Welcome to Railway Junction

We (I and my dad) were to return from a trip to Kerala, to attend a function, on April 20, 2005. We had reached there on April 19 and were returning on April 20 itself. The return journey was by 6346 Trivandrum Central – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Netravati Express. We were boarding from Quilon, where the train arrives at 1055. We left from a relatives' house at Kottarakkara, some 25 Kms from Quilon at around 0840. Regular bus services are operated on the route by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. We were at the Kottarakkara bus stand by 0900 and had a long wait for the bus upto 0930. We boarded a ‘Fast Passenger' bus and purchased tickets (Rs 13 each) to Quilon. The bus was crowded owing to a huge gap between two subsequent buses. The elusive Metre-Gauge tracks were moving almost parallel to the road. I couldn't travel by an MG train due to inconvenient timings. The bus couldn't pick up much speed since it had to stop at each and every bus stop for very long durations. The bus reached Quilon by 1035, with just 20 minutes to spare for our train. We were at Quilon for the first time and had no idea as to where the station is. We hired an Auto rickshaw to the station which was just 500 metres away! We entered the station and checked the charts. We had an accommodation in AS1 and the berth numbers were 61 and 62.

Quilon station welcomed me with the arrival of Twin headed Chennai-Trivandrum Mail. Our train was expected on Platform #5. The mail was on Platform #4. Platforms #1 to #3 are on the MG section of the station. We quickly went to Platform #5 and took positions to board into our coach which was the 16 th from the loco. Trivandrum Mail was still waiting on Platform #4. The Mail was hauled by WDM2 #17583 (leading) and #16671 (trailing). The rake was 24 coaches long. Platform #6 had a dead WDM2a #16293 which was coupled to the rake of Nagercoil – Kottayam passenger. This loco is used on the newly introduced Kochuveli – H.Nizamuddin Kerala Sampark Kranti Express. The loco had some stickers on its side. I returned to Platform #5 and accompanied my dad on our wait for Netravati Express. Netravati express pulled in to Quilon station by about 1110 and WDM2ca #14080 was doing the honours. The train departed after a quick halt at 1115, now delayed by 15 minutes. The section from Quilon to Kayamkulam has been doubled. Our train has a non-stop run from Quilon to Kayamkulam. We reached Kayamkulam at 1157. Haripad was reached at 1225. Haripad station has just one platform. Netravati express is the longest rake it handles. Our next halt was Ambalapuzha which was reached at 1245. We were made to wait for the Kayamkulam bound 335 passenger. 335 finally pulled into the station at 1248 with WDM2c #14075 doing the honours. We left Ambalapuzha at 1250. Our next halt was Alleppey, which was reached at 1310 and we departed at 1317. Alleppey handles three daily express. The rake of Chennai-Alleppey express was stabled at the platform itself. The rake still had the loco (WDM2 #18337 from Ernakulam), but the loco was switched off. We next halted at Shertalai (or Cherthala in local language). The station was reached at 1343 and we departed at 1346. AT Cherthala, Alleppey bound 6308 Express was waiting for us. The train was hauled by Ernakulam WDM2. As per schedule, our next halt should be at Ernakulam Junction. But we had to halt at Turavur which was reached at 1400. We had a long 20 minute halt there. The reason: a Plasser track maintenance equipment was occupying the main line. The unit (#951) pulled in with its horn blowing at 1415. We finally started moving at 1420.

