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The climate was too hot, and the effects were magnified by the very high humidity. It was getting unbearable. We (I, Dad and Mom) got ready and were all set to leave. We boarded a bus towards Thrisur from Kodungallur at around 1330. We reached Thrisur at around 1430. My mom was too tired to walk, and we hired an auto rickshaw from the bus stop to the station. We made it to the station at around 1440. The station was heavily crowded – The day was Friday! The next two days were holidays, and Keralites were celebrating their new year on Sunday. We stocked up some magazines for our journey ahead. The Mumbai bound 1082 ‘Jayanti' Express was expected soon.

At around 1455, Jayanti pulled in behind WAP4 #22219 of Erode. The train had a real huge crowd, all pilgrims returning from Sabarimala and most of them spoke in Telugu. The train waited for about 10 minutes. On the Yard line near Platform 3, WAG7 #27106 of Ajni was dozing off. The loco was too far from her home! A Blue coloured WAG7 was waiting for the starter at the Ernakulam end of Platform 3. The crowd on Platform 1 was swelling every minute. The crowd spilled over to Platform 2 and the UP railway line also! At around 1525, the Trivandrum bound Venad Express pulled in. The loco in charge was WAP4 #22527 of Erode. The train was already crowded, and after the rush got into the train, the train looked no better than a peak hour EMU in Mumbai! The only difference was the absence of spidermen on the coaches!

Even after the train crawled out, the rush on Platform 1 was considerable. At around 1600, the PA system announced the arrival of 7230 Hyderabad – Trivandrum Sabari Express. This train should have crossed Thrisur by 12-12.30! At around 1605, the train showed up behind WAP4 #22654 of Erode. There was no sign of Netravati Express. Finally at around 1610, my train – 6346 Trivandrum – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Netravati Express – pulled into the station behind WDM3A #14080 of Erode. The same loco had hauled this train when I had traveled in the same train in April 2005. The loco is surely a star performer! My coach was the 15 th from the loco. The coach was WGACCN 05138 (AS1) based at Trivandrum . We left Thrisur at 1618, delayed by 28 minutes. The train picked speed in no time, and we were cruising at acceptable speeds when the Howrah-Nagercoil Gurudev express cross us behind a WAM4 of Arakkonam.

The TTE came around and checked our tickets. We had an e-Ticket, and my Driving license was provided as the identity proof, and I had to wait for the TTE! After the checking was over, I decided to have a cup of tea just when the Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express rushed past behind a WAM4 of Arakkonam! Thrisur was too busy that evening! We crossed the Bharatapuzha no later, and were on our way towards Shoranur Junction. Erode WDG3A #13330 hauling a BCNA rake welcomed us in. Hiding behind an Accident train was WAM4 #20619 of Arakkonam in Bhusawal livery! The loco was preparing to take the Shoranur-Ernakulam passenger to its desitnation. We pulled into Platform 5 of Shoranur at around 1654, late by 14 minutes. We pulled out of Shoranur at 1704, now late by 19 minutes. The Ernakulam passenger had left, and on the same platform a Kozhikode bound passenger was parked. The loco in-charge was WDM2 #17835 “Jumbo” of Golden Rock. WDM2 #16885 of Ernakulam had a short race with our train as she was reversing to take charge of an evening outing to Nilambur!

My train notched up leaving a thick cloud of smoke, and we entered the single line absolute block section between Karakad and Pallipuram in no time. This section, about 15 kilometres long, does not have any loop lines owing to doubling work, and hence is an absolute block section. Our train charged through the section. The station master at Pallipuram gave a long smile on seeing my camera! I went back to my berth and decided to sip another tea! The tea was tasteless, more looked like bromine water! Just while unsuccessfully trying to find out some taste in the liquid, a bright looking WDM2 of Ernakulam rushed past with the Ernakulam Intercity! Filled with rage, I was back at the door!

We pulled into Kuttipuram at 1733, and left at 1735. We overtook a long BCNA hauled by WDG3A #14638 of Erode here. My train had 12 minutes of delay to its record, and we were galloping forward to make it up!!! We pulled into Tirur at 1749, now late by 9 minutes. We had a huge lot of packages to be loaded into the SLR, and the halt was 6 minutes long! We left Tirur at 1755. I was desperately waiting to see the Mangalore-Chennai Mail, and the sun was already down! My camera was preparing for long exposures….

