The last trip on the Kollam-Sengottai line

Though the time table says the Kollam-Tirunelveli Exp has a FC, SL and II accommodation, there was just SL, II on the day we traveled. We preferred the SL coach and this is interior of MG SL coach. The first class had gone for service and will never ret

We are off in a blast. YDM 4 6312 starts it's drama with its smoke and music. We have two BG lines and OHE for company

Kalyan's 16367 thunders past with a holiday special

Kundara... I have fond memories of this small town. I was born here. It is on these platforms my dad took me for my earliest railfanning trips. This is the first halt of our train too

The old Kundara station. Can you believe it - there are still porters around in the station, though the train service will last for only a few days more. What lies ahead for these porters once the service stops

A larger new station is being built here. The location of the station is being shifted a few metres. We found that most of the old stations will be abandoned once gauge conversion is over as newer larger stations are being built

Kundara had a surprise for her son! An MG freight waiting for us to cross! This is the first time in several years I am seeing an MG freight train. The cargo was some old sleepers pulled, maybe to facilitate gauge conversion. Loco is a "not so cl

The cargo of the two wagon freight train.

The entire freight train, complete with LV board on the caboose. Look how beautiful the MG caboose is compared to BG!

Gauge conversion is in full swing in some places while at others, it has not even started. We found so many square structures waylaid everywhere. Anyone knows what will be their use?

Here is a stretch where there is a drastic change in alignment for BG route. The MG rote circles around a hill while the BG route cuts across. The location is near Kundara

The new BG route rejoins after a good 4 kilometre. Our children maybe future Appu's pondering the old MG alignments! Look how many houses are demolished

Railnuts hang on to each and every free door of the coach. The simple joys of railfanning in the route will be gone forever within a few days

Another huge departure from present MG alignment near Kottarakkara

Approaching Kottarakkara. The Gauge conversion process of this bridge has not yet begun

Our next halt is Kottarakkara. Here too a passenger train is waiting for the King of Queen of routes to cross

YDM 4 6349 heads the Sengottai-Kollam Passenger. Another immaculate GOC loco. Look at the crowd waiting to enter our train

Interesting scenery as our train is being pulled up the small hillock. Look at the broad gauge bridge being built

Young girls teach their young brother the marvelous yet free art of railfanning. For how many more days will these girls show their little brother these trains? By the time the broad gauge trains arrive, he maybe showing his little sibling trains. He m

Pic 1 of 4: We approach Kuri Station through a plantain plantation. The new broad gauge alignment is through the other side of the plantation. You can see the new station being built in the background

Pic 2 of 4: We close in on Kuri station. The new station is on the right or left??

Pic 3 of 4: The new Kuri station is on the right side of the MG tracks! One of the two places where the MG alignment cuts the BG. There were protests by locals that the MG services can be maintained till a week before BG starts. Now I know why

Pic 4 of 4: The new BG alignment takes a much shorter route and joins the MG. The MG has traveled more than 3 km to reach this point from where the series of pictures started but BG maybe just half a kilometer

Past meets future. Sleeprs required for Gauge conversion are stacked while this lower quadrant semaphores show us te way. These semaphores become history when the new sleepers are laid in place!

Our next halt is Auvaneeswaram. This man is a porter but not in his uniform. What lies ahead for him after the line is shut? The old balance is built by Pooley and Co, Liverpool. It has even seers on it's scales

Railfans Antony and Sreeram take a much needed walk here

One of the famous 's' curves in the stretch that will become history with gauge conversion. The kilometer marker is 722 kilometer to Chennai Egmore