Climbing the "Monkey Hill" Sholingur Trip.

Ramki and Pawan posing near the Temple Tank at Sholingur.


August 9th, 2008.

Plan:
1. Boarding local train from Saidapet to Guindy at around 06:00hrs
2. Taking 103SR Pondicherry Passenger from Guindy till Chengalpet.
3. Arokkonam Passenger from Chengalpet to Arokkonam.
4. Arokkonam to Sholinghur by bus to visit the Narasimha temple on top of hill.
5. Return by bus from Sholingur to Arokkonam.
6. Then board any of the Chennai Central bound Express trains or EMU back to Chennai.

But God had different plans that day. The plans went for a big six!

Morning: 0515hrs

It was still dark, I used the torchlight in my mobile phone and moved with caution taking care not to disturb sleeping dogs in the dark. I moved at sub walking speed. Slowly, I pulled out of my street and I came near the Adyar Canal. I visualized a T/P and started walking fast. (For non-rail fans, T/P indicates termination of caution order and means that the train can now move fast).

I boarded a 23C to reach Saidapet. While on bus, I called Ramki. No response! Has he slept off? I reached Saidapet a bit early and boarded an EMU to Guindy Railway Station. Pawan joined me at Guindy. And we waited for Ramki to arrive. I had my own doubts. I had the feeling that Ramki might have slept.


Chengalpet Lake. Pic taken from 103 Egmore-Pondicherry Passenger which stopped at Chengalpet outer.

As guessed, Ramki has slept. He got up at 06:15hrs and came directly to GDY around 06:50hrs just a few minutes before 103SR arrived at Guindy. I had purchased the tickets earlier for him so he came to the platform directly. AJJ WAM-4#21275 was the power for my train 103SR. The LP’s were in an aggressive mood. The train entered the platform at a high speed like an EMU. We started from GDY on time, but we had some caution orders so we slowed down. At St. Thomas Mount, my train slowed down, as there was a caution order of 15kmph and we crawled through the station. I could observe a couple of young women walking near the tracks. As WAM-4 honked, they shut their ears and closed their eyes. They got afraid of WAM-4’s honk. I guess that they were going to work. I was happy to see India progressing. Women are now coming out of houses and actively participating in world events. With one more week, for the nation’s Independence Day, I really thought, India women have really attained freedom.

After St. Thomas Mount, my train started accelerating. With horns blaring, my train blasted through the sub-urban stations. I took care to see that Ramki and Pawan didn’t stand near the door. I was nearly 5 years senior to them and it was my duty to take care of them especially Ramki. While crossing Perungalathur, WDM-3D#11201 came with 2634 CAPE-MS Kanya Kumari Express. Near Urapakkam, Ramki spotted WDP-3A#15504 with 2662 Pothigai Express. Near Kattangulathur, we saw twin WAG-5’s 23126+23122 with a good’s rake standing in the loop line and we overtook it. Awesome scenario! Just visualize as I say. Dark clouds, immediate threats of rains, not much of light, little bit of moisture in the air, with little grass near the tracks.


View from Sholingur Hill.

I am a fan of such locations and sceneries. My train reached Chengalpet on time. Since Pawan has visited Sholingur many times, he instantly volunteered to purchase tickets. I could have purchased a ticket to Arokkonam via Chengalpet, but I didn't do that. I wonder why? That cost me the entire trip! I assumed that a ticket to AJJ wouldn't be available via CGL and I thought that 15 minutes time would be enough to purchase another ticket. We waited in the platform as Pawan went and stood in the queue. The queue was very long. We still had 15 minutes. Here comes the most ill fated moment of the trip. Pawan was given the task of getting for the journey between Chengalpet and Arokkonam. The lady clerk at the booking counter told that such a train doesn't exist and she can't give a ticket. Pawan argued that the train did exist and pointed to the locomotive, which was ready to haul the train. It was a TNP WDM-2. The Lady clerk asked him to inquire with the Loco-pilot and asked him to come directly avoiding the queue. Pawan believed this word and came out of the queue. I told Pawan that she must be new or a transfer to this section, so I asked Pawan to go back and get the tickets. Pawan directly approached the booking clerk. Pretending as if she hasn’t seen him before, she asked him to come in the queue. The queue was very big. If we had stood in the queue it would take more time and we would be missing the train. Pawan got worried and called me and as I neared the queue the crowd got a bit upset.

When I reached the queue, the public thought I was wasting time and they were more eager to purchase their own tickets as Guruvayur Express would be arriving at CGL in another half an hour. No one was willing to listen to us. Then I went to the booking clerk room entrance and from there I asked her along with Pawan. She blasted at me asking whether I can understand 'Tamizh' and whether I had common sense.

Grrr! Grr! Grr!! Praang. The engine was ready to start. I knew it’s useless talking to her. Suddenly, the loco made a typical diesel engine noise deafening everyone. I felt as if Lord Narasimha was going to come out of the engine to punish this lady clerk. But sadly, only a dark cloud of smoke came out. Charcoal was applied on my face.

She must be in her 50's. She was elder to me. I did think of complaining to the Station Master but I didn't want her to lose her job. I know how tough it is to get a job. Having good marks, certifications, I suffered for a proper job for more than 1and a half years. I felt that I should downplay this incident and I tried my best to overcome my anger. I didn't want to hit on her daily food. In life there are lot of people who use words without measuring the impact it creates. But I can't be reacting to everything. Rather, I would ignore it. Her family might be reliant on her. Why to show my anger on her? The world is moving towards peace.

