Trip Report :
07.03.2017: Once the Guruvayur trip was finalised based on the availability of tickets from Bangalore, the planning was to be made for return date. Since 20th fell on a a monday, its easier and convinient to arrive by the ERS Superfast owing to early arrival at SBC giving more time to rest before going to office
20.03.2017: After darshan at guruvayur and afternoon rest at Thrissur, we arrive TCR station at 4:50PM while the MEMU to Palghat honked and left Went to the refershment stall on PF-1 near the stairs...
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and had tea when announcement went for arrival of the LTT bound Netravathi. Immediately 2nd announcement went for the arrival of 22150 to ERS from Pune. I gulped down the tea and informed my parents to join me on Pf, ran outside. Within minutes, spotted the ED wAP4 entering from ERS side with the Netravathi and seconds later Pune WDG-3A barged in from Shoranur side with the 22150 entering into the platform with the small rake making the passengers run coaches into the station. After 2 minute halt, both departed as simultaneously as they came
My parents in the meantime came out from restaurant and settled. The board near the counter said about Kerala Express running 90 min late owing to diversion via Allepey. The announcement went for the Kannur bound passenger standing on PF-4.. Me and my dad looked at each other.. Pf-4.. where is it... As far as we could see there were only 3 platforms.. Asking my mom to take care of the luggage, me and dad moved to the ERS end and we did spot the platform.. ERS wDM-3A signalled that there was indeed a short platform and short rake. Slowly we returned to our base
A wDG-4 of Pune showed up at the SR end with a short BCNA rake of about 24 coaches. As 22150 had cleared few mintes back, the freight had a short halt. MEanwhile announcement went for the Tirunelveli-Hapa Express (Most famous for the Tamil board signaling it as Aapa-Appa)Just as freight moved out, RPM WAP4 entered PF-2 with the Hapa Express and again it was a 2 minute halt before it left
After Hapa left, time ticked to 1730hrs and WDG-3A twins went happily through Pf-2 towards the FCI godown for the next allottment. In the meantime, we also moved to Pf-2 and walked to the staircase where our coach was excted- near the staircase. The staircase was not much used and it was not until next day did I realise that the staircase was inaugrated only 2 days ago
anyway in the meantime, announcement went for the 16307 Kannur Express arriving 35 mins late.. mom gave me a frown.. 1745 gaadi late by 35 mins what time is ours expected. you are already 1 hr into tthe station.. I just smiled for i knew it was just a mock frown.. RPM WAP4 came onto Pf-3 in the meantime with Guruvayur Thrissur pass on Pf-3 and the Kannur pass from Pf-4 departed soon. Few minutes later, ERS wDM-3A twins came into Pf-1 with the ERS passenger from Nilambur
at 18:05hrs announcement came for arrival of my train.. the 12683 bi-weekly. at 18:15hrs, the RPM WAP4 pulled in with the train onto the PF-2 and the full crowd boarded. Checked the status of the other trains on this section.. 16307 was right behind at 10 km distance, while ERS-PNBE SF was at KM 25.. The ruler of the section who always takes the lead, the 12625 to New delhi was far behind at 45 km distance. S7 coach of 07 was a biotoilet fitted coach, seems to be a norm for all TVC division trains now
anyway now all clear, we had the section to rule.. We crawled till Punkunnam and then started our speed going till 75-80 and maintaining that speed till Vallathol Nagar where we had a complete slowdown and crawl. In the meantime a WAP4 hauled CSTM-TVC Weekly Express had blasted past at similar speed. We sent across the track to the North Kerala after crossing the Bharatapuzha and welcomed the track joining from North Kerala, the 1st line of South laid by Britishers from East to West Coast
After a good run, we arrived PGT at 1945hrs on Pf-2 and we got down to buy dinner. Bought 2 pack of Chappati Kurma and a pack of idly vada with a sprite to gulp downidly vada was fine, but chappati was too dry and could be gulped down only with the kurma. We started from PGT and few minutes later the TPJ-PGT FP crossed us
The Walayar ghats was crossed with regular honking and elephant crossing signboards passing by with major places entertaining a speed limit of 30kmph and some as low as 25 to ensure lesser damage. The track just curves through blind curves and spotting anything could be difficult in those areas
We crossed through Walayar station and again after continous honkings and slower runs, we stopped abruptly at Madukkarai outer. After 5 minutes we got the clearance and reason was clear- A WAG5 tiwns hauled freight had crossed over to the corner line and hence we were stopped. As we went in through the station, another WAG7 twins hauled BOXN entered on opposite
After a brief run post Madukkarai, we entered Podanur on dot at 2105 hrs and left after a 2 minut halt. We went pass the ring road of CBE and we slowed down and hadnt stopped at Irugur outer for line from CBE. It was a cross through leaving me surprised and I checked TE.. the "Blue Mountain" was delayed from CBE by 20 mins..
We went into Irugur and WDG-3A twins hauled BTPN honked immediately from Irugur and left towards PGT. 3 minutes later, the 12083 MV-CBE Jan shatabdi crossed us and we went at high speeds. Speedometer showed an average of 102kmph a distance of about 16 kms covered in about 10 mins.. The slowdown was seen on speedometer to 75 and we were clearing points to enter TUP where a huge crowd welcomed us. PF-2 was occupied by the aggressive 12679 from MAS to CBE which imemdiatly departed. The reason for crowd was evident. 16609 CBE-NCJ was also delayed and expected 15 mins later. So this means there was noone literally ahead of us.. We were the King to JTJ
We started from TUP and berths were laid. My eyes still on opposite track waiting for the SF.. If 12679 was an aggressive SF, this was a fast run SF... 10 mins into the journey, as we again neared 3 digits, the 12695 crossed us with good speed. It was time to put the berth
"Dayavittu Gamanisi" started the announcement. We were now in kannada territory thought to myself before announcement ended "Krishnarajapuram station PF-4 alli ninthide" My sleepy eyes looked at the watch.. 3:20AM... i went back to sleep and 10 mins later dad woke me.. get up Cantt... We had reached inside and time was 03:35AM. We immediately got the starter in 2 mins and as we proceeded, there was a honk.. the 4th longest train of IR, the recently SF 22501 Bangalore city-New tinsukia Express crossed us. We proceeded slowly onto Pf-1 of SBC arriving at 03:50AM a good 30 mins before scheduled arrival as announcement went for 16021 to MYS standing on Pf-6