This travelogue is 1607 words long

The bus glided through the ‘by-now' empty roads of Pune on her way to the station. Half-the-bus was already empty, and the bus was already close to the station. The bus (MH 12 AR 9736) entered the MSRTC bus station at 2150, about 3 hours and 20 minutes after it began its journey from Dadar (East) Asiad Bus Station. WE (Myself and my Dad) got down from the bus, and collected our baggage from the under carriage of the bus. We towed the baggage and slowly walked towards the station. We decided to have our dinner from Comesum Multi-Cuisine restaurant at the station.

While I entered the restaurant, I noticed that the rake of my train, 1097 Pune-Ernakulam Poorna Express, was already on Platform 1. We had our dinner, and were on the platform by 2220. Our coach was at the loco end of the train, and we had a very long walk upto the coach. The coach, 01108 (AS2), was just opened. The reservation charts were just pasted. We had a look at the chart, and were quite amused to find that the coach had 23 vacant berths! We kept our baggage inside, and I got out of the coach to have a look at the loco.

The loco, WDM3A #14093 of Pune (This loco is Pune ONLY Original WDM3A – By original I mean, a loco which was manufactured as a WDM3A!), had already arrived, but was yet to be coupled. The PA system was calling for someone to couple the loco of the train on platform 1. I walked back to my coach and decided to remain indoors. Just around this time, the arrival of Bhavnagar-Kakinada Express was made. The Kolhapur-Gondia Maharashtra Express was also to arrive soon. Soon, a Guntakal loco pulled in with the Maharashtra Express, and a WDG3A was waiting to take charge of the train for its onward journey.

The starter for our train turned Amber at 2309. The loco gave out a long horn, and the train inched forward. The train had 21 coaches in the following composition: Loco-SLR-GS-A1-AS1-AS2-S11-PC-S10 to S1-GS-SLR-SL-SL. There were two extra sleeper class coaches at the rear end of the train. One passenger in our coach discovered an unidentified baggage near his seat, and he immediately reported the same to the coach attendant. He had an irresponsible attitude, and that angered the passenger. He reported the same to the TTE. The TTE shouted at the Attendant, and he asked him the remove the bag from the coach. The bag was subsequently handed over to Railway Protection Force at Satara.

I went to sleep shortly after the train left Pune. I had a very deep and undisturbed sleep. I woke up around 0515 or so. The train was slowly pulling into Miraj Station, and the time was 0520. I remained awake until the train left the station. The train left Miraj at 0530. I slept for some more time, and then got up at 0700. The train had just entered Ghatprabha station then. I got fresh, and remained at the door for some time. A vendor from the pantry came around to take orders for breakfast. The train pulled into Belgaum station at 0755, early by 10 minutes. I wanted to take an image of the loco, but RPF officers were roaming around. Some minutes later, WDM2 #16200 from Guntakal pulled in with the Castle Rock-Miraj Passenger. I could not take a photograph since an RPF officer was standing just close to me!

Our train pulled out at 0810, right on time. We had a non-stop run upto Khanapur. Our train was made to wait on the main line. Some minutes later, WDP4 #20026 of Krishnarajapuram pulled in with the Kolhapur bound Rani Chennamma Express. The train pulled out and slowly crawled towards Londa. We were once again sidelined at Gunji. This time, it was WDG3A #13031 from Krishnarajapuram and the train was Bangalore-Gandhidham Express. We pulled into Londa at 0950, delayed by 20 minutes. Our loco was uncoupled, and she rolled out of the station. Some minutes later, the loco ran through the nearby line towards the other end of our train. The train finally pulled out at 1005, now late by 25 minutes. Our train stopped at an unknown siding station for some time, and then again started its journey towards Castle Rock. We were welcomed into Castle rock by a long BOXN rake hauled by WDG4 #12069 & #12063. There was one more BOXN rake which was hauled by WDM3A #14017 of Gooty. We halted at the station for about 20 minutes. At around 1100, WDM3A #14035 of Gooty pulled in with the Howrah bound Amaravati Express from Vasco-Da-Gama.

