Presenting all some pics of legendary Vaigai Express. Travelled in AC Chair Car from MS to MDU.
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Pic description:
Erode WAP4 22219 takes charge of 12635 Pallavan turned Vaigai Express bound for Madurai on a hot and overcast afternoon. 12606 Pallavan had also arrived with WAP4.
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Chennai Egmore, 20th June 2019.
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Trip updates:
I was very excited to travel in Pallavan's counterpart Vaigai Express. Got a window seat in C1. MS staff did a wonderful job by making the AC coaches clean enough before Vaigai's departure. 2S coaches were not so clean. My coach was 13 made I think(not sure). All the AC CC had wide windows and brown seats. 30389 RPM WAP7 was resting with Kollam Express on PF.No.2. Manduadih Express from RMM departed with a WAP7 from PF.No.5. Chendur Express was on PF.No.6 and Mannai's rake with TNP alco was on PF.No.3. We departed bang on time. The WAP4 did an amazing job till TBM. AC was not working. The attender asked us not to open the window curtains as it would affect the cooling. Later on it was fixed and AC started working fine. Crossed 12636 Vaigai at TBM. TBM-CGL run was slower as there were TSRs due to tripling work. At CGL, we were welcomed by RPM WAP7 30539 with the rake of Pothigai Express, BZA WAP4, GTL WAG7 which were the links of CGL-COA/KCG Expresses. Post, CGL it was an MPS run. I must say that the Erode beast set the tracks on fire. We arrived just 2-3 mins behind schedule at VM. LGD(Ex-TKD) WAP7 30685 was waiting for its next duty. Two ED WDP4Ds were also humming around. Wanted to doorplate for sometime to watch our train negotiate a huge curve but the train captain asked me to go inside and bolted the door. We met ED WAP4 led GUV/TN-MS Express at VRI. We were trolled before ALU. Post ALU, it was all clear. With great difficulty, I fought back my sleep to watch Vaigai rumble over my favourite, the wide and majestic River Cauvery. Thanks to the Sun which did not set anytime before 6:30 PM, I was able to fulfill my wish. We crossed SRGM at MPS and entered the Kollidam bridge. I was pained at the sight of the river. Only a thin stream of water was seen for a short distance. The might Cauvery was even more parched with not a drop of water flowing on it with only mud that stretched till the horizon which left me almost in tears. Coming back to Vaigai's performance, ED boy had brought us to TPJ outer at 6:35 PM, which was a fabulous run. We were held up at the outer for 10 mins. We arrived TPJ at 6:45 PM and departed after a 5 min halt. GOC WDP4D was ready to haul Uzhavan's rake to TJ as a passenger special from TJ. TPJ siding had lot of P4s and P7s in a deep slumber. As we gathered speed, we crossed TPJ CDO which was full with trains including SGNR Humsafar. Took a short nap till Manapparai. We were trolled again before DG. At DG outer, I spotted PGT MAS SF with WAP4. As we thrashed KQN at MPS, RPM WAP7 3033X pulled in with the TN MYS Express for a scheduled halt. It was an MPS run thereafter except for a minute halt at SDN. Finally we came to a halt somewhere near Kudal Nagar as we were running BT. At 9:20 PM, we were given clearance. It was a wonderful sight to watch Vaigai Express skipping on the bridge over River Vaigai. In the distance, we could see the majestic tower of Goddess Meenakshi Amman temple. Vaigai had scattered patches of water but it was very little. Finally, we were received on PF.No.3. 30479 RPM WAP7 was idling near PF.No.5. 22624 MDU MS was leaving from PF.No.2 as we screeched to a halt. In short, ED WAP4 ruled the tracks with Vaigai,Madurai's pseudo-Shatabdi.