First coach experience : Short ride behind KJM's last WDP-4

10/11/2021

This was a memorable start to a pretty lucky train spotting session, perhaps one of the luckiest I might ever get. Never in my wildest dreams have I imagined an empty railway coach - especially in India, and lo behold, there it was on PF-3 at YPR. Nobody(i.e nobody except me) boarded the first coach of 07314 YPR-MYS(via HAS) Passenger that day, for unknown reasons. To top it all, the link for the day was KJM's last WDP-4(last WDP-4 to be allotted to KJM and also one of the last WDP-4s to retain the original livery), 20068, which was in LHF Mode!! It had retained the same honks ever since I last saw it in March 2020! My only regret is not experiencing notch 8 : the loco would achieve notch 8 only after Soldevanahalli, where I alighted that day.
As our train leaves, one can see an idle KJM WDP-4D 40247, which later powered 06239 KSK bound to CDG, and KJM WDP-4D 40397 bringing the HCPVs of recently LHB-fied 06249 KSK for coupling. We cross a tanker train entering the bypass line at YPR Outer, and meet 07340 VSG YPR Express at BAW with KJM's 40368, which hauled the same consist back to Vasco that day.
This is the closest journey I have done behind any loco for that matter - first coach, second window. Hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did :-)