6177A-MS-KMU Rock Fort Express negotiating a curve. WDM-2#18337 is the power. Somewhere near Budalur.
July 10th, 2008.
I was to accompany my cousin brothers on a temple trip to Navagraha sthalas of Sani, Rahu and Chevvai. It was a four day trip around Kumbakonam, Sirkazhi, Thanjavur. I boarded my MRTS EMU to Chennai Fort from Kasturibai Nagar. It was slightly crowded. I stood all the way till Chennai Fort. Then I changed to another EMU bound for Tambaram at Fort Station. It was virtually empty. I got down at Chennai Egmore station. My younger cousin brother was coming from Urapakkam and he was to join me at 22:00hrs at Egmore.
At Egmore, I saw a lot of locomotives. ED WAP-4#22223 was the power for 2637 MS-MDU Pandian Super Fast Express. ED WDM-3D#11200 was the power for 6107 MS-MAQ Express. AJJ WAM-4#20613 was the power for 104SR PDY-MS Fast Passenger. I could observe that the Un-Reserved compartments weren't crowded for 2637 and 6107 and there was still some place for passengers to sit. One hour before the departure, the rake of 6177 was shunted into the platform by a small shunting locomotive of the class WDS-4B. ED WAP-4#22294 was the power for my 6177 Rockfort Express. The driver was wearing blue shirt and navy blue pant. You must have seen me wearing a blue shirt and black pant atleast once in a week. And whether you know it or not, there is a reason behind it. I wear that combination as a sign of respect to the working class and for the job I aspired once upon a time. However, on that day I was wearing full-arm shirt with a black pant.
My coach was S2. Seat Number 1. It was the 22nd coach I think. My ticket was booked in the Kumbakonam section of the train as I was heading towards Kumbakonam. After reaching Tiruchi, a set of 7 or 8 coaches would alone continue their journey towards Kumbakonam after a reversal towards Mayiladuthurai. There was a North Indian family travelling along with me. They offered me middle berth and upper berth as some of their mates were given allocation somewhere else. I rejected it as I desperately needed a lower berth for railfaning. I was surprised actually. In most of my train journeys, I have travelled in S2's and S6's most of the time. If I board S6 in the down journey, I would board S2 in the return journey. I don't remember travelling in other types at all.
Crossing a bridge after Thanjavur, towards Kumbakonam.
I could observe the Side Middle Berth arrangement. The coach was also new. It was also clean and the toilets were well maintained too. My train started on time and accelerated out of Egmore at good speed. The train was doing good speed even before entering into Chetpet. We halted at Mambalam. I was wondering why? Then I realised that 6177 had a halt at MBM. Aravind offered even offered to wave at me from his house, but I didn't want to disturb him as it was already 2245hrs. I started observing the scenario. My train was doing well and we blasted through sub-urbs. We approached Tambaram on time. I could observe that the station was empty.
Near Tiruverumbur. Taken from my window seat.
I watched the meter gauge tracks. It brought back old memories. Shrubs, grasses were all over it. I recollected a tamil saying or a proverb. If a person is a sinner, not even grass will grow on the place he is buried after death. But look at the Meter-Gauge tracks! Shrubs and grasses were all over it. Meter Gauge is certainly divine!
Cantenaries were removed. Wires weren't there. Tracks were uprooted near Tindivanam. No tracks, wires, canternaries, but yet YP's, YG's, YAM-1's and YDM-4's still ran in my heart. Forever, I will treasure the classic old days of YDM-4 trains in my heart. The last pieces of MG in this section was being removed. The message was clear. Indian Railways was hitting the last nails in the MG coffin. But will IR remove the canternaries, wires, tracks within my heart?
I thought Rockfort was a slow train. But it wasn't. It blasted through small villages. Pakkam, Acharapakkam, Tozhuppedu, Olakur went in a flash. The station masters were showing the ALL CLEAR signal with their greenlamp. My train then halted at Tindivanam after midnight. I found that my coach was standing at the edge of the platform. And the station was empty too. Not many were boarding the train. I had the feeling that the platform was not of adequate length. My train reached Villupuram 10 minutes late. I could observe ED WAP-4#22223 and AJJ WAP-4#22693 at Villupuram. I thought of getting some food for my cousin Jai Karthik, but he didn't prefer me getting down. So I went and sat in my lower berth. I knew that the best part is yet to come. I got ready! The person on the middle berth was wondering why I wasn't sleeping! My cousin brother couldn't believe that I was still awake. With great difficulty, I managed to sit in my lower berth as the middle berth was already put and I didn't have much space-but I need to go on. After Villupuram, twin WDM-2's were the power for my Rockfort Express. However, after VM, the train is put on loops majority of the time to allow trains coming from south as it is single-line section. It was only an express train so it won't be given any preference over superfast trains which would be coming from south.
