Photographic Journey of India - Images of India today

Donkeys on railway platform!

While sitting in a train compartment on New Delhi railway station, I was surprised to see a number of donkeys walking on the railway platform on the other side. Could not resist taking this photograph. Despite numerous trips to India, this is one scene one does not see every day! Perhaps the donkeys were taking a short cut to get somewhere or were in fact traveling by Indian railways. Despite the humor, Indian railway service has improved quite a bit. As one of the largest railway networks in the world. Indian railways moves millions of people across India. The railway reservation system on Indian railways is now very good. Foreign nationals touring India get priority reservations also. Foreigners can now also pay in Indian rupees for rail tickets.

Coolie - Indian Railways

Coolie (porter) in India, normally refers to laborers. In this case, to laborers who help passengers carry their luggage at railway stations. Coolies will carry your luggage to the train platform where your train arrives or departs from and help place the luggage in the train compartment. Railway coolies have a registered number given to them by the railway authorities, passengers should note the number of the Collie they use. The numbers are shown on a brass plate worn by the coolie on their arms. Hiring a Coolie who does not have a number is not recommended as passengers can loose their luggage in case the person simply disappears in the crowd with your luggage as they are not registered with the railway authorities. While per piece price of carrying luggage is listed by railway authorities, the Coolies expect more and it is always a good idea to settle the price before using a Coolie's service. Insist on the Coolie placing your luggage in the compartment and do not pay them till you are in the compartment with your luggage. This is the norm and most Indian passengers follow this rule. If you prepay a Coolie, the chances are, they won't show up when your train arrives. While some of these guys try to get more money, many of these fellows are honest and do work hard. Tipping people who do manual labor is always good and recommended.

Railway Station Platform in India

Railway stations in India normally have several platforms from where passengers board trains. Platforms are numbered, depending on the city, a railway station in India can have anywhere from two or more platforms. Delhi station has almost twenty five platforms. Sometimes, going up bridges to get to your designated platform is required. While Delhi Metro train stations (for local trains) have escalators, the majority of Indian railway stations do not have escalators. So be prepared to climb stairs and take this time into consideration when traveling by train in India. Trains in India have their name displayed on some of the train compartments exterior. The train cabin numbers are also displayed. Outside each compartment, There is a reservation chart also posted by the Indian railway authorities, showing the seat number of all the passengers holding reserved seats. This chart is posted on the outside of the train, near the entrance door of the compartments.

Interesting facts about Indian Railways

According to a report submitted in February 2012 by 'The Expert Group for Modernization of Indian Railways' Indian Railways is the third largest railway network in the world. Indian Railways have 7,083 railway stations, 1,31,205 railway bridges, 9000 locomotives, 51,030 passenger coaches, 2,19,931 freight cars and 63,974 route kilometers. Indian Railways is currently said to operate 19,000 trains each day, comprising 12,000 passenger trains and 7,000 freight trains. It transports 2.65 million tones of freight traffic and 23 million passengers every day and 7.2 billion passengers per year. It currently has 1.36 million employees and an annual revenue base of Rs.1,06,000 crores as projected on March 31,2012. Indian Railways is also home to great talent and excellent organization focused on operation, efficiency and safety.

Wristwatch repair in India

In 1984 my wife gave me a Seiko watch on our wedding anniversary and I used this superb watch without any problems other than the occasional two year or so battery change. In 2006 while in Alderwood Mall in Seattle USA. I had to get the battery changed as this watch had stopped a few days ago. The repairman, did something to the watch by accident as he could not change the battery first and when he did, the watch would not work! As I make frequent trips to India, I decided to get it fixed in India. On two subsequent trips to India I could not get the watch repaired as I was told parts for such an old watch were not available. In 2010 while in Pune, India I showed the watch to another shop and was told they would fix it, and they did! Cost of repair was less than 15 dollars! Rupees 750 (about 12$) If you have a watch lying around, and are in Pune, India, the shop was called, Just In Time and is on MG Road. The repairman's name was Ramjeet, he said he had been fixing watches for the last 28 years. Too bad I did not have my camera with me, so cannot post this chaps photo. I do remember him and am grateful. Update: On my visit to India in Jan I made it a point to get a photo and am posting it now.