#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.
.
#Inauguration: 15th August, 1977 from Madurai
.
#Regions (Physical): Eastern Coastal Plain, Kalvarayan Hills, Plains of the Palani Hills, Kaveri Delta
.
#Regions of State: The districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Tiruchchirapalli, Dindigul and Madurai
.
#Zone,
#Division: The train belongs to
#SR Zone, Madurai Division. The train passes through the following divisions:
#SR – Chennai, Thiruchirapalli, Madurai
.
#Route:
> Madurai – Chennai Egmore Line (via Chord Line)
.
#Halts,
#States: The train passes entirely through one state and halts at 7 intermediate stations, excluding originating and destination stations.
.
#Soils: It crosses through region having Alluvial, Black and Red soil
.
#Rivers: Cooum, Adyar, Palar, Gedilam, Pennar, Manimuthar, Kaveri, Vaigai
.
#Languages: Tamil
.
#Speed: Highest average speed: 95 kmph between Vridhhachalam Jn and Ariyalur
Lowest average speed: 47 kmph between Dindigul Jn and Madurai Jn
.
#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.
.
#RSA: 12605/06 MS-TPJ-MS Pallavan SF Express
.
#Base: Madurai Jn
.
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 )
