Trip Report : When my parents this time decided that Lalbagh will be the choice to MAS, I was dammed surprised. A CC travel in day time on SBC-MAS Section was my most awaited and it was the choice for 01.05.2017 by one of my favourite trains the 12608 Lalbagh
Took an ola to reach SBC by 6AM. Lala brother (Lalbagh Pet name) was as usual presented on PF-1.. The reserved coaches already had standing place occupied by the UR, as we proceeded to the coach C2. My anxious mind was predicting the number of windows we 4 people had. It turned out that seats 53-56 had 2 windows placed in the 3 sider section but on the non track area....
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Slightly disappointed but occupied it neverthless. The UR coach of 12610 stood next to me with already 50% occcupancy. Surprised i got down to witness our UR as I porceeded to watch the loco.. UR's hardly had place to step in and train was still 20 mins away from departure in SBC. i pitied the plight of passengers in the 2S and UR. RPM WAP7 30477 was our lead and as clock ticked, GOC WDP-4D pulled out of PF-4 with the 12677 to ERS, not so very crowded.
At 6:35AM, we got the clearance to proceed as we settled.The rake of 56514 Karaikkal Pass was shunted out and it was awaiting its push back into the platform. Early morning getting up means early hunger pangs and a piping hot upma vada to satisfy the same. The coach was a 07 make but the food trays was not proper with my food tray settling down on my lap without any support. In the meantime, 16235 crossed on the opposite side. At BNC, AJJ WAP waited on Pf-2A with the 56501 BZA pass
Post BNC, we gathered speed and just outside BNCE, a rake filled with advertisements crossed us which with coach composition was gussed as the 12785 from KCG running not very late. We pulled into KJM where 56214 from TPTY crossed out. Huge crowd was waiting at KJM and from the CC angled view D1 was also full of UR now with few passengers occupying the vestibule space and door space of C2 also.
Passengers boarded at KJM and train was full now. The passengers on the 2 seater were 2 families of 3 each and they requested us to take the 2 seater while they occupied the 3 seaters, to which i happily agreed, So post KJM, we were in the track side seat and the train by now had crossed past Hoodi (HDIH). Crowd waited for the 16519 at WFD and just outside WFD 16519 pulled into WFD behind a RPM WAP7. Closely following it without a chance for overtake was the on timne running 16316 KCVL behind a WAP4. At Tyakal, WAP7 crossed us with the Swarna Pass from MKM. Despite being 3rd train from BWT on a Sunday morning, this train also had more than 100% occupancy. In meantime, speedometer showed speeds maintaining 105-107 avg till Maralahalli where speeds dropped to 35-40 for next 3 kms as we entered BWT at 7:45AM and left quickly in 2 minutes
Post BWT, for unknown reasons, sleep pulls me down and same happened now. Kuppam was despatched at 8:10AM and a WAG7 twins hauled BCNA crossed us. The 2nd line encircled the Eastern ghats away from the other line, meeting at Mulanur and Patchur before patching up near Somanayakkanpatti. We had a unoffical stop at JTJ home as 12007 crossed us behind a WAP4 and I assumed it for clearance before PC guys confirmed it was a chain pulling as somebody fell of the UR coach. 2 mins later, we were received into JTJ as MGS wAG7 twins with BOXN waited in the corner. Soon KPD-SA MEMU came in the opposite side and we left JTJ at 9:00AM. Hot Ubattu/Poli came and soon we had a Obattu each. Small but tasty (Missing the old Brindavan Obattu)
The crew showed agression post JTJ and speeds not attained a consistent 110-112 for a while before dropping back to 105. Vaniyambadi Home witnessed a thundering Seshadri moving at lightning speed while just outside Vaniyambadi, the 12675 to CBE went chasing the Seashadri with a RPM WAP7. After a stop go halt at Ambur, an unknown train went past with a WAP4 which was later realised as the GHY-TVC (The extended version of GHY-ERS) and barely minutes later, the CBE bound shatabdi made its appearance with a wAP7 and a DD EOG. Just behind the shatabdi was yet another surprise, as the WAP4 hauled Navyug/TEN Link Express rake made its way without showing the loco lead. Next to follow was the 22625 DD to Bangalore behind a RPM WAP7 ahead and as we approached Gudiyattam, surprise followed with a rake being overtaken at MPS, turning out to be the 17605 biweekly MAQ-KCG via TPTY. Dad was looking at me astonished with the route of this train going all around rather than taking a shorter route via YPR/KJM. at 10:05AM, after a serious blistering run from jTJ covering 85 kms in an hour, we entered KPD where RPM WAP7 welcomed us with 12639 overcrowded rake on Pf-1. The TPTY bound passenger left behind a wAP4 from Pf-3 giving us a parallel run as we came to a halt
Again a 2 min halt, we soon started, soon crossing the WAP4 hauled WAG7 dead 56261 AJJ-SBC pass. Again a blistering run and a stop go halts at Walajah Road and Sholingur and a plate of Bajji shared among everyone, we arrived AJJ at 11:05AM, 60 kms 60 mins run and we had exactly a run a ball now with 70 mins for 70 kms. Achievable I thought.
But section controllers had other plans. A metal snake crawled out from Pf-4 all of a sudden leaving us speechless. We were held up. i went to the door to witness who it was. 2 hrs late running 11017 LTT-KIK was given preference ahead of us and Lala held back. Few mins later, we got the starter and the crew wasted no time to accelerate well close to the 100 mark as we moved on the 2nd line . As we neared Putlur, it was a parralel run with tthe 11017 on the 4th line and we neared the AC coaches, we were slowed down and 11017 raced again telling us bye. We sedatley passed through Kadambattur and egattur at 60's giving enough space to change over point without waiting and again accelerating out of Tiruvallur. Went at MPS overtaking the EMU's entering the respective halts and at Pattaravakkam, WAP4 hauled West Coast to MAQ went past us. After a short halt at PER, we again went at slow speeds without halting anywhere to crosses the CSTM bound 11041 from MAS. A glide through BBQ later, we slowly entered into MAS, received on Pf-8 while the PF-8 darling Charminar was stationed on PF-5 and the Chamrajnagar-tirupati pass Garudadri rake stationed on PF-6. Slowly made out at MAs, the humid climate and cool breeze welcoming us out of MAS as we took out our mobiles for the Ola