PART - 2 : Priority in the home division.
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For those who have not read part - 1 : /blog/post/5903996
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Amidst that huge crowd, somehow I managed to come to platform -...
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1, which was comparatively very much free amidst the bustling crowds at platform 2 and 4 respectively. Meanwhile saw a Gooty based EMD and Guntakal based diamond twins waiting at the yard. Wondering which among the both will be powering my train, went towards the IRCTC canteen for breakfast, had 4 idlis for rs. 70, which is kind of overpriced, given the size of idlis, but okay to sate the hunger at that instance.
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After breakfast, headed towards the katpadi end of platform - 1. Meanwhile, noticed that three DEMU coaches were attached to the end of the express bound to Puri, awaiting it's departure shortly, wondering where would that be detached. Took some rest sitting there, some track works were going on at the end of platform - 1. Ten minutes after puri express was given starter, an express (passenger) from Villupuram made its entry with Erode based WAP - 1. Made order for my lunch from zomato and waited for some half an hour, got a call to come and recieve order outside and recieved the same, came and saw the display panel which displayed the regular weekly special which runs to akola is supposed to depart from platform - 5 on its scheduled time as there was 30 more minutes to depart.
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Walked towards platform 5, was eager and anxious at the same time, wondering which one among the two mentioned previously would be leading my train. Saw from some distance, orange diamond twin WDM - 3D, 11122 + 11169T, was chugging slowly towards platform - 5, to get attached to my train, witnessed that attachment process, was enjoying the beauty of Guntakal twin ALCo for a moment. Now was wondering where would me my coach. As side lower was allotted after charting at S1, wished that S1 was at front half of the train so that I can enjoy the honking, chugging and speeding train audio-visually. Was happy enough to note that my coach was 7th. Prayed before entering the coach, to ensure my safe arrival at the next transit point and the destination. Entered the coach, to realise that my berth was track sided. Though majority of the route is a single line till date, yes it is good. Still 20 more minutes was there. So, severed my luggage, went and refreshed myself, and had lunch within my train was supposed to depart. Immediately after I complete my lunch and threw my waste, the diamond twins giving a loud honk, indicating departure...
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Our train departed bang on time, and after clearing the loop lines, ALCo started chugging it's heart out through the suburbs of Tirupati. Was able to see the sapthagiri from the window of my train, made prayers for success of my exam and this trip. It was a sunny weather, with some heat, the air was blazing through the window as our train picked up speed, which was quite pleasant, and seeing the seven hills, and enjoying the musical sound of ALCo chugging, except for the sense of tongue and olfaction, it was a treat.
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Our train continued to maintain the top speed of the section as the intercity from coimbatore, which is supposed to arrive it's destination in short while, was looped at chandragiri, and some WAP - 4 was leading that train. Pakala arrived in no time, and I started experiencing some effects of post meal (was slightly dozing off). Our train departed pakala on time, i was eager to see that section after it got electrified. Picked up top speed of the section after some time. Terrain started changing after our train crossed damalacheruvu, witnessed the changing gradients, ups and downs the train went. Our train arrived pileru at 10 to 2pm. was waiting more than 5 minutes. Believed that it should be crossing of some train. after 10 minutes of wait, I witnessed a chocolate beast from vijayawada, pulling a puny rake of delayed Guntakal - tirupati passenger, which was delayed around an hour. That train had good crowd.
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This was the first instance that I am witnessing a train hauled by an electric loco, BZA WAG - 5, hauling a train in this section. After our train departed pileru, started studying for exam for some time, meanwhile enjoying the high speed action of my train, which was hauled with diesel based power. Madanapalle road came in no time and our train departed the same after a brief halt. Remembered how pole free it was before few years and now, with poles, it was adding further beauty to this station. I started dozing off, slept for some time, woke up some 10 minutes later, anticipating one another scheduled crossing. Woke up before mulakala cheruvu.
