Adarki - A Paradise of Convolutions in Pictures

Adarki is a tiny station, about 109 kms. from Pune on the line to Miraj.

As the Pune-Miraj-Hubli-Bangalore route was meter gauge prior to the 1970s, Adarki too has its share of meter gauge artefacts. These include the old alignment with sharper angles of curvature on embankments or through cuttings. There are stone arch viaducts and an engraved stone station nameplate that is located some distance away from the present day platform.

Adarki does not have much passenger volumes. Only two passenger trains stop here in each direction during a 24-hour period. About seven daily trains and about 10 freight trains roll through in each direction in the same 24 hours. Through the week, around 15 non-daily passenger trains also pass through.

The location boasts of two tunnels, No. 4 and No. 5, that permit movement of trains through the mountains. The picture shows the side portal of tunnel No. 4.

More than two decades ago, the remotely located Adarki station did not have any source of water, potable or otherwise. To meet the needs of the station staff, the railways attached a converted eight-wheeler milk tanker to carry potable water. The 315 Down Pune-Kolhapur passenger hauled this tanker on alternate days. During the passenger's halt at Adarki, the station staff would top-up the ground storage tanks, as the train waited.

A major construction project that was underway was the Salpa irrigation canal. It bisected the horseshoe curve and passed below the railway line into the surrounding mountain, through its own water-carrying tunnel.

The canal helped bring much needed ground water in this area.

A view of the water carrying tunnel for the Salpa canal. The Adarki down distant signal is visible in the view.

A Southbound BCNHL (a type of a wagon) rake crawls in from the Salpa end, on one of the arms of the horseshoe curve. The train will emerge on the second arm, on the right, in the opposite direction.

The same Southbound BCNHL now is visible on the other arm of the horseshoe, facing the opposite direction, approaching Adarki station.

Train coming from the side portal of a tunnel.

A deep sense of tranquility rules this place. The lack of sound will surprise your ears, apart from the bells tinkling around the necks of the grazing cattle.

A view from the platform showing a train on the opposite side of the horseshoe curve, at the base of highest peak of this area.

The embankment towards Adarki has memorable curves.

A South-bound train emerges from tunnel No. 5. To the railways, Adarki is more useful to cross trains on a single-line section rather than serve passengers.

A BOXN rake rides on the embankment south of Adarki.

Tunnel No. 4 is at the curvature of the major horseshoe. A Northbound train emerges from the far end portal.

Track realignment, doubling, and the eventual electrification are all in the pipeline.

Another notable feature is a small hill that is split right down the middle to pass the tracks, this is the so-called 'Kati Pahadi' of Adarki.

A train passes through the deep cuttings that line the tracks towards Wathar.

A train at the end of Adarki embarkment.

A passenger train departs Adarki.