Pamban Sethu - இது தான் நம்முடைய ராமர் சேது - Darnish C

A journey in 1997 by this train:
My uncle had booked a ticket for himself and me from Bangalore to chennai by this train in May 1997(Then 6024)-the train was scheduled to leave at 6:40AM and hence we reached the station around 6:20AM
That time Chennai Bangalore Mail's incoming rake used to leave as 6024-when we reached the station we were surprised-Mail hadnt arrived yet-heard there was some engine problem and hence the train would be late
At...
more...

around 7:15 there was an announcement that Mail will arrive shortly. At around 7:30 twin diesel engines brought in the rake of mail. Our coach was S-3.
Immediately the old charts were removed and new charts were pasted-S1, S2 wait?? Where is S3-AC coaches had started-Asked the chart paseter who said S3 is at the end-made a dash for it and sat down on our reserved Side lower and upper berths
At 8AM Lalbagh Express rake was brought onto Platform 2-the train left at 8:15AM but wait-Our train is still on platform 1 and Lalbagh had already gone!!
At 8:30AM it was announced that Madurai/Trichy Link Express would arrive on platform 2. The train slowly arrived at 8:45AM and our train was given the starter at 8:50AM and moved out slowly
The train had a very slow run and slowly reached K.RPuram at around 9:50-the starter wasnt given at all-when enquired a Rly staff said that as the track is single and other issues(There was a derailment of a a goods about 3 weeks back damaging tracks) this train would move only after Shatabdi crosses our train
After what seemed ages, at 10:45AM the shatabdi towards Mysore slowly crawled past us and we were given the starter-Slowly and steadily the train progressed and at around 4:30Pm crossed arakkonam junction
As we were running past Arakkonam at moderate speed heard a loud honk and a train sped past us-the Lalbagh Express which had left Bangalore 1/2 an hour before us was returning back to Bangalore-and we were still an hour before Chennai. Slowly at 5:00Pm we entered Tiruvallur where we got down and took a local train to Ambattur
Thanks for the patient reading