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I was continuously checking the running position of Nagercoil express, and NTES showed that it departed Kadiri. Within some moments, when my train kept speeding up, noticed some WAP - 7 hauled train being looped. Though expected the reverse to happen, it was Kalyan based one, looped with the four weekly train to nagercoil from Mumbai, which is supposed to undergo reversal after 2 hours of its run. Arrived kadiri with a delay of nearly 40 minutes. Again dozed off with the revision video in my phone, woke up to find that my train was flying at MPS and 10 more kilometres to arrive Dharmavaram. The speed it maintained among that plateau terrain, and the weather, was a sight to behold till date. The scenes of town arrived at no time, indicating that we were nearing dharmavaram. We arrived on time at platform - 4.
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One thing I would definitely suggest as a common traveller, one must definitely attempt a day time travel in the section of pakala - dharmavaram, which will definitely provide you with lots of visual treats, especially in winter, the climate also will be pleasant. Noticed the LHB rake of Dharmavaram - Vijayawada (now extended to machilipatnam) via prodattur was sleeping at platform - 2 with some Lallaguda based WAP - 7.
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As our train was looping out of dharmavaram, clearing more than 2 loops to enter the double line section of dharmavaram - kalluru, a WAG 9 based freight was about to enter dharmavaram. As we clear the loop, our train started picking up some speed and that was one among the four double line section this train would witness. Our train arrived at Ananthapuram at around 30 mts after departure and a good no of boardings here. After halting for a moment, our train chugged our of anantapuram. Surprised to found that the section of dharmavaram to kalluru being fully doubled, against the single line it used to be at Ananthapuram before few years. travelled in this section after a long while.
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As dusk was slowly settling up, our train was also picking up good speed, realising that could not peep much outside the window thereafter, took the notes and started studying for exam. After some 50 minutes, noticed a line branching out at the right side of my train, and making some elevation, after negotiating a curve. And those elevated track was surrounded with platforms with station boards mentioning "gooty fort", byepass station for gooty from Ananthapuram side to tadipatri side. And a WAG - 9 twin hauled BOXN rake was sleeping. We simultaneously negotiate a huge C - shaped curve and arrive gooty at 25 past 6. Halted for less than a minute and our train made a loud honk and flashing green torch, indicating the departure. Switched tracks, as we cross the den of EMDs and WAG - 9, the gooty diesel loco shed, then we started accelerating towards dhone, again entering the single line.
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I was very much surprised to find that gooty - dharmavaram part was completely doubled, and was happy. Since I was traveling after few things, was not aware of the conditions. Meanwhile, i started looking at IRCTC to check ticket availability for my return journey, and trains having huge waitlist even in the mid of the week, realised that the only remaining option was premium tatkal. Sun started setting as we again start to switch tracks, indicating the arrival of pendekallu. We enter the second double line section out of four, which is very brief one, only untill dhone junction. We immediately start to accelerate once we enter the mainline towards dhone, and hit MPS in no time. Already it was dark outside, and clock was ticking 7 pm, and started feeling hungry already, wondering where to avail the dinner, and thought to buy at dhone, was tracking with WIMT, the speed and position of our train. After a continuous run at maximum speed after pendekallu for 25 minutes, we make an arrival at platform - 1 of Dhone junction, at 7.25 pm, against its scheduled arrival of 8.05pm, arriving 40 minutes early. Two frieghts were sleeping adjacent to each other and as we arrive, announcement was made for howrah bound amaravathi express to arrive shortly at platform 2.
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Given that there is less crossings, it got excellent priority at home division to arrive 40 minutes early at division handover point. in part - 3, let's see if i arrive my next transit point on time. Till then, ciao...
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Thanks for patiently reading, apologies for writing in a lengthier way, since this is one such trip close to my heart..
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Part - 3 : /blog/post/5961290