We pulled out of Castle rock at 1105, and began ascending the Braganza Ghat at 1106. The gradient was clearly visible, and the journey was slow. We crossed the first of 16 tunnels at 1111. Our train had Three MU-ed WDG3As of Gooty helping our loco in climbing down the steep ghat. The train had 12400 HP worth of power working the 21-coach load down the ghats. I stayed at the door, and did not move even a centimeter from there…After all, that door was a prized possession! Dudhsagar falls was just away! We finally crossed Dudhsagar water falls at 1148. I was busy clicking away, and the falls really looked beautiful even in this season! What a scene it would have been during the monsoon?

The train kept crawling down towards Kulem. We stopped at Sonolium at 1159. This was the last ‘technical' halt on the ghat section. The train crawled forward with the brake shoes making a typical noise. We pulled into Kulem at 1225, late by 30 minutes. The bankers were removed, and our train pulled out at 1235. Lunch was served while the train pulled out of Kulem. Lunch consisted of Roti, an Accompaniment, Rice (Veg. Pulao), Dhal, Curd, Pickle and Papad. The train stopped at Sanvordem Churchorem (Kuchchade) at 1307. We finally pulled into Madgaon at 1330, now late by 25 minutes.

Many passengers from our coach got down here. The PA system was announcing the arrival of our train, and the Goa Sampark Kranti from H. Nizamuddin. Our train was on Platform 2, while the Goa SK was expected on Platform 3. At around 1337, a WDP4 (#20015) ran through Platform 1 with one single AC 3-Tier coach. There was no sign of our loco or the Goa SK. At around 1340, the loco of our train ran through Platform 3 after refueling. The loco got coupled and was now ready to move. The new crew of KR now took charge, and was ready to go! At around 1352, WDM3A #18626 of Ratlam pulled in with the Goa Sampark Kranti Express. The train had a very dirty NR rake, and had coaches from different Coaching Depots of NR, including FZR, ASR, etc.

Our train pulled out at 1355, now late by 30 minutes. We had an uneventful run from Madgaon onwards. We stopped at Karwar at 1500, and left at 1502. The train ran over numerous bridges and ran through ‘not-so-long' tunnels at a very good speed. The loco pilot was taking advantage of the higher MPS of the line, and the 3100hp loco in charge. We did a comfortable 100+ in most sections. We stopped at Senapura outer signal for some time. I was sure that we were having a crossing soon. We crossed the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus bound Matsyagandha Express at Senapura. The loco in charge was WDM2 #17677 of Erode. The train stopped at Kundapura, and then at Udupi.

A good number of passengers got down at Udupi, a very famous temple town in Karnataka. We pulled into Kankanadi at 1904, now early by a minute. The crew changed – KR pilots gave charge to pilots from SR. Coaches were re-watered here, and the train was now ready to pull out. The starter changed Amber at 1915, and we finally pulled out at 1917. We next stopped at Kasaragode, a border district in Kerala. We left Kasaragode late by 2 minutes. Dinner was served shortly after this station. The dinner served had the same menu as the lunch. We next stopped at Payyanur at 2049. We went to bed shortly after this station. I woke up when the train pulled into Kannur. The station had the rake of the Kannur-Coimbatore passenger, and the rake of the Kannur-Mangalore passenger. Both of them had Erode WDM2s coupled to them.

Some more passengers got into the train here. The train pulled out of Kannur at 2150. We next stopped at Thalasseri, at 2215. I had a deep sleep after this station. The AC had a very light job since the occupancy was poor for the coach! I was woken up by my dad at around 0200. The train was rolling through Wadakancheri station then. We had to get down at Trichur. I sat down rubbing my eyes trying to get back to my senses! The train slowly pulled into Trichur at 0220. We got down at this station, and we were not alone to get down! A good number of passengers got down at this station.

A rickshaw driver almost immediately got behind us offering to drive us to our destination! He was offering the journey at Rs. 10 per kilometre! Our destination was 36 kilometres away. The road was deserted, and was in very good condition! We reached our destination at around 0330 or so….I was still half sleepy and simply got into bed and was deep asleep in a few minutes! 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