Trip Report :
Sometimes, even in Big cities, some routes are left unexplored. The Vyasarpadi-Chennai Beach section happens to be one among them. Having no work on the Chenai Beach side, this line has always been left to my imagination.
After...
more... visiting my relatives in Ambattur , needed to return back to Royapettah. My aunt, before leaving, warned me against taking back a bus from Ambattur , being a Saturday evening (23.12.2017) and heavy rush that might be on the roads. Hence, I planned my return journey by train- Either taking a EMU from ABU to MMCC and catching a bus, or taking a EMU to MSB and taking VLCY EMU to Munagakanniamman Temple and walking back home from there
So around 1830 I left my cousin house with my cousin dropping me to the ABU. Took me to the provate counter near the OT side level crossing rather than the main station builidng to avoid walking back and forth. Hardly anyone at the counter. I asked the lady the timing of the next train to MSB.. 1902 sir she replied.. The time was 1848.. Well not bad waiting for hardly 14 mins.. Gave her Rs.10/- and asked for ticket to Tirumayilai.. Sir direct Velachery Rs.11/- please she said.. Gave her Re.1 and proceeded to the platform.
Announcement went for a AJJ fast arriving on PF-1. MAS bound Pf was crowded.. looked like no train ever went in last 20-25 mins this side. Walked into the PF just as the AJJ fast entered into Pf-1.. Slowly found a place to stand.. If any crowd was there here, it would be for the MMCC local.. Beach local hardly sees takers.. Looked at the TT pasted.. 43768 TRL-MSB-VLCY EMU was mentioned against 1858 arrival.. So that was goign to be my train.. A AJJ MMCC local was to come at 1850.. So crowd for that I concluded
ABU station looked like a station on outskirts.. Though PF-1 was well lit, there was hardly any light on PF-2. Whatever light was present was from the moonlight and from the Pf-1 but none of the lights on Pf-2. Positioned myself to be safe of any luggage obstacle
Announcement went simulatenously for an incoming TRT EMU followed by TRL-VLCY EMU.. Awaited.. TRT EMU entered soon and I saw light proceeding from AVD side.. Waited for the light.. Light moved on slowly and gradually picked up speed changing direction- It was a train on the fast line.. Turned my direction to face the train , looking for any other approaching light.. A loud horn and a rapid acceleration , RPM WAP7 hauled 12163 went past us.. So we got to follow him all the way till Park Town post Vyasarpadi
2 mins later, the EMU arrived.. Was fairly crowded , but 60% of the train deboarded at ABU. The train took hardly any load of the PF with barley 10% of waiting crowd boarding while others murmured under breath for lack of MMCC local.. We went past
It was a long time I traveleld in EMU and was seriously enjoying the ride.The coach i boarded seemed to be next to the motor coach and the sound was at its peak Stop after stop, the people deboarding were higher compared to boarding, majorly office goers.. At Villivakkam, the complete 3 seater was all for me..The evening sea breeze was visiblly felt as more EMU';s went past on opposite, along with a MMCC fast EMU on the fast line overtaking us at Perambur Loco Works.. After a quick 20 mins ride, we were at Vyasarpadi awaiting clearance. there were hardly about 7-8 passengers in coach now
Clearance at Vyasarpadi took its time to about 5 mins and we proceeded at the walking speed. Points changed, we crossed over both the fast lines and moved out of the Chennai main line into the darkness beneath a Rail over Bridge.. Few minutes later, lights made presence and so were the smoking towers of the Basin Bridge plant at the distance.. The GT line was crossed over a Rail over rail bridge and we came to a abrupt halt next to a speed limit board saying 20 on opposite.. Took about 5 mins to get clearance and we proceeded to halt straight at Washermenpet station.. A short halt and a very slow run later (The track doesnt seem to support high speeds ), we moved over the 4 line section, the same line seen in the movie "Sudandhiram", the remake of Hindi movie "Ghulam" where a race is held under a bridge over the tracks to compete with a train. Moving slowly, and crossing the Arched RoB, we pulled into Royapuram with a TVC based rake welcoming us at the corner track..The red building of Royapuram showed its majesty saying "You may ignore me as a terminal, but I am the oldest of South". A quick departure and a slow run later, the working cranes presence was seen at the distant, busily doing their evening work at the harbour. The LHB rake of Cheran and 12292 were stabled in the lines and a sleeping AJJ WAG5 welcomed us as we proceeded into MSB platform at 1950 taking 25 mins for Vysarpadi MSB section
Our train seemed to have gone off to sleep while from adjacent Pf, the TRL bound EMU gave the horn and left.. A CGL bound EMU too left from other corner. 5 minutes later, another EMU from SPE came to halt on neighbouring platform with the board showing VLCY. ED wAG7 twins came on opposite with the container rake entering, and we got clearance to proceed at 2000. The coach now was again full to seating capacity . Had a small race with the TBM bound EMU leaving parallely, givint the same till MPKT, where we halted, while it proceeded to halt at MPK few metres ahead. Good crowd boarded at this station, majorly with luggage, coming from MAS (Or did 12163 stop at MS home and people got down at MPKT)
After MPKT, it was our time to shift over to the elevated track, and the curve 1 gave a good cool breeze , as we procceded behing the Pallavan House and Mount Road to enter into Chintadripet. The departure from Chintadripet was a memorable moment, as the train, now moving towards the shoreline, at an increased elevation, sent across the beautiful sea breeze of the evening. Such a sotthing breeze that eyes just droop down to its pleasantness. The coastline and the road visible at the distance, the cool breeze, the salty smell it carried,a thing to be etched down in memory as we near Chepauk.. Moving along the coastline to Tiruvallikeni, we move back in, to a eye sore view of the low income settlements along , as we reach the Light house station. The same scene continued, and sighting of MTC route 32 indicated the arrival of Mundakannigai Amman Temple. Got down there as watch showed 2025, yet another 25 mins ride, and walked back home, as the train, with barely any crowd, proceeded to the destination
The station hardly had 10 people ghettinf down the train and the structure gave a deserted spooky look. Walked down fast onto the road below, towards a small street, to join the Royappetah High Road Flyover at Valluvar Silai and walk back comfortably home later
please wait...Translate to Hindikaafi baar Big cities mein kuchh routes bache rehte hai jo aaj tak ehl-e-dil se nahi dekhe gaye hai. Vyasarpadi-Chennai Beach section unmein se ek hai. Chenai Beach taraf koi kaam nahi hone ke kaaran, ye line humesha meri kalpanaon par chhaayi rahti hai.
Meri rishtedaaron se mile jaane ke baad, main Royapettah lautne ke liye taiyar tha. Mere aunt ne mujhe Ambattur se bus se lautne se mana kaardiya tha, kyunki woh Saturday ke shaam ko (23.12.2017) roads par heavy rush hone ka dar tha. Isi liye, maine train se lautne ka plan banaaya - Ya to ABU se MMCC EMU se lautne ke baad bus pakadna, ya MSB EMU se lautne ke baad Munagakanniamman Mandir ke paas ke ghar pe jana
Isi liye, karib 1830 baje maine apne cousin ke saath unke ghar se chal padha aur woh mujhe ABU station drop karke chale gaye. Wahaan maine OT side level crossing ke paas ke private counter pe main station building ki bajaae jaa kar pucha. Kaafi kam log the counter par. Maine ek ma'am se MSB jaane waali agle train ki timing puuchi.. 1902, sir...