My first attempt for writing a travelogue. Kindly read it patiently and comment. Thanks in advance.
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The day of journey comes after booking two tatkal tickets in two successive days which could have been a matter of single tatkal ticket if the triweekly express which is being operated from gateway of rameswaram to the gateway of seven hills was not cancelled for that day.
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Arrived the station just 30 minutes before departure of uzhavan express, which was at platform 1 linked with an arakkonam based WAP - 4 locomotive. I walked to the other end of the platform, and boarded my coach, so it was a non track sided lower berth, berth facing the opposite direction of the train. Train was super clean.. so put my berth and started sleeping immediately after the train left its source on time, usually used to peep through window atleast till its next halt, but though it was not a tiring day, still slept.
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At around 4 am, woke up to find that our train was making its scheduled halt at Tambaram. I have travelled many times in uzhavan express and this was the highest time I have ever slept in uzhavan express Noticed the rake of Tambaram Jasidih superfast parked at PF 8, our train departed TBM, since it arrived at PF 5, it accelerated quickly at the mainline and enjoyed the high speed action at early morning within chennai suburbs.. arrived at platform 5 at chennai egmore, dot on time. I rushed out of the station, took a suburban train ticket to park, came to Platform 11, took a local to chennai park and arrived chennai central within 5 am.
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My next train was at half past 6, but platform was yet to be announced. I rushed to platform 2 to see a vande Bharat train for the very first time directly through my eyes. In the adjacent platform, one of the fastest premium train connecting chennai to capital of India (Bharath) was linked with Lallaguda based white stallion. Then, i refreshed myself for the day and patiently sat in platform - 6. The rake of our train, which was the first direct train from chennai to the gateway of seven hills, and it was my first time in that train..
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So time was ticking to 5.50 am when as the rake of our train was slowly arriving at platform 7. Went in front of our train to see an arakkonam based WAP - 4 was coupled with our train to haul it till the stop where it is supposed to undergo reversal. I managed to book tatkal ticket within 5 minutes to get a window seat for myself. Came to my coach to find that the window seat was not facing the adjacent track. Okay, felt lucky for getting a window seat atleast. So our train departed Bang on time, our train, having lots of stoppages in between, after crossing perambur, train started picking up speed. As it was only some 15 - 20 minutes after the sun rise, enjoyed the golden morning scenes of the chennai suburbs, and the cool wind that flowed through the window when train touches the maximum speed.
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One thing I wondered about this train, though it has lots of stoppages, still the acceleration of the train, maintaining maximum speed and keeping the time..
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So Ambattur and thiruvallur came in no time. Before tiruvalangadu, our train slowed down and shifted to the slow line, there after picked up some speed till mosur, and crawled thereafter to arrive at platform - 1 of arakkonam junction, delayed by 5 minutes.
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After a halt of 2 minutes, we depart arakkonam, and from platform 8, the MEMU express from Tirupati to Pondicherry made its departure simultaneously with our train, which was a sight to behold in a chill morning. Slowly we deviate towards tirupati line, skipped arakkonam north and tiruttani came in no time.. for the first time I was able to see some deboarding.
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I was eagerly waiting for chart to get prepared for my next train, which is a regular special running for few years. Since I booked at last minute at RAC around 50 or so, was afraid about it getting confirmed. But anyway, i kept that thought and cellphone aside and started enjoying the beautiful landscapes once our train departed tiruttani, witnessed the huge curve of ponpadi.
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Train skipped nagari in a very good speed and as notification came in my phone that my ticket has confirmed, and i have been gifted with a side lower, our train came to a halt at ekambarakuppam, a station where the two tracks will be at different heights. In no time, we arrived puttur, here i was able to see some deboarding, but again some crowd boarded the train. Our train was very much crowded that I was unable to walk to even the washroom.. as we depart puttur with a delay of 10 minutes, at Taduku, since freight was halted at the mainline, we got looped, but our train was still moving.
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Yes, we were skipping through loop, which is a common sight at SCR as our train also will enter the SCR shortly. We arrived renigunta at 20 past 9. The loco which was supposed to be attached the rear end was kept ready. Halted for some 10 minutes, where some deboarding was there and many went to buy some food/breakfast and had it in train. At around 30 past 9, we depart renigunta, and we pick up speed, skipped tiruchanur in a good speed, noticed that the development works of tiruchanur station was going on.
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Once our train got slowed down at tirupati outer, everyone started taking their luggages from the bag, once the train arrived the platform 4 of Tirupati at 10 am flat, a huge crowd was bustling in that platform. This is the crowd of people who deboarded from sapthagiri express and who are to board the chennai express, which is running with the same rake of sapthagiri express and is to depart at 10 past 10 as per the schedule. Some how through the crowd, managed to come to the platform - 1.
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Had this triweekly express been operated, I could have travelled in a single train instead of two, and could have been less tiring.
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To be continued in part - 2 : /blog/post/5913406