Ernakulam Junction was finally reached at 1451, delayed by 46 minutes. The station welcomed me with: WDM2 #17375 from Erode hauling an unknown passenger, WDM7 #11007 waiting for duties and WDM2 #18687 from Erode waiting light. The platform was crowded and all this to send off just two passengers who were in our coach. We started moving at 1500, now with a delay of 50 minutes. We crossed our pairing train, 6345 Netravati express bound for Trivandrum at Ernakulam. Ernakulam bid good bye with WAP4 #22360 coupled to the rake of Shoranur – Cochin passenger. The train crawled through Ernakulam North, Edapally and Kalamasseri. We halted at Alwaye at 1530. We slowed down near Ollur for a WAG7 #27436 (Erode) hauled freighter. A derailment had taken place on 18 th at Ollur. So, some speed restrictions were in force. We finally reached Trichur at 1650 and departed at 1655, with a delay of an Hour and 15 minutes. We next had to stop at Wadakancheri for a crossing! A crossing in a Double lined Section! We were on the main line, waiting for an unknown train which later turned out to be the Shoranur-Ernakulam Passenger. It was hauled by WAP4 #22274 from Erode. We entered Wadakancheri at 1717 and departed after 1725. We next halted at Vallathol Nagar. We pulled into the station at 1737. The halt was to let the Alleppey bound 3351 Dhanbad – Alleppey Express to cross us. The train finally passed us at 1740 with WAM4 #20652 from Arakkonam hauling it. We finally moved at 1748. It started raining then.

Shoranur Junction was reached at 1800, delayed by an Hour and 10 minutes.Shoranur station is usally busy with many activities in the evening, but today heavy rain broght everything to a standstill. We departed at 1810. It was raining heavily and hence became quite dark. We reached Kuttipuram at 1900 with a delay of 96 minutes. There was some sort of Power failure and the station was plunged in darkness. We had a good run upto Calicut , which was reached at 2025 against the scheduled time of 1915. We departed from Calicut after a prolonged halt at 2100 with a delay of 100 minutes. Canannore was reached at 2245 with a delay of 90 minutes. I went to sleep a little after Canannore. The next morning began when the train reached Canacona at 0600. I finished my Morning chores and waited for Madgaon.

We reached Madgaon at 0650 with a delay of an hour. We unusually were diverted to Platform #2 instead of Platform #1. WDM3a #17995 from Krishnarajapuram was doing some light shunting works and was at Platform #1. We departed from Madgaon at 0700. The run from Madgaon was very smooth with the loco striving hard to make up lost time. We pulled into Kudal at 0845 instead of the scheduled 0739. As we halted at Platform #2, a green liveried WDM could be seen at a distance. This loco came closer and later it was identified as WDM3a #17854R from Pune. Its load was the Madgaon bound 0111 Konkan Kanya Express. We left from Kudal at 0850 with a delay of 70 minutes. We had a fast run upto Vilavade where we had to slow down for a crossing of a Freighter which occupied the main line and we were put on the loop line. The freighter was hauled by WDG2 #14902 from Erode.

Ratnagiri was reached at 1055 with a delay of 70 minutes. We crossed the Madgaon Jan Shatabdhi here. We left Ratnagiri at 1105. The run from Ratnagiri to Chiplun was uneventful. We reached Chiplun at 1210, delayed by 58 minutes. Here the Sawantwadi bound KR5 passenger was patiently waiting for us. It was hauled by WDM2a #17678 from Erode. The rake of the passenger train had a special Saloon car. We departed from Chiplun at 1215 with a delay of 53 minutes. We next had an unscheduled halt at Karanjadi where we reached at 1322. The halt was to let the Ernakulam bound Mangala Express to cross us. Mangala came with its horn blaring behind WDM2a #17489 from Ernakulam. We left Karanjadi at 1335 after the crossing. We had a non-stop run after Karanjadi.

Our next halt was at Roha, which was reached at 1420 with a delay of 35 minutes. The crew duty changes at Roha. Central Railway territory begins from Roha. We had an unusual crossing that day. Our pairing train, 6345 Netravati Express was crossed at Roha. Usually this crossing takes place after Roha. On that day 6345 was hauled by WDM2a #18413 from Ernakulam instead of its usual Erode WDM2c. The loco came in with its headlights, markers and flashers switched on. Surprisingly, the crew who had just finished duty on our train boarded the south bound Netravati and they returned. We left Roha at 1440 with a delay of 52 minutes. We crossed the Mangalore bound 2619 Matsyagandha Express at Somatne. Matsyagandha was today hauled by a Kalyan WDM2 instead of its usual Ernakulam WDM2a. Finally, Netravati Express negotiated points and entered the platform loop of Panvel at 1548. It came to a halt on Platform #1 at 1550, with a delay of 40 minutes. A long 1700 odd kilometre journey thus came to an end.

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