How many loco sheds are there in India?

 In Indian Railways, there are approximately 100 major Broad Gauge (BG) diesel and electric locomotive sheds, including New Loco shed especially WAP 7, WAG 9, WDG4G/6G and WAG 12

⭐Railway Zone wise (electric and diesel loco shed) broad gauge

1.Central Railways (CR) Mumbai:- Kalyan, Pune, Bhusawal and Ajni Electric loco shed

Kalyan, Pune and Kurla Diesel loco shed

2. Eastern Railways (ER) Kolkata:- Howrah and Asansol Electric loco shed

Andal, Barddhaman, Howrah, Jamalpur and Malda Town Diesel loco shed

3. East Central Railway ((ECR) Hajipur:- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Electric loco shed, formerly Mughalsarai.

Gomoh, Samastipur Electric loco shed,

Patratu, Samastipur diesel loco shed

4. East Coast Railway (ECoR) Bhubaneswar:- Angul Electric loco shed

5. Northern Railway (NR) New Delhi:- Tughlakabad, Ghaziabad and Ludhiana Electric loco shed

Lucknow Alambagh, Ludhiana and Tughlakabad (Delhi) Diesel loco shed

6.North Central Railway (NCR) Prayagraj:- Jhansi and Kanpur Electric loco shed

Jhansi Diesel loco shed

7. North Eastern Railway (NER) Gorakhpur:- Izzatnagar, Gonda Diesel and Electric loco shed

8. North East Frontier Railway Zone (NFR) Maligaon Guwahati:- Siliguri and New Guwahati Electric loco shed.

Siliguri, New Guwahati and Mariani Diesel loco shed

9. North Western Railway (NWR) Jaipur:- Bhagat ki kothi Electric loco shed

Abu Road, Bhagat ki kothi (Jodhpur) Diesel loco shed

10. Southern Railways (SR), Chennai:- Electric loco sheds:- Royapuram (Chennai), Erode and Arakkonam

Diesel loco shed:- Tondiarpet (Chennai), Golden Rock Ponmalai (Trichy), Erode and Ernakulam diesel loco shed

11. South Central Railways (SCR) Secunderabad:- Moula Ali (Hyderabad), Guntakal, Gooty, Kazipet and Vijayawada Diesel loco shed

Lallaguda (Hyderabad) Electric loco shed, Vijayawada, Kazipet, Guntakal and Gooty Electric loco shed

12. South Coast Railway (SCoR) Visakhapatnam:- Visakhapatnam Diesel and Electric loco shed

13. South Eastern Railway (SER), Kolkata (Garden Reach):- Bokaro Steel City, Tatanagar, Santragachi, Bondamunda electric loco shed.

Bondamunda and Kharagpur Diesel loco shed

14. South East Central Railway (SECR) Bilaspur:- Bhilai Electric loco shed.

Raipur Diesel Loco Shed

15. South Western Railways (SWR), Hubli:- Both Krishnarajapuram (Bangalore) and Hubli holds Diesel and Electric loco shed

16. Western Railways (WR) Mumbai:- Vadodara and Valsad Electric loco shed.

17. West Central Railway (WCR) Jabalpur:- Itarsi Electric loco shed.

Itarsi, New Katni, Ratlam Diesel loco shed

Exterior of electric loco shed

Exterior look of diesel loco shed

⭐18. Steam Loco Shed Rewari:- Built in 1893, it is the only surviving steam locomotive shed in India, now it is preserved as rail musuem.

⭐Diesel/Electric New Class Loco shed:

19. WAG-12 electric loco shed- primarily based at Saharanpur, Nagpur, and Sabarmati electric locomotive sheds.

20. WDG-4G/WDG-6G diesel loco shed:- mainly homed at Roza (Northern Railway), Gandhidham, Siliguri, and Gooty diesel loco shed.

21. WDG-5 diesel loco shed:- currently homed at Sabarmati, Gujarat. The only state having WDG 5 locos.

⭐Meter/Narrow Gauge Diesel loco shed

22. Meter Gauge diesel loco shed:- Golden Rock Ponmalai (GOC) YDM 4 and MHOW (Dr. Ambedkar Nagar YDM 4 and Sabarmati YDM4 loco shed

23. Narrow Gauge Diesel loco shed:- Siliguri NDM 6, Kalka ZDM 3, Pathankot ZDM 4-A, Pratapnagar (PRTN) ZDM-5 and NRL (Neral) NDM 1-A loco shed

As of now Indian Railways is focusing on Production of WAP 7, so more electric loco shed likely to be established in future and new varient Freight Electric loco shed class like WAG 9/WAG 12

"Does anyone know which temple represents the 'Prithvi Sthalam' (Earth element) among the five Pancha Bhoota Stalams in South India?"?

