NationStates Jolt Archive


The train has stalled...please get down and push it..

Aryavartha
18-05-2007, 20:37
Only in India can this sort of thing happen.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2058004.cms
Passengers push-start a train in Bihar
17 May, 2007 l 2003 hrs ISTlIANS

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PATNA: Believe it or not, hundreds of passengers came out of a train in Bihar to push it for about 60 metres before it re-started. All this happened in the home state of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad who takes pride in having achieved a turnaround in the fortunes of Indian Railways.

"It was a rare moment when hundreds of passengers pushed a train for a few metres to reach their destination. This is no joke, it happened here," said Satyendra Tiwari, who was one of the passengers involved in that unique effort.

Tiwari, a daily commuter, said the 565 UP Patna-Buxar EMU train had on Tuesday suddenly stopped after some passengers pulled the alarm chain to stop it near the Raghunathpur station on the Howrah-Delhi Main Line route.

"Then the driver of the train requested the passengers to push the train because there was no way out to restart it as it stopped in the neutral zone - that is, between the two power sub-stations - where there was no power supply," Tiwari said.

He said the driver requested the passengers to push the train till the next point from where the locomotive could get power.

Even hundreds of passengers together failed to push an inch of the EMU train, which is a lighter train, in their first attempt. They succeeded only after the engine was de-linked. The engine was later pushed separately and re-connected with the coaches.

Tiwari said the passengers pushed the train for 60 metres, heaving and weighing from behind and the sides of the train, under a hot summer sun.

Authorities confirmed that the local train was pushed by passengers following a breakdown in the "neutral zone" between Patna and Buxar.

"Though a rarest of rate instance in railways history, it did happen," a railway official confirmed.

Railway officials said if a train stopped in a neutral zone and there is no power supply, it is not possible to restart the locomotive.

They said the overhead cable has neutral zones between two sub-stations and power supply is not available at such points. Trains pass such small areas without any difficulty thanks to their momentum.
UpwardThrust
18-05-2007, 20:41
Impressive

Also would like to flog the idiot who pulled the cable if it was indeed not an emergency
Rubiconic Crossings
18-05-2007, 20:41
Reminds me of when the 13:25 from Leeds to Kings Cross stalled just outside of Peterborough a few years back.

I suggested we gave the train a dump start....

I knew it could work! Damn BR! DAMN BR TO THE TRAINSHEDS!
Johnny B Goode
18-05-2007, 21:07
Only in India can this sort of thing happen.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2058004.cms

My dad's from Bihar. And there's a lot of irony in the fact that that happened in the railway minister's home state.
Aryavartha
18-05-2007, 21:10
Also would like to flog the idiot who pulled the cable if it was indeed not an emergency

Happens quite often in that area (Bihar state). It is like the wild west of India. Lawless badlands, armed gangs, caste/clan rivalries, incompetent/ non-existent govt, its got everything going for it.

When I used to travel through that state in train, I would see passengers yanking the chain just a few Kilometres before the station, just so he can get down and walk to his home (which would be on the way):headbang:

Oh and btw, sometimes people don't buy tickets and travel on the rooftops of trains.
Deus Malum
18-05-2007, 21:30
Only in India can this sort of thing happen.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2058004.cms

Hehehe. Only in India.
Imperial isa
18-05-2007, 21:43
rioting about trains been late and now this
made my week
Rubiconic Crossings
18-05-2007, 21:44
Happens quite often in that area (Bihar state). It is like the wild west of India. Lawless badlands, armed gangs, caste/clan rivalries, incompetent/ non-existent govt, its got everything going for it.

When I used to travel through that state in train, I would see passengers yanking the chain just a few Kilometres before the station, just so he can get down and walk to his home (which would be on the way):headbang:

Oh and btw, sometimes people don't buy tickets and travel on the rooftops of trains.

Yeah...to get to London from Leeds you have to go through Sheffield as well! :p
Aryavartha
18-05-2007, 21:55
rioting about trains been late and now this
made my week

pffftt..

Once, in that state, irate passengers beat up the station master because...get this...the train left on time.

Usually the train comes late and the regular passengers also timed themselves late and one day the train came and left on time and the people beat up the station master. :cool:
Imperial isa
18-05-2007, 22:18
pffftt..

Once, in that state, irate passengers beat up the station master because...get this...the train left on time.

Usually the train comes late and the regular passengers also timed themselves late and one day the train came and left on time and the people beat up the station master. :cool:

how rude for being on time
Philosopy
18-05-2007, 22:22
The thing that surprised me most about this story is that it was in India. I was fully expecting it to be in the UK - there was a similar story recently where a Virgin train broke down, and they asked if anyone on board knew how to fix it.

Edit: Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6101810.stm)
Pwnageeeee
18-05-2007, 23:13
Oh and btw, sometimes people don't buy tickets and travel on the rooftops of trains.

Um ok? What the hell, do they just hold on and pray to Ganesha they don't fall off?
Aryavartha
18-05-2007, 23:25
Um ok? What the hell, do they just hold on and pray to Ganesha they don't fall off?

These are not exactly bullet/maglev trains :p

I tried it once for a short distance, for the heck of it, was scary in the beginning, but if u r in reasonable shape and have balance, it's easy.

Added:

You should see people who travel on top of buses. Now that's scary.:eek:

http://virtualvillage.wesleyan.edu/about/images/about_bihar_bus.jpg
Pwnageeeee
18-05-2007, 23:29
You should see people who travel on top of buses. Now that's scary.:eek:


So what's next? Traveling on top of planes? hehe
Zarakon
19-05-2007, 01:40
So what's next? Traveling on top of planes? hehe

There are people who ride on top of planes.
Nirajova
19-05-2007, 01:44
Hah, and some people ask how Egyptians could have built the Pyramids of Giza.

HOW AWESOME IS THE POWER OF
slave labour.
Jeruselem
19-05-2007, 02:14
Transport is crazy in India, trains packed like sardines and more on top on the trains.
Xiscapia
19-05-2007, 02:25
wow...seriously, that's impressive.
New Manvir
19-05-2007, 03:00
:eek:...wow...
Kryozerkia
19-05-2007, 03:22
Let that be a lesson, do not complain when the train breaks down and the conductor has no control over it. :p