Trip Report -- Chennai(MS)-Chengalpattu-Arakkonam-Chennai(MAS) trip - Part 1

Note: This trip report is of meaning and significance only to a railfan of Indian Railways and will not prove interesting to anyone not deeply into railfanning

Members present: Aravind S, Ashwanth R, Harish K(myself) and Naveen.

Photo courtesy: Aravind S

The day started well,with myself and Aravind meeting at his residence.We went to Saidapet station,to find Ashwanth waiting for us with the tickets for the upward journey.Since it was a Sunday, we had to wait for a few minutes to board an EMU.After getting into the train,it was just a couple of minutes before we reached Guindy.This is the place where we planned to take the Passenger train towards Chengalpattu.

As we were waiting for our train,we spotted Nellai Express behind 22255.



As we were discussing about it,we heard a faint horn in the opposite direction.It looked like a WAM-4 lurking from the Guindy curve.We thought that it was the 103(Chennai Egmore-Pondicherry passenger),so we were quite surprised since we did not expect the 103 to come so soon.But just as the loco got closer,we noticed that it was not a train but two locos,WAG-5 23129 from TKD and WAG-5 from ASN.

Though we were surprised,Aravind shrewdly managed to capture those two locos in his camera.


As we were discussing about the presence of these locos in this region,our 103 came,well on time.The loco was 22269 from ED(Erode).We chose the second coach from the loco so that our railfanning could be enjoyed to the fullest.After a couple of minutes,our train left guindy station.Since it was a small load for a powerful locomotive like a WAP-4,the pickup was excellent.We were having a nice time at the door,watching EMUs go past us and also TBM bound EMUs being overtaken by the 103.The run was excellent and we met Pearl City Express with the GOC loco 15519 near Meenambakkam.After that the train slowed down before Chromepet and thereafter it was a pretty slow run towards Tambaram.We stopped there for quite sometime.

Tambaram is the only place where one could see Metre Gauge(MG) train services near Chennai.So the comparatively small sized MG coaches and locomotives were a nice sight to look at.Though the station is dominated by BG(Broad Gauge) traffic,MG's charm is very much felt over here.We spotted YDM-4 6310.

We waited for quite sometime for the clear signal for our train.After a few minutes,the train left the busy station towards the suburbs of Chennai.The train picked up good speed.

We spotted the Anantpuri Express behind 22244 at Maraimalai Nagar which was a stop for 103.


There are a number of stations between Tambaram and Chengalpattu.Among these,the 103 stops at important ones.In this order,we stopped at Singaperumal Koil.Here,we spotted MG passenger train with YDM-4 6150.

The train did a good run,with the WAP-4 stopping and picking speed efficiently.We stopped at Paranur for a minute.Just as we were about start,the Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti crossed us at moderate speed behind WAP-4 22556.I tried to capture a video in vain.Aravind captured a photo.


In s few minutes,we reached the famous curve around the Kolavai Lake just before Chengalpattu station and entered the station with a slow pace at platform 6.Chengalpattu has been a very major junction for many years.As one enters the station,one could spot many old and deserted buildings of the bygone Colonial era.These buildings were once used to house steam locos.Our plan was to meet Naveen from Pondicherry at Chengalpattu and catch the Chengalpattu-Arakkonam Passenger to Arakkonam.

Naveen had come from Pondicherry and stayed at Villupuram station that night.He had then come to Chengalpattu before us and was waiting to join us.We alighted from 103 and immediately went to the platform where Arakkonam bound passenger was waiting.We had 30 minutes time for departure.Myself,Aravind and Ashwanth had a chat with Naveen and spent some time watching some activities at the busy Chengalpattu station.Since it was a Sunday,the platforms were not very crowded.

The loco for the Passenger was WDM-7 11008 from TNP shed.The loco sported a cream green livery and contained the words "Running in Bio-Diesel".We have already had some ghastly experiences about the performance of a WDM_7 on our previous trip to Pondicherry.So our expcectations were not high.We boarded a coach quite close to the loco and the train started moving at snail's pace out of platform 4 of the station.The line from CGL to AJJ begins with gauntleted tracks,and as we were going through it,we spotted the Koodal Express behind WDM-2 16861 from GOC.

The loco emitted copious amounts of smoke during pick-up and was doing an average run.This route has only a single line and the train being a Passenger,has to stop at all stations en route.This route is an interesting one.There are no big cities on the way,no huge junctions and no crowd too.These are replaced by green fields,picturesque villages and stations like those that you see in movies.One of the stations,Palur,which was featured in National Geographic,is a favorite spot for movie makers.The passengers mainly comprise of people transporting agricultural goods to towns.The only big station on the way is Kancheepuram.

The line was built long back and one could see old,deserted station buildings,ticket counters and remnants of old MG lines.Things have changed over time.Not much of the reminders of the previous era have been preserved.Bridges on the way have been extended to provide an additional line.Sleepers could also be seen.


One of the important stations on the way is Walajabad.Here again,the Passenger made a halt for a couple of minutes.Here we met another Passenger(195) waiting for our arrival.Since this is a single line,the 195 was made to wait in the loop line for our train to cross.The train was behind WDM-7 11012.


An interesting piece of drama unfolded after leaving Walajabad.I have mentioned earlier about the slow pick up and performance of the WDM-7.This point became very much evident now.The railway line runs parallel to the road for many kilometres.Two men were riding a bike parallel to us in the same direction.They easily overtook the whole train and they made comments about the speed of our loco by showing gestures.

Myself and Ashwanth noticed this,and were anxious to know what was going to happen.Suddenly,one of the slippers of those men fell down.At the same point of time,the WDM-7 picked up speed and took its revenge.It was very similar to the "Hare and Turtle" story.

After that incident,the ride till Arakkonam was quite uneventful.After reaching the station,we saw another WDM-7.


With this,our journey in the passenger came to an end.This marks the end of part one of the blog.The return to Chennai Central has a lot of factual details and story telling.So,that will be a separate post.

I hope you would have enjoyed reading.Please feel free to comment.Please leave your name if you comment in the anonymous account.