This travelogue is 1708 words long

The day was getting hotter, and my dad was engrossed in watching India playing against Sri Lanka in a game of cricket. He was so engrossed that he wasn't ready even to get up and get ready for the journey back to Mumbai. I could already see heavy hearts of my Grandparents…they were indeed sad to see us off! Finally after repeated persuasion, my dad got up, and we were all ready to move ahead! We had a long-ish wait at the bus stop, and we got a bus at around 1315 towards Kodungallur. From there we took a limited stop bus towards Trichur. We reached Trichur at around 1430. We slowly walked through the road from Chettiyangadi bus stop to the railway station – a distance of about 500 metres! The entire is dotted with small stores selling hot and fresh fried items like chips. The State Transport bus station is also on the same road, and because of this, the road had a huge number of travel agencies offerings ticket bookings for private long distance buses, flights and trains!

We reached the station at around 1500. The Trivandrum bound Venad express was expected soon, and I was waiting eagerly to have a look at its loco. Venad came in at 1512, and the loco in charge was Erode WAP4 #22670. The station dipped back to silence after Venad went out. Platform 2 was getting filled by the moment, and Netravati picks up a majority of its passengers from Trichur (according to an earlier report by IRCTC). The train – 6346 Trivandrum Central – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Netravati Express – pulled into the station at 1541 behind WDM3A #14125 of Erode. My coach, AS4 (WGACCN 01146) was the 19 th from the loco. The coach appeared quite run down, and was faring poorly on the cleanliness factor!

The train pulled out of the station at 1550, sharp on time. The vendors from the pantry were in full force, and was arriving one behind the other with their mouth watering recipes! I remained at the door as the train was slowly moving towards Punkunnam. We crossed the Patna-Ernakulam express at Punkunnam, and the loco in-charge was WAM4 #21307 of Arakkonam. I went back into the coach since a few RPF officers were constantly roaming around me! The coach hit a sudden jerk, and a vendor selling hot Vegetable cutlets lost his balance. He spilled the Tomato Ketchup contained in a bottle on to the floor and on my dad's trousers! He instantly apologized and got into the act of cleaning. The bottle had a loose cap! He cleaned the floor with a newspaper, while my dad went to the toilet. He informed the coach attendant, and some minutes later, a man in a Khaki uniform came around with a mop! He was in-charge of cleaning the train! He mopped the floor!

The train continued its high-speed running! We were given a red signal at the Bharatapuzha bridge outer signal. Some minutes later, ex-Ernakulam now-Tondiarpet WDM2 #18318 rushed through with a Tanker rake. We then slowly crawled towards Bharatapuzha Bridge . Unusually, the train was directly admitted into Shoranur Junction instead of being made to wait at the outer signal! Erode WAP4 #22556 was waiting to take off with the Shoranur-Ernakulam Passenger, while another WAP4 (#22669) of the same shed was getting ready to take off with the Mangalore-Coimbatore Fast passenger. Dead WDM2 #18375 of Golden rock was coupled right behind the Erode Wappie. We pulled out of Shoranur at 1645 right on time.

The line ahead of Shoranur is still single, and the train slowly crawled out of Shoranur yard. Yard works are in progress at Karakad, while it is all ready at Pattambi. We crossed a Tanker rake hauled by WDM3D #11105 of Erode at Pallipuram. It is all doubled ahead of Pallipuram, and our train showed up its full potential, and Erode Deemer showed that she is still the best around! We crossed the Kannur-Ernakulam Intercity after Perashshannur with Ernakulam WDM3A #14052 in charge! We pulled into Kuttipuram at 1731, delayed by 10 minutes. The next stop after Kuttipuram was Tirur. The official halt at Tirur is only 5 minutes, but in reality the train stops for anywhere between 10-15 minutes since this station is a major freight loading point! We pulled into Tirur at 1749. Erode WDM3A #14126 pulled into the station with a long LPG tanker rake just as we were ready to pull out at 1801. The run ahead of Tirur was interesting, and we crossed the Mangalore-Chennai Mail right outside the station. The Mail had WDM3A #14051 of Ernakulam in charge. We halted at Parpanangadi at 1821, now with a delay of 23 minutes.

