Seriously needed Trains in SR zone.
1) 16701 Boat Mail Express = TBM-RMM after New Pamban Bridge becomes ready & via VM-CUPJ-MV-TVR-KKDI-MNM.
2) 16383 TBM-QLN-TVC Express via VM-TPJ-MDU-VRN-TEN-QLN. (TVC arr at 12.00 hrs)
3) 16385 TBM-QLN Express via VM-CUPJ-MV-TPJ-MDU-MNM-VRN-SCT-QLN.
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16875 TBM-KIK Express via VM-CUPJ-MV-TVR-NCR.
5. 16713 TPJ-KCVL Express via KKDI-MNM-VRN-SCT-QLN. (KCVL arr. at 06.10 hrs)
6. 16853 Palayar Express = TBM-KKDI via VM-CUPJ-MV-TVR.

One way Imaginary Timetable made by me. Imaginary return timings will be give later.

Pictures: Rameshwaram Express Nameboard and rakes, Kapaleeshwara Temple, Chennai, Ramanatha Swamy Temple, Rameshwaram, The Dhanushkodi Pier, and Pamban Viaduct and Indira Gandhi Road Bridge.
#KnowYourTrain: The Boat Mail (aka Rameshwaram Express). #TrainNo: 16101/02 (WEF September 1, 2013; Old No. 16701/02)
#Objective: At the time of introduction: To connect India and Sri Lanka; Current: Provides connection to the island of Jyotirlinga Shrine of Rameshwaram from the capital city of #TN, #Chennai. Runs almost parallel to the Bay of Bengal.
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#Etymology: The name of the train commemorates the 19th century communication service between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka mail service.
#InauguralRun: On the present route, February 24, 1914 (#Centurion)
#RakeMaker: ICF, #RakeSharing: Dedicated Rake, #Loco: Usually #TNP WDM3A
#Distance: 667 km, #Halts: 22, #IntermediateStations: 117
#Speed: 47 kmph, #FastestSection: 77 PMK-RMD, #SlowestSection: 8 PBM.
#NativeZone: SR (intrazone train), #State: #TN (intrastate train).
#DaysofRun: Daily, #Classes: 1AC, 2AC, 3AC, SL, UR, SLR.
#MajorLanguages: Tamil.
#Districts: Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram.
#MajorTowns/Cities/Attractions En Route:
#ChennaiEgmore (MS): 6th century World Heritage sites of Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram, the land of 1000 temples.
#Chengalpattu (CGL), #Villupuram (VM)
#Cuddalore (CUPJ): Alight here for Puducherry (#Pondicherry) Shri Aurobindo Ashram and the French global city of Auroville, 25 km. Buy Panruti jackfruit and cashews here.
#Chidambaram: World-famous NatarajaTemple
#Mayiladuthurai (MV): Navagraha Temples and other destinations like Nagore Dargah, Velankanni Church, Poompuhar Beach, and Vedaranyam/Kodiyakarai Bird Sanctuary.
#Kumbakonam (KMU): NavagrahaTemples (Temples for Nine Planets –Dosha Nivarana Temples) and lots of other temples. Requires at least 4-5 days to make non-stop visits to all major temples of Kumbakonam and its surroundings.
#Thanjavur (TJ): 10th century Brahadeeshwara Temple, Maratha Palace, and Tiruvayaru, the Birth Place of St. Thyagaraja, the father of Carnatic Classical Music.
#Tiruchirapalli (TPJ): Magnificent Sriragam Temple, 2nd century Grand Anicut Dam (still intact) built by the Grand Cholas, and RockFort Temple.
#Pudukottai (PDKT)/#Karaikkudi (KKDI): Chettinad Palace and Cuisine.
#Sivagangai (SVG)
#Ramanathapuram (RMD): Ervadi Dargah.
#Rameshwaram (RMM): Pamban/IG Road Bridge, The Jyotirlinga Shrine of Ramanatha Swamy, Tracing the footpath of Lord Ram, Pitru Pinda Dhaan Kshetra, and Marine Biosphere.
#MajorRivers/Lakes/Water Bodies:
#MS: Couum and Adyar
#CGL: Kolavai Lake adjacent to the station, Palar after CGL, and Madurantagam Lake
#VM: Panampet Lake after VM
#CUPJ: South Pennar before Panruti, Kedilam before CUPJ, Vellar after CUPJ, and Coleroon after CDM
#MV: #Cauvery.
#TJ: Arasalar at KMU and Vennar, a tributary of Cauvery, before TJ. Also runs parallel to #Cauvery from MV to TPJ along one of the most fertile regions and the #ricebowl of TN.
#PDKT: Vellar
#RMD: Vaigai before PMK and Bay of Bengal (Palk Straits) before RMM.
#BriefHistory:
The Boat Mail’s history is a lot older than the popular perception. In the 19th century, the Boat Mail commenced its journey as a rail-cum-ferry service and was operated from #Madras (#Chennai) and #Talaimannar (#SriLanka) via #Tuticorin. The train service used to be till Tuticorin rather than the present day Rameshwaram. From Tuticorin, a steamer service used to carry passengers to Talaimannar. This train took almost a day to reach Tuticorin from Chennai and was equipped with vestibules as of 1898 itself (probably the first ever train to have such a facility). During those times, there was no rail or road connection between Mainland India and the Rameshwaram Island.
In 1914, the #Pamban Bridge was inaugurated (also a #Centurion) and rail connectivity was established between Chennai and Rameshwaram and the end point of Boat Mail was changed to the now defunct and Tsunami-ravaged ghost town of #Danushkodi for the convenience of lesser sea travel of just 35 km against a much longer travel from Tuticorin.
This service took passengers to the world-famous Dhanushkodi pier, where a steamer heading for Talaimannar in Sri Lanka was anchored adjacent to the railway station. Under a special arrangement, a combined rail-cum-ferry ticket was on sale for Talaimannar passengers using Boat Mail. Similarly, the ferry service fare from Talaimannar included rail ticket charges. The train was also known as “Indo-Ceylon Express.”
As people of high stature and foreigners traveled by this train, it was equipped with a canteen on wheels. There was no road link to Rameswaram Island those days, and as such adequate number of luggage vans was attached to this train for transporting goods to the island.
On December 24, 1964, a cyclone (now being acknowledged in some quarters as probably being a Tsunami) washed away the entire town of Dhanushkodi, the pier, and a fully-loaded passenger train proceeding to Dhanushkodi. The damage was irrevocable and the tracks are still buried under huge sand dunes of Dhanushkodi. One has to visit the place personally to understand the fury of nature. From then onwards, operations of the train were short-terminated at Rameshwaram. The services of Boat Mail were suspended in May 2003 on the main line owing to the closure of the track between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam for gauge conversion work. In the meantime, the Boat Mail was run via chord line after the completion of gauge conversion works on the Tiruchi-Rameswaram section. With the main line on the BG map, the train was promptly restored to its original route of Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Thanjavur joining at Tiruchirappalli.
#Specialty: Centurion (both Boat Mail and Pamban Viaduct).
#Conclusion: No doubt, Boat Mail is one of the #Legendary trains of India, continuing to serve the people tirelessly every day. The rakes of this train are not so good and require immediate attention. At least in the centenary year, IR should do justice to this train. Is SR listening?
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Post Edited to include Cauvery crossing @ MV on clarification from one of our ever-reliable Admins, PSK.

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...