All India Anglo-Indian Association, Lucknow branch

On Sunday October 11 2015 the Lucknow branch of the All India
Anglo-Indian Association met to elect its office-bearers for
the year. In a unanimous decision Mr Adrain Michael (3rd from L)
was selected to head the branch as President. He will
be assisted by two vice presidents, Mr Robert Cooke (1st left) and
Mr Clifford Bond (2nd left). Mr Peter Fanthome, MLA is fourth
and Mr Peter Fanthome Jr next and lastly, Mr Richard Correya.

Mrs Gertrude Lewis and Ms Sheila ? Gunther

New Dilkusha railway bridge

A new railway bridge at Dilkusha, Lucknow  was
 constructed several years ago but for an
unknown reason was never commissioned. The railway
track was laid but not connected to the main line heading
east to Barabanki and beyond. Passing
over this flyover I noticed a crowd, some
wearing yellow hardhats, so can safely
presume work the new bridge
will be commissioned in the near future!

The Doon Express on its way to Bengal in the east

JMP steam locomotive

Monday October 19, 2015:  I felt compelled to
see the this steam locomotive again and was
surprised to find that the tender was also present and
under repair, scraping off old paint and thick rust.
A private contractor, it seems, has been given
the job. I have also come to know that the
Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav plans
to bring in another engine for the
Lohia Park.

The tender placed on a short strip of railway track and
the engine still on the transport trailer that
brought it from Rajasthan. The YG series of
steam locomotives were finally phased out
from Gujarat and Rajasthan by the year 2000

There were also YP engines

Janeshwar Mishra Park, Lucknow

(Pic taken on 11th July 2016)

THE Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow has taken three years

to develop and has cost, according to to Wikipedia, Rs 168 crores.

The Samajwadi Party which is in power in Uttar Pradesh with

Akhilesh Yadav as the chief Minister in commemoration  

Janeshwar Mishra, a party stalwart and Parliamentarian

who passed away in 2010.

This morning I decided to take a cycle ride to see for myself!

The Samajwadi Party election symbol is the bicycle, the

common man's mode of transport. Shunned till recently by 

most people who could afford other means of transport, it

has been making a come back over the last few years. Media

 houses, with an axe to grind, and supported by cycle 

manufacturers, have been organising cycle rallies that have 

ignited the interest in a large section of young people, 

including many who otherwise eye all the latest motor 

cycles that crowd city roads today.

 Akhilesh Yadav, the youngest chief minister ever, himself

a cycling enthusiast, has had miles of cycling 

tracks constructed in the hope that people, young and

old, can continue using this old, non polluting mode

of transport safely. 

Still miles to go: I noticed hundreds of saplings
 yet to be planted

Vast area will need massive maintenance work, especially
during the summer months

I was happy to see an engine that is to be installed at
the park. On closer examination I noticed that this
 YG series steam locomotive is in very poor condition.
All the metal 'skin' that covers the bolts and
rivets on the boiler is missing. I hope the railway
keeps its image and long service to the
nation in mind and makes this old iron horse
presentable for visitors and the younger
generations that never saw them pull
their load.
Most people never knew that locomotives
remained steamed up for a week at a time
before fire would be dropped for the
weekly wash-out!
This engine has come from Gujarat, according
to the name and phone no on the trailer rig.
Seeing that it is a YG I checked the net and
found a blog post by John Smith who spent
considerable time in 1997 photographing steam
locomotives in Gujarat shortly before
they were to be retired forever!

To show this old faithful respect it needs to get
more than mere paint and polish 

The steam engine ready for display
 (Pic taken on 11th July 2012) 

CM Akhilesh Yadav visits newspaper office in Lucknow

The whole area, thousands of people that traverse
 this spot, were put to hardship because of
the chief minister's security.  He spent
around 1 1/2 hours at the paper during
 which dozens of cops and at least two
dozen vehicles belonging
to the CM's entourage hung around!
This blogger who works at this newspaper
was kept standing outside.
When the young politician, formerly a member
of Parliament was chosen to head Uttar Pradesh
as chief minister, he had promised to
cut down on unnecessary expenditure by
restricting the vehicles that follow him
to between 12 to 15. It seems he also
succumbed to sycophancy.  

The Chief Minister, Mr Akhlesh Yadav leaving
the Dinik Jagran newspaper building,
situation at the Jopling Road-Rana Pratap Singh Marg
crossing

The family here had to put up with the presence
of a policeman

I took these pics while I was kept standing outside.
This type of security only proves lack of confidence
and low standards!!