Madurai Junction

Trip Report: Madurai Junction Observations
Date: May 5,6 2004.

Madurai Junction (MDU) is one of the most important junctions in this area, being a seperate division of SR. At this junction, 4 lines converge, from Chennai, Bodinayakkanur, Nagercoil, and Rameswaram. Of these, two are BG (Nagercoil and Chennai) and 3 MG (RMM, Bodi and Dindigul(DG)-an MG line runs parallel to the MS bound BG till here). Such a station is bound to have quite a lot of action (though nowhere to the scale of say MAS, ET or BZA), all diesels. One thing I was looking forward to was the diesel action. In Chennai, one does not get to see diesels much, as it is electric territory. At least in places like SBC or ERS, one can see both types of locos on an equal scale. But in my city this is not the case....hence electrics are my favourite anyday. Of course, a train is a train, be it electric, diesel, BG or MG. So I was looking forward to catching some action at MDU.

Firstly, I had a stroke of luck. My hotel was located bang opposite the station. So I could pop in any time I pleased. This is what I did on Wednesday. It was around 1800 and I went in. The fist thing I saw was the announcement board announcing the arrival of 2641 Thirukkural Express. Well, this was a train I had not seen till now, so I had no idea of its rake composition or power. So I settled down to wait. Meanwhile I saw a long VB rake in one of the non-platform lines. I thought it must be one of those crawlers to some insignificant place. So I did not bother much about it. Meanwhile, it was sharp 1820, and I heard the horn of 2641. It was bang on time (till MDU :))). Soon, it came on pf 1 with 18485 ED WDM2. It was a 17 coach rake (2 SLR, 8 SL, 1 PC, 1 2A, 1 3A, and 4 II). I noticed that it was a TVC division train. Soon this train left and there were not many other trains around for at least 3 more hours. So I decided to call it a day and return the next day.

In the meantime, I saw a shunter WDS6 36013. This loco belonged to ED. There was some question about the home sheds for shunters in the south in the IRFCA discussion board, and the answer given then was TNP (Tondiarpet) and SBC (Bangalore City). Well, ED too seems to be one such shed.

The next afternoon, I returned back to MDU (where else ;))). This time I saw that the 6127 MS-Guruvayur Koodal Express was scheduled to arrive shortly. I wanted to get some pics of this as I knew its power would be a GOC WDP2. So I positioned myself on a road-over-bridge just outside the station, lying in wait for this beast. In the bargain, I got a lot of bemused looks from passer-by, as I was standing on this bridge under the hot sun with a camera in hand :))). Quite a scene I suppose!!! 6127 arrived at 1550, 30 min late. I could make out the loco to be a GOC WDP2 15534. After 10 min, I thought the train would move, but after the flag waving, it continued to remain at a stop. This happened a couple of times: the loco pilot (asst.) and the guard, and the SM would wave the greens, but the train did not move at all!!! The WPD2 chief sounded both his horns quite long, in frustration, I suppose. But it was music to ears!!!! The signals out of MDU turned from red-amber-green-amber-red-amber-green(variety is it not???)!!!! At last, the train left at 1640 (1 hr 10 min late!!!). I could not note the rake composition except that it was a 15 coach rake consisting of SLR, SL, II and 3A.

This train having departed (though with utmost reluctance :)))), I entered the station hoping to see more. All was silent for sometime, with the sun beating down, making me feel drowsy (most people on the platforms seemed to be sleeping:))). But it was not to be for long. A long oil tanker train came into the station from the Dindigul side hauled by 17711 WDM 2 of GOC. This came to a stop on pf2. I then decided to explore all the platforms, and came across 6516 YDM4 and the empty rake of the MDU-DG pass. One thing I observed here, till now I did not notice this: the pass. rake (MG) did not have side buffers. So are they CBC coupled? Is that for all MG trains??? Then I saw an AV (dual: AB and VB) coach. It was an inspection coach (I think for it had observation windows at its rear). Here is what I observed:

Coach built in 1972 (AV then or modified later??? We did not have AB then right??)
Fit to run at 100 kmph.
It had 3 pipes at its end besides the coupler itself (so seperate pipes for AB and VB)
Coach number 5877/AV.

