This travelogue is 2875 words long

I hurried and was continuously instigating my dad that we leave our home early. Finally, we left at around 1240, and took a bus to Kodungallur. My dad had some petty shopping, and he got down about 3 stops short of the bus station, while I continued to the bus station with our baggage. Later my dad joined me at the bus station, and we took a bus at around 1300. We reached Thrisur at around 1420. We had some shopping and slowly walked to the railway station. The station was pretty crowded, and the reservation charts for my train were not yet put up at the notice boards.

We slowly walked over to Platform 2. I noticed WAG7 #27257 of Ajni shunting a short BCNA rake in the yard. Our coach, according to the board at the station, was the 17 th from the loco. The platform was quite crowded, and we decided to sit for some time. Around this time, the arrival of 1082 Cape-Mumbai Express was announced. This train goes to Mumbai via a circuitous route, and would take approximately 12 hours more than what my train would require! But, during monsoons passenger prefer the longer route which ensures that they reach Mumbai in the stipulated time, unlike the Konkan route where diversions are common during monsoons!

The crowd waiting for 1082 was enormous. The train (1082) pulled in at 1448 with WAP4 #22255 of Erode. The train left about 10 minutes later. The Ajni WAG7 now came near me to shunt a caboose parked right behind where I was seated! At around 1510, the Trivandrum bound Venad Express pulled in behind WAP4 #22557 of Erode. The train was already crowded, and a bigger crowd was waiting at the station! The train had a stylish looking AC Chair car coach (#06156). The coach had huge “Jan Shatabdi” type windows.

The crowd waiting for my train was now swelling by the moment! Moderate rains did not help to ease the situation. The PA system came alive at around 0330 with a lady shouting out “Passengers your attention please” in a typical Malayalam-English accent! She repeated the same phrase about 3 times at an interval of about 60 seconds. On passenger standing near me shouted back in Malayalam “kelkkukayalle, parayu!” (“We are hearing, continue!”). About a minute later, she once again repeated the same sentence, and the speaker went off. Some 3-4 minutes later, she once again repeated the same sentence, but this time completed what she wanted to. The “Zero Twenty Six Seventy Seven Intercity Express coming from Bangalore and bound to Ernakulam” was to arrive soon on Platform 1.

I kept my camera ready as soon as I heard the loco's horn. The loco approached the station at a good speed (Platform 1 is on the main line, and trains approach the station at a very good speed, and then brake hard!). The loco was WDM3D #11110 of Erode. The loco seemed to have been repainted by the shed, and the colour looked lighter than the actual livery. The loco had a typical “Phur Phur...” noise unlike the normal Alco sound. The train had a decent occupancy, and a good number of passengers got down at the station. Suddenly, the PA system came alive and “the ever familiar” lady announced that “Sixty three Forty five Lokmanya Tilak Trivandrum Netravati Express is expected to arrive at Sixteen Hours and twenty five minutes”. The train should have reached at around 1400.

An announcement regarding the arrival of my train was made, and by now a “green” loco was visible at a distance. The loco came closer and closer. The loco was “Golden Deemer” #18329 (WDM2 #18329 from Golden Rock). The loco had an “O” marked on its cab. This sign is usually used to denote “Inferior” locos! The 21-Coach train, 6346 Trivandrum – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Netravati Express, pulled in and stopped. My coach was WGACCN 05142 (B2). There was a confusion among other passengers about the coach number since our (and everybody else's) tickets mentioned “AS2”, and the coach was “B2”.

Probably seeing this commotion at all stations, the coach attendants stood on the platform and clarified that “AS” was changed to “B” with effect from July 1! The Ernakulam bound intercity departed as I was just settling in my seat. We had a Side lower and a side upper. Our train pulled out at 1604. Just as the train started moving, I was at the door and heard an announcement that the “Thirty Three Fifty One Dhaanbad – Alappuzha Express” was arriving shortly on Platform 1. I was ready at the track side door, and we crossed the train near the Home signal. The loco in charge was WAM4 #20689 of Arakkonam.

My train picked speed quickly, and the ‘Golden Deemer' proved that she was no way “inferior” as she smoked up and the train picked speed rapidly. We rushed through Punkunnam station at a decent speed. We crossed our pairing train (the Trivandrum bound Netravati Express) near Mulagunnathukavu station. The loco in charge was WDM3A #14140 of Erode. I settled inside the coach now. The TTE came around and checked the tickets, and the coach attendant brought our bed rolls. The train halted for a few minutes at Bharathapuzha Signal (which doubles up as Shoranur Outer). Our train then crawled through the bridge and stopped once again – now at Shoranur home.

We were cleared to arrive on Platform 3, and we made it to the station at 1649, about 9 minutes late. Erode WAP4 #22669 was preparing to depart from Platform 1 with the Mangalore-Coimbatore Fast passenger. Erode WDM2 #17714 was dozing off near Platform 1, and WDM2 #18337 of Ernakulam came on to Platform 2 (she brought the fast passenger from Mangalore, and will now take charge of the Kozhikode passenger). WAM4 #20610 of Shoranur was ready to depart with the Ernakulam bound “ Cochin ” Passenger. We left the station at 1656, now about 11 minutes late.