I couldn't check the number of the twin engines which hauled me from VM to TPJ as I was in the 22nd coach and generally while travelling I don't take eccentric risks. We negotiated a long curve after Villupuram and we crossed Kandambakkam. Twin WDM-2s were already in loop with 6178 TPJ-MS Rock Fort Express. This was the first crossing. The time was around 01:40hrs. My train crossed Kandambakkam at 50kmph. I was slightly disappointed. I thought that I would be in loop and 6178 would blastthrough but it wasn't so.
6108 MAQ-MS Express was already in loop with ED WDM-3D at Ulundurpet while my 6177 ripped past Ulundurpet at around 60kmph. I was disappointed again. I knew that at least for Pandian I would be in loop. More disappointment. Twin WDM-2's were already in loop with 2638 MDU-MS Pandian Express. At the same time, I was updating the Chennai Gang through SMS as and when the events were happening. Members working in nightshifts were reading and replying if needed-if I had got anything wrong in the SMS text. I was even asked to check whether it was really Pandian-as Pandian is quite presitigious and it may not have taken any loops. But I am sure it was Pandian because the train which I would see next was hauled by a WDP-4 and I read the nameboard as Nellai. This happenned at VRI or Virudhachalam Jn.
I couldn't believe that popular Board monitored train like Pandian was put in loop. But since it had twin diesels I believed that it could be Pandian as during that time Pandian use to get twin diesels. The speed was quite fast and I couldn't note the numbers of the locos. Though it was already night, I was still able to see the scenery around. I was amazed at the beauty. Villupuram-Tiruchi is one of my favourite stretches. Exploring the route in the day time is one of my dreams it did happen only once in May-2008. After that, I didn't have time to do that route again in day time! My train reached Virudhachalam at around 02:30hrs. More sad news. KJM WDP-4#20027 with Nellai Express was already waiting for my train. Another miss.
Myself and my cousin Jai Karthik walked in these roads.
I love everytime when my train is put on loop. It is loads of fun to watch trains overtaking and crossing you as you sit idle. My train departed Virudhachalam Jn (VRI) and was soon notching up. I could observe the train negotiating a curve. The ALP was showing the green light. I strained and looked back and I could see the guard acknowledging with his greenlamp. I was running short of words. Three people faithfully working overnight. No sleep. No rest. Service before self! I use to wonder sometime that the soul of Loco Pilots will reach "Vaikuntam" directly for the amount of service they do to the nation. They deserve AT LEAST this as they are unsung heroes of Indian Railways. Proud to be an Indian Railway fan.
The fun started at Pennadam. My train was put on loop for the first time. Immediately, the RPF's used their flashlights on the bushes and were observing if anyone was hiding in the bushes. This wasn't the only time. They use to do it everytime when any train stopped for a crossing. Nowadays, all trains are packed with RPF's. Especially trains like Pandian, Nellai, Rockfort, Pearl City, Kanyakumari.
An eerie silence continued for about 5 minutes. Generally, the section is sychronized. Timings are well calculated. It is something similar to TDM or the Time Divison Multiplexing in Communication Engineering. Yeah, I remembered something which I studied during my graduation. Once a train takes the loop, another train crosses it at a good speed. At any given time slot, the tracks were being used without any delay. The train which hasn't got the loop generally never halts or waits for other train to take the side tracks. Timings are synchronized. But what was wrong today? Generally, a train never waits for more than 3 or 4 minutes. But today it was waiting for nearly 10 minutes for a couple of crossings.
Another 5 minutes. I returned back to my lower berth. Praang! Praang! Drrrr.. Prang...WDM-3D came with 2634 CAPE-MS Kanyakumari Express. It was doing around 80kmph. "Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak, Dhadhak-Dhadhak
Tatak....
The last pair of dhadhak was missing!!
Then at Ichangadu I was again put on loop. WDP-3A crossed us at good speed. It must be 2694 Pearl City Express as that's the one which gets WDP-3A. Then I went for a short nap!! I could feel my train being put on loops for crossings. I didn't want to strain much as the next 4 days would be full of temple visits. So I decided to take rest. Occasionally I got up and observed what was happening, but I was half-asleep. I spotted WDM-2#16678, GOC WDS-6#36017 at Lalgudi.
My train halted at Srirangam. I got up at SRGM and I was awake for the rest of the journey. As my train crossed the bridge near Sri Rangam, I felt the cold breeze. Before entering into TPJ, there was a huge curve. It was a real beauty to watch the train taking the curve. Once Rocky entered TPJ, WDM-3D#11200 departed with 6107 MAQ-MS Express. It had already reversed and was waiting for the start it seems!
Koil Elephant at Uppiliappan Temple.
I thought that my train would get a WDM-2. I knew that I can't note the numbers now. While travelling with cousin or relatives, I don't do eccentric railfanning. I thought of going to the front with the idea of seeing the locomotive number but I didn't want to leave my cousin alone. A locomotive is afterall a locomotive. I felt that a human was more divine, I thought of giving him company than running behind a machine.
