Antyodaya Express: The best a common man can get. - Vikas Kumar

Trip Report- 2nd October 2015
After a visit to meet Lord Venkateshwara, it was time to return back. Train scheduled at 2130hrs we reached station at 2030hrs with baggage just to hear the horn and the long set of 15 sleeper coaches leaving PF-1 as Tirumala Express leaving on time. PF-2 had the ahead of schedule arrived 16204 from Chennai which was to leave as our train to Bangalore as the Fast Passenger.
Climbed the stairs to reach Pf-2. The train was empty on its return with just 70% occupancy being the 1st...
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day of the long weekend. Crowd awaited on Pf-1 for the 12626 Kerala Express for arrival. Haripriya Express to Kholapur awaited facing to Renigunta while the Guntakal night pass awaited with engine facing towards Pakala end as Gooty WDM-3A.
Went through the charts- Coach was a 02 rake and a better maintained. Loco was BZA wAG-7 in WAP-4 shell waiting for starter.
At 2100hrs an unannounced entry came in the form of Puducherry-Tirupati (Via ajj) pass arriving 60 mins ahead of schedule as the crowd looked surprised. Announcement went for 12626 Kerala Express to reach at 2150 hrs meaning we will leave and get overtaken enroute.
At sharp 2135 hrs we started slowly as light drizzle gave us company till tirupati West and later stopped. We sped past the small stations stopping just for sake of halt with almost no boarding de-boarding. Meanwhile a KSRTC volvo to Bangalore sped past us- would be reaching Bangalore atleast 2 hrs early but never mind comfort and fare are inversely proportion in these cases.
at 2220hrs came to a halt at Pakala junction where RPM WAP-7 pulled in opposite side with the Villupuram-tirupati Pass via Katpadi . The display board went on to display next arrival as 17229 Sabari Express while I pulled up the berths. At chittoor a WAP4 sound was heard most likely the Sabari on its way through
Has a deep sleep and woke up with watch showing 5AM. Dad was awake and I sleepily asked- where are we- Reply came-Bangarpet- Meaning we have 2 hrs more for the remaining 70 kms. Slowly we pulled past the small stations stopping at Malur, Devangonthi when a roaring alco blasted past us with the late running 22602 Shirdi-Chennai Express. Slowly pulled beside a KJM WDG-3A roaring at KJM at 6:05AM and we got down to book an ola to reach home at 6:35AM. Trainenquiry revealed 56214 waiting at KJM till 6:30AM before proceeding
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