Trip Report SBC to MDU 20th Jan 2014
after a long gap, it was again the trip by 16235 and the 1st time after it changed to the new number- took some time to actually understand my ticket with 16236
Anyway reached Bangalore city junction at 8:35PM as 16526 Island Express with Erode WAP4 rested on PF-1. Saw that engine was just behind the cement ramp and hence walked to there just to find the KJM WDM2 shunter getting clearance from PF-2 as it moved with rake of 56513 KIK-SBC pass. PF-3 had...
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a WAP7 at the end though it was 12678 standing as 12609 from MAS occupied Pf-4. AJJ WAP1 with 56213 TPTY Fast pass was getting ready for departure from Pf-6. PF-5 was the expected platform for our train as 16592 Hampi Express was expected on PF-6
finished the dinner i brought from home and my colleague joined me. In the meantime a GTL wDM-3A brought in WDP-4B-40017 onto Pf-7 and halted. Sanghamithra was expected around 9:40PM
At 9Pm , as usual sans announcements, light peeped out at corner of Pf-5 as Erode WDM-3A twins entered the platform with 16236 10 mins ahead of schedule. at 9:25PM, we got the starter and the twins gave a loud honk marking our departure. to our right was the entry of 12607 Lalbagh Express entering into Pf-4
After customary halt at BNC, we left soon- Unluckily I had been allotted berth B1 17 and 18 and my colleague refused to take 17 meaning I had to take the berth-the coach was a quite neat 2004 made coach with curtains in each and every bay and toilets were very neat- Being an offical trip, couldnt afford to stay awake but anyway managed till BYPL. At BYPL, expected to wait for clearance but looked like 11013, 12027 and 12295 didnt want to spoil us and clearance was green. As the train took the turn, I went off to sleep at 22:15 hrs just as we approached Carmelram
ussssssssssssss!!!! Sound of an alco woke me up as i felt we slowing down. Time was 2:30AM and we were entering a station- Salem junction- keeping close to time. the Alco was most likely the 16528 Cannanore-Yeshvantapur Express
It was a good sleep again and I woke up to sound of alarm ringing at 6:15AM- my train was moving fast and I guessed it could be a day of late run- The sun slowly started to peep over the mountains as dawn broke
At 6:35AM we slowed to down to halt at Kodaikkanal road station. So we were moving close to time. We picked speed soon to reach sholavandhan at 6:50AM and left soon- As we neared Samayanallur, GOC WDP-4B hauled 12636 Vaigai Express blasted past. slowly crossed Vaigai river to enter Madurai junction Pf-2 at 7:15AM ahead of schedule by 5 mins as Pandiyan occupied Pf-1, Duronto occupied Pf-3 and 56701 Punalur-Madurai pass occupied Pf-4
Thanks for reading