This travelogue is 2620 words long

The alarm let out one of the most unpleasant noises of the morning...I opened my eyes in excitement! The day would witness my first journey on Mangala Express. The clock showed 0710, and I drove out of my home on my Qualis in search of an Auto rickshaw. I got one just about 500 metres from my home. We (My Dad, Mom and I) left home at 0715, and made it to the station by around 0725. From there we took a Suburban EMU towards Panvel. The train reached Panvel by around 0800. Works on the 'new' Suburban Station Office Building is almost over, and the ticketing office has already shifted there.

We towed our luggage to the Main line section of the station, and found out a seat good enough for us to relax for some time! Just as we entered the station, a Container train hauled by WDG3A #14981 of Kalyan pulled into Platform 1. We purchased some magazines to read from a nearby book stall, and settled down. The Madgaon bound Mandovi Express was expected some time around then. An announcement was made that the Mandovi Express would arrive on Platform 2. Just following this announcement was another message that our train, 2618 Mangala Lakshadweep Express, was expected to arrive late by an hour and 30 minutes! That announcement came in as a shock!

I decided to check out the loco of Mandovi Express. Platform 2 had a good enough crowd waiting for the Mandovi express. Some minutes later, I saw the WDP4 of the train clearing a small curve to enter the platform line. The loco was WDP4 #20015 from Krishnarajapuram. I walked around the loco and snapped a few images. There was a BCNA rake on Platform 3, and that rake started moving towards Diva. The loco was a WCAM1. I spotted a brand new WDG3A at the rear end of the Container rake parked on Platform 1. I went closer to have a look, and that loco was WDG3A #13318 from Katni. The loco manufacturers plate read "WDG3A-848" manufactured in November 2006. The loco was just refueled and was ready to charge out! I was back on the platform resting on a bench with my parents. Our wait got longer when the delay was now announced to be 2 hours! According to my calculations, the train was now expected at 1130 instead of the scheduled 0930.

At around 0940, Kalyan WDG3A #14558 pulled into Platform 3 with a long BCNA rake. I was not in a mood to go there to have a look at that Baldie! About 5 minutes later, announcements were being made that 1689 Diva-Roha passenger would be arriving on Platform 2 very soon. I made a quick dash to the platform. The crowd waiting for that train was quite interesting. At around 0950, the train made its appearance, and I was awed! The train is now a DMU!!! It was earlier a normal passenger train! Now this train has 9 coaches, and a loco attached at the middle of the rake. There are driving cabs at either ends of the rake. The loco in charge was WDM2 #18169 of Kalyan. I wanted to take an image of the loco, but an RPF constable was standing quite close to me when the train started moving out! I checked the tag on the BCNA rake that had earlier entered Platform 3. The tag mentioned that the wagons contained Wheat and was coming from Mundra Port in Gujarat , and was bound to Ratnagiri on the Konkan Railway, and the route was marked as "WR-BSR".

I walked back slowly to Platform 1. There was hardly any rake movements for quite sometime, other than a Container train which was pulled in by WAG7 #27646 of Kanpur . A light WDG3A (#14563) of Kalyan pulled into Platform 1. This loco was surely waiting for some rake to arrive. At around 1030, there was an announcement on the PA system that Mangala Express was expected to arrive at 1120 on Platform 3. By now, a twin WDM2 hauled Container train pulled into Platform 2. At around 1100, myself and my parents moved our baggage to Platform 3, and we sat on yet another bench this time on Platform 3. At around 1116, our train was visible. The loco slowly curved around, and appeared on the straight portion of the platform. She slowly pulled forward and came to a halt near the refueling point. The loco was WDM2 #17583 of Ernakulam Diesel Loco Shed.

My coach was AS1, WGACCN 01908 based at ERMY. Most passengers were already looking tired inside the coach. We 'hunted' out our seats and kept our baggage under the lower berth. The floor already had tones of biscuit wrappers, chocolate wrappers, fruit peels and what not! The train got its starter at 1140, now delayed by around 2 hours and 5 minutes. The loco gave a sharp and long horn and slowly jerked forward. The train slowly cleared points and we were on the Roha branch in no time. The exit or entry of trains into Panvel from the Roha side is quite painful with a huge number of points. The train had a 'normal' 18-coach rake consisting of 1 AC-2-Tier, 2 AC-3-Tiers, 10 Sleepers and 1 Pantry car. (2 Luggage+2 General coaches also). We were on the main line now, and charging out at good speed.

