Pamban Sethu - இது தான் நம்முடைய ராமர் சேது - Darnish C

#Know your train #Knowyourtrain
#12669/70 Ganga Kaveri Express is a Bi-weekly superfast train service, connecting Chennai in Southern India to Chhapra in Bihar.
#Name: #Etmology
It is named after two Indian Rivers; River Ganges (which flows in the holy city of Varanasi) and Kaveri (a River which flows in the Southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu).
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#History
Innagurated on Feb 16, 1977 by Kamalpati Tripathi between Madras (now Chennai) and Varanasi, was terminating at Chennai Beach station, from where an MG Ganga Kaveri Express used to run to Rameswaram through the Kaveri river basin. Later the superfast status was erased, made to terminate at Madras Central instead of Madras Beach and connection with Madras-Rameswaram Exp removed and name changed from Ganga Kaveri Exp to Madras - Varanasi Express. Thus increased halts at Katni, Pipariya, Betul and Sirpur Kagaz Nagar, converted from one-night to two-nights train, slowed down by more than 3 hours, Green and Yellow colored Rakes withdrawn and AC sleeper service introduced. Later, in 90's Jaffer Sharief introduced the train which is running currently as Ganga Kaveri Express for the benefit of South Indian tourists, willing to travel to holy city of Varanasi. This train was extended to Chhapra in December 2006.
#Regions:
Bihar - Bhojpuri region
Uttar Pradesh - purvanchal, lower doab
Madhya Pradesh - bagelkhand, Mahakoshal
DECCAN PLATEAU
Maharashtra: Vidarbha
Andhra Pradesh: Telangana, Northern Circars, Velanadu, coastal Andhra (Coromandel Coast)
#Zone #Division: This train belongs to Southern Railway Chennai Division. Enroute it passes through #SCR: Vijayawada division, Secunderabad division, #CR: Nagpur division, #WCR: Bhopal division, Jabalpur division, #NCR: Jhansi division (no stoppages), Allahabad division, #NR: Lucknow Charbagh division, #NER: Varanasi division.
#Base: Basin Bridge (Chennai)
#States: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
#Route:
Chennai - Itarsi: Electrified Double line Broad Gauge
Itarsi - Allahabad: Un-Electrified Double line Broad Gauge
Allahabad - Chhapra: Un-Electrified Single line Broad Gauge
#Loco:
Chennai - Itarsi: WAP4/WAM4
Itarsi - Chhapra: Wdm3A/Wdm3D
#Coach, RSA:
ICF, RSA with 12691/92 Chennai-SSPN Express
#Halts: 22 halts, 319 intermediate Stations
#Speed
Average Speed: 56 km/hr
Average Moving Speed: 58 km/hr
Highest Average speed: between Nagpur and Pandhurna- 85 km/hr
Lowest Average: Bhadohi and Varanasi- 36 km/hr
#Soil:
bihar: Alluvial soil
Uttar Pradesh: Alluvial soil
Madhya Pradesh: Alluvial Soil, Red and yellow soil
Maharashtra: black-cotton soil
Andhra Pradesh: Red sandy soil (Telangana), Alluvial soil (coastal Andhra )
Tamil Nadu (Chennai): shale soils, sandstone and clay soils
#Mountain ranges:
Vindhya Range
Satpura Range
Eastern Ghats
#Rivers crossing
Suvarnamukhi: Nayudupeta
Pennar: Nellore
Paleru: Singarayakonda
Vijayawada: Krishna
Manair: Bisugirsharif near Karimnagar
Godavari: Mancherial
Penganga: Ballarshah
wardha: Hinganghat, Wardha
Tapti: Multai
Tawa: Bagra Tawa near Itarsi
Narmada: Vikrampur
Satna: Satna
Yamuna : Naini near Allahabad
Ganga: Allahabad
Varuna: Varanasi
Gomti:Rajwari
Ghaghara: Chhapra
#Languages
It pases through Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Bhojpuri and Urdu speaking Regions.
#Photo Credits
1. Train Board: 462809
2. Chennai Central station 778939
3. Ganga-Kaveri Express hauled by ET WDM-3A # 16523R 532352
4. Varanasi Cantonment Junction 531452
5. Ganga Aarthi (click here)
6. Gopuram of Kashi Vishwanath Temple (click here)
7. Kashi Vishwanath (click here)
8. Dashashwamedh Ghat (click here )

Pictures: Rameshwaram Express Nameboard and rakes, Kapaleeshwara Temple, Chennai, Ramanatha Swamy Temple, Rameshwaram, The Dhanushkodi Pier, and Pamban Viaduct and Indira Gandhi Road Bridge.