Ting ting... The SMS on the travel day generally triggers chatting status, but this was not on starting day, but 2 days before !!!

What is YA ?? Asked my Dad... Ya I said ... Dei , railway code which station is YA ... Yarraguntala I said , having my breakfast , leaving for office... Why suddenly ... No message has come train is diverted via YA and will skip stop at DHNE ..whaaat...yes ... That will be a deviation of 60kms... What a starting notice .
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From the day tickets were booked , butterflies churned in my heart and tummy. For this was 1st time I booked in a Garib rath coach ever since the series was introduced . And as everyone knows , the dreaded SMB is always present to welcome people . And our tickets were a MB, UB, SLB .. SLB is not a issue I guess

Anyway D-day arrived and a rush from office through the packing , dinner and a sudden thought, what to do with diverted train for breakfast. .. bindi at home became Bindi fry , corteous mom, and a set of philkas from Tasty bites ordered and packed before departure , we were off through the Saturday evening rush, to the YPR station !!!

YPR station always seems to have some grudge against me. I enter through PF-6 , the rake will be on PF-1, I enter through 1, the rake will be on 6. But this time no go, for PF-1 exit is closed for works, so we have to go through PF-6 and our green beauty , 22884 to PURI is stationed on PF-1 , the LGD WAP-7 pulling the rake for testing after the loco attachment . PF-5 had the arrived rake of intercity from Shimoga , PF-6 was empty mostly for Dilli Duronto

The rake was pulled into the platform way in, and the display position was way ahead of coSch position by 2 places. So our G-13 was in place where G-15 was supossed to be ..and Garib rath ICF coach ...number starting with 08xxxx

Contrary to expectations, coach was bright, clean , non stinking , full, with well padded cushions with brown covers (Just wish some thought goes into authorities cushioning the LHB thin cushions ), a very few small cockroaches rounding about . Time struck 2215 hours , a 25 min left for departure .

A group of youngster immigrant were on lower berth looking to sleep . Took chance and asked dad to request them for a lower, as we had a long day ahead next day . A lower middle will be more comfortable for day journey do as you wish type


Mom settled in SLB, the guys settled in UB, and opposite LB, MB were occupied, leaving my LB and MB only left . It's going to be same status till next evening, all berths up only our berth down

The 16506 Gandhidham weekly pulled into PF-3 with crowded UR coaches as time ticked to 2235 hrs . At 2240 hrs , Gandhidham proceeded and we too got the starter . Was waiting to witness the parallel action but a LHB rake was shunted into PF-2 blocking the view

Proceeded to sleep , thinking about views tomorrow. ICF has its own charm, most importantly the heavy sounds of the thugginf wheels and the lack of the customary jerk . We slowly pulled out, cleared the Bangalore urban, ring roads and pulled into Yelahanka 20 mins later as we laid the berths , after getting the pillow bedsheets from the attender

The berth was a full length berth, and a well cushioned one , giving a good sleep. Slept well enough , keeping data switched off for saving battery , WIMT anyway on to check the location


Chaos and lights woke me up in the coach . Noticed the trainnhad stopped somewhere and a huge group has boarded , berths allocated across the coaches.. all lights on, shouting for seat numbers. Checked the time , it was 335AM and we were departing Anantapur . Went off to sleep

Woke up around 615AM and we were ripping on double track . WIMT status had stopped at GY cabin at 5AM with no further updates but it was clear. The rising sun on the Madras bound line from Bombay , we were on the trunk route . The wheels moved as smooth as butter , soundless and sensed we are slowing down .

