Around Madras Egmore

Dated May 2004

This is to continue from our trip out of MSB to MS (Egmore). As we reached MS, we were told it was time for Vaigai express to arrive. Hoping to catch some diesel action (WDP2/WDM2), we hung around. At 1435, my favourite loco, the mighty WAP4 (ED 22380) came with the puny load (15 coaches) of Vaigai. Well, for me the WAP4 never fails to impress! The composition for that day was (from what I recall) 2 CC, 2GSL, 3 GS, 7 2S, 1 PS. The pantry was combined with a seating coach, i.e. one half of the coach is the Pantry, and the other half is sitting!! I did not know such a coach even existed. Would be kind of hot and stuffy, knowing our regular pantry cars! One more thing: C2 was actually a "Second A.C. Chair Car". What is that? TAAG just mentions the train has CC, II, P. What is the layout of the coach, and any other place where such a service is available?

For those who do not know, the incoming Vaigai from MDU returns as Pallavan to TPJ. We expected the WAP4 to reverse and attach itself to this. But (another surprise, at least to us), an AJJ WAM4-6PE (AB only), Raj liveried, no. 20573 attached itself to the (now) Pallavan rake.

Then we went over to the MS diesel trip shed to catch some diesels. We saw 5 diesels in all, and all were dead. Someone told us that usually diesels are not switched off and remain idle because they take a lot of fuel on starting. It was anyway a waste of resources, having so many locos sitting idle from morning to night. We saw a GOC WDM2 18375, GOC WDM3A 18555R (rebuilt from WDM2???). Are all WDM2Cs called WDM3A now? I quote the IRFCA FAQ on diesels, "Following the new mainline diesel classification scheme, new WDM-2C's converted or overhauled by DCW, Patiala, are being labelled WDM-3A (new)." Looked like only DCW called them WDM3A. Other GOC locos maintained their old classification schemes (WDM2C and WDP2). 18555 was rebuilt at DCW (the name plate said DCW, and gave the no. and the class as WDM3A).

To continue, we then saw the WDP2s. Beautiful beasts they are, if I can call a beast "beautiful" :-). They really look large and powerful, compared to the old WDM2s (due to twin cabs??). But the colour was not impressive. I like the original colour with "diesel power" written in the sides like LDH still does. Two (GOC WDP2 15515 and 15535) had the standard GOC livery (as did the DM2 and 3A). The other one (15502) sported the Rajdhani livery. This loco was built by DLW in 11/98 (other two being 15515 5/00 and 15535 11/00). Are these locos being built now? How many have been turned out of DLW till date? I guess only GOC and TKD have these locos.

Well, to continue, we went to Park Town by the new ICF EMU (there’s a photo of it somewhere on this site). It is really smooth (we think it has air suspension-very little noise). From Park, we entered the source of 24hr. action, i.e., Madras Central (MAS).

For further reports, please refer the menu on to the left side of the page. This report continues at Hanging out at Madras Central. Thanks for a patient reading!