Link to first part - click here
Part 2
Vishakhapatnam to Secundrabad
Date – 28 November 2018
(NOTE - 1658 words as per MS WORD.)
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in 2nd reply of this same blog)
After touring the city, now it was time to say goodbye to this beautiful city on the Eastern coastline of India which truly is a gem of our country. Yes, Visakhapatnam made me fall in love with itself by the tourist places it possess, beaches, cleanliness and food. As I was staying just opposite to reservation counter at Chavulamadum Junction, so station was just a 5 min walk. So accordingly I checked out of hotel at 7:55 Pm and at around 8:05 PM I was at the platform no. 7 of VSKP where my train 20811 VSKP NED SF was stationed. I had a lower berth in S2 compartment. I was travelling on a lower berth first time after april 2014 (that one being in DDN BDTS Exp from Kota to BDTS). As I descended the stairs I saw that near about 75% seats were occupied and I presumed that my seat also would have been taken. Anyways, towing my luggage I reached S2/20 where, as per my assumptions a lady was occupying my berth. In my mind I said, “ Beta, be ready for an exchange”. I sat on the Aisle of berth no. 20 and started giving trip updates on IRI. The EOG sound was coming from the VSKP – SC GR which was stationed on PF 8 just beside us. As time went to 2030 hrs more and more passengers came and occupied the remaining seats. There was even a fight between 2 passengers. Both had RAC tickets with seat no. 23 but the person who had occupied that first was not ready to give other half seat to the late comer and claimed that his ticket status showed no. 23. Finally some people intervened and told him your ticket is not CNF and you have to share your seat with this passenger. In the meantime GR departed at its schedule time and moved towards BZA. But the passenger was not ready to listen. Seeing this hustle bustle, the TTE who was roaming just outside the coach came and showed the person the chart which definitely indicated both person’s name against berth 23. Finally the poor one got his share of seat 23. At its scheduled time of 2045 hrs the train honked and started. As we moved out of the PF as customory with trains, somebody was left out and thus chain was pulled. The train stopped after some distance. The honking pattern assured it was a chain pulling case and the RPFs ran here there on the PF to catch the culprit. Finally after around 5 mins we again started and this time without any interruption. As we rolled out, Chennai – Santragachi Antyodaya rolled into VSKP with its nearly half filled coaches. The train moved slowly and we reached our first halt Duvvada. Here also some people were there to board this train and after 1 min stop we departed. I got an offer of berth exchange to SU in another coach but I declined explaining that I will get down at Vijayawada and as you have to go to HYD, you might get uncomfortable in midnight. He said OK and went. Now all the passengers prepared to sleep and so was I. And thank god that lady didn’t ask me for a berth exchange. She made her bed at her allotted MB and went there. I also activated an alarm of 2 AM and slept. The coach was peaceful. No snoring or any child crying/shouting. I woke up at around 0145 hrs, before the alarm went and checked the status on WHERE IS MY TRAIN app (I love this app). Was surprised to see that we were approaching Vijayawada. I unchained my luggage and prepared to deboard. in around 20 min or so, the train was at BZA PF4, around 25 min earlier. I deboarded and straightaway went to the Executive lounge on PF1. At Vijayawada all the PFs are dotted with fresh fruit juice stalls. The attendant at lounge was sleeping and had put a stick into the frame in which door slides. So I wasn’t able to open it. I knocked at the glass door and in one knock he woke up and welcomed me with a smile, probably a fake one as he surely must not have been expecting passengers at that odd hour. The lounge was totally empty. Not a single person. It was clean and suitably cooled. I took the 2 hrs stay + Bathing kit combo. After resting for 1 hr I completed my morning chores and switched on the geyser to heat the water. I was waiting for the water to heat when another passenger entered the lounge. He straightaway took out a bedsheet, arranged two sofas and a table to make a temporary bed for him and went to sleep. I went for a bath and the hot water was enough to energise me for the next leg – BZA – SC. At 