Ranganath Eunny - Journey in the south

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.

A sad scene. The token is left alone at Minatchipuram station along with the flags. A grim reminder that it will not be a long time before it vanishes off this wonderful section, if the gauge conversion completes. Minatchipuram (Palghat-Madurai section),

A water tank near the railway at Dhanushkodi. Further to the tank are some ruined quarters for railwaymen. Dhanushkodi, 2004-01-02. By Ranganath.

Andipatti Signal Cabin. It lies opposite the station house. Andipatti is a one-platform station between Madurai and Bodinayakkanur. Andipatti, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

The station house at Andipatti. Looks like any other building. Andipatti is a well-to-do little town with good looking houses, a big technical college and huge mountains around. The yellow board in the picture says something like “Alight here fo

SR prefers to mark the Fouling Marks in full spelling! The fouling mark is the spot on turnouts up to which vehicles on one track will not come into contact with vehicles on the other track. Teni, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

Leaving Teni station. Like Andipatti, this is a small station for a big town. Compared to Andi, this town is dirty! Teni, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

Chameleon? The YDM-4 mingles pretty well with the greenery at Bodinayakkanur station, the end of the track. Bodinayakkanur, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

Bodi Terminus! Lovely little station house. The station master however is a hard man. He refused to let me snap his token instrument, reminding me that I must improve my interpersonal skills! Bodinayakkanur, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

The YDM-4 returns to pole position, now at the other end towards Madurai Jn. I was answering nature's call when I snapped this! Did not have the freedom to wait till the loco came in closer. Bodinayakkanur, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

Bodi signal house sits majestically in the twilight with the huge western ghats in the background. The pointsman (is that the word?) shifted the levers six times to change one point! Bodinayakkanur, 2004-01-03. By Ranganath Eunny.

YG #3358 (TELCO, 1959) at Madurai Jn. This is the same loco snapped by Anand Krishnan at Vandalur on 2004-01-18. Madurai Jn., 2004-01-04. By Ranganath Eunny.

Madurai Junction as seen from the overbridge on the southern side. This station yard has one of the cleanest and neatest track layouts I have ever seen, two gauges nothwithstanding! Madurai Junction, 2004-01-04. By Ranganath Eunny.

Yes, I was obsessed with signal houses of the SR MG region! This one is at Teni. Having been subjected to big concrete monsters of the BG heavy traffic lines, these simple signal cabins held my attention throughout my sojourn. The track beside the cabin i