Kerala to Jammu and Kashmir by Himsagar Express. Ep-3 from Vijayawada Jn to Ramagundam (S. C. Rly).

Rails and Tales: A passage through India's heartland aboard the 16317 Jammu and Kashmir bound Himsagar Express. Episode 3 covers the stretch from Vijayawada Jn to Ramagundam station via Kazipet Town over the S. C. Rly.
Date-2-03-2024.
As the clock struck 4 in the evening, signaling the departure of the 16317 Himsagar Express from Vijayawada Junction, our journey embarked on a new phase. Departing from this pivotal junction, our train veered towards the northward line, diverging from the eastbound track leading to Calcutta. Vijayawada Junction stands as a crucial nexus, where lines from the southern reaches converge with those stretching northward to New Delhi and eastward to Calcutta.
Prior to our departure from Vijayawada, the landscape had been a picturesque stretch along the Coromandel Coast, nestled between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. The main line gracefully traversed the Krishna River en route to the junction.
However, as we left Vijayawada behind, a noticeable transformation unfolded. The terrain shifted dramatically, transitioning from the coastal belt to the expansive Deccan plains of the erstwhile Nizam's network. Our journey now ventured into the province of Telangana, crossing the Andhra Pradesh state line with Khammam station marking our initial halt within Telangana's borders.
Following Khammam, our next scheduled stop was Warangal station, situated near Kazipet. Kazipet, located approximately 10 kilometers from Warangal station, holds historical significance as a junction where the New Delhi-Chennai line intersects with the Hyderabad-New Delhi line. In its heyday, Kazipet Junction formed an integral part of the Nizam's Main Line, extending from Wadi Junction to Secunderabad Junction, and onward to Kazipet. By 1889, the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway had expanded its main line to reach Vijayawada, known then as Bezwada. Notably, the railway network originating from Wadi on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway extended eastward to Warangal and then southeastward towards Bezwada on the East Coast section of the Madras Railway.
The advent of the Kazipet Bypass in the 1980s heralded a significant change, eliminating the need for southbound trains destined for northern India to undergo reversal at Kazipet Junction. Instead, they could seamlessly bypass the main station, proceeding directly towards the Grand Trunk line with Kazipet Town serving as a passing station.
As our journey progressed and night descended, the landscape veiled in darkness, with only fleeting glimpses of Waddepally Lake visible as we departed from Kazipet Town station. Eventually, we arrived at Ramagundam station, prompting me to retreat for a well-deserved nap, recharging for the forthcoming leg of our three-day journey to Katra.