4 September 2016: we leave home at 5:15AM in a ola reaching SBC at 5:35AM- the Kaveri has well gone now and the attempt is for 16231 from MV.. I go to the booking counter where long queues wait, The boards display 16231 arriving at 5:50 and Hampi at 6:10.. So what if I miss 16231...16591 is defnitely behind... queues move...5:45AM.. Erode WDM-3A twins chug into Pf-5 with 16231 and I am still 6 people away... Slowly queues move and my dad comes looking for me just as I collect the ticket.. Dad slightly tensed that we miss 16231 while i consoled saying Hampi is arriving... The Prince's of the SWR 12079 Jan shatabdi to SWR HQ 480 kms away and 12027 Chennai Shatabdi to SR HQ 360kms away wait to charge.. WAP7 of RPM leading the 12027 on Pf-6 while another stay on Pf-5. Erode Alco triplets wait on Pf-4...
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with 12677 to Ernakulam..
We get into PF-5 and walk.. SLR-UR-UR- Time ticking 5:57 AM.. The UR sports a lesser crowd with a full bay empty.. Immediately board it without thinking... WAP7 and WDP4 on Pf-6 and Pf-8 blow horn and began moving while our alco also charges up now moving out of PF-5.. 3 simultaneous departures '
Railfan Karthik whatsapp's me hearing am board 16231 his favourite train.. He remarked dont worry before 9 he will reach but he will get trolled by the 56233 pass that left at 5 in the last stretch.. We slowly pull out into Bangalore suburbs at 20kmph slowly moving to 50... 6:23AM KGI arrives 1st 12 km of journey taking 21 mins
We halt.. noonne boards our coach being the last.. After 2 min halt we move on leaving behind the crowd to the other intermediate stations waiting for the Hampi behind us.. We soon began blasting crossing the prominent Mysore road landmarks of NICE corridor, Wonderla and soon the last BMTC stop Bidadi is left behind 32 kms into journey... Soon we move past gliding into Ramanagaramand just as we come close to Channapatna at 7AM, WDP-4 charges on opposite side with the 16524/18 Bangalore Express from Karwar/Kannur Link.. My dad looked at me- 5:30 MYS 7AM channapatna means 7AM Channapatna 8:30 MYS- Then he smiled.. but officially 9AM so we might stop somewhere.. I reminded him about the passenger ahead
We slowly enter the Cauvery tributaries region and the bridge at Maddur marked our entry.. Just as we crossed the bridge and slowed down, it was time for next WDP-4 with the 56231 morning passenger to Bangalore.. We slowly enter into Maddur where Kazipet alcos stood with a Flat bed rake welcoming us... I expected us to halt but we had not.. Glided past and puzzled I looke dup the TT.. Yes the 16232 has a halt at Maddur while 16231 doesnt and we get cleared. Galloping past Hanakere, we reach Mandya at 7:34AM, the 92 km board marking us as we stop.. We had taken exactly 92 mins for the same @ run a ball
After a 2 min halt, with a crispy maddur vada and a nice coffee, we proceed.. The coffee and maddur vada relishing combined with the slowing down of the Blue WDG4 and a normal WDG4 combo hauled 16215 Chamundi from Mysore. The 5AM departed pass is now just ahead of us meaning we have to get trolled.. At each and every station... Yeliyur witnessed a 3 minute halt, Byadarahalli another 3 mins... Pandavapura witnessed a slow pass through at 8:15AM and we enter the single line section.. the South bridge crossed, we halt with SLR on the bridge into Srirangapatna... 5 long minutes later, proceed slowly across again onto the double line section after Paschimavahini and we again have a stop at Naganahalli to let the passenger go.. 2 mins later, the WDP4 moved past in SHF mode with full fury with tthe Malgudi rake (RSA the Kaveri express.)... We again proceed slowly and steadily and arrive onto PF-6 of Mysore at 8:48AM, ahead of schedule by 12 mins taking 2hrs 48 mins to cover (Last 45 kms taking 83 mins almost)... Just as we climbed the overbridge, WDP-4 enters Pf-1 with the 56282 Chamrajnagar Bangalore Pass with a huge crowd waiting to board... Looks like even a train every 20 mins once will get good patronage (Reason I found out on Monday evening when my KSRTC bus took 3 hrs 55 mins to cover the same stretch at twice the cost)
Thanks for reading...