Erode WDM3D #11184 was waiting with a BCNA rake at the Kozhikode end of the station. We slowly cleared all points and we pick up speed. We crossed the Kannur-Ernakulam Intercity near Parashshannur (read as “Perash-Shannur”). We reached Kuttipuram at 1736, and left a minute later. We reached Tirur at 1757. The SLR is loaded heavily from Tirur, and the train has a scheduled halt of 5 minutes at this station. We departed at 1804. I was waiting at the door to see the “Two down Mangalore-Chennai Mail”. We rushed through Tanur, and I could see a huge crowd on the platform. We crossed the “2 dn” (this train is now numbered 2602) near Parapanangadi Outer. The loco in charge was WDM3A #18532 of Ernakulam.

We reached Parapanangadi station at 1819, and left a minute later. We were halted for a short duration at Kallayi station, and we finally entered Kozhikode at 1854 –Early by 6 minutes. I saw Ernakulam WDM2 #16860 sleeping off at the station. (This loco takes a passenger to Shoranur the next morning, and then the Fast passenger to Mangalore). At around 1858, the Mangalore-Trivandrum Express pulled in with Erode WDM2 #17710. We were finally cleared at 1907. The run was brilliant ahead of Kozhikode . We stopped at Tikkoti for about 10 minutes (for unknown reasons!). We reached Vadakara at 2002 and left about 7 minutes later. Dinner was served shortly after this station. I had opted for Veg Meals, and the platter had Rice, Dhal, A Mixed Vegetable accompaniment, Pickle and Curd. Thalassery was reached at 2035.

I was busy reading some magazine when we left Thalassery. I looked out as the train slowed down some time later. We were pulling into Kannur. WDM2 #18649 of Pune was dozing off on Platform 1A with the rake of Kannur-Coimbatore passenger. We were taken on Platform 1, at 2107 – early by 3 minutes. My coach stopped right in front of the RPF office!!! I stood on the platform for some time, and then stood at the door looking on the other side of the station. Platform 2 had a rake of the Kannur-Mangalore passenger, of which some coaches still had light! The arrival of Mangalore-Trivandrum Malabar express was now made. Ernakulam WDM3A #17894 pulled in with the Malabar Express. I saw the Assistant pilot dropping the Niele's Token! The train had a pretty good crowd, and she was cleared much before we were! We left the station at 2120 (now late by 5 minutes!). The Kannur-Mangalore Passenger had WDM2 #18532 of Erode attached to it, and shut down. (The Passenger would depart the next morning!). We decided to sleep as the train pulled out of Kannur.

I, for some reason, couldn't sleep properly. I was awake till the time the train reached Kankanadi. We reached Kannapuram at 2137, Payyanur at 2155 and Cheruvathoor at 2213. On the line right next to my train (At Cheruvathoor) was the rake of Cheruvathoor-Mangalore passenger (this rake has a very long cycle and is maintained at Mangalore), and the rake had a Loco – WDM2 #16850 of Erode! We left Cheruvathoor at 2214. We reached Kanhangad at 2230, and Kasaragode at 2300. A couple of passengers got down at Kasaragode. We made it to Kankanadi at 2350 (Early by 25 minutes). A few more passengers got down here, but nobody got in till the time I slept. I slept before the train left the station.

The sleep was disturbed, and I lost the sleep completely by 0500! I got up and finished my morning chores and stood at the door. Nothing was visible outside, and it was raining intermittently. We slowly pulled into a station at around 0549. That was Karwar!!! We should have reached this station at 0448 – That meant that we were running late by an hour! The Madgaon bound DEMU was waiting on the main line (and there were passengers inside!). We left the station before the DEMU, at 0553. We were loop-lined at Asnoti. An Erode WDG3A rushed past my train with a RoRo rake. We reached Canacona at 0635. A long BCNA rake hauled by Ernakulam twins WDM2 #18420 and #16877 was waiting on the Mainline. We left Canacona at 0637.

We made a rather sedate progress towards Madgaon. I was at the door to see the yard. The rake of the Jan Shatabdi was parked on the Shunting neck (on the south end of the yard). The rake of Mandovi Express was parked near the “washing machine” ready to be taken to the platform. The loco was not there. We slowly approached Platform 1. WDP4 #20033 was waiting on Platform 2, and a BOXN rake was on the main line. The KR8 Madgaon-Sawantwadi Passenger was also on Platform 2. We stopped on Platform 1 at 0713. I got down from my train to get a copy of the newspaper. Around the same time, the KR8 passenger was cleared and the passenger went ahead of us. A Kulem-Vasco passenger pulled into Platform 3.

The WDP4 went to the yard to pick the rake of Mandovi Express. The Vasco Passenger was also cleared, while we were still waiting! The DEMU from Karwar slowly pulled into Platform 2. The Goa Express from Nizamuddin (bound to Vasco) pulled into Platform 3. The loco in charge of Goa was WDM3A #14032 of Gooty. We left the station at 0750 (now late by an hour and 50 minutes). Goa was still waiting on Platform 3. My train slowly crawled out and we picked speed. We crossed a Vasco-Kulem Passenger near Suravali. The loco working the passenger was WDM3A #14045 of Gooty.

