By secret I mean my parents don't know.
Hoogly Ghat (Naihati JN - Bandel JN route, Dist : Hoogly, just across the Hoogly river) journey on April 4
- So I just randomly decided that I will explore the RHA - BNJ section all by myself. It perfectly fit my timetable during CA4. But I thought of venturing short distance routes before literally hopping near the Bangladesh border.
- On Apr 4 while returning from College I dropped at NH and waited nearly 1.5 hrs in platform 1 & 2. I know this is one of the most dumbest decisions but, I am Dumb! I even thought of getting on 31324 cuz I frankly was tired of my own patience and wanted to say "screw you" to my silly little plan.
- But finally 37539 arrived and I hoped in. After several minutes the train crossed the Hoogly river and I landed at Hoogly Ghat railway station. It was 43 C and overpowered sunshine. There were just a guy and a gal (probly from JIS) chatting in PF 1 and me wondering in PF 2. Clicked some photos & videos. Went downstairs. Saw the place. Hoogly Imambara was nearby. The station is built like a metro station, on a bridge. The station is situated some 100-200 meters (~) from the Sampreeti bridge.
- Spotted some express trains skipping the station. Sealdah - Ballia express (ICF), Kolkata - Gorakhpur - Maliani Express (LHB), Sealdah - New Alipurduar Teesta Torsa Express (etc). Really enjoyed the return journey. It was an awesome view watching the NH-RHA route from NH-BDC route. From Naihati I returned to IP onboard Naihati Majherhat local (via Pricep Ghat). That was it.
That white curvy thing far way in the last img is the Sampreeti bridge on the Hoogly river.
Kalyani Shilpanchal to Kalyani
- Got my final CA4 exam sorted out pretty well. Hurriedly left to catch an auto for Kalyani. Ngl felt bad for ignoring a toto beside the college main gate. Hoped on an auto ~50 meters away from KLYS main entrance. Was praying for it to get enough passengers so that it can depart. Eventually it got 4 other passengers and finally left for KYI at around 1240.
Kalyani to Ranaghat JN (25km)
- Didn't waited for 31621 SDAH-RHA. It was still at NH as per WhereIsMyTrain. 31521 SDAH-STB arrived at 12xx. 9 coach. Platform 1 full of crowd consisting of varity of people, from old crippling people for their appointment in Hospital (my guess is Kalyani has the most high ranking hospital in Nadis dist.), students from different streams, exam/job candidates, people from straight up Chernobyl etc. But I was comfortable onboard. Infact not so long after I got a seat and after 2 stations I got a window seat.
- As for the work on the 3rd line, the track ended abruptly after a few distance from Kalyani. But the land aquisition is upto Madanpur. Was wondering where are they gonna lay the 3rd track. There's literally no space, shops, houses etc. I guess railway is gonna just wipe them out (as all of these structures are within ER's boundary), make all necessary modifications and lay tracks. Seems like a shit load of work!
Time spent at Ranaghat JN
- Landed on PF 1. Had alreay figured out where exactly PF 4 is from where Bangaon train arrives/departs. Opposite of PF 1 is PF2&3. If you go to the beginning of PF2&3, you will see that PF4 starts from there.
- By the time I arrived at RHA the Sun was at its peak performance for the day. Heat Waves!! There's only one shed in PF4, that too full. Literally every shop has some kind of drinks. Mineral Water, Soda, Lassi, Sugarcane Juice, Lemon juice etc. Didn't buy any. Phone was heating up. It was during all these suffering that 33726 BNJ RHA local arrived there at 1346. 12 coaches, BT carshed!
- Hopped on the fourth coach from the last. Was praying that it reaches Bangaon before 1520 or else I wont get the chance to click any pics on the station as it was scheduled to leave at 1520 (33728).
- Ma and Me agreed to receive a call from her at 1400 before leaving. It was near 1350 and Im inside the train which is now pretty much infested with vendors. I cant tell her that Im chilling in the classroom with the vendors shouting their products in background. But I got a perfect moment when there was no vendor in the coach and all the co-passengers were calm also. I utilised this luck and called her myself. Told her all that she wanted to hear and I was pretty much tension free.
