After the thrilling journey by the Frontier Mail, it was time to return back to Rajasthan. No first class this time, of course, the Fronter Mail was an exception as I told you. And what a let down it was - the Bombay-Dehradoon Express.

I mean words fail me to describe how pathetic this train was/is. I don't even know why they call it an express. It is nothing better than a passenger as it stops almost at all stations. Of course, I don't remember much of that time but I had a chance (misfortune?) to travel by it once again later when I grew up. Anyway, the journey was uneventful.

We left Rajasthan and my father found a new job with Digvijay Cements at Sikka, Gujarat. My father was stationed at the limestone quarries at Gop (Jam) which was nothing more than a township of 20 dwellings. But because of the goods traffic, it was important to the railways. We lived at Jamnagar for our schooling and visited Gop during holidays. The passenger train from Jamnagar to Porbandar passed through Gop (Jam). That was the only train on that route. Our house in Gop was less than 100m away from the railway station. It was quaint but very peaceful. Years later, I realized that my sister and I were like the Railway children.

Because my father and us were living apart, he found another job at Porbandar where we could live all together. Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, was a small town with a population of 1 lakh (in those days). For our holidays, we used to go to Maharashtra. We used to take a passenger train from Porbandar to Jetalsar and switch to Veraval-Mehsana express. At Viramgam Jn, we used to get down and board the Saurashtra Mail to Mumbai.

Ah, yes. I forgot to mention that it was all meter guage in those days till Viramgam Jn. The trains were steam driven. I remember sitting at the window, getting all the soot on my face and coal particles in my eyes. But it was fun. Later on, slowly diesel engines started replacing the steams.

In 1978, the Janata government introduced the class-less trains - basically trains having second class only. They were known as the Janata Expresses. A new train was introduced on the Porbandar Ahemadabad route known as the Gandhigram Express. It was much more luxurious than the trains of that time. It was during that time that cushioned berths were installed in II Class 3-tier coaches. I loved the Gandhigram Express but there was a slight hitch:

• The Gandhigram Exp left Ahemedabad at 8:30 pm and reached PBR at 9:30 AM the next day
• There was no good connection from Mumbai. There was Gujarat Exp which left Bombay at 6 AM and arrived Ahemedabad at 4 PM.
• The next alternative was Saurashtra Exp (not Mail) which left Bomaby at 7:45 AM and arrived Ahemedabad at 7:45 PM. This left the connection time too little gap, just in case the train got late.
• So while I liked the Gandhigram Express better, I used to take Saurashtra Mail more often.

Around 1985, the MG to BG conversion took place and the route of Jamnagar to Porbandar became BG. So the Gandhigram Exp (which took a different route) started going to Veraval instead.

I have real fond memories of Gandhigram express. It was convenient, comfortable even in the second class and had many new facilities such as drinking water filters, cushioned berths, etc. I have some pictures of the train here (my own scanned photographs):


a) Ahemadabad bound Gujarat Express about to cross the Narmada at Bharuch Jn.


b) Porbandar bound Gandhigram Express


c) Porbandar bound Gandhigram Express waiting to enter Jetalsar Jn.

Note:
My whole childhood was spent in Gujarat. Earlier, we all used to go MH every year or two. When I moved to Pune for college and later on for job, my parent were still lived in Gujarat. I always looked forward to my journey to Porbandar. I used to find my fellow Gujarati travellers excellent companions. They were always willing to share their food with me. I sincerely believe that Gujarati's are one of the most hospitable people in India. This article is dedicated to my fellow Gujarati travellers.

... end of part III ...