This travelogue is 2113 words long

A light drizzle began cooling down the earth after a long spell of heat and high humidity, while I left my home in search of an Auto rickshaw. The stand near my home did not have any rickshaws, while other stands were not ready to come down to my place owing to some tussle between their unions! Finally, I hired a taxi and reached back at home. We loaded our luggage into the tired looking-but-young at heart taxi.

The taxi driver took to the highway, and he drove at a very good speed. All of a sudden, the clouds opened up, and a down pour began! The poor old taxi did not have a windscreen wiper, and the driver slowed down to less than 40 kmph. We crawled ahead following a bus, which had a wiper! The rain paused momentarily, and by the time the taxi pulled into Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, puddles of water were everywhere and the terminus became dirtier! The terminus was at its chaotic best with about 4 departures in the next 2 hours, in addition to one arrival!

We found our way towards the waiting hall, where every available inch was already taken up by squatters who were probably waiting for departures that would take place late in the night or may the next day. I rushed around to find the platform from which my train would depart, and finally successfully found out that my train would depart from Platform 1. We (I and my mom) walked over to platform 1. The platform was crowded, and there were parcels strewn at every corner of the platform, making movement a pain!

Platform 4 had the rake of the LTT-Shalimar Express (but the PA system was referring the train as "LTT-Howrah Express" instead of "LTT-Shalimar Express"!), Platform 3 was empty - but some train was to arrive soon, Platform 2 had the LTT-Rajendra Nagar Express, and Platform 1 was empty. The coach numbering at LTT is a bit different. Usually, the coach nearest to the Loco is numbered 1, but in LTT, the coach nearer to the terminal end (buffer beam) is numbered 1. This caused a lot of confusion to many including me! My coach was to arrive at the 16 th position, and instead of walking down, I decided to wait till the rake was shunted in.

The crowd was building up as each minute ticked by, and the problem was worsened by heavy downpour along with thunders! An unknown train from Gorakhpur pulled into Platform 3, and emptied a huge crowd. The train was shunted out in a matter of a few minutes! At around 2215, the rake of my train - 1013 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus - Coimbatore Express - was shunted in. My coach (WGACCN 04127, AS2) was the 5 th from the loco. We got into the coach, and parked our luggage under the seat. We had a side lower & a side upper. I got out from the coach to have a look at the loco. The loco was brought in at about 2224. WCG2 #20116 from Kalyan was to do the honours that night! There were no signs of the rain subsiding, and the downpour accompanied by thunders continued even while our train was cleared for departure.

The train slowly crawled out of the platform at 2235, with a delay of about 5 minutes. The train cleared the platform, and then we were made to wait again for clearance to enter the main line. It was pouring down outside, and passengers were slowly settling in. The attendant was busy distributing bed rolls to the passengers. We entered the main line at about 2252. The run was painfully slow, and we crawled through Ghatkopar at 2300. The run from Ghatkopar to Bhandup was not too fast, and we crossed Bhandup with horns blaring at 2309. Mulund was crossed at 2313, with the train going at a good speed. We were made to wait at Thane home for about 3 minutes, and we crossed the station at 2322. We crawled through Diva at 2333, and Dombivli at 2340. The train was then literally crawling its way towards Kalyan. We were stopped at Thakurli station from 2359 to 0030. We then slowly crawled ahead.

I went to bed at around 0040. I was woken up by the commotion of passengers who boarded at Kalyan. We reached Kalyan at 0058, and left at 0105 - with a delay of an hour and 47 minutes! The fact was that we covered just 38 kilometres during the 2 hour 23 minute run, and that is an average speed of 15.94 kmph! I guess a cycle would've been faster!!! The reason attributed for the delay was a signal failure at Kalyan due to continuous rains! The slept off soon after the train left Kalyan.

I got up at around 0600. Quickly finished off the morning jobs, and went to the door. The sun was up and directly on my face! I had the first spotting of the day at 0635. That was the Chennai-Mumbai Express, and the loco in charge was WDM3A #14033 of Guntakal. We pulled into Kurduwadi station at around 0646, with a delay of 2 hours and 6 minutes. We pulled out of the station at around 0650. We overtake a VPU train shortly after Kurduwadi, and a Pune WDG3A was in charge of the freight. We then crossed a Pune WDM2 hauled BCNA somewhere before Mohol. We slowed down after Mohol home, and crawled towards the station. The Pune bound Hutatma Express was waiting for us at the station.

The loco in charge of Hutatma Express was WDM2 #16805 of Erode. We picked up speed after a short crawl, and had a majestic run ahead. We were diverted to the loop line at Bale. On the UP loop line, a twin Gooty WDG3A hauled freighter was waiting. We had a short wait at the station, and we crossed the New Delhi bound Karnataka Express here. Twin WDM2s from Itarsi did the honours for Karnataka Express. It was WDM2 #16779 leading and 'Jumbo' WDM2 #17795 trailing! We pulled out of Bale shortly after the crossing. We pulled into Solapur at 0818, with a delay of 2 hours and 18 minutes. The toilets of the coach were cleaned here. I went to have a look at the loco.

The loco working our train now was WDM3A #14028 of Krishnarajapuram. A small metal plate near the cabin mentioned that the loco underwent a Periodic over Haul (POH) at the Golden Rock Workshop in April 2007. The paint job on the loco looked fresh, and the loco was a very poor smoker. We pulled out of Solapur at 0833. The run from Solapur to Hotgi was perfect, and we were made to wait at Hotgi for some time. A twin Pune WDM2 led freighter crossed us here. The line from Solapur to Hotgi is doubled, and the line from Hotgi to Gulbarga is single.