Ekambeshwar Mahadev temple is known as Prithvi Sthlam.

Panch Bhootastalam : Southern India has five shrives dedicated to five elements of nature.

These Tamilnadu based shrines are Ekambareshwar temple (Prithvi/Earth) ; Jambukeswarar Temple (Apas/ Water) ; Arunachaleswarar Temple (Agni/Fire) ;

Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple (Vayu/Air) and Thillai Nataraja Temple (Akasha/ Space).

Sand lingam : It happens to be a rare Sand lingam

This Prithvi lingam was consecrated by Mata Parvati.

Sacred : This Kanchipuram based shrine is among the sacred Shiva shrines.

Its large temple complex also houses Nilathingal Thundam Perumal shrine.

No wonder, it is also adored as a Divya desham (a sacred Vishnu abode)

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Namo Narayanaya Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai Kripa Karo Gurudev Ki Nai

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

Why was India colonized by so many foreign kingdoms throughout its history?

 It had two major flaws.

1. India was rich as fukk.
2. Indians were very adamant in treating every idiot walking upto their doors as guest.

The perfect recipe if you want to get your house robbed.

While Europe which was the world then struggled with ice age during their winters, India was fertile like a 23 year old. It had spices, gold, diamonds, crops, food, trade and people who would trust just anybody. Somehow Indians then got this notion “guest is god” and they took it to the heart no questions asked.

Travellers and traders who would pass by India and eventually reach Europe would tell people about this land where its wealth and trade everywhere and the people are just extremely welcoming. And that’s when they actually started calling it India because it was next to the Indus River. Back then it was just easier to relate a land with its river rather than calling it by its real name which was “Bharatavarsh”.

And so everyone from Christopher Columbus to Vasco da Gama were in a rush to find a safe and exclusive passage to this land. Columbus reached somewhere else thinking he reached India and started calling those people as Indians. We still do.

But it was a matter of time when someone would eventually find a way to India while carrying a large military force, via sea as it was easier to control the trade route that ways.

Portuguese came first, then the Dutch, then Your Highness followed by the Hexagon.

Portugal (1498)

Dutch (~1600)

British (1608)

French (1664)

Ofcourse they all disguised as traders and who cared if they carried their armies with them, though armies came much later.

But Indians were like…

Rest is history.

The richest country and the culture on the planet was thrown into a series of hundreds of years of rape and looting all thanks to Indians not being an ass hole.

Which is the cheapest train in India?

 In terms of faster, budget friendly and alternative train option then Jan Shatabdi Express is the cheapest Day TimeTrain in Indian Railways.

There are several reasons,

1.Jan Shatabdi is Same concept as of Shatabdi And Vande Bharat Express, but cuts off luxury features, with affordable price

Example: Vande Bharat Express and Jan Shatabdi Express On routes like Mumbai–Madgaon, even if multiple semi-high-speed trains run, their top speeds remain similar due to constraints of the Konkan Railway (ghat sections and single-line track).

If the Vande Bharat Express cannot significantly improve average speed on a route, its advantage becomes limited; trains like the Jan Shatabdi Express can offer a comparable journey time with fewer stops, and even provide a better scenic experience through Vistadome coaches.

Not defaming Vande Bharat train, every train has its advantage and Disadvantage.

2.Budget friendly option:- Ticket is cheaper, usually Below Rs 400–500 range when compared to Shatabdi/Vande Bharat Express fare which is around 800–1000

Example:- from Mumbai to Madgaon, Vande Bharat fare is around Rs 1600 and Jan Shatabdi fare is 300, so that's the reason this train is commonly known as Common Man’s Shatabdi, Economical version

3. More seating density:- Jan Shatabdi usually has: More Second Seating (2S) coaches (cheapest class)

Whereas Shatabdi/Vande Bharat has Mostly AC Chair Car which is quite expensive for Middle class families, so it is best alternative faster train

Higher passenger capacity = cost per passenger goes down.

When Intercity Express gets wait listed then Jan Shatabdi acts as a backup option train.

Exterior Of Non AC Chair Car (2S)

Ac Chair Car Jan Shatabdi

Interior of Jan Shatabdi Express (2S) Reserved Non AC Chair Car

Interior of Ac Chair Car

4. Priority netwrok:-Slightly lower priority than Shatabdi/Vande Bharat, While still fast, Jan Shatabdi may have a few more stops, Even if it has low priority, it gets high priority when compared to Intercity, Express And passenger trains,

So it’s fast, but not the absolute top-tier speed category.

5. Designed for middle-class affordability:- Indian Railways created Jan Shatabdi to bridge the gap between Expensive premium trains Shatabdi/ Vande Bharat Express and Regular express trains

So it targets people who want speed, without paying for luxury., but not slower than Intercity Trains.

