Trip to Palani

Hello Readers, Made a trip to Palani one of the Six Abodes of the God Muruga between 23/4/2013 and 24/4/2013. The trip was a nice one and you can check out the whole report on the following link. Had my head tonsured too. http://nagaraj15.blogspot.in Hope you like the report. Happy reading !!!

Trip Photos by NSN

Trip Photos

Chennai - Trichy

We planned to go on a long trip on our car as it had been running low on mileage. We wanted to visit Trichy and see the temples and nearby temples. This trip was delaying us because we had no relatives in Trichy and did not like to stay in one of the lodges there. We had holidays for Christmas and decided to go to Trichy and stay with my friend's grandparents. My friend and his mother said that they would accompany us and be as a guide to us.

Chennai - Trichy

Railfan session in Chromepet -13/12/2009.

We received a surprise message that there was a railfanning session at the Chromepet express platform . Since our home was in Chromepet could we miss it out? So, we rushed to the platform at Chromepet station. We had arrived first. So ,we had to wait for the others who were on the way there. The people who were present at the railfanning session were me , my father , my mother , Sriram Karthik , Vasanth , S.S.Kumar the locopilot of the Thiruvananthapuram rajdhani express in the Konkan railway and I do not remember the names of the others who were also present in the railfanning session. The railfanning session started with the Rameshwaram express with its usual link , the ERS WDM3a I forgot the number of the loco. The train rushed past at 90kmph with super honking action . After the next half an hour the Kanyakumari express came with a surprise offlink the same ERS WDM3a it came at a very sedate speed , for this too I forgot the number of the loco. Then we waited for the next train the evening Pondicherry fast passenger, but , it got very dark and late so all of us started to depart , so , we also took leave and went back home. It was a memorable and superb railfanning session.

Chennai Vijayawada - Chennai Railfanning Trip Report

TRIP REPORT TO BZA(VIJAYAWADA) BY THE JANSHADABTHI EXPRESS.

I was waiting to meet other MAS-IRFCA members, pleasantly surprised when Junior KK(Krishnakumar) gave me a call and asked me to come to VLK(Villivakkam) for a rail 

fanning session. I went there with my father and was welcomed by Sriram karthik, Vimalakar and Jr.KK at the station, we watched some highspeed action and it was 

decided to go for a railfanning trip to Vijayawada from Chennai and return on March 15. We all readily agreed to the plan and left it to Jr KK to do all the necessary booking 

and Travel arrangement.

The day dawned on March 15 and My Father Mother and Myself,We started from our home in chrompet at 5:45 and went to chrompet station and saw Pandiyan express 

with WDP-4 20019 from Krishnarajapuram rushing towards MS (Egmore) then caught an EMU at 6.10 am as it was a sunday service the trains were in less frequency for 

going upto Park stn. 

Then we rushed to Chennai central beacause it was almost near the departure time in between there were numerous messages from Jr Kk and Vimalakar asking us to rush 

to Platform 2a as it was nearing the departure time.
We caught the Jan shadabthi to Vijayawada just in time 7.00 am it's loco link was a WAM-4 20618 from Itarsi. We were in the coach D2 along with Senior KK, Junior KK, 

Poochi Venkat, Sriram karthik, Vimalakar and my father Nagaraj and mother Santhi.

It departed 3 minutes late we saw Brindavan exp with a surprise link of Vadodara WAP-4E and saw a wds-4b taking a stroll outside reached Athipattu at 7:40am reached 

Sullurpetta delayed by 24 minutes arrived at 8:27 instead of 8:03 and instead of 8:05 departed at 8:29 and went slowly not any agressive speeds,
then reached Gudur early by 9 minutes instead of 9:15 reached there at 9:06 and departed sharp at 9:17 myself and my father walked upto the Loco and had a small chat 

with the LP.
Saw Simhapuri express with Lallaguda WAP-4 22214 and saw Gummidipundi to Gudur to Tirupathy passenger with Vijayawada WAM-4 21265 reached Nellore at 9:47 

instead of 9:41 and departed at 9:49 instead of 9:43 and saw Nellore to Chennai central MEMU standing at platform no 4.
Many people detrained at Nellore, started from Nellore and made an unscheduled halt at Bitragunta at 10:15 without any reason and reached Kavali at 10:32 instead of 

10:17 departed at 10:33 instead of 10:19 reached Ongole at 11:17 instead of 11:12 departed at 11:25 instead of 11:13 then reached Chirala at 12:01 instead of 11:46  

departed at 12:04 instead of 11:48 afterwards reached Tenali junction at 12:48 instead of 12:27 now we departed at 12:51 instead of 12:28 there we saw the Jhanmabhoomi 

expresses going both the directions one bound for Hyderabad and another for Vishakapatnam. 

