and some in very heavy rainshowers as well. Here is a description of the trains that I saw in those two hours…
07:50 am
The Nanded Panvel Express begins its descent down the ghat from platform number 2. I just missed the locomotive because I arrived just a few seconds too late. This was my first spotting.
07:55 am
Few minutes later, a goods train which had halted on platform 3, begins to roll down the ghat. This trains regular locomotives were twin WDG-4 engines, but it also had 3 Kalyan WAG-7 locomotives attached to it for extra braking power while descending the ghat.
08:00 am
Another goods train struggles to climb up the steep gradient before Khandala in fog, hauled by 2 Valsad WAG-5 locomotives in the front and pushed up by 3 Kalyan WAG-7 bankers. This passed through platform 1.
08:10 am
The Mumbai Pune Indrayani Express climbs up the ghat, closely following the goods train, pulled by a Pune WDM-3D locomotive and banked by 3 WAG-7 engines from Kalyan.
08:25 am
The Pune Mumbai Deccan Queen arrives for her mandatory brake testing halt at Khandala behind a Kalyan WCAM-2. In few seconds, before the Deccan Queen can even depart, the fog comes down again.
08:40 am
A set of 3 WAG-7 bankers follow the Deccan Queen down the ghat.
08:45 am
The Ernakulam Pune Express goes up the ghat. It was hauled by an Ernakulam WDM-3A and had a dead Pune WDG-4 behind it and was pushed by 2 WCAM-3 bankers.
09:00 am
A Kalyan WCAM-2 brings the Pune Mumbai Pragati Express for its brake testing halt on platform 3 in heavy rainshowers.
09:10 am
The Secunderabad Mumbai LTT Duronto Express arrives for its brake testing halt. It had a Gooty WDP-4D locomotive and more than Duronto, it was almost full of Rajdhani coaches. The biggest irony was that behind the guard’s van, it was towing 2 extra Duronto coaches which were not occupied.
09:15 am
The Mumbai Pune Intercity Express which recently got upgraded to LHB coaches, climbs up the ghat at Khandala hauled by a Kalyan WCAM-2 and banked by 3 WAG-7 locomotives. It was still raining heavily at that time.
09:20 am
A set of 6 WAG-7 locomotives (probably 2 sets of 3 attached together) arrive and depart from Khandala after testing their brakes.
09:25 am
The Kolhapur Mumbai Sahyadri Express arrives for its scheduled halt at Khandala behind a Kalyan WCAM-2 engine. A minute later it begins its dangerous descent down the ghat through the heavy fog that is coming down again.
09:30 am
Through the dense fog, climbs the Mumbai LTT to Vishakapatnam Express behind a Kalyan WDG-4 locomotive and pushed by twin WCAM-3 bankers.
09:50 am
The Tiruchchirappalli Sri Ganganagar Humsafar Express majestically emerges from the fog and slows down to a halt behind a Vadodara WAP-4E engine. After a brief halt, it begins to roll down the ghat towards Karjat.
09:55 am
As I was making my way over the foot over bridge, I managed to take a few shots of the Mumbai Pune Deccan Express that arrived for its scheduled halt pulled by a Kalyan WCAM-2 engine. I took some last photographs and then decided to end my session.
Overall, it was a great morning for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the hours I spent there watching trains. Even though I was alone and the station was deserted, I never got bored. It was a really great experience spending the monsoon morning there in the fog, clouds and heavy rains. Khandala is a real great place for railfanning and you can get nice videos and photographs.
Date of video: 11th August, 2018

[@oldefellah52]

I was returning to India next week. Thank you for reminding me why. Love your country and the people.

[@eversunnyguy]

Love the train travel in monsoon. Green everywhere. Fresh earth air and the drizzle uplifts the spirits.

[@FiruziMehta]

Very beautiful! You make the Romance of the Railways come alive!

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you so much!