We were soon at Parpanangadi outer. The time was 1811. The camera showed shutter speeds of 1/39 and so on…An Ernakulam loco was seen at a distance! Our train slowed down as she entered the loop, the other train was slowly notching up. The other train (Chennai mail) came close. I pressed the shutter, and a not so bad image of the train popped up! The loco was WDM3A #14076 of Ernakulam. We left Parpanangadi at 1816, now late by 16 minutes. A relative of ours was to come to Kozhikode to meet us. We crossed the Veraval-Trivandrum express near Kallayi with an Ernakulam “Baldie” in-charge. Our train, surprisingly, pulled into Kozhikode at 1850 early by 10 full minutes!

A minor scuffle broke out between an “on-Duty” Ticket Examiner and a Foreigner traveling in our coach. The foreigner was reportedly traveling on an unreserved ticket, and our coach was already full leaving no space for him! He was asked to vacate the coach and proceed towards the General compartment! The foreigner argued that he was a “foreigner” and he is permitted to be there!!! The TTE, this time, had to use a very harsh language and threatened to call the Railway Police if he did not clear out. The “white” walked away. Some minutes later, my relatives came down, and we had a light chat at the platform. Around the same time, WDM2 #16546 of Erode pulled in with the Mangalore-Trivandrum Express. The foreigner was back and once again trying to enter the coach when the TTE once again caught him! The foreigner tried to convince the TTE, but the fellow (TTE) was too stern on his decision. After a very interesting second round of verbal warfare between the white and our TTE(s), the train pulled out at 1912, now late by 7 minutes.

We next stopped at Vadakara at 2000, late by 7 minutes. I was damn tired by then and had no energy to check out what is happening! Dinner service had just begun. Our dinner was served. It was the usual Netravati Veg Meals consisting of Rice, Dhal, some dry “Bhaji”, pickle and curd. Water was served in a sealed PVC container. Just as I was finishing my dinner, our train pulled into Mahe. Since my last journey, I've been noticing that the Mumbai bound train stops at Mahe. We left Mahe at 2021. Our next halt was at Thalassery, where we reached at 2035 – late by 12 minutes. I went to sleep shortly after this halt. It was a deep, undisturbed sleep.

I woke up at around 0600. The train was stationary then. I check up, and it was Madgaon station. Announcements we being made that our train would depart shortly, and Vasco bound Goa Express would arrive on platform 3. I was a WDMx loco shunting an unknown train towards the same platform as that of my train. I guess that train was the Diva passenger. Another headlamp was now visible, and that lamp approached closer. That was WDG4 #12070 coupled to #12080 pulling in with an LPG rake. We started moving at 0625, late by 25 minutes. I spotted WDP4 #20041 sleeping off on the loop line. My train pulled out in no time, and we were cruising at good speeds. The climate was cold outside, and the sun was just getting ready for the ‘hot' day ahead!

We were trailing a BCNA rake, and because of that we were riding yellows (caution signals) from Surawali till Majorda. At Majorda outer, we were shifted to the KRCL line and we overtook the BCNA rake. The rake was headed by WDM3A #18536 of Erode. We entered the KRCL line, and the pilots notched up the loco swiftly. The style of driving of KRCL pilots are a class apart. They are masters of quick notching and sharp braking. They get the chance of drive at 100+ kmph speeds over bridges, and even KR passengers run at speeds above 100! We made it to Karmali, our next scheduled halt, at 0703.

We reached Thivim at 0721. A ‘hot' surprise was waiting there for me – The Gandhidham – Nagercoil Express! The loco in charge was WDM3A #16103R from Ludhiana !!! We left Thivim at 0724, late by 14 minutes. Breakfast was served at around 0800. I was busy chomping down Masala Dosas when we reached Kudal (Sorry! No timekeeping!). We left Kudal after the customary 2 minute halt. At around 0835, we made a short halt at Nandgaon Road outer signal. I could see the monster away!!! That was WDP4 #20034 hauling the Madgaon bound Konkan Kanya Express waiting for us! We crossed her at a ‘not-so-bad' speed, and we continued our north bound rush.