I waited till Kumbakonam for noting the number. My train departed TPJ at around 05:40hrs. The acceleration was fantastic. I think after TPJ, roughly 8-9 coaches would continue as 6177A towards Kumbakonam. Who said WDM-2 was old? It was making a meal of the load. Manjattiddal station was crossed in a jiffy.
My train cruised and entered Tiruverumbur station. It was the first halt after Tiruchi. Then our next halt was at Budalur. Then my train blasted across Solagampatti station which still remained in the age-old era of MG days. I updated this in an SMS and said,"Blasting through Solagampatti". I even got a call from Poochi at this time and he said that he was awake all night and was reading the SMS updates. Poochi also added that he has fond memories of Solagampatti. He said that he has taken a pic of YDM-4 at Solagampatti.
My train reached Tanjore around 06:10hrs. I hope I got the time right. At Tanjavur, my train was made to wait for more than 20 minutes. Wonder why? Altast, I decided that I should brush my teeth! I came back to my berth after brushing my teeth. We haven't started yet!
My cousin Jai Karthik is blessed by elephant.
At last we started from TJ at around 06:35hrs. My WDM-2 accelerated and started blasting. WDM-2's acceleration was like an EMU or Chennai local trains. With horns blaring, my train proceeded towards KMU. My train was touching atleast 100kmph when it neared Pasupati Koil. Kids were keeping their hands to their ears and women folks were holding their kids as my WDM-2 thundered through the station with horns blaring. The station was in a curve if I could recollect. The station master was dressed in white shirt/white pant and was wearing an overcoat similar to the olden days of the Raj. The charismatic thiruneeru/viboothi was seen in his forehead. As he showed the green flag proudly, it curved in his hand due to the monstrous breeze caused by my train. The sight was divine! I felt like joining my hands and worshipping him. I felt that he looked like the Supreme deity Lord Shiva with the trident. This was the MOMENT of trip.
The elephant blesses me.
My train rushed through Ayyampet, Pandaravadai, Sunderaperumal Koil, Darasuram and entered Kumbakonam. Onlookers were terrified and WDM-2 screamed wildly before entering into any station. I was very much used to getting down at teriminus. Generally trains enter at 10kmph or 15kmph in Chennai Egmore or Chennai Central. But here Rock Fort entered into KMU at 40kmph or 50kmph. I never knew that it was KMU, till I read the station board.
We got down at Kumbakonam. I went to the locomotive to note down the number. It was GOC WDM-2#18337-great performance! KMU wasn't a big station in my opinion. It had a very good VLR. People were busy with vada's, masala dosas, samosas. Jai Karthik and I proceeded towards a hotel outside the station. I think it was Shri Krishna Hotel. The hotel was empty. We ordered two onion dosas, two vadai's, two idli's, two coffees. Guess how much it would have cost????? Only Rs.28 totally.
Our plan was to join with another cousin who would be coming directly to Thirunallar. Myself and my younger cousin who was with me preferred to see places around Kumbakonam as we had one day extra now. We boarded a mildly crowded bus to Uppiliappan Koil. The bus journey was too good. Typical village scenario. We were standing all the way in the bus as the seats were occupied. I could see the state highway roads were too small(in my opinion). And as it went outside town, it became even narrower. The ride was a bit shaky and roads weren't great. But I enjoyed the ride. We got down at Uppiliappan(or Oppiliappan) Koil and had a good darshan of the deity.
About Oppiliappan Koil:
This Divyadesam is located near Tirunageswaram, near Tiruvidaimarudur and Kumbhakonam. It is one of the well known and well visited amongst the 108 Divya Desams. The legendary story goes as follows:- Bhudevi was reborn as the daughter of Markandeya and an old man sought her hand in marriage; the sage attempted to stall the marriage by stating that his daughter was not well versed in household duties and that she would even forget to season food with salt. The oldman said
that He would forego salt in his food and insisted on marrying Boodevi. The old man revealed Himself as Vishnu and took Bhu Devi as his bride. As a result of which, salt is not included in any of the offerings made to the deity and since He didn't take salt he became to be known as "Uppiliappan or Oppiliappan" signifying that He is comparable to none. "Uppu" also means salt in Tamil.
Uppiliappan Koil
After visiing Uppiliappan Koil our plan was to visit Ayyavadi Prathiyangara Devi temple. It was around 2.5km away from this temple. We started walking through lonely State Highways as there were no buses at that time. We didn't want to waste time waiting! It was a hot, sunny day. The road was empty. Greenery everywhere!Awesome scenario. The people were innocent or rather good in character. To put it in better words, I should say that they were good humans. Why? Wait till I reach Poompukar. You would know why. Keep reading......
-To be continued.
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