#KnowYourTrain: The Boat Mail (aka Rameshwaram Express). #TrainNo: 16101/02 (WEF September 1, 2013; Old No. 16701/02)
#Objective: At the time of introduction: To connect India and Sri Lanka; Current: Provides connection to the island of Jyotirlinga Shrine of Rameshwaram from the capital city of #TN, #Chennai. Runs almost parallel to the Bay of Bengal.
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#Etymology: The name of the train commemorates the 19th century communication service between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka mail service.
#InauguralRun: On the present route, February 24, 1914 (#Centurion)
#RakeMaker: ICF, #RakeSharing: Dedicated Rake, #Loco: Usually #TNP WDM3A
#Distance: 667 km, #Halts: 22, #IntermediateStations: 117
#Speed: 47 kmph, #FastestSection: 77 PMK-RMD, #SlowestSection: 8 PBM.
#NativeZone: SR (intrazone train), #State: #TN (intrastate train).
#DaysofRun: Daily, #Classes: 1AC, 2AC, 3AC, SL, UR, SLR.
#MajorLanguages: Tamil.
#Districts: Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram.
#MajorTowns/Cities/Attractions En Route:
#ChennaiEgmore (MS): 6th century World Heritage sites of Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram, the land of 1000 temples.
#Chengalpattu (CGL), #Villupuram (VM)
#Cuddalore (CUPJ): Alight here for Puducherry (#Pondicherry) Shri Aurobindo Ashram and the French global city of Auroville, 25 km. Buy Panruti jackfruit and cashews here.
#Chidambaram: World-famous NatarajaTemple
#Mayiladuthurai (MV): Navagraha Temples and other destinations like Nagore Dargah, Velankanni Church, Poompuhar Beach, and Vedaranyam/Kodiyakarai Bird Sanctuary.
#Kumbakonam (KMU): NavagrahaTemples (Temples for Nine Planets –Dosha Nivarana Temples) and lots of other temples. Requires at least 4-5 days to make non-stop visits to all major temples of Kumbakonam and its surroundings.
#Thanjavur (TJ): 10th century Brahadeeshwara Temple, Maratha Palace, and Tiruvayaru, the Birth Place of St. Thyagaraja, the father of Carnatic Classical Music.
#Tiruchirapalli (TPJ): Magnificent Sriragam Temple, 2nd century Grand Anicut Dam (still intact) built by the Grand Cholas, and RockFort Temple.
#Pudukottai (PDKT)/#Karaikkudi (KKDI): Chettinad Palace and Cuisine.
#Sivagangai (SVG)
#Ramanathapuram (RMD): Ervadi Dargah.
#Rameshwaram (RMM): Pamban/IG Road Bridge, The Jyotirlinga Shrine of Ramanatha Swamy, Tracing the footpath of Lord Ram, Pitru Pinda Dhaan Kshetra, and Marine Biosphere.
#MajorRivers/Lakes/Water Bodies:
#MS: Couum and Adyar
#CGL: Kolavai Lake adjacent to the station, Palar after CGL, and Madurantagam Lake
#VM: Panampet Lake after VM
#CUPJ: South Pennar before Panruti, Kedilam before CUPJ, Vellar after CUPJ, and Coleroon after CDM
#MV: #Cauvery.
#TJ: Arasalar at KMU and Vennar, a tributary of Cauvery, before TJ. Also runs parallel to #Cauvery from MV to TPJ along one of the most fertile regions and the #ricebowl of TN.
#PDKT: Vellar
#RMD: Vaigai before PMK and Bay of Bengal (Palk Straits) before RMM.
#BriefHistory:
The Boat Mail’s history is a lot older than the popular perception. In the 19th century, the Boat Mail commenced its journey as a rail-cum-ferry service and was operated from #Madras (#Chennai) and #Talaimannar (#SriLanka) via #Tuticorin. The train service used to be till Tuticorin rather than the present day Rameshwaram. From Tuticorin, a steamer service used to carry passengers to Talaimannar. This train took almost a day to reach Tuticorin from Chennai and was equipped with vestibules as of 1898 itself (probably the first ever train to have such a facility). During those times, there was no rail or road connection between Mainland India and the Rameshwaram Island.
In 1914, the #Pamban Bridge was inaugurated (also a #Centurion) and rail connectivity was established between Chennai and Rameshwaram and the end point of Boat Mail was changed to the now defunct and Tsunami-ravaged ghost town of #Danushkodi for the convenience of lesser sea travel of just 35 km against a much longer travel from Tuticorin.
This service took passengers to the world-famous Dhanushkodi pier, where a steamer heading for Talaimannar in Sri Lanka was anchored adjacent to the railway station. Under a special arrangement, a combined rail-cum-ferry ticket was on sale for Talaimannar passengers using Boat Mail. Similarly, the ferry service fare from Talaimannar included rail ticket charges. The train was also known as “Indo-Ceylon Express.”
