A Railfanning session at Nagpur Jn. on 15/08/2026

I went to receive my daughter who had a short trip to Sangli and was returning by 11404 Kolhapur - Nagpur Express (Via Miraj - Pandharpur - Kurduwadi - Latur - Latur Road - Parali - Prabhani - Purna - Washim - Akola - Badnera - Wardha)

The train was expected to arrive at 12.00 noon on Platform No. 7. I reached half an hour early. Parked my car at the East gate parking. There is hardly any parking at West gate of Nagpur station. The station is getting major infrastructural modifications and hence very difficult to get a parking space there even for two wheelers.)

I checked on Railone app. 11404 had just left Borkhedi and it was another half an hour for it to reach Nagpur. I had a short railfanning session at Platform No. 7.

Pune shed WDP 4 D 40513 was running idle on the second line from Platform 7. This line is not energized by electric supply. There must be only diesel shuntings  on this line. I am surprized why this is the only line left without electric supply at Nagpur passenger yard.

This loco must have brought 12119 Amaravati - Ajni Superfast Intercity today in the morning. It will take it back today in the evening. This train shares rake with 11026 Amaravati - Pune Express (Earlier Bhusaval - Pune Express extended to Amaravati) and 12158 Pune - Solpaur Hutatma Express. The ened to end run of this train is on this WDP 4 D. I wonder why ? All the section in which the train runs is now completely electrified.

One can observe the third line from Platform No. 7 is without electric catenary. The WDP 4 D was followed by OverHead Equipment Inspection Car by Central Railway.

Just besides Platform No. 7, there was a rake of assorted coaches of various trains. It had a few coaches of 11201 / 11202 Nagpur - Shahdol Express (Via Saunsar - Chindwada - Seoni - Nainpur - Jabalpur - Katni). 11203 / 11204 Nagpur - Madgaon Express and a few parcel vans.

There was a derated WDG 3 Shakti from Kurla Shed. This loco must be getting used as a shunter in Nagpur yard now. 013620 was the road number for the loco. "0" before its number indicates that it is derated for its use only for shunting and other departmental duties now.

The rake on the 4th line from Platform 7 must be of 12136 Nagpur - Pune Express. Soon this train will get LHB rake. The old ICF rake is counting its last days on this train. I noticed some of the AC coaches in this rake are 2008 manufactured. 18 years old. There codal life must have been near end.

The rake for 11201 - 11202 Nagpur - Shahdol Express was also very old and ill maintained. Naturally. This train runs mainly through SECR but maintained at Nagpur that is CR. It should have its primary maintenance at one of the SECR destinations like Jabalpur or even Shahdol.

Made in 2010. 16 years old coach now.

The faded name plate for the comparatively new train tells all the story of its preference by maintenance staff and by CR.

And here arrives 11404 Kolhapur - Nagpur Express behind 39406 WAP 7 from Pune shed. This loco needs serious wash. This was the same rake hauled by same loco last week on Saturday when my daughter departed for Sangli by 11403 Nagpur - Kolhapur Express. I think once in a week this loco must be visiting its home shed Pune either by hauling 01024 Kolhapur - Pune Special Fare Express (Now 11024 Kolhapur - Pune Express, earlier 11023 / 11024 Kolhapur - Mumbai Sahyadri Express, closed down during CORONA period and short terminated till Pune after CORONA)

And after a week I was happy to meet with my daughter who had her first solo trip by train. The coach was 243773. 2024 manufactired Two Tier AC Sleeper coach. A-2. She had the same coach while going to Sangli by 11403 exactly a week ago. 

Somehow, I do not feel cozy in LHB coaches, especially 2 AC and 1AC of LHB are not as royal as their predecessors from ICF used to be. 3 AC coached manufactured by ICF, RCF till 1999 were simply the best. Later they were reduced to simply an AC version of second class Sleeper 3 tier coaches. 

We had a working escalator from Platform No. 7 to FOB and then we descended to Platform 8. There were announcements for 22846 Hatia - Pune Superfast Express to be arriving soon on Platform No. 8, the home platform for Nagpur Jn.

Happy Railfanning.