MAS-WFD by 2609

2609:-

After a short sojourn of three days in Chennai, it was time to move back to my current base Bengaluru.

Journey Date : 15-Mar-10

Train Number: 2609 Bangalore express.

STD :13.35

I reached MAS at 11.45 with the idea of “what else.?” and the PA system was announcing the departure of 1042 Mumbai express. Then ET WAG-5A 21125 in the lead and 17834 WDM2 of ED trailing behind brought the 438 Gudur passenger on PF1 at 12 Noon .It seems it’s having RSA with BZA-GDR passenger. Empty rakes of yelagiri was stationed on PF5.The relatively condemned 2028 was berthed in PF2A with a TNP WDM7 just ahead in the same platform which I believe was used for shunting.

Then came the 2608 Lalbagh at 12.15 behind a not-so-good looking 22001 WAP1 of AJJ which will now go as 2609- a combo similar to pallavan/vaigai except for the fact that both the source and destination are the same.

In the meantime I was feeling hungry and decided to fill my tummy. I straightaway went to Jansadharan canteen of IRCTC and opted for tamarind rice weighing 350 gm and two sambhar vadas. Though delicious would be in the level of exaggeration, it was good.

When i was done with my lunch, there were announcements regarding the arrival of 2711 Pinakini around 12.50 in PF8 and the power was 22747 WAP4 of Lallaguda. I then decided to check out who’s going to carry us all the way till SBC and the monster in charge, as expected, was 20043 WDP4 of KJM shed. As the time was getting closer, I boarded my coach C1 at 13.20 since I had a bad experience with the same train some one year back where the train was leaving from the platform and I had just entered the station sametime and I don’t want it to happen anymore. One good old gentleman came forward to exchange his window seat in lieu of my aisle one and I gladly accepted the offer though I know the reason as “constraint in stretching the legs”. The available conditioned air was too scarce to cool all the people inside the coach and the snacks tray was working properly.

We started from MAS bang on time. As we were leaving the platform, I saw the 30238 white beast of LGD held in charge for the BZA bound Pinakini- quite excited, I’ve to admit. Not sure, how that P4 of LGD will return back. Made an unscheduled halt at BBQ outer where WAP4 hauled 2680 Intercity crossed us. By this time, I was feeling totally drowsy and it could be attributed to my tiredness or the depression as super kings were thrashed by chargers, the previous night . The TTE came and checked my ticket in between.

I don’t know when and where did i doze off, but we were at Sholinghur when I woke up and the time was 10 minutes past 3’o clock. Then we stopped at Walajah Road at 15.30.We entered Katpadi around 16.00 and departed in 2 minutes. Sun was getting ready to settle down and all along the way, young lads were busy in converting porambokes into temporary “Kotlas”. At Gudiyattam, one goods train led by a waggie of erode shed and another container rakes with a 234XX WAG5 in the lead just after mel aalathur blasted past us. This train is literally a “halt everywhere” between AJJ and KJM and the WDP4 had a tough time in accelerating and deceleration.WAP4 pulled 2640 Chennai bound Brindavan passed us just after VN.

By this time, I was feeling discomfort due to my prolonged seating position and wanted to stretch my muscles. I directly went to the Pantry car and choose the typical south Indian package for snacks i.e Bhajji/Vada with Tea.

I refreshed myself and was standing nearer to the door when one guy in Khakhi uniform came and asked me to close the door albeit politely and I obliged to his request(or command-either way.!) immediately. When I enquired him about the same since train was going at an average speed, he replied that keeping the doors open will increase the temperature of the circulating air through a small opening at the top of entry door of the chair car though I can’t contemplate much about what he told .

As soon as I returned to my coach, we were in Jolarpettai at 17.20(with a delay of 10 mins) where WAP-4 22X65 powered 3351 Dhanbad express left from the adjacent platform. Kuppam was reached at 18.00 and Bangarapet at 18.35 where a sizeable crowd alighted and boarded the train. I was eagerly waiting for our meeting with 2008 Shatabdi between KPN and BWT but as the tracks diverge somewhere nearer to Mulanur, i believe i'd missed it. Now it’s totally dark everywhere and 2684 Ernakulam SF express whizzed pass us after BWT.

I started to doorplate after sometime and the gentle breeze silently expressed that Summer has begun or else if it’s the year end, one will be frozen to the core. It seemed that LPs or rather the Section controllers decided to make up the lost time and we were riding at the top notch. Malur was reached at 19.00 and whitefield, a good 20 minutes later where I got down and proceeded towards my room.