As people of high stature and foreigners traveled by this train, it was equipped with a canteen on wheels. There was no road link to Rameswaram Island those days, and as such adequate number of luggage vans was attached to this train for transporting goods to the island.
On December 24, 1964, a cyclone (now being acknowledged in some quarters as probably being a Tsunami) washed away the entire town of Dhanushkodi, the pier, and a fully-loaded passenger train proceeding to Dhanushkodi. The damage was irrevocable and the tracks are still buried under huge sand dunes of Dhanushkodi. One has to visit the place personally to understand the fury of nature. From then onwards, operations of the train were short-terminated at Rameshwaram. The services of Boat Mail were suspended in May 2003 on the main line owing to the closure of the track between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam for gauge conversion work. In the meantime, the Boat Mail was run via chord line after the completion of gauge conversion works on the Tiruchi-Rameswaram section. With the main line on the BG map, the train was promptly restored to its original route of Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Thanjavur joining at Tiruchirappalli.
#Specialty: Centurion (both Boat Mail and Pamban Viaduct).
#Conclusion: No doubt, Boat Mail is one of the #Legendary trains of India, continuing to serve the people tirelessly every day. The rakes of this train are not so good and require immediate attention. At least in the centenary year, IR should do justice to this train. Is SR listening?
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Post Edited to include Cauvery crossing @ MV on clarification from one of our ever-reliable Admins, PSK.

#KnowYourTrain
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#SriJagannath Express
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~~~ Getting Kolkata closer to Lord Jagannath ~~~
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#Name: The word “Jagannath” means “The Lord of the Universe”. It is a combination of Sanskrit words “Jagat” (Universe) and Nath (Lord). Lord Jagannath is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and his form Krishna. Though worshipped everywhere, the Jagannath Temple at Puri is the nucleus of the Vaishnavites (people of the Vaishnav sect) and is considered one of the most sacred places for pilgrimage. It is a part of the Char-Dham Yatra. As the train connects Kolkata with Puri, it has been aptly named as Sri Jagannath Express as obeisance to Lord Jagannath.
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#Regions (Physical): Odisha Coastal Plains, Central Plateaus, Indo-Gangetic Plains
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#Regions of State: Districts of Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore in Odisha; Districts of Paschim Medinipur, Purva Medinipur and Howrah in West Bengal
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#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to #ECoR Zone, Khurda Road Division. #ECoR - Khurda Road; #SER - Kharagpur; #ER - Howrah
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#Route:
> Puri-Khurda Road Branch Line
> Khurda Road – Howrah by the Chennai-Howrah Main Line
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#Halts, #States: The train passes entirely through two states and halts at 19 intermediate stations in the UP Direction and 18 intermediate stations in the DOWN direction, excluding originating and destination stations. The statewise breakup of halts is as under: OR-14, WB-5 (4 in DOWN).
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#Soils: It crosses through region having fertile alluvial and black soil. Sand and Sand-mix soil found near Puri due to proximity with the Bay of Bengal.
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#Rivers: Kathajodi, Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Rupnarayan, Damodar, Hooghly
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#Languages: Odia, Bengali
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#Speed: Highest average speed: 90 kmph between Kapilas Road Jn and Jajpur Keonjhar Rd
Lowest average speed: 13 kmph between Santragachi Jn and Howrah Jn
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#RSA: 12859/60 HWH-CSTM-HWH Gitanjali SF Express
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#Base: Puri
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Photo Credits:
Pic-1: Train Board ( /blog/post/636193 )
Pic-2: Howrah Station ( click here )
Pic-3: Writers’ Building, (The secretariat of WB Govt.) Kolkata ( click here )
Pic-4: Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath sitting on a Golden throne. Lord Balabhadra is the eldest followed by Lord Jagannath and younger sister Subhadra. ( click here )
Pic-5: Puri Station ( click here )
Pic-6: Jagannath Temple, Puri (click here )
Pic-7: Route Map

#KnowYourTrain
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#Vaigai Express
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~~~ Madurai’s Own Train ~~~
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#Name: The city of Madurai in Southern Tamil Nadu is situated on the banks of the river Vaigai. Since the train connects Chennai with Madurai, it has been aptly named as Vaigai Express.
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#Inauguration: 15th August, 1977 from Madurai
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#Regions (Physical): Eastern Coastal Plain, Kalvarayan Hills, Plains of the Palani Hills, Kaveri Delta
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#Regions of State: The districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Tiruchchirapalli, Dindigul and Madurai
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#Zone, #Division: The train belongs to #SR Zone, Madurai Division. The train passes through the following divisions: #SR – Chennai, Thiruchirapalli, Madurai
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#Route:
> Madurai – Chennai Egmore Line (via Chord Line)
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#Halts, #States: The train passes entirely through one state and halts at 7 intermediate stations, excluding originating and destination stations.
