This is a footplating experience between Sec'bad and KZJ. This was official since i had accompanied a highly placed railway official from the LGD shed. It was a perfect morning, nice weather, did not find it very cold, and the sun was just about peeping out. I was at the station at 6.30, though the AP Express in which i was to foot plate was to arrive only at 7.00 am. It gave me a nice feeling, sipping a hot cup of "Nyescoffeeye" on Pf#1 at Sec'bad station.

              The Dakshin Exp was just pulling in, hauled by a LGD WAM4 20403, hooting constantly as if shouting at all those porters who were crossing the track in a frenzy to get hold of some customers. I walked up slowly towards the far end of the platform. Just then there was an announcement for the Gautami Exp that was expected shortly. She pulled in gracefully hauled by the newer generation WAP4s that have the 223xx series. They are all fitted with twin-beam headlights and the loco was majesty personified with her new paint shining in the early morning sun. LGD now has 9 of the new 223xx series WAP4 locos. Those that i noted were 22304, 22312, 22316, 22328, 22313(that hauled the Gautami), 22338(still at LGD shed and yet to be commissioned).

               It was now 6.55am and the LGD official who agreed to take me on the footplate arrived on the scene. I showed him some documents on our IRFCA sites and also all IR related links. I also took a print out of the ERS locoshed site and showed him, in case one on LGD could be made if permitted. He was quite amazed at all our enthusiasm on railways. Finally there was an announcement for the arrival of AP exp. There was one loco driver who joined us, who was piloting till KZJ. He was telling about some small technical problems faced by the drivers and our man made careful notes on those issues. For your interest, he said that in one particular LGD WAG5, on the 5th notch they could not maintain a speeds of around 50-60kmph and there was not enough hauling power.

               Our train had arrived and we wasted no time in hopping into the cab of the LGD WAP4 (22213). This loco was to go for a POH on 15th March, and so the interiors were'nt very tidy, but then nothing to crib. We were 5 in the cab. Me, the official, Main driver, Asst, and the pilot. I found a nice place next to the Asst on the other side. The signal changed to amber and the guard too sounded over the walkie-talkie and our driver said "I am starting the train Sir, all o.k" and our Asst. promptly gave the horn-lever a push and with a PRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!!! and two notches up we were moving. This was too good a feeling.

               We hovered around the 15-20kmph mark till we joined the main line outside the station and once we were on the main line we picked up speed. I was quite amazed at the ease in which we picked up speed. I coul hear the blowers and compressors whining as the notches were increased. As soon as we were out of the station limit our Asst quickly checked all safety relays once and said "All safety relays in normal position Sir" and the driver acknowledged. Throughout the journey all the mandatory command exchanges were carried out between the Driver and the Asst. Some of them went on like this

Asst: "Inner Distant Right Proceed"

Driver: "Right, Inner Distant Proceed"

Asst: "Starter Right Proceed"

Driver: "Right, Starter Proceed"

               The Asst.'s voice was quite loud and clear but then the response was always muted from the driver. The Asst. also made sure that the driver responded. Both of them have a copy of the caution orders and always kept an eye on it periodically. Once one block was cleared the Asst said "Permanent 90kmph speed till Pembarti Sir" which indicated that until Pembarti they need'nt worry about any caution except of course the signals.

               On every curve the Asst. peeped out and said "Train following normally Sir" and the driver also responded to this. If the curve was to the driver's side he peeped out and called and if it was on the Assts.'s side the Asst. called out. This also seemed mandatory. The speed limits i should say were adhered to the 4th decimal accuracy !!!! If the limit was 75kmph, the needle was dead straight pointing at 75kmph, not one less not one more. This was another very very amazing aspect of loco driving. I was zapped !!! The official also asked about the performance of locos from LGD shed and noted down certain enhancements that the drivers were suggesting. One very funny complaint was that once the loco left the SCR territory there was some amount of pilferage like bulbs being looted. This particular driver was all praise for the cab of 22001 WAP1 of the GZB shed. He said that he drove it down to SC last month with the NDLS-SC Rajdhani from BZA. The panel were all arranged in same plane and height as the switches and there was no protrusion that housed the tap change guage and the notch lever. Every thing was in one single rectangular panel.

We passed a Narayanadri first hauled by a KZJ WDM2C(14024), then passed the Visaka Express hauled by a KZJ WDM2C(14013) and then the Charminar hauled by the new LGD WAP4 22304, all before we even crossed Bibinagar.