Arokkonam trip with Sriram and Ramki

Sriram Karthik and Ramki capturing WAG-7 in action.

December 25th, 2008.

It was the birthday of Jesus Christ. I decided to rail fan after a long time (almost a month). I was feeling drowsy even before the trip started. I boarded the MRTS to reach Chennai Park and then walked to Chennai Central. 111SR MAS-AJJ Passenger was to start at 1450hrs and I reached there by 1350hrs. I started “sight-seeing” engines and started observing their numbers/shed details. My train was in the 4th platform and to my surprise it had an Erode WAG-7#27486 at the helm. I was surprised to see a goods dedicated locomotive hauling a passenger. There was also a Barbie WAM-4#21339 of Arokkonam Shed with pantographs down behind the WAG-7. I got excited, as I was very eager to travel behind a goods engine. My friend Sriram Karthik turned up at around 1410hrs. Ramki didn’t get any permission from his parents so I thought he might not turn up. Suddenly I got a message from Ramki when the time was 1448hrs. Ramki came to our coach at 1449hrs! The train started at 1451hrs. I was very impressed with the pickup and the initial start. We crossed Basin Bridge at 40kph+.

Ramki and I got busy with Masala Poori. Whenever buying such foods in trains, I use to give a second thought. Is it safe? But since we were three people, I decided to go for it. I am a great fan of spicy foods eating one such thing every week. Onions! Yummy. To my dismay this lady gave fewer onions and more of bhel poori. I thought of asking for more, but erased the idea soon. I later realized that I have forgotten to bring my handkerchief. Oh my God! The spicy food was hot. Tears came out of my eyes and water came out of nose. No water to drink. I rushed to the washbasin. Damn it! I would have accepted if water hasn’t come. But the blessed basin didn’t have a tap. Blowing puffs of air out like a steam engine and with WAG-7 accelerating with my train I decided to rail fan by standing at the door.


WAG-7#27486 was very clean.

For some unknown reason we crossed Vyasarpadi at a slow speed. We had halts at Perambur and Villivakkam. I felt boring and uninterested. Something was wrong with me. Very rarely I am confused/preoccupied with thoughts during train journeys. What’s wrong with me on this Christmas day?

After Villivakkam, my train simply blasted through sub-urbs. I never thought that this WAG-7 was capable so much. While crossing Korattur, Ambattur and Avadi dust was sprayed on people standing near the tracks. I was in the 6th coach, as usual standing near the door in the left. WAG-7 really made a meal of the puny 8-coach load. Some great soul was having his lunch in the next coach near towards the loco. He washed his hands in the 5th coach and water came splashing on my face. Then had sambar and curd rice. My guess! As he threw the paper out, it came flying past me and I could sense it by the smell. The sambar packet with some sambar still left was thrown out and it went past my face. I expected him to throw some rice next so that I can also finish my lunch!

Hindu College, Pattabiram, Veppambattu was crossed in a flash. Sevvapet Road was crossed at around 60kph with blaring horns reminding me of the RF session with Dilip at the Sevvapet Road on June 17th, 2007. Putlur was crossed at 40kph. By this time the person has finished his lunch and washed his hands and hence washing my face. Funny!


Passenger train getting goods locomotive. The pickup was good.

After Tiruvallur, my train did normal speed and I didn’t observe anything extra ordinary. I was slightly proud that I was able to know sub-urban names and at the same time I was ashamed that I didn’t know it in order. We had a halt at Kadambattur. This halt is not mentioned in the timetable for this train. Egattur, Senjipanambakkam, Manur, Tiruvalangadu went by in a jiffy. As we were crossing Mosur, Ramki said that he would buy a plot over here and build a house to watch trains. Whether Ramki knew it or not, it’s also my wish. This is any rail fan’s wish I guess.

Who knows what would happen in future? I am not much into the current way of living. It’s not that I want to be different; I want to retain my originality. I don’t want to live a fake life imitating others. Whether it’s simply, humble or funny it’s my life and I am the Hero of my story and God is my story-writer/screenplay and director.

Ramki got excited seeing the board “Arokkonam Electric Loco Shed”. I could see WAG-5’s, WAM-4’s, WAP-1’s and WAP-4’s having afternoon nap. We stopped at the outer for a few seconds and then entered into the 3rd platform. As Ramki and Sriram Karthik spent sometime near the engine, I walked away for a drink. Pineapple juice was very tasty. I then purchased a Rajesh Kumar Tamil Crime Novel, one of my favorites since childhood. I had been reading them since my sixth grade. The announcement came that Kochuveli Special was on its way. When we started at Chennai Central I remember seeing this train on platform 1. Kochuveli special came with a WAG-7#28025 of Erode Shed. The engine was new and it belonged to the 28xxx series. The Assistant Loco-Pilot and Loco-Pilot were dressed in blue shirt and black pant and the engine was also in blue in color.


