The Rail Museum and on the Kazi, finally!

After an elaborate plan over the past week of going to Bandel today followed by a visit to the Rail Museum in Howrah, we finally managed to do the Rail Museum and that too on my Karizma.

The Rail Museum was a treat and inspiring for my foray into HO Railroad modelling. The grand engines and Coaches were a treat. I think people should visit this place just to experience the evolution of Railways in India. Apart from that, the garden at the museum is beautifully maintained. For the kids a joy-ride on the toy train will be an endearing experience.

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Eastern Railway has the honour of having a prestigious railway museum at Howrah spread over an area of 4 acres. It was inaugurated on April 07, 2006. Presently about 25,000 visitors every month enjoy the rich heritage of railway at this unique institution. It has become a must visit destination for the tourists and railway enthusiasts.

Timings: 10.30am to 5.30pm (closed on Thursdays)

Back on The Road

It’s been like forever that I got on to my bike. A couple of weeks ago I finally took it out of the garage, gave it a complete wash down and then spent a good amount of time bringing the beast to life. I had not ridden it in months and the battery was down and I had to kick and kick and kick to start the bike. The electric start wouldn’t work after such a long break. I finally did manage to get it to fire up and it spewed black smoke from the exhaust. A bit of sputtering and it was lifeless again. Another couple of kicks on the peddle and I managed to fire it up again. I twisted the throttle and kept it there, pushed down into first gear and just let her go. I made sure that I wouldn’t let up on the accelerator lest the bike shuts down again. I rode like that to a petrol pump filled some gas and again spent time kicking it back to life.

The next stop was the workshop. Mallu Motors where I left it for some major servicing and cleaning. The next day I picked up my bike all shining like new. It even sounded so nice when I kicked it to life. That muted rumbling was music to my ears. So I rode off home. The battery needed to be changed, but that was something I’d do later. I could use the exercise kick starting my bike whenever I rode it. Well so I thought. Well it was going to be one kick start to many as I realised when the bike suddenly stopped on the way. Was it the fuel, well maybe I need to get some filled? So while I was on the way there, the bike stopped several times in the midst of peak evening traffic. Anyway I managed to get to the Petrol pump on The R.B. Connector and treated the Kazi to a full tank of Indian Oil Xtra Premium Petrol.

Once out the problem persisted and it was quite painful to get back home with constant stopping. I found the problem finally when I got back home. The Spark Plug connector was shorting with the engine body and I guessed electricity wasn’t passing smoothly. Anyway I took it back to Mallu Motors today and to my surprise they didn’t have the spare part. So one of the mechanics used some black electrical tape and did a temporary fix which worked just fine. Back on my bike, it was now running smoothly and flying into fifth gear in a jiffy.

I’m so glad to be back on my Karizma. Yippie!!!

Kazi gets a washdown

Just before leaving for Malaysia I met with my first accident on my Kazi. Stupid Cyclist is all I'm gonna say. Anyway this is after I got it back from the workshop and getting it readied for battle.

Kazi meets with its first inflight infliction

Yes finally, this morning, I met with my first bike accident in Kolkata. And accidents are your own fault. Riding I believe is something that requires one's utmost concentration. This morning I left home on my bike with too many things on my mind. Matter's of consequence, but then matter's that had nothing to do with my Kazi. And for once I wasn't true to my her. The rider and bike ought to become one when one is astride his machine.

Anyway I rode out from home, took the left and just outside Don Bosco School, a silver Santro came sppeding towards me on the wrong side of the road. I reacted, but not to the environment around me, only to the car hurtling towards me. I faled to realise the other people occupying the road. So while I veered left and saved myself from the oncoming Santro, on my Extreme left were two cyclist following a hand pulled rickshaw. I should've realised that the first cyclist was going into an overtaking maneuver with the richshaw. So while he steeered right to overtake the rick, he was directly infront of me, I stepped on the brakes, the bike held for a bit, then went into a skid, I handled her back to balance, but too late.

IMPACT.

When I sttod back up a bit disoriented, I noticed that there was a woman near the pavement, a boy picking up his bycycle and a fairly decent gathering around us. And all this in a matter of seconds. I instantly enquired and went forward to help the woman, and while the mob was turning hostile, the gesture instantly disarmed them. I offered to assist all who were hurt, if at all badly with medical attention at a nearby hospital. It was only then that some people actually enquired if I had been hurt too. Sure enough, my pant was ripped near the left knee and when I lifted my trouser I had a gash on my left knew which was considerably swolen.

It wasn't long before all setllements had been made, with the bicycle boy, the lady and the rickshaw puller and I proceeded to the workshop with my bike. I quite popular there, and the moment I came in they were not surprised that the bike had been damaged yet again. Anyway all the formalities done, a change of handle and other sundry repairs that would be required, I left the bike and the place to head straight for FORUM Mall. I couldn't go home, especially after the lecture I had got at the dining table from my aunt for coming home at 5 AM for the 3rd time this week.

10.30 AM, Shoppers Stop was still closed, and I headed straight for the Adidas store there. Am a popular visitor there too and got excellent service and walked out in a new pair of Cargos and a checked shirt. From there to office.

I'm just wondering if it I had managed to capture pics of all these events transpiring this morning, it would have made for a funny story.

Back Home - outside Galleria, Gurgaon

HERO HONDA - DHARUHERA Plant

Pit Stop at Midway - BEHROR

BIRD HIT

Dhaba Pit Stop

Fuel Stop and Back On The Road

Passing Through Jaipur

Pit Stop at Ajmer