Trip Report :For a Railfan, a trip by the day train always offers a certain delight. How many ever times the section was done in night, a day time run on the same creates an excitement- and especially if its a FEDL section. So when I suddenly plan to leave to Chennai for a time-pass, Lalbagh with 280 seats vacant seemed inviting to refuse
So was the booking. But 280 is a small amount of seats to get a Window and I have to settle for a middle 23 in D8 of the train on the morning of the 16th of December 2017. A Freezy Wintry morning to wake up for and a quick hot water bath and coffee, with Idly packed...
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for the breakfast,i am off for the 6 hrs long with scornful faces of my parents seeing me off for a major thing- A Day train on a Weekend morning and the rush and uncomfortable journey that I would have to endure. Morning 505AM BMTC 215H arrives from the Kothnur , more services operating on this route now rather than the older route 2 which has lost its major share of crowd to BMRCL as well as 215H route
A quick run with closed windows thanks to the freezing Wintery winds across the 10% filled early morning streets of the city famous for its traffic, the 10 km journey is completed in 20 mins and I reach the Railway station at 0530, standing in front of D8 coach which has not yet been opened. The quick look at the TV screen reveals that 12658 of previous night has already left at around 0520 , the incoming 12691 weekly to SSPN from Chennai expected around 6AM, 16231 from Mayiladuthurai already entering PF5 ahead of schedule, announcement going on for arrival of Hampi at PF8 close to schedule. The lights on, doors opened and I occupy the 24 for a relaxed start for a few minutes before my coach gets crowded up
Passengers trickle in slowly and enquiries go around for whether its a Reserved r Unreserved. Doing our best to send out the UR passengers atleast at start, we try occupying places comfortably. A middle aged couple at the back seat seem enquiring something. Turned back and they asked how come all seats are facing in single direction instead of opposites. The opposite coaches have been done away for this train few years back and now all coaches are now in the typical bus pattern. My coach was a 07 made coach. I open the window for the fresh air. Our RSA pair stands next to us , as if telling 12608- You go fast, and return as me, I will come slow and return as you
Announcements galore for the departing lines, with 12028, 12677 leaving at their scheduled times. We too leave at sharp 630 with a sharp horn indicating bye... A slow run across the points, to cross the KJM Alcos hauled the "Late runner" 12785 from KAcheguda, waiting at the Home for entry to PF-4.. Wow!!! So this train sometimes knows to come in before 0645 too... At BNC, GOC WDP4D enters with the 16235 slightly late.
A quick stop start to load in a majority of passengers and emptying the platform, we give a start for a sedate run. A slow cruise past BNCE, the next in line was a quick acceleration across the lines from YPR, to run in opposite to the 12863 HWH-YPR, taking the BYPL loop and proceeding towards YPR, deviating from SBC track. A quick halt at KJM and the train is now full, my Window taken by a senior citizen and Aisle by a IT guy. So atleast in between 2 men for space
AJJ WAG5 leaves from KJM with the 16220 TPTY CMNR "So-called" Express and trailed at Home by Erode WAP4 hauled 16525 CAPE-SBC Island . Being in the middle in theNon-track side is a major bane and hence major trains on opposite go unnoticed. Speeds trickle close to 3 figure, crossing it over past Whitefield as a Car-carrier waits at the loop. 102-103-102 and we were well past and arrive at BWT at 0740, a 70 minute run from SBC. TTE in meanwhile checks the tickets and evicts some of the UR passengers to move towards UR coaches, while some unoccupied seats allotted to some UR holders after collecting the reservation charges
The 66529 MEMU pulls in the opposite from Kuppam, filled to the footboard. A major indicator that Bangalore has people who use local trains and a dedicated track for suburban is required. For 66529 is not the 1st in line.. It followed 2 expresses and its going to follow 2 other MEMU/DMU from BWT. and still had a major share boarding. A DMU bound to KQZ awaits, and crowd from our train gets down to change over. We leave after a 2 minute halt
The Express runs stopped for time being, its time for freights on opposite. Post breakfast and cool winds, one of the fan switches on with the luggage of passenger pressing against it. The chilness is unbearable and the switch is immediately located but sends the wrong fan to halt. The actual culprit was behind and that too was swithced off
My eyes prepare to close- commotion across.. A family of 8 has arrived, and are the original occupants of the seats so allotted by TTE as not turned up. Issues galore, voice raised, calmed down slowly.. Boarded D2 at KJM as they were late and they have slowly made it to reach D8. Crowd builds up again but TTE evicts the UR passengers to safety of next coach. Hardly 15 people standing in our coach.. Not bad for a 2S
A clear run across the Eastern ghats, the sun proudly proclaiming its presence but not indicating its temperature, the TPT byepass is sent off, the freight line is sent above and the CBE track is welcomed to join.. WAP7 proudly horns saying its finished descending as the watch ticks to 0848, 2 hr 18 mins for 150 kms, and 1 hr 8 mins for 85 kms.. A quick stop and I look around for the locos.. WAG7 ED, WAG7 KZJ, WAG9 LGD all wait for their clearances at the ends as the passenger tracks cuts across. The 12007 Shatabdi slowly pulls across the station slightly late running
We are soon sent off, and we accelerate soon to 100, maintaining a 105 for a short period, before screeching brakes are applied to slow down to 60-50-40 tak tak tak stop.... and a immediate start from 25 again to greet Vaniyambadi with a rapid acceleration to cross the 12675 Kovai behind a WAP4..Again a slow down before Vinnamangalam, with again a rapid acceleration and the culprit is revealed.. KZJ WAG7 hauled BCNA rake is looped off and we are sent into acceleration again .. A rapid run shows off- A Swift dezire overtakes us entering Vinnamangalam and now the car is just sent back scurrying with the speed. A Volvo on the national highway looks dazzled. Oh My God-- what was that which went across- Was it some lightning.. The volvo races back to keep up as we pull into Ambur for a halt of exactly a minute but with good damage.. 30 kms taken 30 mins as we keep close to the midway mark
The quick stop start acceleration sends us flying past the Volvo again, before the National highway covers us over with the flyover. WAP7 with Kovai shatabdi welcomes us at Melpatti, while GYM sees a Muscular Seshadri toning his muscles.. Reason is clear when barely a signal later, 22625 Double Decker chases him on heels. A high speed crossing and race on opposite.
