The WAG5A slowly chugged in with 20 mins delay , coming to a halt on PF-1. B1 and B2 merged with rake while B3 was completely out of place. A pretty clean PoH and refurbished 2008 coach . Occupied our LB, LB, MB in 2nd bay . Many people had already taken up their berths and we settled comfortably.

The coach was filled with RAC in SLB, indicating the patronage for the special, that's not going to drop off anyone for office hours next day. The crowd in this section is full...
more...

requiring a dedicated daily for this section.

We slowly pulled out of Rajamundhry , moving out of the town past the Gowthami ghat and we awaited for the final curve for one more ride over the Godavari , which also marks the end of our trip. The darkness had completely set in , but the ICF rake moving over the bridge is not a opportunity to miss hearing. The wheels thundered as the girders swayed about and a long sojourn over the waters bathing in the light of the full moon, we were off Rajamundhry , as I took a deep breath remiscising the memories of the previous week . We soon pulled into Nidadavolu junction


It was pretty dark to make out anything , though the route taken by the train would have been a splendour to watch in day time. Quickly completed our dinner of Kara dosai and chappaati we had got , as we passed through the towns of Tanuku, Bhimavaram, taking in more passengers as we kept moving . We were just trailing the Seshadri and we hoped that we would just reach behind him

Kept watching with wIMT the way we were moving. We were constantly maintaining 75-80kmph and with distance reducing and slack reducing , we expected a before time arrival at Vijayawada


Time ticked close to 930PM as a line joined us from our left , coming parallelly, indicating we were approaching a junction. It was line from Machilipatnam making the way inside and we pulled into PF-2 of Gudivada junction , 10 mins ahead of schedule. PF-1 had Seshadri waiting, after arriving ahead of schedule , and gave a start just as we were entering , giving a small parallel run. Laid down the berth to rest

It was a pretty long rest . Woke up once during night , to see us held up long , and a train screaming past us taking the lead . It was around 430AM so slept back

Woke up, to check WIMT that we were crossing Srikalahasthi as time ticked past 620AM. Delay was pretty less and it looked like we could make up to Bangalore with pretty less delay. Our predecessor Seshadri was way ahead by this time

We stopped at RU outer as time ticked to 645AM. The recent rains has made the out field pretty wet , and morning drizzle made a crisp weather around . The egrets and drongos went around morning breakfast , but the entrance to the junction was still on hold

What seemed like a eternity , and a ICF Krishna express bound to Adilabad slowly pulling past us, we got the starter as time ticked to 715AM . We slowly cleared the joints to enter the Renigunta station , pulling past a arriving Vande Bharat from Chennai to Vijayawada on PF-2 across the island platform . The trainnhad few passengers deboarding , and even fewer passengers boarding as it continues its way to Vijayawada

Announcement went on for the slightly delayed Chittoor bound Venkatadri leaving towards Tirupati, followed by Vande Bharat and my eyes desperately searched for morning coffee. Train was already delayed and we were 10 mins into the halt and I didn't have courage to deboard and get 2 cups of coffee lest signal starts and I have to drop them midway . Plus there was only a breakfast stall close by and he wasn't offering coffee

Time ticked to 730-735 and we showed no signs of leaving and no sign of coffee. Spotted a coffee seller at B4 enterance and gave a call to my Dad to come over to B4 , as I ran across PF to the next entrance and ordered the 3 cups . Dad too joined and we got back coffee to the coach to my mom


The late coffee was despatched but we still hadn't been . The delay at RU outer was less than 30 mins but now we had extended delay , almost to more than an hour . At 755 AM , we finally got the proceed , to take the line towards MAS .

We had exited same time as like Brindavan from Chennai and we had a race to start , who will reach AJJ byepass first . Even if we are just behind Brindavan, things would work out, with a one hour delay to KJM

Our WAG-5 wasn't at all ready for any competition . Slow laggard pace of progress for a delayed train, we weren't crossing any high marked above 70kmph . The Chennai bound Garudadri express was ahead of us and we caught up with him, slowly trailing him all the way . The Tirupati bound Sapthagiri, Mumbai bound mail and the Howrah bound superfast from Mysore made their ways towards Renigunta and we crossed them at very very slow pace, that by the time we reached AJJ outer to take the byepass line, Brindavan was way out of competition clsoing down to Mahendravadi

Thankfully we didn't wait to cross the main line as starter was already set to green and points set for us to join the mainline and we set off towards the distance covering the final destination

The speed didn't pick up at all and was looking at the opposite to check the morning Chennai arrivals . The ICF rake caught the attention as Nagercoil Chennai weekly 12690 was the earliest to cross us on the main line . The 12028 bound to Chennai follows us soon and I was hoping to cross Lalbagh before we arrive at KPD , as generally Brindavan crosses him at Katpadi

Near Sevur , a WAP4 showed its presence , and I Wondered whether it was Lalbagh, before a series of ICF hauled sleeper coaches passed by . The late running 12687 bound to Chandigarh from Madurai , meaning Lalbagh was held back by some time . We slowed down, we hadn't been at a really good speed, taking almost an hour from AJJN to KPD 60 kms distance , as time ticked to 955AM, we pulled into PF-1 of Katpadi junction .

WAP7 caught the attention standing on PF-2 , but then again it was a series of sleeper coaches of ICF rake . Craned to see the boards , a Ecor , running Kollam to Srikakulam road , Sabarimala special train that has gained preference over the Lalbagh

We got our breakfast of Upma Vada here and gulped them down, as we pulled out of Katpadi at 10AM . WAP7 finally pulled into PF-3 as we were exiting , with the 12608 bound to Lalbagh , running late , following the others who took preference . The Srikakulam road special was still waiting , may be annovertake on cards. Not sure we are out

Brindavan was way past Gudiyattam by this time , and we just lugged along , the speed now seemed better but still not upto the mark . Crossed the Tirupati bound intercity , Chennai bound intercity from Coimbatore and day express from Mysore. A LHB rake crossed out of nowhere , the SMVT Danapur weekly express, running close to 8+ hours late . Slowly pulled in to arrive onto PF-1 of Jolarpettai junction next to waiting freight on the sidings

Was waiting for bhajji from the Jolarpettai base but only Vada was found. Got a plate of Vada and got back into the train , along with a cup of tea . It was a long wait at Jolarpettai for over 10 mins , before getting clearance to leave at 1115AM

We crossed the Danapur bound Sanghamitra express from SMVT, crossing through the Eastern ghats , to pull into Kuppam , one of our last halt in Andhrapradesh, for the train that had started previous evening at 4PM from Vizag in Andhra Pradesh. The Howrah bound Express , Duronto and Seshadri followed the other locals out of Bangalore , but not much spotting except for the hope to make up but of time

Brindavan had already made its way into the suburbs of Bangalore and we were way behind it at almost 40 kms away. We were miles away from trailing it, not even making it close. The Seshadri whom we had trailed previous evening and were on par at Gudivada was way out of the game The dry winter Sun of Bangalore made its presence felt into the AC coaches , the morning drizzles of Tamilnadu way behind now after we crossed the ghats .

After a slow but continuous runs through Malur , Devangonthi and Whitefield, slowly pulled into PF-4 of KJM, where we finally deboarded , along with the huge rush of the train, almost with 2 hrs delay at 2PM . Walked slowly out of the station , as announcement went for the Pataliputra bound weekly from SMVT to arrive onto PF-3, a huge crowd waiting for the 3rd train to the Bihar capital we have spotted in the past 3 hours !!!