Ranganath Eunny - Journey in the south

The cantilever portion of the Pamban rail bridge. Rameswaram, 2004-01-01. By Ranganath Eunny.

The MG tracks to Dhanushkodi hidden under the sands of time. I found them by chance just by the NH 49 as I was returning from land's end at Dhanushkodi. These were the rails that carried the Boat mail to Dhanushkodi, now buried under the sand by the flood

This was where I found the tracks under the sand. That is the recently completed NH 49. On the right, one can make out the rails peeking out the sand. It was serendipity for me. Dhanushkodi, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath Eunny.

A cute MG inspection trolley that runs on petrol. I had a few seconds to take this picture at Anamalai Road before the Palghat - Rameswaram passenger left the platform. Anamalai Road, 2004-01-01. By Ranganath Eunny.

A quaint but functional signal cabin on the Minatchipuram platform. These lovely things added charm to the MG line. Most of the structures, track markers, signals and indicators are old, untouched by modernisation. Minatchipuram (on the PGT - MDU section,

On the Pamban Bridge aboard the Palghat - Rameswaram passenger. This was one scary footboard experience. The rake oscillated on the bridge as if to complete the feeling of travelling on sea. Pamban Bridge, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

A closer look at the cantilever bridge. Note the small hat suspended above sea for the controls. Pamban Bridge, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

Gangmen walking back to Pamban after attending to maintenance work on the cantilever. On the Pamban Bridge, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

The bridge extending to the shore of Pamban. The remnants of the older bridge can be seen on the sides. This was washed away in the 1964 floods. Pamban Bridge, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

YDM-4 #6211 ready with the Tambaram-bound Sethu Express. This was snapped off the Rameswaram - Madurai passenger as it left Rameswaram. Rameswaram, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

An old travelling steam crane on MG bogies stands at Madurai Jn. It was freshly painted and was a part of a trial run involving a YG loco. Note the two coal bunkers of the same colour behind the crane. Madurai junction, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

A quaint and old points signal, freshly painted, just before Usilampatti station, enroute Bodinayakkanur. From Palghat/Coimbatore to Rameswaram and from Madurai to Bodinayakkanur, these old contraptions of heritage value still function and are well mainta

An SCR caboose in SR hinterland. The paintwork still looks fresh. Manamadurai Junction, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

Waiting for a crossing. The Palghat - Rameswaram passenger stands on the main line to let its opposite number pass. Note the lower quadrant semaphore signal is at ‘clear’ for the opposite loop line. Also note that the train is on the right-hand set of t

Leaving Palghat Junction. Note overhead catenaries and a BG line that diverges from the Shoranur line to converge with the MG line towards Palghat Town. This forms a dual gauge all the way to Palghat Town where the BG line diverges into a rake yard. Palgh

The dual gauge is visible here. Palghat Town, 2004-01-01. By Ranganath.

The line from Coimbatore meets the one from Palghat at Pollachi. This route is entirely under MALQ signals as seen in the picture. Pollachi Junction, 2004-01-01. By Ranganath.

Token exchange at Udumalpettai. I took this from the PGT - RMM pass. The opposite number is the Madurai - Pollachi passenger which will become the Pollachi - Palghat passenger and then the overnight Palghat - Rameswaram fast passenger with FC and Sleeper

The last coach. I had the pleasure of travelling in an LV for the first time in my life! What you see here is the route covered by the Madurai - Bodinayakkanur passenger just before Andipatti. The track here is better with real ballast as opposed to weeds

Onward to Bodinayakkanur. The towering Western ghats add a touch of excitement to this backwater line. Note an MAUQ signal. MDU - BDNK is surprisingly MAUG zone as opposed to the MALQ monopoly in the surrounding lines. Just before Andipatti, 2004-01-03. B

Approaching the Pamban Bridge. Note the MALQ at "Clear" before the bridge. Mandapam, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

Leaving the cantilever. This was a guess shot as I stuck out the camera to shoot. I was too scared to peek out. Pamban Bridge, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

Rameswaram Terminus. The rake on the other platform is the Sethu Express. Rameswaram, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

This is a non-railway pic but has a connection. If my autorickshaw driver is to be believed, the green patch was where the Boat Mail terminated before 1964. Dhanushkodi land's end, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

This one is a railway pic. That is the old Dhanushkodi station before the land's end terminus. It can be made out right behind the thorn bushes. I did not risk taking a frontal shot because the area was a minefield of human refuse! Dhanushkodi, 2004-01-02

The Pamban Bridge in a dizzy angle. I could not avoid the railings of the Indira Gandhi Road Bridge. I have a fear of heights. And this one is over the sea! Indira Gandhi Bridge, Pamban, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

The YDM-4 lets out its Alco signature as it negotiates a gradient, leaving Manamadurai Junction towards Rameswaram. The second line is the one that goes to Virudunagar. Each line has a set of MALQ signals as seen in the pic. Manamadurai Junction, 2004-01-