Dad woke up from LB and sending opportunity jumped out of the MB. Time to take over the window seat for the day ahead , our destination is at night . Well this was what we actually thought in mind, when we discarded the expensive flight to this train- hardly a few hours of saving compared to cost - and despite the 9th berth, seating is pretty comfortable, courteous none of the UB guys are ever going to come to LB


We have pulled into Yarraguntala in the meantime with the tracks glittering under the sun. We move to the rightmosy track switching across the main lines and stopped onto the PF. WAP -7 had reversed itself on the other platform line and was waiting for departure with the Dharmavaram bound express from Machilipatnam, the sleeper coaches giving an half filed look

Tea vendors boarded across , so took a gulp. Rs.30/- he said , a shocking one . Not understanding what was there for Rs.25/- per cup of the liquid , anyway already taken, gulped it down


Nandyal 120 kms, showed the gmaps , so average of 2 hours if we depart. Went to the door and spotted our WAP7 at the end of the rake at a faint look, waiting to enter the main line for reversing . WAG9 pulled in with a BOBYN rake and halted between us and the Dharmavaram express. Our WAP7 now pulled into between us and the BOBYN for reversal, as the WAP7 with DMM announced its departure . So it is going to be a line up for the station controllers here


The DMM express slowly moved out , clearing points and onto the GTL line. Once he cleared the section later , the WAG9 too left . Our WAP7 too went ahead to join us at other end, and we were now the 4th coach from the loco . A LHB rake blasted past on opposite as another WAG9 pulled into halt on mainline next to us

Time slowly ticked to 705, our scheduled time of arrival at NDL. We are 120 kms away , so on average we are 2 hours late as of now. Of course , we need to see when we get the proceed

At 715AM we got the time to proceed, slowly cleared off the GTL points ,veering off to the Nandyal line , as. WAG9 awaited towards Cuddapah with a BOXN rake . One of the new experiences on this line and a once in a lifetime opportunity. The belt wasn't dry as expected and the landbeds and cotton plants spring up . Before long we had slowed down, and as I wondered the reason, a huge gap in land was visible, indicating an approaching bridge. Penna river beamed the board and a distant town indicated our approach to Prodattur . The semi filled river bed was crossed , tracks diverted and slowly pull into unscheduled halt at Prodattur

10 mins into the halt, the staff came enquiring about breakfast order. We contemplated finishing chappatti vs the breakfast , and decided for the latter. Upma Vada * 3 ordered for Rs.180/-, same cost as swiggy order for chappatti previous night .


A WAG7 freight ran across and we pull out . There were mild shakes across the coach as we speed up on the not much explored section. Delay adding up, but only relief there were not much of crossings expected , but for freights . And trains on diverted route seldom get chance to recover .. do they ??

A quick dart past a small station past the waiting DMU to Kadapa and next we slow down again for a halt . Strained again to see the name , S Uppalapaadu said the board. We held up there and wondered what was next ?? Freight crossing ?? Only possibility

A long 10 minutes halt with the early morning liveliness across the farmlands. Drongos and sunbirds hovering about on bushes close to tracks , as a group of storks take a long flight above . Egrets flutter across as if to say - aaya Naya ujaala , chaar boondon waalah aa aa as their white contrasts the green fields below .

Songs praising Lord Venkateshwara suddenly flew across the coach echoing through. The group who boarded and woke us up at Anantapur have now decided to wake up the sleeping G-13 in entirety as they join chorus in singing . Meanwhile our signal changes to amber and we pull out

20-25 mins and now the coach is again silent . There are hardly any obstacles now and the km mark changes quickly . Koilakontla, Banaganapalle pass through and as time ticks to 10 mins past 9, an approaching line indicating our approach to the junction. It was our original line we were supossed to take , and now we are back into the track . We slowly cross the bridge across the Kundi stream and pull into Nandyal junction 2 hrs 10 mins past our regular schedule. Not bad thought to myself , we have enough slack till Vijayawada to make up this and reduce

Breakfast was served and I quickly open mine to devour. Upma no Vada... Look up at the caterer and he immediately replaces it with one with Vada. I will get it changed immediately he runs out of the coach , as our WAP7 leaves

WAP7 prepares to tackle the Nallamalla forest section as I quickly savour the upma and Vada with the chutney . 2 hours delayed, slack to makeup, a 9PM arrival at VSKp seems a good time to reach . Well it does is a good time , provided we do not encounter any further obstacles. No passenger train crossing till Guntur atleast , I am a free guy , cries out the horn of WAP7, echoing with the EoG sound , barely few coaches away ....

But , we do not know what could be in store.. that's Railways ...


Time for popcorn and snacks guys !!!