Ranaghat JN to Bangaon JN (32 km)
- 33725 left at exactly 1426. It went on a curve and soon the BNJ route was at a 90 degree angle to the NH main line. Saw the Ranaghat EMU carshed. Quite big. Way bigger than BT. Soon the train picked up speed. There was 7 stations in between. Cooper Halt (skip, r), Nabaroynagar Halt (Nadia, left), Gangnapur (Nadia, left), Majhergram (Nadia, left, two lines, only station in the route for crossing), Akaipur Halt (N 24 pgs, right), Gopalnagar (N 24 pgs, left), Satberia Halt (N 24 pgs, left).
- Train was reaching ~100kmph between stations. It was fking fun ride. Typical fields at the horizon can be observed. Rice fields have turned golden, no longer all green like in March. Some brick factories near Satberia. Completely village area (except Bangaon). The scenery was nice but Goghat route is still the best experience I had ever in my life so far..
Time at Bangaon JN
- Train arrived at PF1. Landed on this town called Bangaon at an age of 20 years. Been hearing about this town since childhood. Petrapole is only 4km away. Sealdah North line (BT - BNJ) comes perpendicularly and joins with the RHA track and combined take a turn in the left towards Khulna, Bangladesh. Kolkata Khulna international train "Bandhan" express goes over this station.
- 33840 Down Bangaon Sealdah local was at PF3. Expected it at PF 2. Elevator installation is on the way. Took a couple of pictures near PF 2&3, the tracks coming from Sealdah and obviously the station board. Was thinking of going outside the station and see the town but it was already 1517. So I hopped on coach number 3 from the front (hybrid vendor coach). This time I sat on the right side (perspective : towards BNJ) so as to cover Akaipur Halt and Coopers Halt.
33728 Bangaon Ranaghat local
33840 Bangaon Sealdah local
Sealdah line (Left) & Ranaghat line (Right)
Bangaon JN to Ranaghat JN return
- Nothing much, covered Akaipur Halt and Coopers Halts.
Satberia Governement High School just beside Satberia Halt railway station
Waiting at Ranaghat JN
- By the time I arrived at RHA (PF 4) I had a migraine. Fucking heatwave. 31521 Shantipur Sealdah had immidiately arrived at PF2 at 1608. But I choosed to wait for 31924 Gede Sealdah, mostly ecause of the migraine and to maintain the proper schedule. 31924 arrived just in time at 1627. It was a 12 coach BT rake.
Entering Ranaghat JN PF 4
Ranaghat JN to Ichapur
- All the seats were full. I was standing near the doorway, feeling the breeze and view (I know it is dangerous and all and any misstep can have fatal consequences but its different when there is nothing left to live..). Train had achieved a maximum speed of 100 kmph (from speedometer) between RHA and KYI. Eventually arrived at IP at 1722, got my cycle and then home :)
Conclusion
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Total distance covered : IP to KLYS = 23km, KLYS to KYI = 2km, KYI to RHA = 25km, RHA to BNJ = 33km
BNJ to RHA = 33km , RHA to IP = 46km
TOTAL = 23+2+25+33+33+46 = 162 km - I went a distance of 58 km without anyone knowing about it. Thats the longest secret solo trip of mine ever. For now I dont have any other secret trip like this. I have 2 more plausible targets though, Krishnanagar City JN (fked up train schedule) and Kalyani - Tribeni - BDC - NH journey (includes road trip where I have to cross the Hoogly river on Ishwar Gupta Setu..)
- The fact that they couldn't think of the fact that this little sh!t has travelled to Bangaon solo is just an awesome mysterious feeling. HaHa you will never know that I have been to Bangaon JN all alone doing a continuos 5 hour journey amidst a heat wave.
- Was this a stupid decision? Yes! But it bears a great significance for me. Someway it aids to the level of delusion required to romanticize my detachment from my own humanity.