Rameswaram Trip
Date of Journey: 19th Sept 2014
From: CGL... To: RMM
Loco: AJJ WAP1 till TPJ, from there GOC WDM2 #offlink both electric and diesel.
Coach: S7
Built:...
more... 1993
Cleaniness and Mainatance: 5/5 It never looked like old coach. It was clean and in good condition. May be had POH recently.
Catering: Not good. The curry we got was more watery.
Sethu express arrived CGL PF6 around 10 min late. It was in good speed after leaving CGL. Had few crossing in between. The food was delivered after VM. Felt quantity was less and curry was too water. We odered Porata and veg curry. It was 3 small Porata. But no regreat. The catering staff took only Rs 30 from us, instead of rs 40 printed in the parcel.
It reached TPJ with delay of 30min and with in 5 min, MS-Kanyakumari arrived in adjacent PF with SWR rake. After loco change to diesel for Sethu, and CAPE express had a parallel run. Both were given starter together. Eventhough Sethu lagged in first few minutes, WDM2 GOC showed its power taking us ahead, before the both went in different direction.
At TPJ, we had a tea, don't know which vendor it was. But it was one of the best tea, i had ever had, from Railway station. All of us liked tea. Everything was in right ratio..
It was around 4:15, i got up because of noise. Entire compartment has woken up. The train was in full light. People were shouting, get up get up, Its Pambab Bridge. I dint waste any time, jumbed from upper berth. But i was late. Door side was full, windows were cover. Finally i had view through the only window which was left for me. Since it was night, couldn't feel the real feeling of bridge. Just as the train passed bridge, everyone was back into berths. I didn't had the mood to go back, went to door side, to see the clear sky above us, stars twinking and train is in full swing to final stop.
At 4.30, we were at RMM. It was a different feeling. Stepping at RMM, first thing that came to my mind was Jai Hanumaan serials of Doordarshan. How vanars constructed the bridge.
Eventhough it was pure sight seeing trip. it ended up in rail fanning and little of pilgramage. But i would say that RMM is must visit place for all indians. Especially Dhanuskodi and Pamaban Bridge(for RFs).
Had a great RF at pamban bridge that day. Once again, as usual it was top view, only diff was not from terrace. But from top of raod bridge.
I was planning to take Boat mail express and reached 50min ahead of schedule, but still i was late. Boat mail passed 1hr early through the bridge. But thankfully, IR didnt disappoint me. Was able to capture, 1hr early TPJ-RMM passenger and 15min late RMM-MDU passenger. Both with GOC WDM2. TPJ-RMM LP was waving hand to people in road bridge who were clicking pics/taking videos..
