PART - 2 : Priority in the home division.
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For those who have not read part - 1 : /blog/post/5903996
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Amidst that huge crowd, somehow I managed to come to platform -...
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1, which was comparatively very much free amidst the bustling crowds at platform 2 and 4 respectively. Meanwhile saw a Gooty based EMD and Guntakal based diamond twins waiting at the yard. Wondering which among the both will be powering my train, went towards the IRCTC canteen for breakfast, had 4 idlis for rs. 70, which is kind of overpriced, given the size of idlis, but okay to sate the hunger at that instance.
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After breakfast, headed towards the katpadi end of platform - 1. Meanwhile, noticed that three DEMU coaches were attached to the end of the express bound to Puri, awaiting it's departure shortly, wondering where would that be detached. Took some rest sitting there, some track works were going on at the end of platform - 1. Ten minutes after puri express was given starter, an express (passenger) from Villupuram made its entry with Erode based WAP - 1. Made order for my lunch from zomato and waited for some half an hour, got a call to come and recieve order outside and recieved the same, came and saw the display panel which displayed the regular weekly special which runs to akola is supposed to depart from platform - 5 on its scheduled time as there was 30 more minutes to depart.
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Walked towards platform 5, was eager and anxious at the same time, wondering which one among the two mentioned previously would be leading my train. Saw from some distance, orange diamond twin WDM - 3D, 11122 + 11169T, was chugging slowly towards platform - 5, to get attached to my train, witnessed that attachment process, was enjoying the beauty of Guntakal twin ALCo for a moment. Now was wondering where would me my coach. As side lower was allotted after charting at S1, wished that S1 was at front half of the train so that I can enjoy the honking, chugging and speeding train audio-visually. Was happy enough to note that my coach was 7th. Prayed before entering the coach, to ensure my safe arrival at the next transit point and the destination. Entered the coach, to realise that my berth was track sided. Though majority of the route is a single line till date, yes it is good. Still 20 more minutes was there. So, severed my luggage, went and refreshed myself, and had lunch within my train was supposed to depart. Immediately after I complete my lunch and threw my waste, the diamond twins giving a loud honk, indicating departure...
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Our train departed bang on time, and after clearing the loop lines, ALCo started chugging it's heart out through the suburbs of Tirupati. Was able to see the sapthagiri from the window of my train, made prayers for success of my exam and this trip. It was a sunny weather, with some heat, the air was blazing through the window as our train picked up speed, which was quite pleasant, and seeing the seven hills, and enjoying the musical sound of ALCo chugging, except for the sense of tongue and olfaction, it was a treat.
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Our train continued to maintain the top speed of the section as the intercity from coimbatore, which is supposed to arrive it's destination in short while, was looped at chandragiri, and some WAP - 4 was leading that train. Pakala arrived in no time, and I started experiencing some effects of post meal (was slightly dozing off). Our train departed pakala on time, i was eager to see that section after it got electrified. Picked up top speed of the section after some time. Terrain started changing after our train crossed damalacheruvu, witnessed the changing gradients, ups and downs the train went. Our train arrived pileru at 10 to 2pm. was waiting more than 5 minutes. Believed that it should be crossing of some train. after 10 minutes of wait, I witnessed a chocolate beast from vijayawada, pulling a puny rake of delayed Guntakal - tirupati passenger, which was delayed around an hour. That train had good crowd.
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This was the first instance that I am witnessing a train hauled by an electric loco, BZA WAG - 5, hauling a train in this section. After our train departed pileru, started studying for exam for some time, meanwhile enjoying the high speed action of my train, which was hauled with diesel based power. Madanapalle road came in no time and our train departed the same after a brief halt. Remembered how pole free it was before few years and now, with poles, it was adding further beauty to this station. I started dozing off, slept for some time, woke up some 10 minutes later, anticipating one another scheduled crossing. Woke up before mulakala cheruvu.
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I was continuously checking the running position of Nagercoil express, and NTES showed that it departed Kadiri. Within some moments, when my train kept speeding up, noticed some WAP - 7 hauled train being looped. Though expected the reverse to happen, it was Kalyan based one, looped with the four weekly train to nagercoil from Mumbai, which is supposed to undergo reversal after 2 hours of its run. Arrived kadiri with a delay of nearly 40 minutes. Again dozed off with the revision video in my phone, woke up to find that my train was flying at MPS and 10 more kilometres to arrive Dharmavaram. The speed it maintained among that plateau terrain, and the weather, was a sight to behold till date. The scenes of town arrived at no time, indicating that we were nearing dharmavaram. We arrived on time at platform - 4.
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One thing I would definitely suggest as a common traveller, one must definitely attempt a day time travel in the section of pakala - dharmavaram, which will definitely provide you with lots of visual treats, especially in winter, the climate also will be pleasant. Noticed the LHB rake of Dharmavaram - Vijayawada (now extended to machilipatnam) via prodattur was sleeping at platform - 2 with some Lallaguda based WAP - 7.
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As our train was looping out of dharmavaram, clearing more than 2 loops to enter the double line section of dharmavaram - kalluru, a WAG 9 based freight was about to enter dharmavaram. As we clear the loop, our train started picking up some speed and that was one among the four double line section this train would witness. Our train arrived at Ananthapuram at around 30 mts after departure and a good no of boardings here. After halting for a moment, our train chugged our of anantapuram. Surprised to found that the section of dharmavaram to kalluru being fully doubled, against the single line it used to be at Ananthapuram before few years. travelled in this section after a long while.
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As dusk was slowly settling up, our train was also picking up good speed, realising that could not peep much outside the window thereafter, took the notes and started studying for exam. After some 50 minutes, noticed a line branching out at the right side of my train, and making some elevation, after negotiating a curve. And those elevated track was surrounded with platforms with station boards mentioning "gooty fort", byepass station for gooty from Ananthapuram side to tadipatri side. And a WAG - 9 twin hauled BOXN rake was sleeping. We simultaneously negotiate a huge C - shaped curve and arrive gooty at 25 past 6. Halted for less than a minute and our train made a loud honk and flashing green torch, indicating the departure. Switched tracks, as we cross the den of EMDs and WAG - 9, the gooty diesel loco shed, then we started accelerating towards dhone, again entering the single line.
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I was very much surprised to find that gooty - dharmavaram part was completely doubled, and was happy. Since I was traveling after few things, was not aware of the conditions. Meanwhile, i started looking at IRCTC to check ticket availability for my return journey, and trains having huge waitlist even in the mid of the week, realised that the only remaining option was premium tatkal. Sun started setting as we again start to switch tracks, indicating the arrival of pendekallu. We enter the second double line section out of four, which is very brief one, only untill dhone junction. We immediately start to accelerate once we enter the mainline towards dhone, and hit MPS in no time. Already it was dark outside, and clock was ticking 7 pm, and started feeling hungry already, wondering where to avail the dinner, and thought to buy at dhone, was tracking with WIMT, the speed and position of our train. After a continuous run at maximum speed after pendekallu for 25 minutes, we make an arrival at platform - 1 of Dhone junction, at 7.25 pm, against its scheduled arrival of 8.05pm, arriving 40 minutes early. Two frieghts were sleeping adjacent to each other and as we arrive, announcement was made for howrah bound amaravathi express to arrive shortly at platform 2.
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Given that there is less crossings, it got excellent priority at home division to arrive 40 minutes early at division handover point. in part - 3, let's see if i arrive my next transit point on time. Till then, ciao...
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Thanks for patiently reading, apologies for writing in a lengthier way, since this is one such trip close to my heart..
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Part - 3 : /blog/post/5961290