We crossed an Unknown passenger with "S C" markings at Boroti. The loco was a Pune WDM2. We pulled into Dudhani at 0946 instead of the scheduled time of 0728. We were made to wait here for a long time till the Mumbai bound Udyan Express from Bangalore pulled in. Udyan Express had WDP4 #20030 from Krishnarajapuram in charge. We finally pulled out of Dudhani at 1002, with a delay of 2 hours and 32 minutes. The run was rather dry from Dudhani to Ganagapur road. The temperature outside was rising continuously! We pulled into Ganagapur road at 1025. The Mumbai bound 6352 Nagercoil-Tirupati-Mumbai Express was waiting for us at the station. The loco in-charge was WDM2 #17581 from Erode.

The run from Ganagapur road to Raichur was absolutely dry. We stopped at the following places between Ganagapur road and Raichur (Arriving time/Departure time): Gulbarga (1052/1057); Shahabad (1119/1120); Wadi (1130/1146); Yadgir (1219/1223); Krishna (1258/1300) and Raichur (1325/1328). Lunch was served just before Krishna Station, and consisted of Chapatti, A Subzi, Rice, Dhal, Curd, Pickle, a Sweet dish and Water. The works on the bridge across Krishna River is in progress, and almost all pillars are ready. The works on the girders are in progress.

We pulled out of Raichur at 1328, with a delay of an hour and 38 minutes. Just as the train cleared the station, we crossed a Tanker train hauled by Pune WDG3A #14560. It was getting too hot outside, and the coach attendants were objecting to keep the door open! I remained indoors for some time. The train pulled into the loop line of Matmari at 1343. I rushed to the door, and that was a crossing! Gooty WDM3A #14013 coupled to WDM3D #11123 hauled a long BOXN rake through the station. The rake was banked by Guntakal WDM2 #17153. We left Matmari at 1356. We pulled into Mantralayam road at 1410. The coaches were re-watered at this station. While we were waiting, WDM2 #16364 of Kazipet pulled in with the Mumbai bound 1082 'Kanyakumari' Express. We departed from Mantralayam road at 1420, with a delay of an hour and 50 minutes.

The run from Mantralayam road to Guntakal was rather boring. We crossed WDM3D #11122 of Guntakal working a small freight near Adoni. We crossed the Coimbatore - Rajkot Express, and the Chennai-Dadar Express somewhere between Adoni and Guntakal. The run from Adoni to Guntakal was non-stop, and we covered the 52 kilometre distance in 48 minutes making up an average speed of 65 kmph. We pulled into Guntakal at 1553. The entry into Guntakal was rather interesting. WDG4 #12042 and WDM3A #18903R of Guntakal were present at the yard to welcome us into the station! The halt was about 7 minutes long, and we pulled out at 1600, with a delay of 2 hours. WDM3A #18793R of Guntakal sent us off! The loco was getting ready to work the Guntakal-Hindupur passenger. WDG3A #13268 coupled to #13031 (both from Krishnarajapuram) were waiting at the Home signal.

The run from Guntakal to Gooty was uninteresting, except for crossing the Yeshwantpur-Guntur passenger somewhere in between. We pulled into Gooty at 1631. The loco shed was full of WDG3As, and not a single WDM3A was seen around. We pulled out of Gooty at 1633. While crawling out of the station, we crossed - WDG3A #14941 (Gooty/Light), WDG3A #14942 coupled to #132XX (both Gooty/Light) and WDM3D #11180 (Gooty/Shunting a small BOXN rake). We slowly cleared points and entered the Dharmavaram line. The curve was magnificent as ever! The loco was a poor smoker, and hence destroyed the pleasure of capturing the loco smoking up on the tight curve!

The run from Gooty to Dharmavaram was totally dry. We reached Dharmavaram at 1807. The MG side of the station, had a loco (YDM4 #6274) and some other rolling stock. On the BG side, WDM3A #18974R of Guntakal was waiting with the Bhubaneshwar bound Prashanti Express! Prashanti pulled out immediately after we came to a complete halt! The vendors at the station shouted at the top of their voice selling the ever tasty "Masala Vada". We pulled out of the station at 1815, with a delay of an hour and 15 minutes. On this end of the station, a Krishnarajapuram WDG3A, and Guntakal YDM4 #6454 was seen. It was getting dark outside, and I decided to rest for sometime on my berth.

I was busy reading a Novel, while the train made brief halts at Penukonda (for a crossing), and at Hindupur (Scheduled Halt). Dinner was served at around 2100. The menu was the same as that of the lunch! Just while chatting with the occupants of the berths around mine, I noticed that we were running through Yelahanka. The time was 2154. I called up my brother to inform our position. The run from Yelahanka to Chennasandra was fabulous! We pulled into Chennasandra at 2205, covering 9 kilometres in 9 minutes! We left Chennasandra at 2212, and crossed Baiyappanahalli at 2220. We reached Bangalore East at 2225, and Cantonment at 2233. We left Cantonment at 2238. The train was made to wait at Bangalore City Home for some time. While we were waiting, the Bangalore-Chennai Mail crossed us behind an unidentified WAP4. We finally pulled into Platform 3 of Bangalore City at 2300, with a delay of an hour and 5 minutes. The train proceeded to CBE with WDM3D #11109 of Erode.

The crowd which got down at Bangalore City was huge, and we too joined the crowd to get out of the station. It took about 15 minutes for us to reach the Car park from the Platform. We then proceeded to my Brother's home on the Bannerghatta Road . There ended Part-I 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