Jammu to Jodhpur by 19224 Exp. EP-3 (Final): Ferozepore Cantonment to Bathinda Jn over the N. Rly.

EP-3: Ferozepore Cantonment to Bathinda Jn via Kotkapura Jn over the Northern Rly.
Date- 5-03-2024.
As the final episode of our journey from Jammu to Jodhpur unfolds, our train, the 19224 Jammu Express bound for Ahmedabad Jn, initiates its departure from Ferozepore Cantonment Jn. The Diesel engine of our train reverses its direction, positioning itself to lead us towards the Bathinda-bound Main line.
Shortly after our departure, we diverge from the Jalandhar-bound branch via Kapurthala and the Ludhiana-bound branch via Ferozeshah, seamlessly transitioning onto the Bathinda-bound main line via Kotkapura Jn station.
Reflecting on the historic legacy since the British India's North Western Railway days, the stretch from Bathinda Jn to Kotkapura Jn was a blend of Metre-gauge (Rewari- Fazilka major branch) and Broad-gauge (North Western Railway's Lahore line) tracks. The section from Kotkapura Jn to Fazilka Jn operated under the Metre-gauge system, managed by the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway. Covering a total mileage of 792 miles over the BBCI, this entire route from Ahmedabad Jn to Fazilka Jn stood as one of the longest in the Metre-gauge network.
Fazilka marked the northernmost frontier station on the metre-gauge system, operated by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway. Beyond Fazilka, the N.W's Broad-gauge track extended to Amruka, Bahawalnagar, and further connecting with the south of Punjab and Karachi Port via Samasata Jn station. Notably, the metre-gauge track via Kotkapura Jn terminated at Fazilka station, forming a crucial part of the branch line section commencing from Rewari Jn, extending towards Hisar Jn, and connecting with the Bathinda-Kotkapura main line and the Kotkapura to Fazilka branch line.
Around 19:00 hours in the evening, our train 19224 arrives at Bathinda Jn station, evoking nostalgia with its station building preserving the heritage and richness of railways. We pause at Bathinda Jn for a brief 15-20 minutes before resuming our journey. Departing from the station, our train switches onto the Hanumangarh-bound main line, diverging from the Rewari branch, Patiala branch, and Delhi-bound main line.
As the episode concludes and the night descends, I decide to retire to my berth amidst the harsh winter. Anticipating an early morning disembarkation at Jodhpur station, I eagerly await the next leg of our journey, where we will explore the richness of railways around Jodhpur. Stay tuned for more updates!
The journey aboard the 19224 Jammu Express unfolds as a captivating odyssey, punctuated by a series of notable highlights and picturesque landscapes:
0:29 minutes - Departure from Ferozepore Cantonment Jn station.
At 2:26 minutes - Divergence towards the Bathinda-bound main line via Kotkapura Jn.
At 34:52 minutes onwards - A brief historical insight into the Hindumalkote Rail route, integral to the railway passage into the south of Punjab and the Karachi port from Delhi and central parts of India.
At 42:39 minutes - Departure from Bathinda Jn station.
At 45:33 minutes onwards - Transition towards the Hanumangarh main line, diverging from the Rewari branch, Patiala branch, and Delhi-bound main line via Bahadurgarh.
At 47:42 minutes - Switching onto the Hanumangarh-bound main line section.
Each moment of the journey unveils a new chapter in the rich tapestry of railway history, offering a glimpse into the heritage and grandeur of India's vast rail network.

[@ravindersingal5679]

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[@honeysingh2868]

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[@shafiquewatto]

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