Poochi Venkat told me that the Jhanmabhoomi express was their enemy beacause that train would be given the preference first and that train would have a loco change the 

surprise is that both the trains will change locos the one from Vishakapatnam will arrive there with an electric loco and the other from Hyderabad will arrive with a diesel loco 

the electric loco will be attached to the one from Hyderabad and the diesel loco will be attached to the one from Vishakapatnam, As both the trains were standing on the 

adjacent platform which had the common access, I wondered how passengers will know which is their train?.

In between we had high speed action of Coromandel crossing and later on Navjivan Express. It was a thrill to watch the action, as I was door plating along with Senior KK.

We were given the starter first and started from Tenali then our train had a slack time of 1 hour for the distance from Tenali to Vijayawada then started crawling upto 

Vijayawada then crossed the massive Krishna river bridge then reached Vijayawada early by 18 minutes instead of 1:35 we reached there at 1:17.We touched an average 

speed of 101kmph. Which we found out from the GPS of Poochi Venkat

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Return journey by the 2078 Janshadabthi express (BZA-MAS).

Had lunch at comoseum,a hotel in the station met Jayakar with Ramakrishna Vijayawada Railfans who greeted us with a 5 star bar,  their hospitality was excellent, we are waiting for our turn to reciprocate it. Then  I went with the railfans my mother  was coming behind so my father waited for her.

Saw the Andaman express bound for Jammutawi with a WAP-4 from Lallaguda and saw a goods rake. 
I and the other railfans crossed the tracks just in time because the goods rake was coming in the track with Ajni WAG-9 while we were crossing! 
Meanwhile,my father had fetched my mother and was crossing the tracks the goods rake was near but my father was in a hurry that he was about to run to where we were 

standing but the goods rake crossed just before he was about to run so he waited there with my mother.

The goods rake was so looong that it took a lot of time we were waiting there patiently while the goods rake crossed. 
My father rushed and we got into the train the power was the same loco 20618 Itarsi WAM-4 and our coach and seat also remained the same D2 90 the train started 2 

minutes behind schedule instead of 2:35 it started at 2:37 only went to Tenali there reached at 3:05 instead or 3:03 there saw a goods rake hauled by twin WAG-5's from 

Vijayawada started at 3:06 instead of 3:04 reached Chirala on time at 3:45 departed on time at 3:46 reached Ongole late by 13 minutes at 4:42 instead of 4:29 departed at 

4:44 instead of 4:30 reached Kavali at 5:35 instead of 5:12 departed at 5:37 instead of 5:13 saw a conraj rake hauled by twin WAG-5's from Vijayawada mued standing and 

saw the Pinakini entering Kavali slowly with a lallaguda WAP-4 reached Bitragunta overtook the Krishna express with a WAP-4 from Lallaguda. WAP-4 losing in the battle 

with WAM-4! 

Reached Nellore at 6:10 instead of 5:59 saw twin Arrakonam WAG-5's hauling a BCNA rake departed at 6:14 instead of 6:00 reached reached Gudur at 6:44 instead of 6:48 

departed on time at 6:50 at Gudur saw the 2764 Padmavathi express.

Between Nellore and Gudur saw a goods rake hauled by twin WAG-5's from Vijayawada or Arakkonam (did not note down the shed). Reached Sullurpeta at 7:28 instead of 

7:29 and departed on time at 7:30.Crossed Naydupeta and other wayside stations and reached Chennai central there next to our loco saw a Sapthgiri liveried WAM-4 from 

Arakkonam.

The other railfans went to their home while I,Vimalakar,my father and my mother went to Park station and my father went to wait in the line to take ticket meanwhile a train 

to beach came we got into it and came to the other side of the platform thereby avoiding climbing the steep FOB that time a Tambaram train came so Vimalakar got into it 

and left saying Goodnight while we waited for my father, he came after getting the tickets we got into that train and came at Chennai Egmore saw the Pandiyan express 

with a WDP-4 from Krishnarajapuram 20038, we reached Chromepet got down and went to our home.

