Trip report- MYS Shatabdi- 10.09.2013
Reached MAS at 5.40AM only to be surprised to see the usual early morning commotion missing. Checked the display boards and to my shock, SBC Mail was scheduled to arrive at 6.45 late by more than 2 hrs and along with that Yercaud, Nilagiri,Cheran,MAQ mail all delayed by almost 3 hrs(line b/w Salem and Tirupattur the culprit?). SBC mail seems to have left SBC at 1AM and overtook Kaveri b/w KPD and AJJ. It would have been nightmarish for MAS controllers with so many delays causing havoc. As many as 7 PFs were unoccupied at MAS at 5.45AM(HWH Mail-9,Kovai-10,Sapthagiri-7-,DD-1,SHTB-2A the only occupants). TNP shunters were stationed at 3 PFs(no idea why-reminded me of Vivek's dialogue-whom are...
more... you making tea for in an empty stall ;) ).
So then, coming back to the topic of write-up, RPM Granddad was at the helm today and was buzzing. Grandpa showed no respect to last minute fellas who might have been rushing to board and departed 2 mins ahead of schedule. We moved past 7,8 stations and there were no signs of SBC Mail and finally mail with P4 screamed past us at Annanur(Mail after a very long time had overtook Yercaud at least technically)... to be continued