[@suryabhanmourya4685]

You are correct

[@FiruziMehta]

And that tree in the middle of the platform is a work of art in itself!

[@maya1787]

I love Monsoon Romance

[@sudhajagannath6349]

Perfect setting for a ghost story or a desi detective story!

[@yashrailographer8023]

Beautiful compilation! Foggy Weather and trains, perfect!

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you!

[@indiantrucksport]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZK3l6CIoqx3fac Please watch this video also very nice and like kijiye Sir konkan railway

[@lazybun_india5134]

wonderful capture... even at the age of 47 i love the trains & its journies

[@user-nf1wb7ub8w]

Good journey

[@aryandeshmukh6098]

The olden Era of ICF and alco locomotives..man no matter how modern or safe LHB coaches are..ICF will still always be my favorite

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Very true

[@virafmulla]

Magnificent. Superb. Lovely capture. Keep up the good work for archives.

[@kartikaysharma]

Nice compilation .

[@arzan1980]

Superb. Loved sahyadri departing and emerging into fog

[@asgaming-xp8sv]

Hii

[@titustitus6000]

Wow .. Beautiful video

[@PranitsRailworld]

Superb Compilation!!! 6 Bankers was rare sight!

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Indeed, Thank you!

[@indiantrucksport]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZK3l6CIoqx3fac Please watch this video Like please support me

[@dhruvapatwa3865]

Rishad, this is a brilliant video and amazing compilation of the views and mesmerizing trains 😍😍Keep up and also a hearty congratulations on getting 18k + subscribers ❤️

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you so much Dhruva!

[@venkateswararaomedidhi9761]

Nice video really.... good job

[@jaydevsubramaniam3354]

The movement of the train in fog looked very surreal. This entire compilation is beautiful, well scripted and mesmerizing.

[@debjitmajumder3590]

Wow !!! Brilliant.... soothing Monsoon in the Ghats !!!!!!!!!!

[@abdulgaffar-lq3zf]

Nice videos bro.nice capture. Thank you very very very very much.

[@garfstiglz3981]

Love this video...

[@anishvasu6056]

Wow Captured Trains halting and skipping at Khandala👌👌👌👌

[@rk11366]

Wow.. Brilliant set of videos

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thanks a lot!

[@TrainBusinfo]

Nice

[@anirbandasgupta7535]

Thank you for a beautiful video trip through the Western Ghats.... Mumbai-Pune railway route is amazingly romantic.

[@raghwendraghanate]

Best Video Compilation in Monsoon captures ,was refreshing.

[@BiswajitMondal]

Awesome !!

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you!

[@indiantrucksport]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZK3l6CIoqx3fac Please watch this video also very nice WAP4 of konkan railway electrification

[@ranjeetnaidu8340]

Thanks for sharing, it was nice ENJOYED.

[@chirayukaskhedikar5702]

Awesome

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you!

[@sarmahv4988]

It was very nice to watch these videos. Enjoyed watching the video in lockdown. Many thanks for uploading.

[@sr4865]

Barish, Mist,Garam Veda Pav with dry lasoon chutney and green chiily chutney with couple of hot chai. Wah..... Salute IR

[@kiritupadhyay5457]

Enjoy the Indian railway and explore the India. Salute to Indian railways

[@venkatpabbineedi4388]

Wow, lovely capture and excellent narration. Keep it up Bro.

[@doulatmorevlogs9074]

Wow very nice

[@bajiraoshelar2147]

Very nice

[@purudate4049]

Thanks for posting this video. Khandala is the most challenging stretch. Firstly, steep ascent followed by a curve.

[@rajandaniel3288]

I am in tamilnadu but feel to visit that place. so lowly location.

