A very special train journey: 12620 Matsyagandha Express' last diesel powered run: ASMR Train Sounds

Indian Railways train journey compilation in non-AC second class unreserved coach, this time from the Konkan Railway line, onboard the 12620 Mangalore Mumbai Matsyagandha Superfast Express.

On December 17th, 2022, the 12620 Mangaluru Central - Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Matsyagandha Superfast Express departed from Mangaluru Central railway station for the last time with a diesel locomotive.

With the electrification of the Konkan Railway line, trains are now switching over from diesel to electric traction and it was the turn of Matsyagandha to leave its diesel legacy behind. I hopped onboard for a short ride from Mangalore to Byndoor in the Udupi district of Karnataka and thoroughly enjoyed the sights and sounds of the diesel locomotive, an EMD WDP4D, pulling the train through the coastal Karnataka countryside.

This channel aims to document the different railway lines of Indian Railways. My train journeys are usually centered around routes where trains are still hauled by diesel locomotives since these are depleting at a rapid pace. Audio is recorded using dedicated external microphones and if you’re into train sound ASMR, then you'd love the content. I’ve extensively documented the Konkan Railway line back in its diesel days, but now, since electric locomotives have taken over, I’m focusing more on lines where the fossil fuel powered trains still thrive. As routes get electrified and premium services such as the Vande Bharat trains get more popular, the diesel engines that have been the workhorses of India’s vast rail network are slowly being pushed into oblivion, and that’s what I wish to document. I am strictly not a rail vlogger. I just document content purely from a railfan's perspective.

Tips for an enjoyable train journey in India: for train ticket booking, check IRCTC online charts if you are booking at the last minute, and choose the seats or berths in vacant coaches. Current booking gives you a discount of 10% on tickets subject to availability. Always use the official NTES app for checking the train running status live. Apps like Where Is My Train tend to mess up the actual location of the train at times. For coach position, either check indiarailinfo or etrain.

Hope y'all enjoy the video as well!