This one is for Ashwanth(WAM-4 loco lover)

You would have seen me many times wearing a blue shirt and black pant. Formals! I don’t wear it just because it suits me or everyone likes to see me in it. I wear it to honor the occupation, which I desired very much and I wear it with pride. 22 years of living alone without brothers and sisters. These steel machines have stood with me during my toughest moments in life! These machines have shared my happiness when I succeeded in many things. I shared my miserable depressed moments sitting in platforms watching trains. My wounded heart was healed every time I did that. As on date, I have never considered engines as my best friend neither I have told to anyone. I don’t want to give the honor. The reason is if I give the honor, I fear that my bondage and relationship with locomotives would come to an end abruptly like it happens with humans. That’s the reason why I don’t honor these machines openly. These machines have won my heart, as they are humble.


WAG-5 of Arokkonam Shed.

Ramki got a call from one of his friends asking him to do a top up for Rs.100. The fun started here. Ramki said, “I am out of town and I am in Bangalore”. Ada cha! I was amused. I thought of yelling, “Reel sutharaan, he is in Puliyamangalam”.


WAP-4 with Lalbagh Express was late on that day.

Announcement came that Bangalore bound Lalbagh was on its way. It came with LGD WAP-4#22595 at around 1645hrs. After that we searched for a stall to grab something to eat. To my amazement there was none open except fruit juice stall. I had Sweet Lime juice. Have they gone for lunch? Amusing! 2695 TVC Express came majestically and had a halt of 3-4minutes and then went. Then immediately Darbhanga-Bangalore Express followed. The UR was packed and I could see a lot of North Indians. Even the reserved sleeper class coaches were filled with open ticket holders sitting at the door. The power was this train was AJJ WAP-4#22649. I felt that this train deserved only a WAP-1 or a WAM-4 (sorry Ashwanth, nothing personal please).

Surprisingly, I was very tired. I couldn’t stand for a long time and I was often sitting in the benches as Sriram Karthik and Ramki went for rail hopping! I felt sleepy and was yawning incessantly. We waited for our EMU and it took its own sweet time to come. The return journey was dull even though we saw a lot of goods, evening trains in action. I was listening to songs like Pretty Boy, Cotton-Eye Joe and BSB-“Show me the meaning of being lonely” and also Suprabatham remix. We halted at all stations. Dadar-Chennai Superfast Express ran parallel to us and overtook us near Villivakkam. We reached Chennai at around 2000hrs. Bidding good-bye to everyone I walked up to Chennai Park. For some dumb reason, there was no train for 25 minutes. I got a call from Poochi Venkat and the conversation lasted for 10 minutes. Then I boarded the MRTS to start the last leg of my journey. I took the window seat. There was a love couple sitting next to me. They were out for Christmas I guess. The girl was demanding a jewel for Rs. 25,000 and the guy was lamenting that his salary itself was only Rs.20, 000. Little do girls realize that their smile is more beautiful than jewels? Lip sticks, cosmetics, perfumes are fake. They represent beauty, which don’t exist in real. Kungumam replaced by stickers, nose rings slowly disappearing, no flowers in the hair, no bangles. Saree and Churidhar being replaced by jeans, funny skirts and T-shirts with stupid letterings. Horrible!

Whenever a train is inaugurated in Indian Railways, the engine/locomotive stands like a lamp (kuthu vilakku as in Tamil) representing Indian culture. Flowers decorated and with lamps lit, it stands like a bride. The reflection of the lamp’s light falls on its face. It appears as if it is blushing, as there are lots of people around to witness the ceremony and she is the center of attraction. Banana leaf (Vazhai Maram in Tamil) tied up in front to signify the ceremony. Kungumam to add divinity. Sandalwood paste to add more beauty. Now how come a locomotive appears so beautiful? Any cosmetic, jewels, perfumes? Nothing. Simplicity and culture plays a role. Indian Railway Locomotives are the only iconic surviving symbols of Indian culture. I guess the present generation girls have got something to learn from the engines. LOL!

Back to the MRTS ride…

I could see a guy being interrogated for ticket less travel by a Railway Policemen. A husband and wife were discussing family expenses loudly. Two old pensioners were talking of cricket and Dhoni’s recent successes. A small schoolboy was returning from tuition I guess and was busy with a video game. How many different people do these trains see everyday?

I got down at Kasturibai Nagar Railway station and walked straight to Krishna Sweets. I was very eager to have a chat item. But the sad news was there was no chat item available! I walked up to the near grocery store to buy some biscuits for my dog and I reached home at 2100hrs. My dog Damien was already having biscuits purchased by my father.

-Krishna Kumar.S

Trip Report published on February 1st, 2009.