Another Sunday morning at the MPS sector of the South Line...

Another riveting morning with high speed trains!!!

Where each train was average 15 mins late :P

It's again a fine Sunday. Alarm goes buzzing at 6:00 am. I was ready :D :D :D 

It was nearing the end of March. The date was 29th March 2015. And my friend Gautham Karthik was accompanying me to one of the most beautiful station on the high speed section in the Chennai limits situated on the Chennai-Villipuram line! 

The station is opposite to the Chennai International Airport. And has a beautiful curvy end with trains hitting 100+ km/hr.

A station which I have enjoyed since my childhood. Used to go out on any weekend with dad and biscuits in company. Used to relish the sight of the sunset and watch planes and trains!!! 

Only one name comes to mind...

TIRUSULAM :-)

I left home right on schedule. It's a very enjoyable drive to the station with busy roads and then the free and fast Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road or the National Highway 45. Starts at Kathiapara Junction, Guindy and connects Chennai and Trichy and also connects the important towns of Dindugul and Theni. 

One can catch the beautiful takeoffs from the runway which runs along with the road! That station will arrive in a few moments. You can see green vegetation and small hills and open spaces where boys can be seen enjoying the game of cricket.

So I reached the station.

There were 5 trains on the hit list: 

16714 Rameshwaram-Chennai Egmore Sethu Express

16724 Trivandrum-Chennai Egmore Ananthapuri Express

16127 Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur Express

12651 Madurai-Hazrat Nizammudin Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti 

16853 Chennai Egmore-Thiruchirapalli Cholan Express 

But we got 7 :D 

First up... I entered the station.Dad got the platform ticket and we climbed up the stairs and I just stood. I was immediately given a headache! 

My ears were treated to ear splitting honking and speed show. It was the late running 22624 Madurai-Chennai Egmore Mahal Superfast which was hauled by the Tondiarpet blue bird WDG-3A #13229. Oh my god what a honk show! It was carrying friend and fellow railfan Sriram Venkatesh on board.

               TNP macho WDG-3A #13229 smashes Tirusulam with Mahal Superfast Express

Then the mist was slightly setting in... 8:04 am

Then I found my friend who was usually an early arrival guy. We spoke for a bit and suddenly the electric action began. I stood in my position and we were given a super musical honk show and flashing light show from the LP's by the late running 12694 Tuticorin-Chennai Egmore Pearl City (Muthu Nagar) Superfast Express. Was hauled my favorite WAP-4 of RPM. #22845. Caught the loco again on 21st April 2015 with the 13342 Alappuzha-Tatanagar Express.

I was on board 12609 Chennai-Bengaluru Intercity that time.

KGK can be seen shooting.

Oh wow! 
Fresh feeling after that. Kinda woke me up. Hehehe.

Click the link below to watch the video

Lights blinking, honking, speeding Pearl City Express thrashes Tirusulam!!!

Then I started clicking some pics of the station.

At 8:06 am... somebody was in the horizon.
Come closer... ED WAP-4!!

It was Erode WAP-4 #22259 with the 16127 Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur Express. 22259 towed my 12164 MS-DR SF until Guntakal on 4th Dec 2014 if you guys remember the first post in this blog! 

I took a video but never uploaded because it was too shaky and I was not interested in doing so. Please acknowledge xD.

Anyways here's some snaps for you guys.
Light played spoilsport :P

                               ED WAP-4 #22259 approaches slowly! 
        

                                              The rake slowly passes away...

                                                     Goodbye dear...

Next train we were expecting was Ananthapuri.

So KGK had a go with my camera and I used his Lenovo S850.

This was his position.

8:14 am...
A fiery red beast came in. Fastest action of the day! 

16714 Rameshwaram-Chennai Egmore Sethu Express comes in furiously and blasts the station with a chili red WAP-1 of AJJ numbered #22042. Most of them WAP-1's have lost the legacy livery! 

                              Red beast attacks Tirusulam with the 16714 Sethu Express!

                                 There he goes......................

Video of Sethu can be seen here:

Flamboyant RPM WAP-1 in a hurry flashes past Tirusulam at top speed with Sethu Express!

