In early 1982 I was consulting to the United States Agency for
International Development (US AID) on energy and environment relative to
India's Transportation System. What better way to get to know a transportation system than to ride it.
The Deccan Queen or Deccan Queen Express, is an Indian passenger train that connects the two largest cities of the Indian state of Maharashtra, i.e. Mumbai and Pune. The service was named as Deccan Queen after the nickname for Pune: Queen of the Deccan.
Wikipedia
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in western and southern India. It rises to 100 metres (330 ft) in the north, and to more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in the south, forming a raised triangle within the south-pointing triangle of the Indian subcontinent's coastline.
Wikipedia
This is looking out of the cab of the large electric locomotive. I'm on the right side of the cab, the motorman is on the left side. The railways were built by the British so everything is left-handed. The U.S. example is the Chicago & Northwesrern Rwy.
We have just left Pune (pronounced poona) on this very nice morning and are headed for Mumbai about 80 miles west and somewhat north.
There are vertical bars outside the front windows appear in most of the photos.
This photo is looking back at the substantial train.
At that time Indian Railways had active steam.
We met a freight train powered with an electric, very similar to the one I was in, and pushed by two diesel locomotives.
Out the cab window.
Another look back from the cab.
A passenger train headed toward Pune.
Saw this across some fields. Wonder if it is 2 foot gauge.
A commuter train headed toward Pune.
And another meet with an Electric like ours.
Please go to PART 2 https://railfan44.blogspot.com/2019/08/cab-ride-in-deccan-queen-pune-to-mumbai_2.html