The train was given a stop signal at Jite. We stopped on the Main line itself, and I was expecting the Ratnagiri-Dadar passenger there. That was indeed the passenger, and the loco was WDG3A #13040 from Pune in a turquoise livery. I drizzled lightly, and the smell of the earth was heavenly! We pulled out of the station, and picked speed quite fast. The 18-Coach load looked like peanuts for the 2600 HP beast up front, and the performance by the loco was simply outstanding! I have not experienced such a performance on WDM2 hauled trains earlier! We once again stopped for a crossing at Kasu. This time it was out pairing train - Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express. The Loco was WDM2 #16549 of Ernakulam. A BCNA rake was obstructing my view of the train though!

We pulled out of the station, and I noticed that the BCNA rake was the same Ratnagiri bound one that I had seen at Panvel! The loco was WDG3A #14558 of Kalyan! Lunch was served at around 1300, and at that time we were rolling through Roha. The lunch consisted of Rice, Sambhar, Curd and Pickle - Typical Kerala style food. The Pantry was maintained by Hotel Royal of Kozhikode . Their food was tasty! We slowed down a few kilometres south of Roha. The train slowly entered the loop line at Kolad. The Mumbai bound Netravati Express was waiting for us on the Main line. The loco in charge was WDM3A #14075 of Erode. The reason for diverting us into the loop line baffled me! Later on, I understood the reason - Fixing the ACD antennae and equipment in the Guard Compartment! I could spot a man climbing a ladder to fix it! The loco of course had them!

We had a non-stop run after Kolad. We next pulled into Chiplun at 1513. The Diva bound KR6 passenger was waiting for us, and the loco in charge was WDM2 #18926 of Kalyan. Dead WDM3A #18629 of Ratlam was coupled behind the Kalyan loco. We left Chiplun at 1520. Superfast Trains on this route are worked by CR Loco pilots all the way upto Ratnagiri. For express trains, the change over point *was* Roha. The CR pilot was surely enjoying the higher permissible speed on the section. Unlike other sections, KR allows pilots to drive trains at 100 kmph even on bridges and in tunnels! We pulled into the loop line at Aravali Road . This station is on a sharp curve, and the visibility on both sides of the station is quite poor. Trains commonly run the entire distance with the horns blowing and head lamps on!

I was readying for a photo of the oncoming train. Suddenly the Station manager decided to jump right in front of me to flag off that train! The train turned out to be Ernakulam - Jaipur Marusagar Express, and the loco in charge was surprisingly a WDM2 from Golden Rock! The train disappeared in a matter of a few seconds, and the rake is about 22 coaches long with about 4 AC-3-Tier coaches!!! We pulled out of Aravali road, and were back to good speeds! We were once again sided at Sangameshwar Road . Sangameshwar is an interesting station. UP Trains just exit from a tunnel into the station! The platform loop starts right after the tunnel! It is common to see trains pull in with their head lamps on here!

Some minutes after we came to a halt, WDP4 #20034 of Krishnarajapuram made its appearance with the Mumbai bound Mandovi Express in tow. The train had a halt at the station. Both trains received their starters almost simultaneously, and there were a slew of horns from both trains! We had an enchanting run after the crossing. The pilot looked desperate to make up atleast some time before he finishes off his duty, and the train flew over the tracks! We pulled into Ratnagiri at 1710, now late by 2 hours and 32 minutes!!! The PA system had a very familiar tone, and it seems that Ratnagiri station is now using computerized announcement, and the sounds are the same ones which are being used by CR's Mumbai Division. I saw a tired looking loco crew walking out while a very enthusiastic crew of KR was checking their beast. The assistant Loco Pilot was walking around the loco checking the oil levels, radiator water level, head lamps, flashers and what not!

The PA system announced that the Dadar bound Jan Shatabdhi was delayed by 30 minutes. At around 1720, Erode WDG3A #14669 pulled in with a Hopper Rake. At 1723, our train moved forward. The fresh crew notched the beast to her maximum, and the train was back to flying in no time. We rushed through tunnels, and scary looking Viaducts! The land below was too deep, and it was scary to look down while the train was on viaducts! We crossed the highest viaduct in India - Panval Viaduct - at a very high speed. We once again pulled into a loop line at Nivasar. About 5 minutes after we stopped, the Dadar bound Jan Shatabdhi pulled in with WDM3A #14140 of Erode in charge. There was a Speed restriction of 50 KMPH on the Main line, and hence the train went at a lesser speed than usual!