8:28 am...
Pom pom! 
A red beast furiously approaches round the curve. It was Erode WAP-4 again!

This time it was #22250. Erode beast 22250 hauling the Trivandrum-Chennai Egmore 16724 Ananthapuri Express rushes past. My cam worked well with Gautham :D

Here's his shot.

                             16724 Ananthapuri Express speeds away with ED P-4 #22250
So I took the video...
Can be seen here:

ED WAP-4 16724 Ananthapuri Express blasts Tirusulam!!!

So goes on...

We took a seat. But it was late until the next beast came. 

8:40 am... get up, get up! I'm here! 
It was grandpa's turn.

Don't know why but the southbound trains were crawling. 

Again a crawling display. Arakkonam's grandpa WAP-1 #22013 comes in and curves away with the 16853 Chennai Egmore-Thiruchirapalli Cholan Express.

                           AJJ WAP-1 #22013 cruises with the Cholan Express

And there goes. Another train say adios! 

                            Another train goes away...

So we finished the session and returned to the EMU platforms.

So some last pics of the station.

                                           A view towards Chennai Egmore side. Meenambakkam station is just ahead.

       The station has always mesmerized me since childhood. A hill, speedy trains and calm surroundings! 


There was a TNSK missing :-O
But we guessed it was late. So Gautham was at the end of the platform. I was in the middle and was about to climb down the stairs to return home while I was thrilled.

A sweet tone honk was heard from the distance. Gautham was ready to capture. He thought I had left. 

A red beauty came angrily around the corner and I took the most beautiful pic in my life. Results amazed me.

Red beast Royapuram WAP-4 #22785 came breezing past with the late running 12651 Madurai-Hazrat Nizammudin Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti Express.

Here's what the results looked like. Was a bit early timed :D

                                RPM babe curves with the TNSK! 

What a beautiful scene.
Here's another shot.

                                        Another view of the same! 

The loco had the word "POOJA' written below the RPM logo.
It was because this loco was used for Ayudha Pooja at Trivandrum.

All is well that ends well.
It's been another awesome day of trainspotting!

What a way to spend a Sunday morning!

Well that's it for today. Will come up with a story or trip soon!
Stay tuned!
Thanks a lot!
Sudhindra ©

Morning at Kathivakkam!

Morning at Kathivakkam...

A fine Sunday morning at an MPS station with two fellow railfans!!!

I was sleeping. My alarm went loud, and the time was 6:00 am. I got ready and stepped out for some railfanning expecting a good session. It was 6:51 am when I left home!!! Late running.

Had a nice bike ride through the sunrise and went to Villivakkam to catch a train to my destination. I had to go via Basin Bridge Junction. I called Gautham and spoke to him. He had already reached. I missed Charminar Express.!!! 

So as I entered Villivakkam, RPM WAP-4 hauling a train coming from MAS side, just lashed past.

So now I noticed that the TSR had been removed! :D :D :D

So I crossed over to PF #3 and expected some trains to come while I was waiting for my EMU. No disappointment for me!

Soon, I heard some honks in the distance and saw the blue snake and the time was 7:33 am. It was 12686 Mangalore-Chennai Superfast with the ED beast WAP-4 #22218 in the lead. 

                12686 Mangalore-Chennai Central Superfast with ED WAP-4 #22218.

So it gave me a fresh blast of air and I felt awake. What a breeze when a train passes by you. The air, track sounds, horn. WOW! 

Happy to see Villivakkam back with MPS action! 

A few moments later, a Chennai Central bound EMU entered PF #2 and me and dad quickly boarded it to head to Basin Bridge.

I again called Gautham and he said that 2.15 hours late running Tamil Nadu Express had sped past. :-( I missed it!

So I saw that 12686 was put to a stop for a long gap without clearance at Basin Bridge. This place is always filled with activity!

Then I waited for a train to Kathivakkam. In came the Nellore bound MEMU which was crowded. Dad asked the LP for Kathivakkam and he said "Yes! Hop on board!"