We touched an average speed of 109kmph.  

Special thanks to all the railfans who patiently explained all my queries and explained me the train / railfan details. Hope to see you all again in an enchanting trip. Till then,
With warm regards 
N.Nishanth

MY TRIP TO MADURAI IN THE 2637 PANDIAN SUPERFAST EXPRESS

MY TRIP TO MADURAI IN THE 2637 PANDIAN SUPERFAST EXPRESS



We started from our home in chromepet at 19:00hrs to the chromepet station on a rainy day where the entire traffic on the chennai roads were ground to a halt due to human chain formation for srilanka tamils and flooding of the roads, we were worried how we are going to make it to the Egmore station.

The date was 24-10-08 all were returning due to the deepavali so all roads were bustling with travellers.

Just as my father came out of the ticket counter our emu (electric multiple unit) came into the chromepet station. We boarded it all the way to Chennai Egmore (MS). Due to the traffic jam the level crossing at chromepet was filled with vehicles which made our EMU to wait at the l/c for a good 25 minutes, finally the gatekeeper closed the gates and waved the signal to enable the EMU move, we were relieved, finally reached Egmore around 20:15 hours, the FOB was
filled with people we slowly walked through the FOB to reach our platform, the Egmore station was filled with anxious travellers waiting to board the unreserved coaches queues were formed and they were waiting,

Nellai express was at platform, Dadar egmore express reached around 20:30 and was ready to start as Egmore salem express.Our train 2637 ms-mdu pandian superfast express was in platform no 5. after we boarded it we ate our dinner , the coach was side middle berth attached and the floors were filled with water due to the continuous rain.

Father brought some magazine from higginbothams, SZ timetable and trains at a glance were available at the shop. Our berth numbers were changed once the chart was pasted we got SLB, SUB and UB. Gue to last minute planning we had our tatkal tickets.

After some time 6107 ms - maq mangalore express was shunted in. our train's power was wdp-4 20023 short hood front from KJM (krishnarajapuram). our train departed ms 15 min late. We blasted well through all wayside stations like kodambakkam, saidapet,mambalam,we were not able to read the name boards also, it was all blurred, chromepet,pallavaram,etc at 90 kmph we stopped after mount station with out any reason.

We reached tambaram on time despite a late start of 15 min. we thought the journey is going to be a memorable one as I was travelling first time on the Pandiyan express, and WDP4 was showing its true colours, After tbm the section controller thought that emu bound for cgl to
get preference first, probably the controller was from cgl i thought. (Both CGl EMU and Pandiyan were waiting at Tambaram, we would have let in first being an express train) He put an emu bound for cgl we crawled behind that emu till paranur after paranur our loco pilot did not notch up on a line cleared for 110 kmph we went slowly and reached cgl late by half an hour and 7 min.

We started from cgl and reached vpm one hour late around 12.30 am.
After vpm we slept. In the morning we were at ambathurai halted indefinitely.Next to us 2689 Chennai Central Nagercoil train pulled in it had chair car also we talked to the lp of that train he said that it had left by 07:45hrsMAS and the halt is due to a rail fracture ahead. After ambathurai (abi) our chief again did not notch.

We reached kqn and halted there because there was a rail fracture at sholavandan. The halt was extending the time was already 8.30, still no sign of movement, ,many passengers alighted and took a bus from Kodaikanal road (KQN) to madurai, I was getting impatient and nagging my father when the train will leave for madurai. the canteen persons started selling the breakfast. Manaparai muruku, chiku and Cofee gave us company at Kodai road.

Track doubling was in progress from Madurai to Dindugal and all catenary pole foundation work is complete up to Kodaikanal road. To add to the agony there were no announcement were made and passengers came with wild guesses. We enquired with the gangmen over there, they told us that the pandiyan is halted as the incoming Vaigai has not crossed and our train will not leave unless vaigai crosses.

So we waited impatiently after 8.45 vaigai blasted kodai road and pandiyan moved slowly, the entire stretch from kodai road to madurai is on high embankement and the rail was running closer to highway, many lorries also over took us, the highway was badly damaged due to the rains and at many locations near the bridge approaches there was heavy earth / embankment settlement.

After kqn our chief did not notch. We reached mdu late by 3hrs by 9:30 hours.