Great advantage is it doesn't have General Coach (unreserved) which is good move to reduce the crowd. So Jan Shatabdi is best option for 4 families, students and ladies.

Only disadvantage is seat comfort, which is bench type in recent LHB coaches, not fully AC coaches, Few more stops and several features missing in which Vande Bharat/Shatabdi Express have.

And there is no food options, passengers have to bring their own food from outside.

So overall Jan Shatabdi Express is Cheapest Faster train in India, but lower priority than Shatabdi,

Which is the best train route in India?

 I have travelled many places in India and most of them through the Rail. The best Rail route which I have come across, was the Pamban Bridge. I have got a fair bit of reason for this.

1.Sea on the side of rail network(both sides).

2.The railway bridge is 6,776 ft (2,065 m) long and was opened for traffic in 1914. The scenery which you will see through the journey of 10 minutes will be full of excitement and you will cherish it for the rest of your life.

3.The road route from the Peninsular India to the Rameshwaram (Island) will add to the scenary. Many people would come to the side of the road and see the train passing by.

4.You can also see the view from above later on. But for that you have to travel 10 km from Rameshwaram to the side of the Island. It looks like this.

5. It is the the only rail route over sea in india.

6.Whenever the ships passes by. The bridge is opened like this.(only at one point in the middle of the route .

This shows that Pamban Bridge is one of the best train routes in India and one of the oldest too .

What is India's first driverless metro train?

 India's first driverless metro was started from Delhi operating on the 37-kilometer long Magenta Line between Janakpuri West and Botanical Garden and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28th December 2020,

Technology were used in train, Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) and GoA 4 (Grade of Automation 4) technology, allowing for automatic wake-up, operation, and diagnostics without train operator or motorman to efficiently run service smoothly.

Then in South India, Bangalore Metro train started operating with driverless technology from Bommasandra to RV Road via Silk Board Yellow Line, 3rd metro line after the violet and green line.

Where is the shortest metro rail network in India?

 As of now, Agra Metro in Uttar Pradesh is the shortest operational metro rail network in India, with active route length of approximately 5.2 km. It was inaugurated recently in March 2024.

2nd one is Jaipur Metro in Rajasthan, which is operational approximately 11.97 km and get power supply via Overhead line Cable AC current.

3rd smaller metro network is the Gurugram Metro in Haryana which is around 12.85 km operational, which is a part of Delhi Metro Rail Limited.

Kanpur Metro which is operational around 16 km,

Kochi Metro in Kerala. South India's Shorter metro rail network which is around 28 km and also, the Kochi metro project is the India's first metro system in the country which connects rail, road and water transport facilities.

Several Metro Route have proposal, extending the line or under construction, planned. When compared to Tier 1 metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, these Tier 2 cities may have smaller in size metro connectivity but not huge network connectivity.

However, it lacks extensive network connectivity due to limited urban expansion and restricted city coverage.

Which is the best metro train facility in India? Why?

 I would Say Kochi Metro in Kerala is the best metro train facility in India.

Main reason is 4 mode of transportation options connected to Water Metro, Feeder Electric Bus, Railway Station and Bus Terminal connectivity from Kochi metro station, which improves last-mile connectivity

In India no other cities offer this much connectivity..

It Focus on eco-friendly transport.

If you want to go Railway Station, Airport via feeder bus and Water Metro service to Fort Kochi, Kochi metro station is near distance to reach.

Amazing fact is Water Metro just like travelling in Government Boat, but modern Advance Version, AC Travel. Also India's first Water Metro service which is operated by Kochi Metro

It serves as a feeder service to the suburbs along the rivers where transport accessibility is limited, route like High Court to Fort Kochi and Vytilla Hub to Kakkanad IT Areas.

Kochi Metro trains offer modern, air-conditioned 3-coach sets with a 600-passenger capacity. Key facilities include longitudinal seating, digital information displays (next station/route details), USB charging ports, and dedicated space for disabled person seat and bicycles, Safety features include Automatic Train Protection (ATP) and CCTV,

Also, Kochi Metro operates using a Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system

Kochi Metro tickets available in single one App for all metro feeder service, you just need a Card or App to use. The minimum fare of ₹10 applies for the first 2 km, with rates increasing by ₹10 for subsequent fare zone. Kochi metro has

Kochi metro rail witnessed a 4.2% rise in ridership compared to 2024, from the full operation time in 2017. Monthly ridership stayed strong, with over million passengers travel especially Touristers, Students, Office Goers and today Kochi Metro is the busier mode of transportation in Kerala.

Other than Kochi Metro, in Tier 1 City, Delhi Metro Train is often considered the best overall due to its extensive network, advanced technology, and high efficiency, facilities.