Fire, Smoke, Water, Steam, Movement, Space, Nature!
Four days of steam through the Aravalli Mountains to the Lake City.
Date
This event is postponed for 2012/12!
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When I meet people as I travel the world for steam and explain what I am doing, they nearly all say “Ah, INDIA!”. They find it unbelievable when I tell them that a country everyone associates with steam trains managed to rid itself of that historic icon and retire the last of them to the museums more than 10 years ago.
Apart from the long established National Railway Museum in New Delhi with its historic exhibits, a National Railway Heritage Centre was more recently set up in the old running shed at Rewari, west of the city. The locomotives there are ‘modern’ and representative of the final years of steam in India and, in 2010, Indian Railways took the important decision to return most of them to working order. Among those selected are several YP and YG class metre gauge locomotives but with regauging proceeding apace there are fewer and fewer places where they can work.
Looking around at what remains, there is one outstanding candidate for their operation, namely the main line from Ahmedabad in Gujarat to Udaipur in Rajasthan. The part from Himatnagar towards Udaipur climbs through the remote and rough Aravalli Mountains - a bizarre beauty lost in time and still untouched by the modern world. In particular, among 
enthusiasts, the section starting in the mining town of Zawar gained legendary status. Here, an extra "banker" steam locomotive was attached at the end of the train for assistance. Both engines then fought their way up through the ghats to Udaipur, producing a spectacle unmatched anywhere else in the country, and a select band of railway fans from around the world who took the trouble to tramp through the hot and inhospitable countryside were rewarded with some wonderful photographs. Just a couple of times every day, for a few brief minutes, the hills resounded as the drama unfolded. Visitors were spoiled for choice for photo positions, but the lack of trains meant that few could even begin to scratch at the possibilities in the short time they could afford to stay. And then one day, the show was over and the diesels reigned. Or was it?
Long time Indian fanatic Heinrich Hubbert has a dream to match this railway and the recently restored YP and YG and turn back the clock. In fact, it’s more than a dream, it’s a thoroughly realistic proposal if enough like minded enthusiasts get their act together and dig in their pockets. The line is still in use but is earmarked for conversion – only the tunnels and bridges which will have to be completely and expensively replaced have ensured its survival in its present form until now. All freight traffic has been diverted so current traffic levels are low leaving ample time for a steam powered special train to occupy it.
This is a call for every steam enthusiast who either was there in the old days and left wanting more or worse, missed it. And also for the younger generation, who have to live the awful karma of being born too late.
REAL INDIA JOURNEYS, with the unique expertise of renowned and experienced steam tour operator Ashok Sharma, have taken the initiative to go for a very special opportu
nity:
The plan quite simply is to organise an authentic train, recreating steam powered express 9644 from 1995, to cover the line section by section between Himatnagar and Udaipur over 4 days with organized photo and video runpasts during the upcoming winter 2010/11. It’s a highly ambitious project, but certainly not mission impossible.
There are many bridges to cross. Besides the actual operation, the rolling stock, locomotives and other maintenance equipment have to be transferred to the area. Supplies of coal and water have to be sourced, as the original facilities have long been abandoned. This would obviously not come cheaply and such expenses can only be met if sufficient participants come together to make it possible – it is estimated that the minimum number necessary to keep the overall price affordable will be at least 40.
The crucial first step is to convince the management of Indian Railways that serious interest in this innovative (for India) project exists in sufficient quantity. That means putting down a realistic deposit of (Euros) € 200 NOW. Therefore, all interested visitors who want to see this dream come true are requested to submit - as soon as possible - an initial payment to the account of REAL INDIA JOURNEYS, even if the final costs are unknown at this stage. Indian Railways will only evaluate the project and calculate the costs if 100 % serious interest can be proved by initial booking payments. A maximum tagline has been set to 1000 € per participant for the charter – obviously there will be extra costs for accommodation, food and local transport. In the case that negotiations with Indian Railways fail / the costs turn out to be excessive / not enough interest is generated, all initial payments will be returned to the senders after the deadline of 1st October 2010. 
Please use our Contact Form (Subject: "Udaipur") in the first instance to register your interest and we will send you details of the RIJ bank account (in Europe).
(Rob Dickinson, International Steam / Heinrich Hubbert, Real India Journeys)
Schedule
Day 1: Himatnagar - Dungarpur.
Day 2: Dungarpur - Zawar.
Day 3: Zawar - Karwachanda, with 2 steam locos.
Day 4: Karwachanda - Udaipur, with 2 steam locos.
Day 5: Free Day, held for emergency purpose, e.g. if a technical problem occurs.
Price
Share on Steam Charter, 4 days, incl. Photo / Video-Permission*:
1000 €? ?per person.
Deposit Payment: 200 €
To be returned if project fails. Please register with the Contact Form.
Logistic Package
Incl. bus transport, full catering 4 days, standard hotel double room 5 nights:
- Price will be announced shortly -
Logistic Package Upgrade:
Upgrade to single room / upper middle class Hotel
- Price will be announced shortly -
* Commercial producers please contact RIJ.
Note: Taking pictures in Ghat Sections without propper authorisation from Indian Railways is prohibited by rule. Unruly behavior during this event will be reported!