At madurai we went to Alagar koil, gandhi museum and met my father's friend.
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Return Journey was on 25-10-08 by Tirunelveli Chennai egmore 18:10 special train, we entered the station at around 17:30
hours my father asked me to enquire at the enquiry counter which platform special will arrive and is it on time, the enquiry person told the train will come at PF 1 and is on time we entered the PF 1 and found sengottai passenger waiting at PF 1, and Madurai LTT Kurla express was ready to depart from PF 5, announcement was made at station for the sengottai passenger to depart but there were no signs of start.

I went to the touch screen at the PF 1 and checked the train status for 0610 it mentioned that the train was at thirumangalam and running late by 25 minutes, meanwhile the announcement were made that Guruvayur express will arrive on PF 2 and the Nagercoil chennai special will come at Platform 1 around 18:10 hours, we were confused whether our train is the same or something else.

Father brought dinner from Madurai Station nonveg restaurant.
Then WDP4 Guruvayur arrived around 17:50 hours and Kurla express departed, guruvayur was halted for a long time and madurai compartments were removed. Then around 18:15 hours Sengottai passenger left from PF 1 and shortly around 18:30 hours Nagercoil Chennai express arrived, we had tickets as tirunelveli chennai express, there were no charts and coach numbers were written with chalk we entered S13 coach it was a new coach with SMB, we left Madurai by 18:50 hours,
WDM2 Tondiarpet was the power, we were experiencing severe jerks then my father told that the Rake is not having buffers and it is a CBC rake, soon afterwards i had the dinner it was ok, then the TTE came around 20:00 hrs and checked the tickets as it was an e ticket he asked for the Driving licence i got it from my father and showed to the TTE he ticked it and we were relieved that we are infact in the right train.

Soon it became dark and i moved to the upper berth, at dindigul we were searching for the hot milk there was not a single vendor at the platform, a freight was waiting with wdm2 was mued with wdg3a. A wm3d from erode was hauling the some exp.

Night around 01:15hrs we reached villupuram and made to wait for more than 30 minutes for the rockfort to cross as told by my father. Then we reached tambaram around 04:15 hours instead of 03.10 hours just then a beach emu left tambaram and we crossed the mg tracks took the FOB and took beach emu from tambaram which left around 04:25 reached chromepet home by 04:40 hours and took a good sleep

With input from my father this trip report was written by me Nishanth II standard

HOW I LEARNT TO RIDE A BICYCLE

On 2008 August twentythird evening myself and my father went to mend my lunchbags. The bag repairer told us to come and collect the bags after one hour. So,with no way to while away we decided to take a
stroll we stumbled upon a cycleshop.
In the cycleshop there were many cycles. Among them two bicycles were looking attractive. Then my father looked at the bicycles and chose a red one for me and after finalizing the price, the storekeeper fitted the
bicycle with a nice sounding bell and a sturdy stand when it all got finished my bicycle was standing there shiningly. I was tempted to ride it immediately, but I have'nt driven a big bicycle before. With my father holding back the bicycle I rode
the bicycle up to the bag repair shop after collecting the bags,I rode the bicycle all the way to my home through crowded
market streets,adjacent railway lines,highways and to the road to my home. My father lifted my bicycle when we were
crossing the railway lines all the way to the other side.
From the next day onwards I started pestering my father to help me out to ride the bicycle all by myself. While learning to ride the bicycle I fell a few times and bruised my knees, kneecaps, toes and legs after a few days of
training I learnt to ride my new bicycle.
Now I can ride the bicycle all by myself, Everyday I am enjoying the ride in the bicycle for one hour in the evening I mean
one hour means 5pm to 6pm.
Weekly I clean my bicycle every Sunday and dust my bicycle to keep it clean.
I got two new friends their names are Abishek narayanan he is studying in 4th standard and the another boy is Shyam he is
studying in 3rd standard I got them two as friends because with the help of my new bicycle as they are my cycling
companions.
Thanks to my new bicycle.

My First blog

Nagaraj&Santhi"s fight!

One night before going to sleep Nagaraj&Santhi started fighting while they were fighting I went to sleep after that the quarrel 
came to a end at 1'o'clock  while I was asleep that time they went to sleep lucky for Nagaraj the next day was a holiday for Santhi it was work as usual for Nagaraj was sleeping because he didn't sleep
the previous night just then I waked him up but he didn't get up then I asked my grandmother to wake him up then he got up then I and my father finished the work that was not finished.