Return trip on 13.04.2014-Beware of the lengh before you start!!!!
After seeing high waitlists for return and plan of booking by tatkal, went to Tirunelveli PRS to find myself 10th in the queue at 9AM. As counter started, booking processed with majority bookings going for Nellai Express which slipped from 250AVBL at opening to 65 Avbl at 10:10AM. Mine was 1st ticket at that PRS as AVBL at 10:15 showed 174 against total seats of 194.
After trip to CAPE, took a taxi to reach NCJ at 15:40hrs to find the SCR...
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rake being pushed into the platform 1 by a GOC Alco. Boarded my coach S1 and occupied the LB and went to check the engine KJM WDM-3A doing the honours while a WAP4 slept on platform 1A with a boardless passenger belonging to PGT division. PF-2 was occupied by rake of NCJ-CAPE Pass ready to leave to CAPE to start its journey to Chennai Egmore.
This time chart gave a different look with tatkal seeming more like a PQWL quota- bookings from NCJ to KRR followed by KRR-SBC allotments in same berths- same case with NCJ-NMKL and NCJ-SA sectors with next allocactions towards SBC.
At sharp 16:25hrs the loco (We were 3rd from loco) honked hard and chugged, curving towards the TEN track as the TVC track deviated to the left. OHE poles gave us company indicating electric works in full swing on this section
The track was scenic filled with Western ghats nearing their end points and sea breeze cool. The wind belt of the South, the windmills gave us company as we blasted past the minor stations enroute. As we crossed Valliyur, windmills reduced and it was followed by birdlife- Egrets, herons, crows, mynahs, painted storks, openbilled storks, cormorants giving us company at each and every small pond/lake that we passed by. As we crossed the fields, cattle egrets gave a good view as they flew past hearing the honking loco. Kingfishers watched from available wires as parakeets made their way to their nests. But most adorable of all were the peacocks running around giving us company all the way past Maniyachi after which darkness enveloped
After rush past each and every station, we had reached Tirunelveli at 17:30hrs ahead of schedule by 15 mins. My father and me went to the catering stall and took packets of dosa and curd rice along with coffee to have early dinner. The dosas werent the oily hotel type but the soft home made type ones and curd rice was good. We boarded back the train just to find the Erode wDM-3D hauled CBE-NCJ pass making its way into PF-2 and the starter turning green.
Well a train travelling in evening has its difficulties. NCJ-SBC Express has seemed like an ICE for daily travellers from NCJ-MDU section especially from TEN as UR passengers overcrowded the UR's and made their way into S1. We blasted past Maniyachi and slowly came to halt at Kadambur where the TTE pushed out all the UR passengers from our coach and locked the doors. In the meantime Goc WDP-4B hauled 16127/29 link Express from chennai to guruvayur/Tuticorin blasted past us. We made a halt at Nalli outer and blasted past the station as Erode Alco hauled 56825/21 MV/ED-TEN Link passenger awaited for us. After quick halt at Kovilpatti, we pulled in to an unscheduled halt at tulukapatti where Erode wDM2 hauled puny rake of late running JAT-TEN link Express blasted past us.
Despite all these slowdowns, the lights of Tiruparankundram was spotted at 20:15hrs and we slowed down to enter Madurai at 20:30hrs again 15 mins ahead of schedule on Pf-2. Got down from train towards the milk stall for a glass of milk and banana as announcement went for empty berths in 12687/88 Madurai-Dehradun Express alogn with its schedule towards Chennai. Boarded the train just before it started at 20:50hrs and occupied the other side berth of my uncle to see the electric hauled Vaigai blasting past us just after Kudalnagar. After unscheduled halt at Kodai road, reached PF-2 of dindigul junction at 21:55hrs, 35 mins ahead of schedule just as VM-MDU pass left from the other side
To be contd....