Vote of Thanks

Sridhar Joshi gives the vote of thanks to the OC who have hosted the convention off-site at BSL!

BSL 2011 OC Hip Hip Hurray!

Thank you for all the online viewership and the comments.

Hope you all had fun following the convention. Thank You Bhusaval!

This is Vrij signing off from BSL-2011.

2012 where?

Proposals for the venue of the next convention will be posted on the IRFCA website and the forum. Members can decide by a count of vote where 2012 convention can be held.

Quiz Winners

Consolation Prize: Biswarup Basu (TLCR)


Runner Up: Raymond Arogyaswamy (MAS)


Winner: S. Sampath Kumar (MAO)

Lunch & Intros

Sumptuous lunch once more. The F&B department of BSL2011 needs special congratulations for the mouth-watering delicacies served on both days of the Convention.

A little late, but the few new members or first timers at conventions. Good to see new faces and the younger members coming into the IRFCA fold.

Raghu Jayaraman, Dinyar Antia, Shikhar Parjan, Mr AA Phadke, Zubin Dotiwala amongst the newbies! Can't believe that a senior member like Zubin gets to attend his first convention now!

The IRFCA Quiz

Quiz Master: The same old fag from MAS.. Sridhar Joshi ;)

First Up is a "Marshal Our Train" competition.

The PDF for this can be accessed HERE

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Now for the main Quiz:

The IRFCA Video Quiz

Compiled by Mani Vijay. Presented by Joshiji.

Part 1:





Questions:

Find the stations from the clues in the video

Scenes 1-5.

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Part 2. Scenes 6-10





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Part 3 (Based on the above 10 stations clued in 1-10):

11a. Out of the above 10 clues in the two parts of the video quiz, mention all the names of Junctions in the list.

11b. Only one of the Junctions above has all branches electrified. Identify it.

12. Identify the nearest Junction for ANY 2 of the above Non-Junctions in the list above.

13. Name the Junction where the lines actually meet AFTER the station, so has dedicated platforms for all the different branches originating here.

14. For any 2 junctions, name the zone or the company it belongs to.

15. Add-on to Q12. Both the Jn and the Non-Jn have their names with the same alphabet. Which one?

16. What is the Maximum number of stations out of the above 10 that are connected by a single train. How many stations?

17. Name any one station of the list which does not have a direct connection to Delhi.

18. Only 2 stations have ONLY ONE direct train to Delhi. Name any one.

19. Which of these stations has ATLEAST ONE Fully AC train halting there. (Raj/Shat/GR/Dur/Spl)?

20. Only ONE of these stations has had MG and BG at a time. Which one?

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Answers can be emailed to vrijATrediffmailATcom. Cut off time: 1400hrs today. Winners for Online viewers will be announced by Sridhar Joshi on Monday.  Please Combine your answers for all parts of both quizzes and email please.

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The Annual IRFCA Awards

Best Trip Report:  Benhur J

Best Picture Album:  "Monsoon Magic at Dudhsagar" by Raghu, Harish & Benhur

Best Picture of the Year: Harish Kumar

So, its been a clean sweep for the Dudhsagar gang. Awesome folks!!

Mementos presented to Mr Phadke, Mr Saxena, Mr Srinivas, Mr Shubhranshu (not here).

Token Exchange Videos

Presented by Poochi Venkat
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Token Exchange on the Pune-Kolhapur section

Shot at jejuri and Valha. Jejuri was the token terminus and trains towards Pune pick up tokens.
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Also, please be ready for the Quiz which follows this, also open to the Online viewers.

All details including obtaining the Neale's ball token from the machine, tying to the loop, etc.

Amazing videos including token pickup in the night with the khalasi burning a mashaal and signalling by waving it, and dramatic synchronization between the khalasi with the token in hand and the LP playing with the headlamps to acknowledge.

Photographs by IRFCAns like Ashish, Sachin, HCM, Old Man, Rahul etc..

One Night at a Control Center

By Sridhar Joshi & Krishna Kumar Kannan
(Majority work by Ranganath Eunny.. unfortunately missing at BSL)


Work at the TPJ Control Center for the VM-TPJ section

Start of with a small puzzle.. Crossing frogs!

14 Crossings in just about half an hour.. on a bloody single line.

VM-TPJ 23 block stations, 177km.

Maximum movement between 6PM and 4AM.

126 crossings, 1 section Controller.

Quite Rajnikanthesque, ain't it?

VM-TPJ is a cash cow of the zone.

GC was completed in 1998 and Electrification was completed in 2009. Quite a brainless move considering that Doubling should have been a priority.

A superb animation depicts what happens in 4 hours between midnight and 4AM.

Taking the oft repeated Archana Puran Singh exclamation: Mind-blowing!

1 2 3 3 3 3 ... 3 Phase Locos

By Mr Avinash Singh Kushwah, (Sr DEE Op BSL)

Evolution of 3 Phase Technology

Layout of the locos, driver controls, design of software traction motors, etc.

Evolution of locos from DC to AC to 3 Phase

Dominance of DC series TM in locos.

Adoption of 3P Squirrel cage induction motor for traction application

Torque speed characteristics of the TMs.

Advantages of 3Phase.. energy consservation, higher energy loco.

Future scope of power upto 10K HP, which is being researched now.

Minimum wear on rails due to great weight distribution, weight transfer control is electrical.

Fast acting wheel slip, slide control.

Onboard fault diagnostic system reduces maintenance load, and ease in repair.

Exclusive harmonic filter to reduce harmonics generated by OHE.

In DC motors locos the unavoidable jumps in TE limits adhesion. This is eliminated in the 3P locos.

Fire detection and alarm system in the machine room.

Underslung compressors to eliminate oil fumes and spillage.

Electronic brake system plus a pneumatic release parking brake.

Circuit diagrams and electrical diagrams of the 3P locos.

Cooling Concepts

Drivers controls in the 3P Locos.

Button and Lamp layout on the drivers stand.

Photos of the inner equipment.

Control System  with two types of cards: Processor and Non Processor.

Processor Control hierarchy chart.

Diagnostic tools for the loco.. software based diagnosis.

Interpreting fault messages to the driver.

CST: Heritage, Values & Significance

By Shraddha Hemant Bhatawdekar

First up on the second day, we have a beautiful lady to start up the formal proceedings.

Talks about the history of VT.

Architechtural grandeur of CSTM.

A map of the fortification of Mid 19th century superimposed on the present Fort precinct.

The Old Bazaar gate of the fort was exactly opposite where CST today stands.

Started as a miserable wooden shade called Boribandar.

Fredrick William Stevens was the architect. He also designed the BMC, Mumbai Police HQ, etc.

It took him almost 10 years from 1878 for the construction of the station building.

Fantastic images of old plans/drawings and under-construction snaps of VT.

Originally 6 platforms, 10 more added in 1929 along with construction of the newer wing.

The Octagonal ribbed dome is probably the only one on a station building and is a hallmark of the building.

Statue of Progress atop the dome was probably responsible for the development of Mumbai, and indeed the country as well.

Unique arches, ornamentation and design combining multiple styles of construction, esp the Gothic Revival Style.

Sculptural wealth at CSTM.

Integral part of Mumbai. Arguably the finest building in Mumbai.

A new museum is being developed inside CSTM would be of immense cultural, educational and research value.

Conservation of the site involves preserving the authenticity and culture of the area.

Declared a World Heritage Monument. It is a living heritage.

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The presenter is an archeologist and would like to solicit comments and suggestions of IRFCAns not only about this presentation, but also regarding other interesting sites. Please reply as comments to this post.