We slowed down at Majorda Home, and slowly crawled into the station. Ernakulam WDM2 pair #17339 and #18419 was waiting on the Platform line. We entered the KRCL line towards Verna and picked up speed quickly. Breakfast was served shortly after Majorda. We had opted for Dosa. The train slowed down while running through Verna. A triple Gooty WDG3A headed BOXN rake was standing in the yard, and a single WDG3A of erode was also sleeping off. We reached Karmali at 0835.

The Gandhidham – Nagercoil Express was waiting on the Main line for us. The loco in charge was WDM3A #17968 of Ernakulam. Both the trains were cleared together, and we left Karmali at 0837, delayed by 2 hours and 2 minutes. We made another brief halt at Thivim (At 0858). The train picked speed quickly, but was made to halt at Pernem for an unknown reason. We slowed down at Sawantwadi home, but picked speed and rushed through the station. The Sawantwadi-Diva Passenger (the same train which came as KR8 from Madgaon, now proceeding as KR6) was waiting on the platform line with WDM2 #16802 of Erode in charge, for us to overtake. We slowed down at Kudal outer, and stopped at the Home signal. We were then cleared to stop on Platform 1. We reached Kudal at 0958. The Madgaon bound Konkan Kanya Express was waiting on the other platform line. The loco incharge of Konkan Kanya was WDP4 #20034. We left Kudal at 1001.

The run ahead of Kudal was beautiful. It was raining on and off. The surroundings looked pristine, and rivers were running at their full flow. We were stopped at Vilavade for a crossing. A twin Erode WDM2 (led by #17436) hauled BCNA rake rushed past my train at this station. We picked up speed after this crossing, and we rushed through Nivasar. Lunch was served at around 1200. The Veg meal had Rice, Sambhar, A mixed “Bhaji”, Pickle and Curd. We pulled into Ratnagiri at 1235, late by an hour and 40 minutes. WDM2 #16866 of Golden Rock was waiting at the station with the Madgaon bound Jan Shatabdi Express. This train usually has an Erode WDM3A link, but due to monsoons the link has gone for a real toss! We left Ratnagiri at 1241.

We had a beautiful run after Ratnagiri. We slowed down once again at Sangameshwar, and were diverted to a loop line. WDG3A #14798 of Erode was waiting on the other loop with the KR5 Diva-Sawantwadi Passenger. My train just stopped, and our starter turned to “Attention”, and we pulled out. We crossed the Madgaon bound Mandovi Express at Aravali Road . The loco in charge was WDP4 #20032. We pulled of at a good speed, and next stopped at Chiplun. We reached Chiplun at 1417. The water tanks were refilled. I had a hot “Vada-Pav” from the nearby “Railway Canteen”. Erode WDG3A #14795 was standing right behind the canteen with a flat wagon! I snapped an image, and then finished off the Vada-Pav. We left Chiplun at 1426, now delayed by an hour and 33 minutes.

The train slowed down at Khed home signal, and that saw me rushing to the door. WDM3A #14096 of Bhagat-ki-Kothi was waiting at the station with the Ernakulam bound Marusagar express. We then stopped at Diwankhavati home signal for a couple of minutes. The Ernakulam bound Mangala Express was waiting for us at this station. The loco in charge was WDM2 #17620 of Ernakulam. We picked up speed quickly after that crossing. We had a very interesting run after the crossing. It was raining on and off throughout the day. We stopped once again – this time at Mangaon home. Our pairing train – the Trivandrum bound Netravati Express – was waiting for us there! The loco in charge was WDM3A #14075 of Erode.

We picked speed soon after the crossing. We reached Roha at 1638. The train was received on Platform 3 instead of the usual Platform 2. The “Down” starter on Platform 2 went green soon after we stopped. I was ready with my camera near the platform. Soon, WDM2 #16657 of Erode rushed through with the Mangalore bound Matsyagandha Express. We were cleared at 1645, now late by an hour and 20 minutes. We had a marvelous run from Roha to Apta. We stopped on the Main line at Apta for a couple of minutes. There was a huge crowd on the platform waiting for the Dadar-Ratnagiri Passenger.

I was expected to cross the passenger there itself, but instead we were cleared! We rushed through Rasayani, and then stopped on the main line at Somatne. Another huge crowd was waiting here. A few minutes after we stopped, WDM2 #17516 of Pune pulled in with the KR3 Dadar-Ratnagiri Passenger. This train had only 15 coaches as opposed to its normal composition of 18 coaches! We left the station as soon as the passenger stopped. We slowed down as we approached Panvel. We were received on Platform 2 instead of the usual Platform 1, at 1822 – delayed by an hour and 37 minutes.

I literally jumped out of the train and rushed up the FOB to reach the Suburban booking office as fast as possible. By the time I reached the booking office, the Netravati Express was already pulling out! I punched coupons and entered the platform. There was a real heavy crowd waiting for an EMU, and the train came in at around 1830. My dad managed to sneak in and grabbed a seat. The EMU left at 1840, and we reached home by 1900. There ends a really special Monsoon 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