It was financial year end and I
somehow persuaded my boss to allow me to go on a long holiday so that I can
make use of all my available leave. But all my plans of going home collapsed in
the last minute and I decided to go to Chennai to see my friends and IPL. I
first booked in 2008 Shatabdi and later my friend booked for both of us in 2640
Brindavan, the date of journey being 12-Mar-10 and both standing in W/L at the
time of booking. I was eagerly waiting for my maiden journey in LHB rake cum
shatabdi. Infact my friend was surprised as why I’m spending so much money for
such a short distance journey, I didn’t reply but a famous Tamil saying
immediately lingered in my mind- “How donkey can know the camphor smell.?”
Though I knew the reaction if I’ve uttered that statement . After chart preparation, tickets in
brindavan moved into confirmed position while it was still waitlisted in 2008.
So my dream still remains to be a dream.
I left for KJM from my room and
reached the station at 14.25. It’s always a wonderful sight to see the giant
cable stayed bridge be it day or night. A huge crowd was thronging the platform
and i was wondering as there was no other train except brindavan at that time.
Later my suspicion turned to be right and the culprit was the late running 7209
Seshadri which arrived at 14.45 behind a 23283 WAG-5A of BSL(?). It then
started its journey after a halt of 3 mins but again came to a screeching halt.
The reason was the unauthorized presence of a 40 year old gentleman in the rear
SLR and who kept on insisting that he’s there to accompany his wife - poor
fellow.! Later he was thrown out, doors of that SLR were locked and 7209
resumed its journey.
By this time, the size of the
crowd got reduced and the in-fame “Brindavan” then entered KJM at 15.00 and the
beast in charge was the 22626 WAP4 of Royapuram. My coach, D10 was a ’97 make
and looked neither bad nor good. The signal turned amber shortly and we started
cruising through slowly.
At Whitefield ,the rakes of
“Golden Chariot” and SBC-MLMR specials were parked. I was of the impression
that the Golden chariot is owned solely by KSTDC but I saw the markings of SWR
in all the coaches. Our first uncalled visitor to the coach was a transgender
who kept on targeting the people aged between 20-30. On expected lines, we
overtook 7209 somewhere before Malur. As we were entering BWT at 15.45, a twin
MUed ED WAG 7 27904 and 27497 pulling a lengthy BTPN oil container rakes was
leaving the station. Immediately after BWT, we had crossing with an unknown express(MKM-SBC
pass.?) and I received a message in my mobile, ”Airtel welcomes you to AP” and
we showed up in Kuppam at 16.15. We then blasted pass through a well maintained
patchur. The wappie was doing a great job particularly in the ghat section.
Thereafter we arrived JTJ exactly at 16.50 with a delay of 5 minutes. Except
for a ED WAG5 led container rakes and a lone 19533 WDS4B shunter, I didn’t see
much action at Jolarpettai.
Is brindavan alone an exception
from the universal law of day trains in IR.? Absolutely no, all the reserved
coaches were filled with eunuchs, unauthorized vendors, Unreserved people-the
only consolation being in limited numbers. Shortly after leaving JTJ, we
decelerated to gain entry into Vaniyambadi at 17.10. 23900 of VSKP WAG5 was
standing idle in the nearby platform. At the sametime, 20059 of KJM WDP4
brought the Bangalore bound 2609.
Then it was a series of crossings
with 2296 Sanghamitra,7311 Mas-Vasco Exp and 2679 CBE intercity. Entered Ambur
at 17.20 and Katpadi at 18.05. As we were entering KPD,CAPE bound 6381 was
ready to depart from the next platform. Magnificent buildings of VIT were
passed in a jiffy. Next appearance was at WJR around 18.35 where we crossed one
unknown WAP4 hauled express. Our next meeting was with the 2028 Bangalore bound
ICF Shatabdi at thalangai when the time was 18.45. Then entered AJJ at 19.05
where 23825 WAG5 of Itarsi emerged with a long BOXN rake.
Hereafter it was a WAP4 show for
the last leg and it took 55 minutes to cover 63 kms thereby reaching Perambur
at 20.00. 2601 Mangalore mail passed us here. As usual, we were detained at the
Outer of MAS and snaked into PF4 when the clock was ticking 20.15.In PF5, empty
rake of 6041 Allepey express was stationed while PF6 had 2829 BBS bound
superfast express with ED WAP4 22220 in the lead.
Now i felt a considerable change
in the prevailing environment.
No comments:
Post a Comment