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-

The YDM-4 lets out its Alco signature as it negotiates a gradient just outside Manamadurai Jn. The Virudnagar line is on the right. Manamadurai Junction, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

Train By The Sea. Approaching the sea head-on. We are on mainland Inda approaching Rameswaram. What you see is a thin strip of land with sea on both sides. This is the closest a train comes to the sea anywhere in India. Mandapam, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

One of my favourites. The MDU - BDNK passenger halts at Usilampatti station. Only three major stops: Usilampatti, Andipatti and Teni. The rest are all typical flag stops, rural bus service-type! Usilampatti, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath.