Funny story regarding electrification of Indian Railways.

The first electric train ran in 1925, From CST (VT then) to Kurla, via the Harbour line.

Now because it was 1925, the state of the art technology for electric locomotion was 1500 V DC.

So the British used it
Thanks to the Edison vs Tesla memes, You know how sad DC is, as it can't be transmitted over long distances and needs sub stations every 5 kms.

But the Brits went with it and electrified sections till Igatpuri and Pune on the Central Railway.

Then India became independent.
So when we were deciding what form of Electricity was to be used for electrifying Railways in 1957, the French had perfected the 25kv AC for locomotion.

It was more powerful and helped in high speeds. And the French promised us Locomotives and support.

So we went with it.
Rest of India started getting AC, except one enclave. The Central Railway.

That still ran on DC.

The Locomotives used on CR couldn't be used anywhere else and vice versa. To circumvent that, we had to develop multipurpose engines, just to run on central Railway.
Any Train coming in with a 25kv Engine, had to change, which necessitated long engine change stopovers in Pune and Igatpuri.

And you when this was Fixed

2016

We took 90 years to fix this simple issue

For 90 years, India had 2, mutually incompatible electric systems for trains
90 years, we lived with a totally apathetic government because they couldn't care less to fix this..

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More from @thekaipullai

30 Nov
I saw some tweet, which said Indians didn't innovate because we chose to be IT coolies.

As a former Coolie myself, once upon a time, I too had such thoughts.

I used to think this IT outsourcing is the bane of India, is killing innovation and should be banned.
Now that I am older (not old), I think IT industry was what was required when it came into being, 30 years ago. It was not what we deserved, but what we needed

One of the main catalysts for innovation is social security. And, Not looking for the next meal, is a pre requiste.
When we started IT outsourcing, we needed something that will generate jobs. Lots of them. Jobs for a population on the cusp of a young, demographic dividend.

The IT industry did, and is doing that. Quite successfully.
Read 7 tweets
29 Nov
Electrified kms on Indian Railways from 1925 to 2014 : 20,059

Electrified Kms on Indian Railways from 2014 to 2021 : 24,080

We electrified more of our Railways in the last 7 years than we did in 90 years preceding that..
In three years, from 2007 to 2010, we electrified a total of 2400 kms.

We do more than that in 7 months now.
Whatever maybe your political alignment. Whatever may be your ideology.

You have to agree that this is a phenomenal achievement.

Even Miraculous.
Read 4 tweets
24 Nov
India's first railway coach, the ICF coach, was imported in 1955

The next coach we imported, the LHB, was in 2000

For 55 years we ran with a coach that was made before Ben Hur

After running the first LHB train in 2003, in the next 10 years, we made 2000 of these new coaches
You know how many we LHB coaches we have made from 2014 to 2021.

11200.

In the last five years, the average LHB coaches manufactured per year, exceeds the total number manufactured in previous decade.

Something has defintely changed in IR.
What do these LHB coaches do?

Higher speed, more stability, more comfort, more safety, de coaches don't topple or climb over one another in an accident. They Kill less people

And Despite having de capability to make the new Coach, the previous govt refused to do it for 10 years
Read 5 tweets
24 Nov
Different Categories of Two Wheeler Riders in India

1. The Carrier : The person the thinks the 2 in Two wheeler is just a suggestion. Be it rain or shine there are never less than 4 people on his bike

When you see from behind there are only 2. But 2 more are squeezed in between
The Kamikaze : The people in this category are reincarnations of Japanese Kamikaze pilots from WW2. They will dive at your vehicle, from all directions, mostly at the last minute.

The Kamikaze Pilots used to have a siren. These guys have horns.
The Gap Finder : These guys are experts in finding gaps where none exist. If even one cm of edge of their tire fits in a gap, they usually drive the bike thru it. A few broken side mirrors or bruises to Pedestrians, is just collateral damage in their quest to conquer the gap.
Read 7 tweets
22 Nov
The year is 2059. China's economy is in trouble. Years of reckless spending and debt, is causing massive Unrest in the countryside. The hold of the Communist party is becoming tenous, by the day. They need to do something to sort it out.
Under the Guise of a Naval Exercise a huge Fleet sails from Yulin Base in China towards the Arabian Sea.

As India is in the middle of some protest against the Govt for not allowing the Farmers to trade in USD, the Fleet is ignored.

Then suddenly the Fleet turns towards Mumbai
Chinese launch a full fledged invasion of Mumbai, hoping to curtail the financial muscle of India and divert attention from the domestic problems.

Initial invasion is successful, though Chinese incur some casualties by accidentally consuming Mumbai's Chinese food.
Read 5 tweets
22 Nov
1947 : India is a newly independent country, which has just shaken off 300 years of slavery. Everything is now free, except Saki Naka, where there is a traffic jam.

1975: India is a socialist hellhole. Basically a depressing place like Saki Naka, where there is a traffic jam
1992: Newly liberalised country with a lot of economic potential. There is optimism in the air. Except in Saki Naka, where there is a traffic jam

2011 : India has just won the world cup. IPL is expanding. Most people are happy, except the ones stuck in a Traffic Jam at Saki Naka
2020: Things are looking OK. India is rapidly driving towards a $5 Trillion dollar economy, except the ones stuck in a Saki Naka Traffic jam.

2047: India is finally the 2nd largest economy in the world. We are welcomed everywhere. Except Saki Naka, where there is a Traffic jam.
Read 4 tweets

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