I hopped in excited and gazed out of the door. Then, a honk! It was AJJ WAM-4 #21240 hauling the MAS-BZA Jan Shatabdi Express. I called Gautham and informed him about the loco link. I missed 3 trains now. Silly me!!!

Then my MEMU slowly departed BBQ and we made a few local stops and Charminar and Tamilnadu met us between the stops. Both were hauled by P-4's!

So at last, I kept my foot on the platform on a deserted looking MPS station with an industrial backdrop. I then started searching for my fellow railfan buddies :P I soon saw them.

We settled for chat. Blah blah blah...

The beast that we were waiting to capture was Chennai-Santagrachi AC Express! LHB beauty!

So, no waiting. There she was! Coming with a WAM-4. It was ET WAM-4 6P #20695. OFFLINK!!!

Here's the video! 

Chennai-Santragachi AC Express jolts past Kathivakkam!

So, there it was! Cute ET offlink doing short poms and speeding away to its next stop at Vijaywada!

So we settle down again waiting for our next train. This was coming all the way from NWR territory. Jaipur-Chennai Superfast!

It was a short wait.

The environment was silent. No frequent EMU's.
Factory chimneys pouring smoke and the sun blaring the heat on us.

So there was red beast in the distance and here she was! 

The LP's looked out and stared. They said something. Grumbled!

So she slowly went away...

So it was almost time up and this short railfanning session was about to end.

So there was the final train to capture!
SER KING | COROMANDEL EXPRESS!!!

It came in slow speed and skipped the station with an ED stallion!
ED WAP-4 #22890 in lead! With those dirty RUPA stickers :P

Here's the video:

SER KING Coromandel Express skips Kathivakkam at decent pace

Then came our train back home!

A Chennai Central bound EMU came in and we hopped on board.
It was damn crowded. And Aadithya got the doors!

There was a WAP-4 beast which came with Navjeevan Express to Ahmedabad which crossed our EMU!

Then I got off at Basin Bridge junction. There was lot of activity. Many people were waiting for a Tiruttani bound local to arrive!

So I went to the platform where it would arrive! So I would return to VLK!

Then there was a RPM WAP-7 which I had spotted coming down the SBC line from my EMU while entering BBQ.

It was again the late running Trivandrum-Chennai Mail.

Slowly entered BBQ and halted for short time and departed! 

So my EMU came in a bit crowded and we hopped on!
I expected two trains to cross my EMU on the way!

So in the whole way we were getting trolled by a TNP WDM-7 which was hauling an EMU skeleton!

Then, at Perambur Loco Works...

It was late running Trivandrum-Chennai AC Superfast crossing my EMU with RPM WAP-4 #22819 in lead! As expected!

Here's the video:

TVC-MAS AC SF crosses my EMU at brisk speed

So we again slowly crawled and came to a standstill where it was very frustrating.

We were about to enter VLK and we stopped some distance before the level crossing. My surprise was to see that the LC was not closed and vehicles were crossing!

Arrrrgggh! It was a frustrating 10 mins! 

Then we slowly departed. Then I heard a huge noise! ALCO mania as I expected again! There is pure KYN ALCO darshan on Sundays!

Super honking that broke my eardrum!

LTT-KIK Weekly Express with KYN WDM-3D dashed past my EMU!

LTT-KIK Express crosses my EMU in a flash with KYN hunk in lead!

So, it was over.

I got off at Villivakkam! The MPS heaven in the south!

I had a sip of tasty Chocolate Milkshake and hopped on dad's bike and drove away home!

So, concluding this as a memorable trip and my first visit to the Chennai-Vijaywada line! Thanks a lot to Gautham and Aadithya for accompanying!

That's it. But no end of railfanning! :D

Thanks and enjoy and peace!
Sudhindra ©

Train trip to Mumbai on board 12164 Chennai Express!

All the way to Mumbai...

4th December 2014
Mom, dad and I board 12164 MS-DR SF Express...

Departing Chennai Egmore...

So, we depart Chennai Egmore sharp on time. In the lead is a red beast from Erode. It was WAP-4 #22259. So we start crawling slowly with some track music. And skip the heritage stations of the West Line. Pure nostalgia! You should you see one of the oldest stations! Royapuram! 