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#Soils: It crosses through region having Alluvial, Black and Red soil
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#Rivers: Cooum, Adyar, Palar, Gedilam, Pennar, Manimuthar, Kaveri, Vaigai
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#Languages: Tamil
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#Speed: Highest average speed: 95 kmph between Vridhhachalam Jn and Ariyalur
Lowest average speed: 47 kmph between Dindigul Jn and Madurai Jn
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#Trivia:
> The only train on IR (along with Pallavan Exp) to have a PS coach – Half of which is Pantry Car and half is Second Sitting.
> In the days of MG, it used to run with special green and yellow livery, with twin YDM-4 locos.
> MG Locos had Special double tone horn for easy identification
> The locos always ran in Short Hood Forward mode
> It was the only MG train of SR certified to run at 110 kmph
> For the first time on the MG, the ICF manufactured two 40-seat AC chair car coaches exclusively for the Vaigai and Pallavan express.
> The driver and the Guard had corded telephone system to communicate with each other.
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#RSA: 12605/06 MS-TPJ-MS Pallavan SF Express
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#Base: Madurai Jn
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Photo Credits:
Pic-1: Train Board (click here )
Pic-2: MG Vaigai Express of the yesteryears ( /blog/post/668092 )
Pic-3: Chennai Egmore Station (click here )
Pic-4: Kamrajar Salai, Marina Beach, Chennai (click here )
Pic-5: Vaigai River (click here )
Pic-6: Madurai Station (click here )
Pic-7: Meenakshi Temple, Madurai ( click here )

Pictures: Nameboard, loco & rake, Kapaleeshwara Temple, Chennai, and Lotus Temple, New Delhi.
#KnowYourTrain: The Grand Trunk Express (aka GT, The Legend). #TrainNo: 12615/16
#Purpose: Connecting North and South India, first one to do so, specifically New Delhi and Chennai.
#Etymology: Runs on the North-South Grand Trunk corridor, which is doubled and fully electrified,...
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again the first one to do so, hence named GT.
#NativeZone: SR (MAS)
#InauguralRun: January 1, 1929
#DaysofRun: Daily
#RakeMaker: ICF
#RakeSharing: Dedicated Rake.
#Coaches: 24-coacher
#Loco: ED WAP4
#States: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh. Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.
#Zones: Travels between SR and NR via SCR, CR, WCR, and NCR.
#MajorRivers/Lakes:
TN: Buckingham Canal outside of Chennai Central, Kortralaiyar, and Ennore Creek/Pulicat Lake.
AP/Telangana: Pennar at Nellore, Palar near Bitragunta, Krishna at Vijayawada, Wyra before Khammam, Waddepally Lake at Warangal/Hanamkonda, Manair, and Godavari at Mancherial.
MH: Wardha at Balharshah and Jaipur Arm of the giant Lower Wunna Dam
MP: Narmada outside Hoshangabad, Betwa near Vidisha, Bina near Bina, Sindh, the tributary of Chambal, and Asan before Morena.
UP: Pahuj post Jhansi. Runs parallel to Yamuna from Agra to New Delhi, but never crosses it.
RJ: Chambal before Dholpur.
#MajorLanguages: Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, and Urdu.
#Distance: 2181 km, #IntermediateStations: 308, #Halts: 37
#Speed: Though GT’s most-pampered cousin, The Mighty TN, is often as the speed king, GT is no inferior considering the number of halts it has. While TN has just 10 halts (excluding Source and Destination), GT has 37. TN covers the distance of 2181 km in 33 hours @ an average speed of 66 kmph, GT does it in 35 hours @ an impressive speed of 62 kmph.
#BriefHistory: Grand Trunk (GT) is one of the oldest and most famous trains in India. When introduced in 1929, the train ran between Peshawar (today in Pakistan) and Mangalore, almost the length of the country and beyond. In fact, the GT was probably one of the longest running trains in the country at that time. The Peshawar to Mangalore run took about 104 hrs in all, later Mangalore was changed to Mettupalayam and then finally found its home at #Madras (the Portuguese/old name of Chennai). It was the fastest on the route during its heydays, but a lot younger and richer cousins have pushed the veteran to the background, but it has still not lost its SF tag and rightly so at an envious 62 kmph.
#Conclusion: Takes much load off TN Express. When it is comes to neatness, don’t blame the train, blame its managers, as well as pantry. Overall, worth traveling at least once on the Legend because it’s a special feeling to ride a Legend.