I made my way back to pf 1, when I heard a train approaching. It was a dual headed goods!!! It was a loaded 40 wagon BCNA rake, with the powers of ED WDG2s 14640 and 14741. My fisrt sighting of a WDG2!!! This train halted here for 5 min and then departed. I resumed my wandering and arrived at the stabling lines for the Pandyan and Vaigai expresses. The line for Vaigai was empty; only the Pandyan was locked up. I had a good look at the train I was going to travel in that night. Near the rake was a dead ED WDS6 36011. Walking back to pf 1, I passed by the MG lines, and what did I see? The heritage steam engine YG 3358!!!!! It was nestled in between two coaches and was still bright and shiny!!! It made a wonderful sight, looking so majestic :))). A steam loco is the best looking loco of all, in my opinion. The following was inscribed on the a plate on the loco:

Loco Inpector: W.A. Woolridge
Driver: D. Devaraj
1st F. Man: K. Munisamy
2nd F. Man: K. Venkatraju

I suppose F. Man stand for fire man...

It was 1735 and ED WDG2 14692 hauling the long VB rake I had seen yesterday stopped on pf 1. So this one was bound for some place...I resolved to find out. Soon after the oil tanker left. By now it had started to rain slightly, so I scurried back under the pf shelter. Feeling the need for a cuppa, I had some tea from Planet Yumm, the food mall on pf1. Then I set about to find the whereabouts of this mysterious VB rake. I call it mysterious because it had not a single name board. And all its coaches were from different zones!!! An truly assorted rake it was!! Also, many coaches had been transferred from SCR, and I could see the old SC markings besides the newer zone markings....quite a shoddy paint job. And surprise surprise!! It had a 3A coach!!! A VB train witha 3A?? You are right, the 3A was an AV (AB and VB)coach belonging so SR. Its power was ED WDM3A 14127. These quilities of this mysterious rake attracted me more and I walked its entire length and noted its composition-19 coaches pretty long huh??(old zone if any in brackets):

WCR SLR
SW II
SECR II
WCR II
WCR II
SR 3A (97102/AV)
SW SL
SWR SL
SWR SL
SWR SL
WCR SL
CR SL
SC SL
WCR SL (SC)
WCR SL (SC)
CR SL (SC)
CR SL (SC)
CR II (SC)
CR SLR

This would deifinitely win any variety contest!!!! What a rake!!! So any guesses as to what train it is? Well, there no boards, or charts on the rake, none whatsoever. The information board at the entrance was mute about this train. After some time, there was an announcement that the MDU-MS summer special would leave from pf 1 at 1915. So, this mysterious train was bound to MS of all places!!!! Wonder why SR could not find a better rake. But one thing I must mention here: inspite of its weird characteristics, one could not call the rake dirty. It was quite decent looking as far as cleanliness was concerned (though I don't know about the interiors). One more thing: this train would get overtaken by Pandyan and Nellai during the course of its journey.

This mystery having been resolved, I resolved to leave as it was getting late for me (I had to pack and board Pandyan at 2030). However, the 6788 (Jammu Tawi) JAT-MDU express arrived on pf2 then, and I went to have a look at it. The train, having arrived at 1755 was only 25 min late. Rake composition: 1 II, 1 2A, 4 SL, AND 1 SLR. Power was GTL WDM 2A 17175 (where did a GTL loco come in from????). I have a confusion about this train. This starts from JAT as the JAT-MAQ-CAPE/MDU Himsagar express, but the TT does not show the CAPE part of the train? Where does the train split 3 times and what would be the route it takes? Also, if the 7 coaches that arrived at MDU was just a third of this train, then just how long is the full rake, and what is its composition? Lastly, what is the Navyug express....one part of this train? I still cannot make sense of this.

Anyway, after this, I left the station and returned to board Pandyan.


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