Indian Railways; as a part of gauge unification programme is on a drive to convert all the Meter Gauge Lines to Broad Gauge. While this move may make sense to some; it is actually a cardinal sin for Train Lovers like me; especially all of those who just love the way the meter gauge trains sway and dance down the tracks.
My earliest tryst with a meter gauge train happened when I was very young and this experience served to be the start of a romance that has lasted to this day; to a point where colleagues and friends find it hard to believe that a middle aged bozo like me can find the metal serpents fascinating.
This is an account of my last journey on a meter gauge train; which actually happened a few years ago. This journey can no longer be repeated as the Railways have shut down the line for gauge conversion.
This was a trip to my birth place; Cheranmahadevi, down deep south in Nellai (Tirunelveli to the old timers) district. We boarded the 6723
Chennai - Tiruvananthapuram Ananthapuri Express at Chennai Egmore and we were off. Led by Ernakulam WDM 2 16877 we raced towards Tirunelveli Town.
The scenery enroute was excellent especially the sunrise which was magical. Think the pictures will tell their own story much better.
We reached the next morning at 06:55 and then headed towards Cheranmahadevi by road. Spent the day at my place of birth (infact the house where I was born) and we were scheduled to travel to a place called Tenkasi. After some begging, cajoling and potent arguments it was decided that we will travel by rail.This my friends was heaven. Here at last was an opportunity to travel by meter gauge.
So we reached the quaint little Cheranmahadevi Railway Station. My
previous memories of this journey are travelling by Bullock Cart to the station, rest assured that I would get bumped on the head atleast twice on the journey :). The station appears the same as it did decades ago; almost like it is a timeless monument.
The advent of broad-gauge though may change all that. The old world charm, the serenity and the peace would give way to business like bustle and emotionless efficiency. We bought tickets for Tenkasi (Computerization had arrived, so there were no card tickets!!) After a short wait; the Tirunelveli - Kollam - Shencotta passenger pulled up behind the diminutive YDM4, 6314 from the Golden Rock Shed. For a train line on its last legs, the train itself was well kept and the coaches extremely clean.
We sat down on the wooden benches and after being accustomed to the foam and cushion, the benches actually seemed more more comfortable. (Ofcourse it could always be that I was dreaming 'cause it was potentially my last meter gauge train journey). The journey to Tenkasi is approximately two hours and the train made it with brisk efficiency, ofcourse with the trademark sways and sounds.
I was almost hoping that the journey would not end, but then the sight of the meter gauge and broad gauge lines converging heralded the arrival of Tenkasi Junction and it was time for us to get off.
It was also perhaps symbolic that the sun was setting signifying the end of a glorious era of meter gauge lines. Soon the trademark metal sleepers, the girder bridges and YDM 4s would make way for the WDMs, possibly WDPs and WAP who knows!! But till then, this short journey remains fresh in my memory over all those journeys undertaken on the broad gauge expresses over the years. But for a rail fan in the end all that
matters is the Train Journey itself. All other things are incidental. Sometimes
its not even the journey but the sheer pleasure of the metal monsters whizzing past as we Rail fans stand by the tracks; cameras in hand and a trainload of people wondering who these fools are standing in the middle of nowhere. Trust me; it takes a railfan to understand that feeling.
Thanks for reading.