[@janhviharidas3828]

Superb

[@AbdulaInamdar]

Amazing have no words thanks for making such video

[@zd5116]

Amazing

[@instmds9202]

Congratulations for the hard work u did in shooting this video. Thanking you for this lovely video

[@swapnilparkhe9594]

Amazing 👏🏻

[@rishabtapanbiswas3240]

Exquisite and romantic weather👍👍👍

[@remensubburemen5226]

Suberb how YU took this video n pouring rain amazing the Rain sound is captivating hats off to you

[@AbdulRahman-vy2ok]

Beautiful India is really beautiful country...A passenger train cant have more than 25 boggies

[@supriyaghirnikar9867]

A very nice treat to the eyes... Felt very relaxing.. A beautiful weather.

[@zarachurch330]

Lovely!...wish I was there now!..❤️

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you!

[@zarachurch4975]

Zara Church I am in Ireland now,but always watch your videos..I was on that Deccan Queen many times going to Bombay!..beautiful memories!🙋🏻‍♀️

[@patrickfox8004]

12.00 onwards mist is so satisfying to watch..lol... Khandala station has a unique nature nd position...nd that curve is just 🔥🔥..

[@omkargaonkar4214]

Best thing to do in lockdown is to watch such videos

[@soumenchatterjee35055]

Khandala is a very beautiful place to visit especially in the monsoon season

[@immanuelrailfans7111]

Why sum E loco is off

[@trainsghatsmsrtc]

Amazing... I was here on 19th August

[@RoyMichael29]

Very well shot 🙌 Amazing work !!

[@VarunMarathe18]

That’s a very lovely made video .. Awesome ❤️🤟🏻💯

[@Sudiptasarkar1994]

Fantastic

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you!

[@AvinashReports]

Amazing captures

[@jameammarijr.2248]

Amazing Video :) God bless you

[@RailwayPakistan]

Beautiful weather and location also

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you!

[@chetanneware95]

Beautiful coverage ✌

[@durgeshrathod7306]

1.23 that entry ☺☺👍👌👌

[@39123krish]

Absolutely brilliant post.

[@VivianBoye]

nice captures

[@DSTh403]

Simply superb!

[@indranilbhattacharjee9770]

Lovely view

[@shivendra999]

brilliant video

[@prakashmourya1]

I was actually travelling in the Deccan Queen that day..

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Oh okay, good to know

[@zakariyaafseera333]

What a beauty like heaven

[@WesternRailways]

Awesome!! Which camera?

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you! Most are taken on my Sony Cybershot digital camera. Some photos and videos have been taken on my Samsung J7 pro phone.

[@EkRailPremi14R]

kdk

[@mohammadsherali]

Nice experience.

[@sanjeevsaid3026]

nice video

[@b.lsolanki6507]

75 good train in khandala

[@nikhilpratap5]

1:20 to 2:20 is heaven

[@gauravv3367]

Thug Life! Loco pilot of LTT-VSKP EXP Driving EMD in LHF on Ghat with Fog

[@AbhishekSingh-ky1qs]

Why are Indian flag attach to loco

[@IWBS22]

Hahaha

[@summushieremiasclarkson4700]

Indian loco, Indian flag. Well, French/Swiss/American loco, but owned and manufactured by IR. Kind of obvious, isn't it?

[@paramjeetsingh3871]

Kabhi kabhi Railway Driver bhaiyon se bhi bat-chit &mulkat dikhaya karen driver bhai bhi aam janta se jud saken aam janta unse jud sake

[@gauravv3367]

Is it completely deserted outside of Khandala Station?

[@TrainBusinfo]

Hii

[@aspibilia1940]

Rishad when will Deccan queen get LHB coaches?

[@gauravv3367]

Deccan Queen will be LHBFied on her birthday 1 June 2019 with the pushpull technique

[@jaypatel-iu2mb]

Why they use electric banker locomotive not use diesel locomotive

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Because the section is electrified, to save diesel

[@victoriousrufus6747]

What a dilapidated station ! Why is it not maintained or upgraded? Pathetic really!

[@superrailenthusiast707]

Awesome

[@shobhasood8006]

Awesome

[@rishad_travel_diaries]

Thank you!