Part - 4 : cruising through the suburbs of chennai.
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For those who have not read
Part - 1 : /blog/post/5963414
Part - 2 : /blog/post/5963946
Part...
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- 3 : /blog/post/5965012
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Gave a customary jerk, indicating departure, but this time at less than 5 minutes of its arrival at Villupuram, which was quite surprising since trains which comes from mayiladuthurai side takes a longer halt at Villupuram. Steadily crossed the loops to join the main line as the line towards thiruvannamalai diverge towards the left by making a curve. Now that we have entered the chennai division, double line with a higher MPS compared to the previous single line route, momentarily gains the speed. Within few minutes that, a WAP 7 with Shriram ads was towing an LHB rake full of Shriram ads. Yes, it is one of the prestigious train of the delta Tamilnadu, the Cholan superfast express, that went past us towards Villupuram from state capital in a good speed. As we touch maximum permissible speed at mundilyampakkam, we maintain in the same speed, cross puduvai bound memu from tirupati at mailam. We considerably slow down as we approach thindivanam and skipped the same at a decent pace, accelerating further after this.
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Was able to witness the gradual change in landscape from plain farmlands to small hammocks among the farmlands indicates a touch of eastern ghats, and we crossing them at a maximum speed. The weather was also pretty soothing. Felt a momentary deceleration as we approach melmaruvathur, cruised through the same at a good pace. Remember passing through melmaruvathur at maximum speed once upon a time, now that I believe a speed restriction has been implied for the same. "Dhadak dhadak" after passing through the limits of melmaruvathur, momentarily attained the maximum permissible speed. Immediately after attaining, some random WAP 4 was towing the guruvayur bound express from chennai, crossed us at a maximum permissible speed, maintaing the relative velocity of 220 kmph between both of us. The rattling of winds, ICF and LHB track sounds, created quite a scene for this crossing.
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As we traverse through the mixed landscapes and that the track, negotiating with significant amount of curves and some were big as well and our train negotiating it was a visual treat to eyes. It was not even 11 am at that particular time, when random vendors from the pantry car with their box started appearing and in a melodical voice, started singing - "veg biryani, ande biryani", khanavli veg khana". Was wondering that within afternoon that they started selling lunch.
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Again from the set of small hammocks among the farmlands, the landscape changed to city - like, indicating that any time now we could arrive at chengalpattu and slowing down gradually, confirmed it. We did not loop but still we decelerating a lot was quite surprising as train used to skip chengalpattu at 50 - 60 kmph, and our train now is passing through at only 15 kmph. Was able to see two rakes of Kacheguda - chengalpattu - kakinada port RSA, one attached with tughlakabad diesel WAP 4 at platform 8, and one with vijayawada wap 4 at platform 3, the rake of nellai express sleeping with some WAP 7 in helm. Reckoning that it must come to a halt anytime now, but for my surprise it kept passing through with the same speed till kolavai lake. So, it must be a matter of speed restriction. As of now we covered a distance of 103 kms in just 1hr 8mts, at an average of 91 kmph, ending up 14 mts early from 14 mts late.
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The sky reflects at a huge kolavai lake, and witnessing knolls surrounding the same, and some boats traversing through it, a hint of sunlight showing up at a winter afternoon, and we start to accelerate once a chengalpattu bound emu in opposite direction slowed down and blocked this beautiful view. Now that we entered the unofficial limits of national capital, though then and there one can see small hammocks, but city landscapes take an upper hand henceforth. But anyways, traversing at maximum speed among the busy suburbs of a city also gives a wonderful visual treat, and i personally like this as well. As we cruise the center most line in the triple line section from chengalpattu to Tambaram at a maximum speed, I was not able to see the left side, having my focus to just right side as of now. One of the longest distance travelling humsafar, the only train that connects region of interior Punjab and Rajasthan to Capital and interior of tamilnadu down south, and again that it was hauled by some random WAG 9 from kazipet shed till Tiruchirapalli, crossed us at sundaraperumal Kovil at a decent speed.
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After crossing urappakam, my eyes started searching for the new bus stand constructed for chennai, which is not at chennai city limits at the first place and 40 kms from the city center. The construction was very beautiful and yes, could get a glimpse of it. As road came close to us, many buses occupying the nearby road, it was evident that now we are cruising through perungalathur and indicating that anytime now that we would cross Tambaram. Decelerating significantly to 50 kmph, was skipping Tambaram through platform - 5, and one could see the WAP - 7 adorned with tamilnadu tourism ads, numbered 39123 was getting coupled with charminar express, that is to depart towards hyderabad nampally after 5 hours, and an NMG rake sleeping adjacent to us at the left. Momentarily we gained speed as we pass through tambaram, and coaches with weird combination (goods caboose with LHB Coaches) were shunted to Tambaram siding.
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Started cruising at a mad speed and attained maximum speed of the section in no time. Was able to see some NWR based full ICF rake taking a deep sleep at pallavaram, and as we cross chennai airport, a flight was taking off parallel to us and a metro is departing towards alandur, was a visual treat for us travel fans to see it. And if one gets to see the other side, we would be traversing close to a couple of knoll, a visual treat to nature lovers. In a matter of few minutes, could feel a gradual deceleration to 30 kmph, and on the left side, there was a big metro station, indicating that we arrived at parangimalai. EMUs kept crossing us then and there once we departed Tambaram. For some distance till saidai that we maintained this speed, and then momentarily accelerated and skipped mambalam in maximum speed, untill we came to a brief halt on 1229 hours at chetpet. As of now, we have travelled 157 kms at just 1h 55 mins from Villupuram at an average speed of 82 kmph.
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Halted here for one sixth of an hour, for platform clearence and we start moving towards my destination, chennai egmore, with a sound identical to that of left - right - left in March past - "thud, thud, thud", and slowly arriving at platform 6. Couple of WAP 4 went past us towards platform 2 side, and sapthagiri liveried WAP 4 was taking a deep sleep with the rake of ananthapuri express, the master blaster Vaigai express was getting prepared to sprint from platform 4 with 39125 wap 7, and a kazipeth based WAG 9, in helm of kanniyakumari bound special from chennai egmore that is being operated by the rake of thirukkural express.
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For the third time this day that I am getting to see a kazipet bound wag 9, hauling a passenger train. We arrive early in Chennai Egmore by 6 minutes, at 1244 hrs, duly completing the journey of 351 kms at 5 hrs 58 mts, at an average speed of 59 kmph. Very much impressive run overall twas, given the troll at the initial 70 kms.
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Chose this train for two reasons. One, that it is having 3AC and is a direct intercity option with a better timings. Secondly, it has very less halts in the mainline (single line section), against the other trains having so many halts, halting for 20 kms once on an average, badly wanting to enjoy a high speed run. Yes, did not get disappointed in both these regards.
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Thanks for reading this Patiently. Hope this entire trip review was good. Kindly let me know if there is scope for improvement.