Shanmuga Ragavan and Venkata Krishna.
Date: 26th January, 2008.
Venkat and Shanu planned to visit Pondicherry Ashram and Manakula Vinayagar Temple. We finalized the date as 25th, but we postponed it to 26th January, 2008. Surprisingly, exactly a year back I was at Pondicherry with the Mumbai chapter of railfans. I got up at 5AM. Shanu was on time and together we boarded 23C to Saidapet. After purchasing tickets to Pondicherry at Saidapet station, Shanu and myself hurried to the platform. We both were very much stressed after working hard for the final year project.
ED WDM-3D#11194 came with 2632 Nellai Express. I thought that Pandian would have left early. Then we boarded the next EMU towards Tambaram and got down at Guindy. GOC WDM-2#16861 came thundering with 7614 Sethu Express.
ED WDM-3D blasting at 90kmph just before Chinnababu Samudram.
We spotted 2694 Pearl City Express at Tambaram. At Chengalpattu we bought Idiyappam and Dosa. Then we got off the coach and searched for better coaches. Looks like the railways have put all the old coaches for passenger services. I could see the 85xxx series coaches for 103SR. After Chengalpet we stopped at Ottivakkam, Padalam, Karunguzhi, Madurantakam, Melmaruvattur, Acharapakkam and even Tozhuppedu. Our train was put on loop at Perani for a crossing. I got down and took my position. I knew Pallavan Express was on its way. WAP-4#22670 came with 2606 Pallavan Express and it simply blasted through Perani. My thoughts! I still feel trains in MAS-AJJ section or MAS-GDR section do better speed than the ones here. I don't know why, but very rarely I feel speed in this section.
We reached Villupuram on time. Here something strange happenned. Our 11106 got removed and went to the pitlines. I was surprised, I thought there's gonna be a loco change but the same loco came back after fueling. As usual as it got coupled to the consist there were plenty of onlookers. There were plenty of RPF's around
Venkat and Shanu posing at Villupuram Jn.
Then we had a chat about the present day cricket. Venkat was very much disappointed with the character of Ponting. He felt that the Indian team should have walked off from the tour after Bucknor's poor decisions in the Sydney Test. The fuelling process took a lot of time. We were a bit worried. We may not be able to reach the ashram on time. We didn't want to waste time. We planned for our next trip! It was Rameshwaram. We have been eyeing the 7613/7614 for sometime!
Shanu "in the act" of pulling the emergency chain. How did Venkat manage to get there?
Even after the loco got coupled our train wasn't given clearance and we still waited at Villupuram. We were given clearance after a long time. Our train took the line to the left towards Pondicherry. Within a few minutes, the loco was cruising at 90kmph. WDM-3D was just amazing. We reached Pondicherry late and we were had an idea of catching auto. The Ashram is open only till 12 in the noon and then it is closed and it would be opened only in the evening. We managed to visit the Ashram thanks to some real aggressive diesel-auto driving! Our next visit was to Manakula Vinayagar Temple which was quite near to the ashram.
Shanu and Venkat posing. Onboard WDM-3D#11106 hauled 103 Pondicherry passenger.
Shanu and Venkat discuss the progress of projects! Our train has stopped at Melmaruvattur for a crossing. We were held up there for more than 30 minutes. 2605 Pallavan Express crossed us at MLMR.
Natural sceneries. Somewhere after Olakur.
Celebrating India's Republic Day!
After visiting the temple, our next plan was to visit Adyar Ananda Bhavan. We were very hungry. Chat items were our tiffin! Then we had some icecreams. I forgot the name. Venky lost his voice after having icecreams. Then we went for a stroll in the beaches. Then we spent some time at the Park. After roaming here and there, we walked all the way for about half an hour to the railway station.
WDM-3D#11107 was our power for 104. We were slightly tired. There were rumours of results coming out that evening. My cousin called up and told that he would keep me updated in case if the results were published. One of my Pondicherry based friend Naveen also called up and inquired the reason for my sudden Pondy visit. I had been sending SMS to my friends updating them about my travel.
We started ontime at Pondicherry. The Railway Protection Force checked all our baggages at Villupuram. I needn't worry as I was a teetottaller. The baggages of all were checked. The run between Villupuram and Tindivanam was too good. Our train reached Melmarvattur at around 16:30hrs! You can imagine the speed! We were made to wait for a long time at Melmaruvattur. 2605 Pallavan Express came blasting with WAM-4 with twin tones. We reached Guindy on time. Shanu and myself got down at GDY while Venkat continued all the way to Egmore as his house was at Ayinavaram. It was a great trip!
-Krishna Kumar.S