Overtake at Puliyamangalam:

Nearing Arakkonam... decently skipping the small station of Puliyamangalam. We swiftly overtake a BOXN rake hauled by two WAG-5HA locos horned at Arakkonam (AJJ).

Overtaking BOXN rake, Puliyamangalam

Skipping Arakkonam:

Soon, we smoothly accelerate past Arakkonam Junction. The weather was ideal and sunny. We were moving at a constant speed. Soon, I noticed a shiny WAP-4 in the distance. Yes it was! RPM babe WAP-4 #22962 hauling the Yeshwantpur-Muzaffarpur Express crossed our train at the outer.

Meeting Yeshwantpur-Muzaffarpur Express, Arakkonam outer

Arakkonam Outer:

Some nice curves were present at Arakkonam outskirts...

Nice and bouncy curves. ED beats loving it, Arakkonam outskirts

Arriving Renigunta:

So, we slowly crawled into the buzzing Renigunta Junction. After shooting the whole Ponpadi curve. I was relaxed. I got off the train and rested my legs a bit and we waited for some time before departure.

At Renigunta Junction.
Empty rake of 56011 Arakkonam-Kadapa Passenger is on the left side.

But on the other hand, there was a interesting sight. Next to my train, the Chennai-Tirupati Express had arrived with a WAM-4 of AJJ #21255 and on the other end which was to leave to Chennai, I spotted another AJJ WAM-4 #21272 coupled to it to take it back to MAS. Two loco operation! :-)

21255 WAM-4 which brought it from Chennai.

21272 which will haul

it to Chennai.

Arrival at Koduru:

I set out to the door of my B1 coach and was gazing at the scenic forests and hills from Renigunta to Koduru. Then we start to decelerate and come to a steady stop at an empty looking Koduru waiting for the arrival of 11042 CSTM-MAS Express.

Arrival at empty looking Koduru 

We had arrived 7 mins early so we had to wait for a bit to get the starter and proceed out of the lush country landscape! 

7 minute wait, Koduru

Departing Koduru:

We depart Koduru after a long wait. Swift acceleration from the WAP-4. Serene environment outside. Next stop HX! HX is Kadapa! 

Arrival at Kadapa:

Soon, we arrive at the upgraded and modern Kadapa station awaiting the arrival of the legend; 16381 CSTM-CAPE Jayanti Janata Express which we will encounter a crossing with us at a small station called Krishnapuram next to Kadapa.

Kadapa (HX), SCR, Andhra Pradesh! 

Some serene environment at Kadapa. But the other side was buzzing waiting for Jayanti to arrive! 

Ready to depart, Kadapa

Gooty...

We arrive at the buzzing Gooty! Huge place! Had some vanilla ice-cream :P

Meanwhile... ED WAP-4 is gonna end its time with this train! 

I took some shots...

Surprise at the other side! 

                 Gooty WDG-4 brothers slowly coupling themselves to a BOXN rake

Departure from Gooty:

We slowly crawl out of Gooty and WAP-4 seems to be tired! Next stop is Guntakal and there are 3 small stations in between them. At Guntakal WAP-4 will say bye and a diesel beast will take charge...

                                                             Curving out of Gooty

The classic Gooty level crossing... memories! A bus watches me as my train occupies the main line and marches towards GTL! 

Nakkanadoddi...

We meet a couple of WDG-3A's from Kazipet hauling a BCNA rake. Still two small stations and Guntakal will come. ED WAP-4 is gonna say goodbye! 

                                 KZJ twins with a BCNA consist, Nakkanadoddi, AP

Entry into Guntakal:

We snake into the massive Guntakal. 

Then ED WAP-4 #22259 says goodbye... Great time on the electrified MAS-GTL section! Diesel time now! 

Then this beast takes charge! PUNE WDM-3D #11369.

................................................. Later,

                                    Chennaiiiiieeee..........

We are coupled to the ALCO and ready to take on the rest of the scenic route! <3

Departing Guntakal...

We slowly crawl out of Guntakal with some super chugging and nice whistles! We rounded the huge bend and were back on the mainline! Soon, freight crossed us! 

