1. Sleep well in the evening. You ought to be awake all through the section.
2. Get down at VM and TPJ, take a brisk walk, buy something solid to eat and a small bottle of drink to pass time. Do not switch platforms during your walk. A goods train may come in between and you may stand there hearing your train start and go!
3. Be thorough in your LR. You should know that you are being regulated at KDMD home to get the loop, if your train does not notch up fully after taking the chord line curve.
4. Don't stick to one side, you have to move left and right quite rapidly. SL or LB is the ideal one. If you don't get them, avoid travel or book tickets until you get one, then cancel the old ones.
5. Strictly no doorplating during night travel. You can't dp during daytime given the heat.
6. Note down all crossings w/time. Ideally like Home/Pf/Other starter/Crossing/Our starter/LSS.
7. Be 100 p.c sure on position of AC coaches and their count. Helps in train identification. A fast moving GOC wdm2 will sound similar to an ED 3D.
8. Record clear audio clips of crossings. Video clips are anyway black screens only. These are real treasures...
9. You should 'expect' things. Over a period of time, you will develop the instinct.
10. Beware of all those festival, winter and summer specials that mar your calculations. Travel during off-peak season week days.
11. Whenever possible, book in advance in PQ. Take different trains during each travel, even if it means you reaching your destination in wee hours.
12. SL berth when 'berthed' will hide vision partially for tall people. So, make it 'seated'.
13. Best way to avoid trouble when asked why aren't you asleep is to say that you are a night-shift guy and working through your mobile (sms based or qwerty/email based)
14. No loud talks especially when travelling in groups. You may disturb fellow travellers. Gain the confidence of local cops and if inquired say the truth that you are a rail-fan, it builds trust.
15. No funky gadgets, GPS devices that are not easily saleable to a common man.
16. Do not invite unwanted attention when waiting for a crossing. Switch off all lights promptly.
17. Your eyes and ears should be razor sharp. Do not expect to note down all loco numbers. GOC 16858 will be similar to 16868 even in broad daylight, imagine a night spotting with your drooping eyes!
18. Be calm and patient.
19. All locos waiting in loop will have their headlamps switched off. You would have to identify that you are getting mainline with the speed of the train near outer and by the marker lamps of the train in loop. If there are two loops, make best use of curves before platforms.
20. Do not conclude a loco or a train to be a monster just with a one-night-stand. Sometimes it may have got 'All Proceed' and nothing else. So, recommend others to watch out, analyse and then conclude. On similar lines, monsters are equally viable to be screwed up by a poor section controller.
21. No getting down at intermediate stations. Take adequate care of your bags.
22. Lesser the use of gadgets (including camera and cell phone), better the enjoyment.
23. Take a small notepad with thick back (available in Landmark for Rs. 10) and a pen that can write even in damp/oil paper, to take notes. Mobiles will run out of battery.
24. Enjoy every moment of railfanning. A missed crossing may be a costly expense, but it is okay - there is always next time and VM-DG will not get doubled in full until after 2025, the trend says so!
25. SAFETY FIRST. Everything else next.
Happy Railfanning!!!
Aravi.