TNP WDM-2#17750 honked and started with the Arokkonam Passenger. The loco honked again. I thought that locomotive was quite happy with the decision I have made now. I have missed a train for the first time in my life! But I have learnt an important lesson in life. Self Control! I learn many things with the Indian Railways. If life could be so tough, my beloved engines are there to teach me. I could have gone to Arokkonam from Chennai Central but the plan was to take the Chengalpet-Arokkonam route which is a single line section. I have doing MAS-AJJ loads of time and it could be boring!

We had no options now than opting for bus. We went to Chengalpet Bus Stand and boarded a bus to Kanchipuram. The bus went near the train track for almost the entire length of the journey. We saw GOC WDM-2#17750 with Tirupati-Pondicherry Passenger somewhere before Kanchipuram. We got down at Kanchipuram. Had our breakfast at Kanchipuram(CJ). Onion Dosas and Poori Masala. Yummmy!!! Spicy Food!

Then we boarded a bus to Arokkonam. This journey was the slowest one. The bus was moving slow and never went above 35kmph average. By this time, we would have been in Arokkonam if we had taken the train. I could observe electrification terminating after Takkolam station. I could also see the Air Force Base near Takkolam. The section between Takkolam and Arokkonam is not electrified due to the Air Force base. Mumbai-Nagercoil Express takes this route and it bypasses Chennai. We boarded another bus at Arokkonam to reach Sholingur.



View from Sholingur Hill

The Sholinghur hill was 1/3 of the Tirupati Hill in my opinion. Approximately, 1350steps. We decided to climb in a typical rail fan style. We were warned of monkeys in advance. We purchased wooden sticks below to shoo away the monkeys, while Pawan purchased all necessary items for pooja. We started to climb in a railfan way. Ramki (WAP-4) was the lead loco, Pawan was the coach and I was the banker(WAG-7). Cracking jokes we started climbing the hill. Calling out CO’s, virtual signals, signs, aspects we started with our train. For sometime I decided to forget the so called professionalism and I tried my best to mingle with the teenage generation. I was in the rear and Ramki was leading. Pawan was being escorted. The reason was monkeys over here were known for snatching up anything from devotees. Coconut, chocolates, flowers, plastic bags. We negotiated a couple of curves and started accelerating up hill. Shared jokes. Monkeys were all around us. I felt like climbing Monkey Hill.

We were soon attacked by Monkeys. One of the monkeys came near Pawan and caught hold of his wooden stick. I wondered what was wrong. All pooja items were kept safely in the backpack. What did this monkey desire for? Aah! It seems Pawan took out his Polo roll. The mint with the hole. The monkey was eagerly asking for it and was showing out its hand. Pawan got afraid. Meanwhile, Ramki and myself started running away leaving Pawan alone with the monkey. For a moment, our imaginary train parted. Now the banker(myself) was in the front, followed by Ramki(lead loco). And what about our load Pawan? He was fighting with the monkey. It was loads of fun when Pawan pleaded with the monkey to leave him.

He then threw the Polo and the monkey went in search of it. Later, Pawan slammed us for leaving him. This incident is something similar to that of the Loco-Pilot and the Asst.Loco-Pilot jumping out of the engine after finding a pack of monkeys inside the locomotive. We were gasping for breath and laughing too. We sat and took rest for around 15 minutes thinking about the funny incident.

Sholingur Temple Gopuram.

If you associate your life with the Indian Railways, life could be so easy. We climbed further and atlast after nearly 50 minutes of climbing we reached the top. After seeing the deity we took some rest and started our descent. This time a monkey came near Ramki and started holding his T-shirt. After Ramki pleaded, the monkey left him. Now everyone felt that monkeys would target me next. A couple of them came near me, but didn’t do anything. We decided to go in bunches. So we waited and formed a group of 10. But monkeys being our ancestors were smarter than us. I could observe a bunch of 10 monkeys waiting for us in the next bend. They were also forming a battalion. Funny! One of them had a stick in its hand.


A monkey performs acrobatic stunts. I didn't take much photographs fearing the monkeys would snatch the camera mobile from me.

And by 15:30hrs we had climbed down the hill. We boarded a bus to Arokkonam. There was an EMU ready to depart to Chennai Beach. Ramki would be going to Saidapet, myself till Chennai Beach and Pawan was to get down at Perambur. Then I would board an MRTS EMU to Kasturibai Nagar at Chennai Beach. That was the return plan.

My EMU halted at all stations. It was a boring return journey in my opinion. EMU's could be boring. WAP-4#22646 was spotted with an outgoing express near Puliya Mangalam. WAP-4#22580 was the power for Trivandrum Express and was spotted at Tiruvallur. WAG-5#23479 was seen hauling a BCNA rake near Putlur. Twin WAG-5#23899+23769 hauled a BCNA rake near Hindu College. Raining WAG-5’s!! 23483+23426 was seen near Avadi hauling a loaded coal rake. I was feeling tired. I have done big trips, but for this trip I felt tiredness. Ramki and Pawan were still raring to go. I took my seat and decided to take rest while the young boys stood near the door. I was a bit worried, but I monitored them regularly. While Kacheguda Express was spotted in the distance, Ramki even called me to the door. But I preferred to take rest.

AJJ WAM-4#20549 ripped past us with 7651 MS-KCG Express as our EMU halted at Annanur. Near Villivakkam, I came to the door and waited to spot the evening Shatabdi to SBC. It was hauled by WAP-1#22010. Pawan got down at Perambur. My train reached Vyasarpadi Jeeva Jn and then took the line towards Chennai Beach. Instead of getting down at Central, I was to get down at Beach and from there I can easily board an EMU to Kasturibai Nagar. My EMU went via Washermanpet, Royapuram and then reached MSB. I bid goodbye to Ramki and then I boarded an EMU to Kasturibai Nagar. I reached my house at 1845hrs. My adopted dog Damien was waiting for me near the house gates.

-Krishna Kumar.S