WAP-4 waits for the signal , handling a short rake on PF-3 . WAP-7 slowly crawls past PF-2 , without a stop , hauling the one of the longest distant daily , 12625 to New Delhi . A few passengers mistake it as the SMVT bound 12683 , making a run behind the AC coaches. Atleast read the board guys , the board is as bright to be ready across from the PF-3. Or may be my mind is already set to read it as such..Railfans mind you see . The rake was pretty full, UR's quite crowded
The...
more... Tirunelveli bound short rake via Palani , Madurai , Tenkasi soon gets the starter , and is on the move. It is now time to move towards the coach position from the comfort zone of the PF-3 where we settled down.
S8 - 7 from the engine -12683 - PF-2 , was said the blue marker on the white board near enquiry as we entered. Unlike the City counterpart, this station sees lesser footfall, except for few trains like ours , which skip the main city station taking the byepass . As long as it's a train , my family doesn't mind it , even if it starts from a remote Podanur jn and ends up at even more remote SMVT.
PF-2 seemed to have come from a different era pushing us back by years. The electronic displays were all silent . The markings on the PF indicated - Coach position 9 PGT end , coach 13 ED end ... We had a way to walk, bending down and reading the platform markings. The announcement in meantime read our the coach position of our train once again
Coimbatore Bangalore is close to as distant as Chennai Bangalore, but there are no sleep killers in this section. The so called superfast are available, but they utilize the double line section, increasing the distance by 50 kms . The short guy on this route in night ends up at Yeshvantapur while the demanded crawler shows his powers again via Tirupattur , time & again proving he is a superfast. The day time caterpillar primo supremo also takes short route , taking 6 hrs 20 mins for the section in single line, while his counterpart with double storey takes the longer route at 6 hrs 50 mins
Lallaguda WAP-7 pulls into PF-2 , coming in faster than the 12625 who actually crawled through. Fella you are supposed to halt here man, thought to myself , as the braking sound was heard.. a gleaming set of LHB coaches moved past, indicating a fresh rake set has been allocated to this train . This is one train that has still retained S-12 and 5 AC coaches despite becoming LHB .
S-8 stopped close to the coach 7 Erode end marking and the walk was short . The fresh interior caught my attention and my eyes went upto the black badge on top. Jan-2024 read the badge. Cool thought to myself
The fresh lit interior have a pleasant feel . In meantime the 18189 TATA ERS pulled into PF-4 , skipping the Main Town station . We had a long halt than expected , as clock struck to 2120 hrs .
The LHB jerk was felt , but the run was smooth . We were about 20 mins late , crawling behind Kerala with 13 mins delay and an extended halt here. The run was pretty slow, and we laid out berths to sleep , as our train slowed down to halt at Irugur junction outer for clearance from the Coimbatore junction line
Laid down to sleep and felt the train thundering past on the tracks , crossing Irugur and the likes and in no time, brakes were hard hit and Tiruppur was entered, a 32 mins run from Podanur . Our co-pass for lower berth boarded here . RAC was filled in our coach, TTE checked tickets, no unauthorised passengers, time ticked to 10PM and I went off to sleep
Woke up at 330AM and felt the train was speeding . Definitely hasn't crossed KJM thought to myself and turned on WIMT . Malur beamed the WIMT. Craned my neck to Middle berth, dad was awake .. shall we get off at KJM I asked. Yeah I thought of waking you up , we can he replied. Dad got off and woke up mom from the lB , as the presence of the IOC depot indicated we approached Devangonthi
Packed my bedsheets, wore the spectacles and waited as we crossed Whitefield, crawled past Hoodi halt . 16220 Tirupati Chamrajnagar left KJM 345 indicated WIMT . The metro line at Mahadevapura indicating KJM approaching and we got ready with luggage to deboard at 358AM as we entered PF-4
Let's have a cup of tea and go said my mom, so stopped near the enterance for tea . 12683 in meantime blew the whistle . A person drinking coffee next to us whispered oh God he left and ran to board the train with coffee in hand. My heart skipped a beat , he dropped the coffee tumbler down and tried to board the train . I turned away fearing the worst .. 15 seconds later sensing station was silent heaved sigh of relief that he was safe
PF-2 had a decent crowd waiting for the DBRG bound 22501 approaching in a short while .As we sipped into coffee, noticed a light at corner approaching , the WAP-7 coming in silently onto PF-3 crawling past, after having not received the clearance yet after 12683 as clock ticked 0405 . The "Sleep killer " 12657 from Chennai made the presence felt, the loco honking for clearance as the coaches passed by
Walked out of the station, as a BMTC 500D packed to core pulled out with the 12683 crowd , as another approached from behind . Booked for cab and waited for 3 minutes he said , only to see a train pulling into PF-4. The 1 hour late running 12835 Hatia SMVT Express !!!
Thanks for reading !!
