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.
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 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 ©
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...
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!
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 ©
