Maitree Express: মৈত্রী এক্সপ্রেস - দুই বাংলার সংস্কৃতি ও ভাতৃত্বের মেলবন্ধন - Joydeep Roy

Called up Anand ji at 10.30 to check if he reach MAS safe.. He did and Amjad bhai also was also there with him.. Amjad & Anand ji has good sunny day in chennai i guess and we decided to meet at MS. Finished office and reached MS. We met around 8 pm.. the sunny day was visible from Amjad's face.. Thats the first time i am meeting Amjad even though we were at the same place.. Both of them gave me an update as to what they did and we headed towards to PF ticket counter.. Anand ji was our sponsor for PF ticket.. :-).. We headed to PF 5 where Anand ji's train 16701 was parked... Well the foot overbridge link from PF3 was an escalator.. Anand Ji click some pics of the escalator.. soon we were at PF5... and RMM exp was waiting for us.. i was...
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telling that it would be an ERS WDM3A link and anand ji was wondering how the ERS loco would come.. We straight headed to check the loco and it was yet to be coupled... as we marched towards to SLRD.. ERS WDM was entering to be coupled with the rake.. I could see Anand ji's happiness seeing the ERS loco.. and yes next was to view the coupling.. All 3 of us viewed the coupling.. it was dark and anand ji was sweet enough to provide the light from his mobile flash so that the person coupling the rake and loco could do his work better.. I have a pic of it.. :-).. Soon Amjad was checking the position to take a pic and it was no other place other than the ERS Loco.. Anand ji with his broken tamil (rather malayalam) spoke to guy and asked to take the pics of ours... We saw the LP marching in and decided to ask him a few queries.. 1) Whats the max speed of the loco allowed.. Ans 110kmph.. 2) I asked is it coz the rakes can tolerate only that.. Ans) No even for the loco this is what is prescribed.. 3) How come ERS loco here.. Ans) This loco is brought by Anantapuri till TPJ... and used for RMM exp as well.. after this we decided to move to S6 coach and get anand ji settled in coach.. before entering the coach we had tea.. or was that coffee no clue..though we drank it as it tasted neutral.. Kept his luggage in under the SLB of his seat and we headed out.. We spoke quite a lot about rail fanning.. Anand ji also showed be a video of Tea Garden getting a WAP-4.. the ERS loco now honked to warn anand ji to get in.. and RMM exp moved slowly.. Bidding a bye bye to Anand ji.. Amjad and myself walked through PF 5 took the FOB and got out.. We bid adieu to each other and i walked towards my bike.. A short and very memorable meet with Anandji and Amjad bhai.. Pics to follow...