The ghats were dry brown, and a very hot air was blowing out! It was getting hotter by the minute, and I decided to remain indoors. We made another brief halt at some signal, this time inside a tunnel!!! The Outer signal of Vilavade station is at the mouth of a tunnel, and that caused my coach to stop inside the tunnel. At the station, waiting for us, was WDM2 #18169 of Kalyan hauling the Kumta bound Holiday special. The train notched up in no time, and we were cruising at above 100kmph. We made it to Ratnagiri at 1005, late by 5 minutes.

A BCNA rake was occupying the main line, and we were on Platform 2. Mango vendors were trying to trap some unsuspecting soul from the AC compartments! They were selling Mangoes at rates higher than ones at the Wholesale market in Mumbai – Remember: It is from Ratnagiri that the mangoes come to Mumbai!!! The loco pilots changed, and CR pilots took charge from their counterparts in KRCL. We left Ratnagiri at 1010. Ernakulam's WDM2 #16668 bid us a ‘smoky' farewell. The loco was lurking around the coaching yard looking out for some load to work! We next stopped at Bhoke (1025) for a crossing. WDM2 #17475 of Erode rushed past my train at 1041 with the Madgaon bound Jan Shatabdhi in tow. My train pulled out with full force after this crossing. We crossed the Marusagar Express at Ukshi. She had an unknown WDMx from Vatva. The 69 kilometre run from Bhoke to Chiplun was as dry as the Rocky Mountains , and I preferred to remain indoors. We pulled into Chiplun at 1145, late by 40 minutes. It took us approximately an hour to cover this distance! The driving style of CR pilots was evident here! They notch slowly unlike their counterparts in KR!

Lunch was served just as the train was pulling out of Chiplun. The lunch platter consisted of Rice, Sambhar, a dish made from raw bananas, pickle and Curd. 300-ml sealed containers of water were served some time after the lunch service. We crossed the Madgaon bound Mandovi express at Khed. The loco was a WDP4. We then stopped at Diwankhavati outer. Diwankhavati is a beautiful station located on a curve. We crossed the Madgaon bound KR5 passenger there. The loco in-charge was WDM2 #16672 of Ernakulam!!! This is in sharp contrast to the usual Erode WDM3A, and the train lacked the front SLR too. We crossed the Ernakulam bound Mangala express at Mangaon.

We made it to Roha at around 1400, late by about 15 minutes. It is CR territory from Roha onwards, and the speed of the train gets a beating. The train slows down considerably and crossing bridges become a pain. We got a “red” at Nagothane outer. My coach stopped half way into the “Amba” bridge. We crossed our pairing train; the Trivandrum bound Netravati Express, at Nagothane. The loco in-charge was WDM3A #14123 of Erode. Kalyan WDG3A #14558 was also dozing off at Nagothane.

Our train picked up speed after that crossing. We kept going strong till we reached Apta outer. We were routed to the loop line. I was expecting a crossing there, but instead something else happened! We crawled into the station. Kurla WDS4 #19687 was waiting for the shunt signal on the Main line. Our 21-coach ‘heavy-weight' was made to crawl through the loop line to help the puny shunter! The speed limit for the cross over was 10 kmph, and our train thus was crawling at 10 kmph! We did not stop, but simply ran through the station (at 10kmph)!!! We were back on the main line.

We crossed Rasayani station at good speed. We got another red, this time at Somatne outer. We pulled into the loop line of Somatne at around 1535 (this train should have left Panvel by this time!). The Trivandrum bound Holiday special was waiting there. The loco was WDM2 #17590 of Kalyan. The special was on the Down loop, while we were on the Up loop! The Down signal on the Main line went green. Some minutes later, WDM3A #14075 of Erode pulled in notching furiously with the Mangalore bound Matsyagandha Express. We got out starter soon later. I felt bad for the passengers traveling by that special train. The special had left Panvel at 1430, and had covered just 6 kilometres by the time her following train overtook here (which left Panvel only at 1530!).

We finally were welcome into Panvel station by WAG7 #27690 of Jhansi at 1552. The train finally stopped on Platform 1 at 1555 with a delay of 45 minutes! I literally jumped out of the train and rushed towards the ticket counter. The queue had already swelled, and it took me over 25 minutes to get a ticket towards Belapur! We finally got at train at around 1630, and reached home by 1700. Panvel station requires more than its existing 3 ticket counters at that hour – Urgently! So there ended a “tatkal” journey!

I am eager to know how you liked this report! Please send in your comments and suggestions (brick-bats also welcome) to binaiks [at] gmail [dot] com