The last trip on the Kollam-Sengottai line

YDM 4 6312 prepares to depart Kollam Jn with the Kollam-Tirunelveli exp. The train is a truncated avatar of erstwhile Madras-Quilon mail

As we wait to depart to Kollam on the early morning on 2007-04-20 to undertake the trip, Ernakulam Jn, so full of electrics everyday, suddenly turns to be a diesel lover's paradise. Stray WDP 3A 15515 is heading the Ernakulam-Guruvayoor Passenger

More diesels coming into the station. Kazipet's stray Raj liveried 16704 heads Patna - Ernakulam Express

A unique feature of the double line between Kayamkulam and Kollam - two lines are at different levels, meaning there is a level cross on one while there is a bridge on the other

The old railway station at Kollam. Built under supervision of Maharajah Balarama-I of Travancore. It is fit to be called a palace. So sad this heritage structure is in ruins now

A close up of the magnificient porch of the old station

Compare the old station with the bland new station with no architectural identity. Note the blue foot over bridge striking out

The steam crane called Vikrant based at Kollam has been steamed up!

Kollam Jn is undegoing many changes. This is the old platform , which was once the metre gauge terminus. This is being redone at a whooping cost of Rs. 2 crore

Kollam Jn from the railway end. Note the design of the old station

The entire broad gauge section of Kollam Jn set amidst electric pole jungle

The Travancore maharajah's waiting room is in tatters and is now gang men's rest room. The official rest room of the highest official in a kingdom is now rest room of the lowest official in the railway

The official emblem of Travancore Maharajah, the shell is still striking out from the building

A nice old crane near the maharajah's waiting room. There is a track reconditioning yard here

The arrival / departure board at Kollam Jn. There is no mention of any metre gauge trains. Has the staff forgotten the tiny tots since they will be taken off from service in 10 days time?

The famous turn table at Kollam Jn maybe removed once BG takes over

Do you feel that this part of station is going to close in 10 days? The MG part is very active in it's own right. A YDM 4 busy shunting, someone cleaning tracks, coaches shunted everywhere...

YP's and YG's may have gone forever from Kollam, but this ladder used to supply coal to these locomotives lives to see the present day!

Prof. Venugopal (first from left) takes Antony, Sriram and Vibin on a conducted tour of the station so dear to him

YDM 4 6312 with the Kollam-Tirunelveli Express. What a beautiful loco she is! She has the old single beam headlights too. And she is going to haul us on th dream journey.

The coaches of our train came from different zones, like South Central and South Western, and of course, Southern

This is all that is left of the old Quilon Metre Gauge steam shed, home to 81 YG locos! The decoration is to welcome some senior railway official visiting the shed today

Another YDM 4 6211 taking breather after shunting duties. We understand that it is a spare loco stationed at Kollam

The other side of steam shed. Steam locos and steam shed maybe gone forever, but the temple built by employees of the shed before proceeding to work lives forever. Man's mortality and god's eternity is demonstrated to the fullest possible way

Two historic beasts and a historic shed look face to face at each other

The old water tank at Kollam still stands as a memorabilia of the steam era. Wonder she ever watered a YDM 4?

One final look at the MG establishment before we leave on the historic journey. By the time this album is made, all the MG artifacts have been removed forever from this historic town