                         Fully loaded BOXN rake crosses, Guntakal, AP

The rest of SCR was filled with barren plateaus and scenic sections and industrial plants at Raichur! Stay tuned! We are now arriving Adoni!

At Adoni!

We came to a standstill... I read the board... ADONI.

A very cute and well maintained station.

We depart after a halt... ALL ABOARD! 

Next stop... sacred road! 

We accelerate out of Adoni with some good chugging from the LHF monster. Our next stop is the great Mantralayam Road. The LP was doing a good job in stopping the train at the right position!

Brown and green all the way! 

A short halt at Kupgal! Crossing time!

A pair of WDG-4's produce superb humming and cross my train at Kupgal. We decelerate and in course of time and came to a standstill...

We had a crossing here with 11027 Mumbai CST-Chennai Central Mail! So we had quite a long wait and this guy did not show up! Meanwhile I was enjoying the serene landscape! 

Drama in the air! 

Before Mantralayam, through the barren lands we were doing a good speed and there was a small level crossing. There KYN WDM-3D whizzed past us with 11027 Chennai-Mumbai Mail! 

Mantralayam... 

                             
The scene is calm and enjoyable. We are at Mantralayam. Abode of the Saint of Mantralaya, Sri Raghavendra Swami. As dusk was approaching, the golden hour starts! 

I got down, relaxed a bit.
Meanwhile, photography doesn't hide! 

Reflections bounce back on the windows! 

We were about to depart now.

Meanwhile this was what I got from the glass of the door on the other side of my B1 coach... it was mesmerizing.

                       The sun putting up stunning visuals as we gear up for departure! 

Soon, the scene is back to original. Everybody is ready for departure! 

We depart Mantralayam... and cross the mighty Tungabhadra river bridge! 

Our next stop is Raichur... the zone of twilight and industry! 

Arrival at Raichur!

We come to a stop at the great Raichur.

And the clock stood at 17:25

And the environment outside was beautiful. Perfect time for doorplating! The moon could be seen and this is the best time for standing at the door and gazing at the industrial and remote outback until the next stop at Saidapur. Raichur Thermal Power Plant was a massive structure that was upcoming. We gear up for departure.

A pigeon stands on the roof and the moon gives a nice background. We depart Raichur! 

Then we cross another river after Raichur and the Thermal Plant. This time it is the Krishna! 

Dusk settles in...

Dusk settles in and everything outside becomes purple and the ground is brown and it seems like we are heading into fantasy. It's a nice cool feeling outside. I go through some snacks and gaze out the window...

Dusk settles in, nearing Saidapur, KA. SCR outskirts...

That was a video snap :P

We are practically in the middle of nowhere in the barren SCR outskirts. We entered Karnataka and we are nearing Saidapur. Then Yadgir. Diesel heaven! 

Saidapur, Yadgir and all...

We make stops at Saidapur and Yadgir and it gets dark. Nothing is seen outside. Our next stop is one of the busiest and it was gonna be a nightmare! Wadi, Karnataka.

Probably the longest halt so far! Wadi, CR:

We enter CR territory and stop at the buzzing Wadi Junction. Lots of activity was going on. And this was the scene.

And on the other side...

What a cool outdoors! KJM WDP-4 with an express had arrived on that end. It was now over 15 mins since we arrived. Then Bhavnagar-Kochuveli Express arrived with an orange ALCO. It was late, so it was given clearance first! Then the Hyderabad-Raichur Passenger crawled in with a WDM-3A and it departed too!
There was also one major problem! The power was out! So it became eerie!! 

They were also people who sold Idli's and bhel puri sorts of things and some people was munching them. 

Then at last, we our loco honked loudly and finally we departed from the great WADI! 

This is the end! Of shooting. All I remember was that we stopped at Pune at 2 AM and loco change and we got off Kalyan Junction and took EMU to Mulund and went to my aunt's house.

We attended the function and returned to Chennai by Indigo Airline 6E 483! 

Thank you so much. Comments, corrections and suggestions are always welcome! 

S.Sudhindra
Chennai, TN

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