Trip Report: Though i had travelled by Island 3 times from SBC, not even once was my return by Island owing to office runs and ticket availability. But this time, it was decided and return booked by island for 09th june running waitlist 43-45 (Original 53-55)
The waitlist stayed at 19 at 4:30PM of charting and I was looking for other options. 16562 leaving CBE at 2130 had waitlist of 12 in 3A. Boarded bus at Pollachi at 330Pm and reached Ukkadam bus stand at 430PM. Took an entering taxi at Ukkadam and paid Rs.70/- to Railway station
Kept...
more... all the luggages into the cloak room at the outside @ Rs.20/- per piece for 24 hrs. Went to the AC waiting room and refreshed. The toilets were not upto mark but okayish. The booking for 16562 was closed and Current availability showed AVBL-109 @ Rs. 630/- for 3A/ Island Chart was prepared in next 5 mins with ticket in RAC S11 39 39 & S11 47 .Asked my dad whether I should cancel it and go for 16562. Dad replied with a big no. Crossed the road and a cup of coffee and movie, followed by dinner, came back to CBE station at 2130hrs
Collected the luggage and entered the main are- Damn!!! The display boards not working. Went to the enquiry counter and asked him the Pf allocation for Island- PF-3 was the prompt reply. Announcement went for 16562 leaving from PF3. Entered into the PF-3 and occupied a empty seat with all luggage near the front subway as S11 would come quite in the front behind the AC's
CBE station was a very calm and silent at this time of hour. PF-1 has the rake of 12674 Cheran waiting to depart. PF-2 had the arrived rake of 12083 Jan shatabdi from Mayiladuthurai. The pitline between the 2 had the rake of Nagercoil-Coimbatore-Mangalore passenger.. The pairing rake for same was shunted out from PF-4 and put on the sidings at the other end with a chugging alco sound heard at the other end of the PF. Repeated announcements went for 12674 to leave on time and 22640 arriving 15 mins late. Checked with NTES showing PGT departure of 2145 for 22638 and 2150 for 16525. So in a single signal gap, both were following each other
The announcement was getting a bit bugging informing of 12674 till 2220 that I had byeharted the exact words what was being told. Then came in the next announcement. 12679 the "Agressive" Intercity from Chennai arriving in 20 mins late onto PF-4.In the meantime, the rake of Jan shatabdi was pulled out from PF-2 and the rake of 12682 Chennai Weekly RSA with Kongu was brought in its place. the coaches of the standing pass in the pitline was being cleaned completely coach by coach on the interior
At 2230 hrs the announcement and the station came completely to life. The loco of Cheran Express gave its horn and left from Pf-1. Announcement again went for 12679 arrival which promptly arrived at 22:45hrs behind a RPM WAP7, 30 mins late onto PF-4 quite heavily crowded as for any other intercity. The crowd descended and crossed the PF's. The rake was shunted out in 10 mins of arrival
At 2300 hrs, RPM WAP7 again came in with the late running 22640, taking about 25% of the crowd from the PF. In a few minutes, a horn was heard from opposite side, announcing the entry of 12695 Trivandrum Express from Chennai Central. At 2310hrs 22640 was given the clearance to leave and as it left, few minutes later 12695 left onto the opposite side. 12695 cleared the points and the immediate next entry was given for 22207 Super AC Express to Trivandrum arriving onto PF-1, the EOG breaking the complete silence . Erode WAP-4 in the meantime bought in my Island Express at 2320 hrs
Boarded and settled with me and mom occupying 39 while dad sat in 47. The entire S9 to S12 seemed to be of CBE/TUP quota and all passengers boarding there. Person of seat 40 boarded and immediately climbed up leaving 39 free for both of us. 48 also same and 47 partner had not come giving a comfortable space for dad.
12682 got the clearance at 2330 hrs indicating we will not be getting clearance for minutes. The rake of Chemmozhi Express was put onto PF-4 and a crowd boarded the same. making Pf-3 70% empty. announcement went for 16528 arriving onto Pf-3 and display board changing for the same.
We got clearance at 2342hrs and as we moved, saw 33 & 36 unoccupied. Asked mom to lie down in 33 as noone would disturb us for next 30 mins run to Tiruppur. We cleared the points with a slow run till CBF, post which we started accelerating. The freight rakes at irugur were sent of with a big "Hi" by the WAP4 as wel sped past the clearances. the entire SLB was for me for time being stretched my legs and kept my eyes out of the window. The high 2 digits were reached slowly touching the 3 digits and crossing past, later slowing down at 0025 hrs to make our way into PF-1 of TUP where rest of passengers boarded. The TTE in meanwhile checked our tickets
Seat No. 47 partner cam here but not 33 & 36 so didnt disturb mom. We left after a 2 minute halt and I checked the display boards for next train assuming it to be for 16528. No there is one more train in the race now, the 12686 now between the 2 Bangalore rakes. Smiled to myself as my dad asked- which is this now.. there is already enough traffic before us. i replied- the Mangalore-Chennai Express.
post tiruppur, we had an immeidate crossing with a freight consist overtaking another freight consist at the next station. Managing freight in between this continous passenger traffic is definitely a nightmare task for the controllers. Anyway, as our run proceeded, an unknown express train went past us, going by the day of the week supossedly the Kacheguda-mangalore weekly express. Near Uthukkuli, the Tea garden express went past us behind a Erode Alco- doesnt this train get a change over at Erode??
Anyway after yet another blasting run, came to a halt at Erode outer at 01:10AM. Continous train looked like Platform clearance was not available. But 2 minutes later, we got the clearance sans any crossings to our side and we went inside to Pf-1. The freight sidings were busy with the WAG's doping their work. Pf-3 was occupied by the 16232 bound to Mayiladuthurai having its long halt for reversal. 5 minutes into the halt, we got the clearance to leave as a wAG5 went out in our direction from sidings with BCNA. the rake subsequently was reversed into next line and we got clearance
TTE came for allotment and asked 39 to occupy 36. since mom was already in 33, I asked him whether she could continue. He replied no issues, let 47 take 36. I told my dad to take it and settled in 39. i put down one of the shutters keeping the other window open, as we thundered on Kaveri bridge. Just as my coach entered the bridge, a roaring EOG caught my attention with 12685 exiting the bridge to Erode.
I lied down and slept immediately. Return from a trip i normally tend to sleep wekk and same this time to as when I got up, the watch showed 5:30AM and we were leaving a station. Kuppam, said the board as i proceeded to sleep. Got up at 6 as we entered into BWT but seeing everyone down on the beds, preferred to stay so.
Got up when we left Malur and proceeded to halt at Whitefield. just as I was walking back to my seat and we slowed to enter WFD, 12028 went past us at a sedate speed. After a halt at WFD and crossing a ASN WAG5 twins hauled car carrier rake, we slowed down at Hoody halt and Satellite goods halt respecting the double cautions and caution. Assumed that 56214 was ahead
At 6:52AM we entered into PF-4 of KJM and the culprit was out,. The 1st DMU from Marikuppam 76519 was the culprit holding us up at previous 2 stations and now stationed on Pf-3 waiting for overtake. After 2 minutes, we left and AJJ WAP4 led 12608 to MAS entered in the opposite. After the small halt at BNCE, proceeded to BNC, where WAP1 hauled 56503 BZA pass was on Pf-1A and RPM WAP7 on Pf-2 with Marikuppam bound pass. Bade good bye to the train and left the station into a waiting Uber.