We had a regular halt at Kankavali, and we left the station at 1923, delayed by about 3 hours and 5 minutes. We were made to wait for the Madgaon-Mumbai Konkan Kanya Express at Sawantwadi. The train came in with WDP4 #20036 in-charge. Dinner was served shortly after that station. I had ordered for Vegetable Biriyani, and that was tasty! Thivim came and went while I was busy chomping down the Biriyani! We pulled into Madgaon at 2140, delayed by 2 hours and 25 minutes. The rake of KR8 passenger was on Platform 3, while we were on Platform 2. The loco pilots changed once again. The rake of the passenger had a Golden Rock WDM2 at its helm! The train pulled out of Madgaon at 2145. I pulled 'up' my Middle berth, and went in for a sleep minutes after the train left Madgaon. My sleep was quite comfortable, and I slept till about 0700.

Just as I got up from my berth, the train was pulling into Kozhikode station. The time was 0705, and the train was late by two hours and 10 minutes. I finished all the morning routines, and got ready for another round of railfanning. The Pantry car had run out of Cooking Gas, and they were not serving anything (tea, coffee included) since morning. Kozhikode being their base, they got a fresh supply of gas, and the Pantry car started serving tea/coffee about 15-20 minutes after leaving the station. We left Kozhikode at 0715. We next pulled into Feroke. We left Feroke at 0732, delayed by 2 hours and 17 minutes.

Mangala Express is the only daily train towards Delhi for all Malabaris, and this train stops generously at every second or third station in the Kozhikode-Shoranur section. We pulled into Parpanangadi at 0750. The Mangalore bound Mail from Chennai was waiting to welcome us into the station. The loco in-charge of the mail was WDM3A #14030 of Ernakulam. The station next to Parpanangadi was Tirur. We were welcomed into Tirur by WDM3D #11104 of Erode standing light on the loop line. The halt at Tirur was a brief 2 minutes. The journey was now getting monotonous, and we were getting bored, and by now the train pulled into Kuttipuram at 0824 delayed by 2 hours and 6 minutes. We were getting too bored, and I desperately wanted to have a walk on a platform. I looked on both sides of the train, but could not spot any platform! It looked as if the train stood on the main line itself! As a consequence of doubling, the UP line now lacks a platform! They have just leveled the land close to the track, and it looks more like a country walk-way!

The train next halted briefly at Pallipuram, and then crossed over to the Down line. The section ahead of Pallipuram is single, and still has Upper-Quadrant Semaphore signaling. The work on doubling is progressing at a brisk pace. We pulled into Pattambi at 0850, now having a delay of 2 hours and 12 minutes. The platform at Pattambi is still at a very low level, and this station may be face-lifted once the doubling work is over. At Karakad, the train slowed down to a crawl, and we shifted tracks towards the left (to be UP line), and ran towards Shoranur with the Bharatapuzha showings its face time and again! We pulled into Shoranur at 0910, with a delay of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The loco pilots changed here. WAM4 #21238 of Arakkonam was seen sleeping off at the siding close to the platform.

The starter of our train turned amber at 0920. The PA system announced that 3352 Alappuzha-Dhanbad Express was expected at 0925. Our train slowly crawled towards the main line, and we entered Bharatapuzha at a very slow pace. We slowly crossed over to the main "Down" line and entered Trivandrum division. We crossed the 3352 express at Vallathol Nagar Advanced starter, and the loco in charge was WAM4 #20523 of Arakkonam. News about a "Bandh" (Oops! The word is banned by the Kerala High court, and is now replaced by "Harthal"), i.e., a Strike, was rife and the news was confirmed. Buses and Taxis were off the road in Trichur district! We were worried about our fate on reaching Trichur. The strike is effective till 6 PM. We decided to extend our tickets to Ernakulam, and met the TTE. He issued extension tickets for us. Our train pulled into Trichur at 1000. WDM3A #16084R of Ernakulam was waiting with the rake of the Trichur-Guruvayur passenger on Platform 3.

My dad enquired with a taxi driver about the condition there, and he offered to take us to our destination but at a premium! The roads were totally deserted, and most people preferred to stay indoors! The taxi driver enjoyed the drive and we reached our destination in less than 50 minutes (covering a distance of about 35 kilometres). There ended part one of the 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