It was a quaint little station, reminiscent of R.K.Narayan's MALGUDI DAYS, that had been relegated to the confines of history. Yes KLGD or Kollengode as it is better known was the 3rd or 4th station on the erstwhile metre gauge line from Palakkad to Pollachi. It is located at a distance of about 20 kms from Palakkad and 5 kms after Pudunagaram, which happens to be the nearest railhead to my native village of East Peruvamba (3 kms).
We were overcome with nostalgia as Pramodh and I descended on this station at about 12 noon yesterday on an impromptu RF mission. It was almost an hour's ride from Pramodh's residence, on his scooter with me occupying the pillion. The rain...
more... gods had relented and the weather was mercifully clear and sunny.
The station which had been abandoned by IR following the discontinuation of the MG service fell prey to the ravages of time. However, the gauge conversion has rekindled hopes of a revival and we were there to witness the process of its rebirth. We found mounds of gravel piled near the station building along with concrete sleepers. Temporary sheds to house the contract labourers engaged in the task have been set up alongside the weather worn old station building. And even before the lines are laid, the structure for the FOB had already been put in place.
Both of us were ecstatic at being able to review the progress of conversion and Pramodh tried to engage one of the workers there in a conversation in his native Malayalam, But that guy responded saying " HINDI MEIN BOLO " . It was now my turn to take over when it emerged that the worker hailed from Ranaghat, a sub-divisional town in the district of NADIA in West Bengal. He was astonished to find a Keralite speaking him to him in chaste Bengali more than 1500 miles from his home. He told us that work in that section was on in full swing.
Soon another of his co-workers came up to me and enquired about the nearest railhead from that point, and the availability of trains to Howrah . He was perhaps feeling home-sick. Pramodh told him about Palakkad station from where he could board the 12515 TVC-GHY Express at 8.30 pm that night.
For the 2 of us it was a case of flipping through the pages of rail history (the old MG line) and at the same time witnessing a new chapter of history in the making. My thanks to Pramodh for this unique railfanning opportunity . Now over to him for the visuals and his impressions of the RF session.
