The return Journey

The return journey was something which I had been waiting for. It was by 6346 Trivandrum – LTT Netravati Express through the Konkan Railway Route . That was my first journey on that route. Incessant rains on 21 st June in Kerala caused some landslides in Kasaragode. Due to this tracks were washed away at some places. But some trains were still operational on that route. That gave me some relief, that my dream journey is not hampered.

In order to travel on the train, we left our home at around 1330 and proceeded to Trichur station by bus. We reached the station, and checked the reservation charts since our tickets weren't confirmed when booked. The chart showed our status to be ‘RAC'. We had accommodation in coach number S5. The train was scheduled for 1545. There some people saying that the train is re-routed. I rushed to the enquiry counter to confirm the route. A board was put up, which read: “Train Nos: 2617, 6346 re-routed via PGT”. It meant that the KR route is “closed”. We are taking the train's old route via Andhra Pradesh.

We proceed to Platform #2. We had to get back to mumbai and the route was not a problem. The train was to arrive ‘late' at 1630 on Platform #2. Some time later, it was announced that the Bangalore bound 6525 Kanniyakumari-Bangalore ‘Island' Express would be arriving on Platform #2. That train arrived at around 1640 or so. Finally, our train arrived at about 1645 and was on the platform for a long 30 minutes. We finally departed at about 1715. It was raining outside and our Glass shutters were pulled down. A few kilometers ahead, at a station called ‘Mulangunnathukavu', we were put to the platform line. It was for an Overtaking. The late running, Delhi bound Kerala Express overtook us at great speed with an Erode Loco (probably a WAP4). The wipers of that loco were ‘on'. A few meters ahead of our loco was a level cross. The level cross was shut for the Kerala Express. It went and the level cross was opened. It was ridiculous! An express train waiting for the level cross to be closed! We finally started moving and we reached Shoranur Junction at 1845 or so. A long 1hr 30 minute for a distance which usually takes 20-30 minutes. You can image our speed. The lights inside the coaches of our train are usually switched on at Shoranur. The same happened on that day also. But imagine being in a coach without light upto 1830 during rains.

We had to wait till the Ernakulam bound Canannore –Ernakulam Intercity reaches Shoranur. Railways had offered the passengers, to travel free on the intercity upto Shoranur where Netravati would wait for them. This train reached Shoranur at about 1900 or so. We finally started moving at around 1930. Our dinner was served after Shoranur. We reached Podanur at around 2300. Shoranur to Podanur usually takes not more than 2 hours. But we took three-and-a-half hours. I went to sleep. Out berths were actually a Side Upper and Lower berth. But since the Side Lower was a cancellation, we occupied it. Many people did not want to travel on this train due to the re-routing. I had a sound sleep since it was cold outside.

I got up in the morning at around 9 AM. At that time we were pulling into some station. Believe me, it was Bangarpet! We halted at Bangarpet for about 20 minutes. We crawled through Krishnarajapuram and Yelahanka. The train was crawling along the entire route. We reached Dharmavaram in the afternoon. In the evening at about 1700, we were at a station called Nagarur. The station had a platform, which couldn't accommodate the 21-coach rake of our train. Our coach was a few metres trailing outside that platform. At this station we waited for around three trains. They were Mumbai-Chennai Express, Mumbai-Chennai Mail and some other train which I don't recall. One of those Mumbai-Chennai trains was empty. That was probably an empty haulage. We departed the station after a long 40 minutes wait for crossings and overtakings. We reached Wadi by about 2100.

I slept after this station. I got up at around 8am. We were at Kurduvadi then! People were frustrated since the tanks had dried by then. An argument occurred but still water wasn't filled. Finally water was filled at Daund. We reached Pune at around 12.30 on Day 3 of our journey. Our lunch was served after Pune. It was fun watching the Erode Diesel zipping through the bhore ghats. We waited at the outers of Palasdhari Junction for some reasons best known to god! The train had to wait for each and every local train. We crawled through stations like Karjat, Neral, Badlapur, Ambernath and Vitthalwadi. The train finally pulled into Kalyan at 1700! A long 4 hours to reach Kalyan from Pune. We finally got down at Kalyan and proceeded to home by bus. We reached home at around 1830, delayed by 26 hours and 45 minutes.

This trip was digged out from some hidden memories. Hope you all liked it. Kindly write in to me with your comments and suggestions…