Hi all. Here is the rip report for this train on 20/5/13, Monday.
The last leg of our Chennai trip was to end in our trip on the DD. We had set the alarm for 5 am on Monday morning but Murphy's Law kicked in. We woke up only by 5:45 am. After a quick bath, we decided to take a MTC Pallavan to Central since walking 1.5 Km to Mambalam, catching a Suburban train and walking again from Park did not seem a good option. Luckily 11G, the Central bound bus arrived immediately, and soon took us to Central by 6:45 am. The DD rake was shunted on PF 7 by a TNP WDM 2S loco. Our seats were C1 L 14 and 15, which to my delight had a window and the parallel line was on our side. The...
Read more...

train was full of kids who had invariably occupied the window seats(including one 20 year kid). The train left at 7:40 am sharp. PF 5 had the Kolluthaatha of IR trains, the GT ready to go for a bath and maintenance. The acceleration seemed like an EMU no doubt helped by the WAP 7. We soon left MAS behind us and proceeded along while having a breakfast of Pongal-Vada which was good but our standards were being measured by the Karpagambal Mess standards,so it seemed ok in comparison. After we left Avadi,a pleasant surprise awaited us. A WAG 9 had flat bed wagons full of Army Tanks.A mighty sight. After this,we crossed the Kaveri Express and headed to the first stop. AJJ. Nobody boarded the train,in fact the train was full at Central itself. Soon, we had left AJJ behind us and on our way to Katpadi. Just before. The empty rake of VPM-KPD Passenger led by an ED WDM 3 was in a siding. At some unkown station before Gudiyattam, the AJJ-SBC Passenger was overtaken and an uneventful run to JTJ happened. As we entered JTJ, the YPR-TPTY ICE led by an AJJ WAM 4 exited and as we left JTJ, SBC-MAS express entered JTJ and in a minute's time, CBE-MAS ICE was at JTJ outer. After some serious displays of speed, jerking and talking to some kids in the front seat, the train reached BWT. KJM Followed as did BNC and we were in Namma Bengaluru. My friend and me decided to take the Kaveri Spl. to KGI. The Tumkur Passenger was n Pf 8 and everyone thought Kaveri would arrive on 8 itself but at 1:45 pm, an announcement was made that the train would come on 9. We mad a dash to 9 to find the train already entering the platform led by twin GY WDG 4's. Many people were not aware of this change in platform and had to board by ccrossin the tracks. At 1:55 the train left and deposited us at KGI. My friend took a G-6 to Shirke while I walked back home to end a great journey.

Here is my trip report for train 12658 travelled on 17/5/13,friday.
My best buddy and I decided to make our next trip after Pondi to Madras. We had originally planned to take 16732 from KGI to SBC. But it turned out that Thoothukudi Exp was scheduled to arrive at KGI only by 8:45pm. Instead,the TPTY Passenger arrived at 8pm,so we chose to board that train. The entire train was full except one coach which had sufficient place to stand. Incidentally,the WDM3 of the train had a lady loco pilot! The train arrived after 30 min at SBC on PF6 where a huge crowd was waiting to Tirumala to have a darshan of lord Balaji. On PF 5,the MAS-SBC Express led by a WAP4 had already arrived and ready for maintenance so that she could leave as Lalbagh Express the next day....
Read more...

On Pf 7,Hampi Express was set to leave for Hubli with an inspection car in tow. We made our way to PF1 slowly since Sanghamitra Express had just arrived. We made ourselves comfortable near the S3 of 12658. A WDM2S of KJM Shed came and took away Sanghamitra Express by 10pm. In the meantime,Island Express with an ED WAP4 left,Lalbagh Express with a LGD WAP7 arrived,and 16732 left at 10pm after some issues with water on board(repeated announcements were being made on this). Our rake was backed up at 10:20pm. We dumped our bags on our berths(19 and 22,both UB),and got our tickets checkead at SBC itself. The train left at 10:55pm and the LGD WAP7 was showing it's speed. At BNC,my dad's colleague aand his family boarded the train and we spent a good hour talking with him who colorfully gave an insight of the railways' working. By midnight,we slept and the in 4 hours,the train had reached MAS... We left nearly 20min late but were in MAS by 4:10.... We bid goodbye to my dad's colleague,walked to Park and boarded a suburban train to Mambalam to kick start our Chennai Adventure.
Hope this is not too long. Nandri,,,