Yet another trip through the NESL (in VSP's terms, Non-Electrified Single Line territory) jungle between VM and VRI - this one, though being a partial parade, was nevertheless interesting!
Tickets booked in 1063 MS - SA/Mettur Dam Express. Train was parked in Pf 7 at MS. Power was 22697 AJJ.
Dot departure at 2320 with a familiar "ungal payanam inidhaaguga' from the PA system. Having stopped at PV for unknown reasons and having done a close race with a unit from PV to TBM, we entered TBM at 2355 / 2357 into pf 9. Did power sleeps all along (eyes closed, ears wide open to synthesise the sound) from TBM. Lower berth advantage helped me as I had to just peep out to see what is happening where... CTM 0011 SKL 0016 PWU 0018 CGL 0028/0030 pf 6.
No action to watch around, it was just a dry run through OV 0036 PTM 0040 KGZ 0045 MMK 0047 and PQM 0051. Stopped at MLMR 0055/0056 only to continue this dry run further through ACK 0100 TZD 0105 OLA 0110 PCLM 0114 TMV 0121/0122 MTL 0135. Finally the parade started at Perani (PEI) courtesy: 0632 MDU-LTT Special Express / 17684 TNP LHF waiting in east loop for us to cross. VVN 0145 MYP 0149 and then on to VM arrival 0155 - pf 3.
Naveen , the awesome chap and an expert in mid-night railfanning, was waiting in VM. We saw 22697 being cut off and 18534 ED that had brought in 1064, being attached to 1063. 1064 that was waiting in pf 2 was dispatched soon with 22295 ED that took 2631 out the previous night. A long wait at VM meant that we had time to buy snacks and eat them slowly over a chat on all things under that moon. It went on for 20 minutes. We saw 6178 pulling itself into pf 1 like a long rope (24 coaches!). Bid bye to Nav as we got the starter sharp at 0212, 1063 rolled out at 0215 with the deemer whistling a long one.
Amazing to see that the Janakipuram gate is no more a gate but a flyover, I just noticed that feathers were lit at KNDM home for us to take the west loop. Happy to see a crossing there, I came to the door. Here is what that happened:
0228 - Entered Kandambakkam (KNDM)
0229 - Kreeeeech and brakes applied
0230 - Advanced starter turns proceed towards VM, split second follow-up by the starter
0231 - A serpent called 6108 spotted - atleast 1.5 kms before its KNDM home
0232 - 6108 crossed with 11193 SHF
0234 - Advanced starter turns proceed towards TVNL, split second follow-up by the starter turning amber
0235 - 1063 starts rolling out!!
What a coordination! The Section controllers deserve a standing ovation!
A side note on what are the loco links at VRI end as of Apr. 24, 2009:
6101 - VRI - 6178, 2631 - VM - 1064, 1063 - VM - 2632, 6177 - VRI - 6714
We got the east loop at TVNL - Dippy!! 0245 - arrival, 0247 - proceed towards VM in mainline, 0250 - unmistakeable hood end horn of a dippy heard, 0254 - 20042 dippy cr0ssed LHF with 2638 Pandian, 0255 - starter off for 1063 towards Parikkal, 0256 - 1063 rolled out of TVNL!
I went to sleep after noting down Nellai's crossing at ULU. Got up at ETP 0603 / 0605 only to find that the train is running 1 hr and 20 mins late. The entire stretch in VRI - SA line is excellent with s.o.art station buildings, neat stations, neat platforms and layout, lush green scenery everywhere even in April, mountains in background, wow!!
VGE 0614/0615, APN 0636/0637 (both have no loops), SXT 0646/0648 - both the platforms here are pefrect like athletic tracks and is aptly used by a lot of e.m joggers. Came under wires just after SXT. Salem Market 0653, SA 0700, late by 1 hr.
Return was by 1064 - was very tired and not much to note down!
Power - 17594 ED LHF
SA 2210 (1 hr 10 mins late) SXT 2215/2216 ETP 2250/2252 ATU 2300/2302 CHSM 2318/2320 VRI 0100 dep crossed 2631 at PVN, VM dep 0210, MS arrival 0445 - 5 mins BT :)