0445 my 2 hrs completed and attendant asked if I wanted to leave. I replied affirmatively and he brought the bill amounting Rs 295. I paid and left. In the mean while 2 more guests checked into the lounge. My next train 12713 Satvahana Exp was supposed to depart from PF 6, so I moved in that direction. Ratnachal exp to Vizag was stationed on PF5 with its shining rake. An additional 2S coach DE 1 was attached to it. The board showed 12897 PDY BBS SF to arrive on PF 6 and in few moments CGS confirmed by showing its coach numbers. The Ticket Checking staff was ready to board the train as assigned with the charts. Very few passengers were there to board 12897 but a good no. deboarded. After a halt of 10 mins 12897 departed. The SL and GEN coaches were fairly occupied. After 12897’s departure the rake of Satvahana exp was shunted. The rake looked clean from outside. After clicking a pic boarded the train, only to find that this time too another lady occupied my window seat. But how can I leave my WS. I told her that it was my seat C1/35/WS. She asked me to sit on her seat i.e. 36. I was on the 2-seater side in 3*2 arrangement. I murmured “What the Hell is this now”? After repeated attempts and my stern denial to not leave my WS finally she gave up and gave me way to move to my seat. As I sat on my seat, a newspaper was provided (As per norm in BZA originating intercities). This time cooling was perfect, not chilling one like Ratnachal. I removed the curtains and waited for the train departure. At scheduled time Ratnachal departed towards Vizag. At 0625 we also started with a big jerk. CBC rake, you see. As we moved away from BZA, freights started appearing and we passed through 4-5 freights in quick succession. Slowly we made our way towards Telangana and in 45 mins we were in India’s newest state. Our first stop, Madhira was arrived dot on time and with one min halt we departed. Some 1-2 seats left in C1 was occupied here. The pantry guys started making their presence here with different culinary items that they had. tea, coffee, cutlets, omelette, vada, idli, upma, etc etc. I had also heard about its tasty cutlets but did not try as I wasn’t hungry. Other passengers relished the dishes and ordered for more. The items were selling very fast as it was breakfast time. The train raced towards its next destination tearing through the Deccan plateau. Arrived at Khammam some mins late. Almost a dozen of passengers deboarded and little less boarded my coach. Towards the Non AC end I could see that it was full and passengers were standing in the gangways and near to doors and vestibules. Even in this crowd the pantry guys made their way to sell their items. In next hour stations to the likes of Dornakal Jn, Mahbubabad, Kesamudram was catered to by the train while I slept. I woke up when the train was nearing Warrangal. Here a good sizeable crowd was waiting for the train. Our coach was full so our coach did not witness any boarding but I could see the crowd at the gate of adjacent non AC coach. Pushing and shouting helped all of them to get inside the train before departure. Now time was to part from the NDLS – MAS main line at Kazipet Jn. Here also people were waiting, but where will they board. All the coaches must be full. But thankfully some people deboarded at Kazipet and thus space was available for the passengers of Kazipet. After Kazipet the speed dropped. We were hardly touching even 90 kmph. At this speed we were going and further slowed down as we approached to a surrounding which I have seen in many pictures on IRI. I tried to remember but in vain. Opened my WIMT app and it said Raigir. Oh yes, the Raigir curve it was, with the beautiful hillocks along the trackside. After we negotiated the curve, speed was increased and we rushed towards City of Nizam, Hyderabad. We crossed some trains and entered the suburban Hyderabad. The train again lowered its speed while approaching Moula Aly. Here we met Nizamuddin – Coimbatore Kongu express parting ways with us to move towards Kacheguda. We passed through the home of Lalla Gs of IR i.e. the Lallaguda ELS. After crossing the ELS we were given red signal only to change to Amber after a couple of minutes. We were given entry to PF 8 of Secundrabad. Though this trip ended here but as said by a member it remained incomplete without tasting the cutlets of this train. No problem, there is always a next time. Enjoyed my ride in another superstar ICE of SCR. SCR maintainance is top notch.
Pics to follow by noon.