We pulled into Kozhikode at 1856, early by 4 minutes. Just minutes before we received our starter, WDM2 #16850 of Erode pulled in with the Mangalore-Trivandrum Express. We pulled out of the station at 1908. I climbed on to my side upper berth to relish on a novel “Airport”. I was busy reading the novel while the train stopped at Vadakara. Dinner was at served 2000. I had ordered for Vegetable Biriyani. The food was tasty, but did not have any accompaniment (A raita is always expected!) The train then stopped at Thalasseri at 2036, and left at 2040. I decided to stay on atleast till the train reached Kannur. The train pulled into Kannur at 2103, early by 7 full minutes! Ernakulam WDM2 #16874 was sleeping off with the rake of Mangalore-Kannur-Coimbatore passenger at the siding. Ernakulam WDM3A #17894 pulled in with the Trivandrum bound Malabar Express. (This train shares its loco with the Mangalore-Chennai Mail). Erode WDM2 #17543 was sleeping off with the rake of the Coimbatore-Kannur-Mangalore passenger. We left Kannur at 2115 (sharp on time!). I climbed on to the Side upper berth, and slipped into sleep in a matter of a few minutes!

I slept quite deeply, and woke up at around 0700. I went to the toilet, brushed my teeth and got ready for a new round of railfanning. The train pulled into Thivim at 0720, about 12 minutes behind schedule. I was at the door while an announcement said that the Okha-Ernakulam Express was expected soon. I got ready with my camera as I spotted a loco with a very unusual livery. The loco came closer, and she was WDM2 #17279 of Andal!!! What was an Eastern Railway loco doing so far from her home??? WE left Thivim at 0725, delayed by 15 minutes. The rushed out of Goa, and we entered into Maharashtra . Our first halt in the state was Kudal. We left Kudal at 0806.

We were sidelined at Sindhudurg at 0815. At around 0827, WDP4 #20031 from Krishnarajapuram pulled in with 0111 Mumbai-Madgaon Konkan Kanya Express. We had a non stop spirited run from Sindhudurg to Ratnagiri, with one ‘major' speed restriction near Nivasar. We pulled into Ratnagiri at 1015, delayed by 15 minutes. Madgaon bound 2450 Goa Sampark Kranti express was waiting for us there with WDM3A #18626 of Ratlam doing the honours. Sampark Kranti got her starter just minutes after my coach came to a halt. The train made a smoky departure. We pulled out of Ratnagiri at 1026.

We were moved to the loop line at Bhoke. A Plasser machine was on the main line. The machine moved out of the station once we were stationary, and then reversed on to the line on which we were stationary. The signal on the main line turned green once again…and a few minutes later WDM3A #14139 of Erode rushed through the main line with the Madgaon bound 2051 Jan Shatabdhi Express in tow! The run ahead was marvelous, and we did the journey till Chiplun absolutely non-stop! We pulled into Chiplun at 1144, delayed by 39 minutes. Golden Rock WDM2 #16884 was waiting there for us with the Sawantwadi/Madgaon bound passenger. Our coaches were re-watered, and we moved out of Chiplun at 1150.

We crossed the Madgaon bound Mandovi express at Anjani, and Ernakulam bound Mangala express at Karanjadi. Lunch was served at around 1245. The Vegetarian meals platter consisted of Rice, Sambhar, A side dish made of raw banana and dhal, Curd and Pickle. Water was served in sealed glasses. The food was quite tasty, and the quantity was much better than the ones served on most other trains (Excepting Kerala based SR trains). We had to wait at Mangaon for a few minutes for Erode WDM3A #14123 hauled BCNA rake to pass through. It was all about flying out after the crossing. The train stopped at Kolad (at 1333) for removal of the ACD unit from the Rear SLR, and then proceeded towards Roha.

Roha was reached at 1348, delayed by 5 minutes. We left Roha after two minutes. The rake of the Roha-Diva passenger was dozing off at the siding, with its loco (WDM2 #18068 of Kalyan) still alive. We were routed to the loop line at Kasu. The main line was occupied by WDG3A #14894 of Erode hauled BCNA rake, while the DN loop was occupied by our pairing train – Trivandrum bound Netravati Express – hauled by WDM2 #16853. Our train ran slowly through the loop line, and got back into the main line. The run was non-stop ahead of Kasu, and was really at a very good speed. The train shook the barren countryside as the beast ahead put up all her 3100-hp of power with the 21-coach rake! WAG5 couple #23372 & #23072 from Tuglakhabad, and WAG7 #27249 from Ajni were standing guard to Panvel and whole heartedly welcomed us in. We pulled into Panvel at 1514, about 4 minutes late and the train screeched to a halt on Platform 1.

I had a mad dash out of the train towards the ticket counters. My parent slowly walked behind me. The ticket counters have been shifted to the new building at Panvel station, while the coupon validating machines are still at the old booking office. I decided to validate coupons worth the ticket fare instead of queuing up! The day being a Sunday, EMUs were being operated only upto Vashi. The Vashi-Kurla section was closed for maintenance. The EMU, as a result, were empty! We reached home by 1600!!!

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