A run later, at 0958, the line from VM crosses over signalling our KPD arrival. A WDM7 looks cross waiting on a side.. WAP1 Arakkonam welcomes us to AJJ.... WAIT!!!!! WAP1 AJJ for Brindavan??.. A WDM3A lying silent is behind WAP1, and behind it the sleeper coach.. 56261 AJJ SBC pass at KPD.. Oh where is the beloved Brindavan
The pass leaves as soon as we enter.. A 2 minute halt, we are given proceed from PF-2.. A WAP1 keeps its acceleration going as if telling WAP7.."Go ahead son you have a long way but I still have the power.. giving a parallel exit from KPD". As a true Senior Citizen, the WAP1 goes off to its pilgrimage to Lord Venkateshwara's abode, taking the curve, as the grandon heads to the beaches of the Capital for enjoyment.. The VM-KPD-TPTY pass bids us farewell
WAP7 hauled Brindavan slows in opposite direction as we rapidly accelerate.. A good run for hardly 10 mins, before we encounter a slow down.. At Tiruvalam, we enter into the loop, as a Plasser stands on the main line and workmen inspect the tracks.. A long slow crawl all the way till the Pennar bridge, where another SR encountered. Post the bridge, we try showing our true colours but again for a loop run at Mukundarayapuram with another inspection.. Runs were turning terrible coz tas we accelerate again, we encounter another slow down.. This time for the Walajah Road halt
Post Walajah Road, we race past, and a WAG7 hauled HYB-QLN Sabari special running merely an hour late, rushes past.. A stop start again at Sholingur, we seem to make up for the lost time but we are again slowed.. This time at Melpakkam a.k.a AJJN curve where a WAG9 hauled BOXN has been given a clearance from RU side to take the KPD line while we have to wait.. Quite a time lost as we pull into AJJ at 1108, 68 mins for 60 kms with high slowdown..
A brutal acceleration from AJJ as the LP decides that the loss needs to be made up.. Putlur and Tiruvalangadu are blasted across.. A slow down at Manavur and Egattur and a point change slow down at Tiruvallur sets the pace again.. A fast pace acceleration as the points are crossed at TRL at 1123.. The run seems fine.. But SR decides its not to be a day for Lalbagh.. Inspection carried on the slow lines between TRL and AVD and hence, the EMU that proceeded ahead of us converted into a Fast EMU.. And in turn Lalbagh has to turn itself into a Fast passenger, stopping wherever the eMU decides to halt.. Speed, slow, speed slow as opposite fast track sees a flurry of EMU's going towards destination... A considerable slow down at Avadi, and a very slow run through ABU increases the delay.. The EMU is pulled back to slow line past ABU, we increase the speed now to blast through the remaining section but the damage is done.. We are way behind schedule.. At 1210 we are let into PER where a major passengers deboard..
A sudden acceleration sees us bidding a jiffy byebye to Vyasarpadi . The Basin Bridge Home is seen through at a slow speed as 22637 West Coast moves past towards AJJ.. Thought we are clear but we are held up near the Electric trip shed as a AJJ WAG5 comes slowly and halts in BBQ. The train quickly comes up to catch with us, the 57240 Bitragunta Chennai Central passenger overtakes us, as another AJJ WAG5 comes up on opposite with the 12658 rake being shifted out of MAS.. We are slowly given starter to enter into PF-8 of MAS, as a TNP WDM7 waits with the rake of 12696 TVC-MAS Express to be pulled out as Garudadri rake rests on PF-7 .. The Breezy journey, later turned into a slow trot all the way, ends 25 mins late at MAS as we screeech to a halt at 1240 in MAS..
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