Quilon-Tirunelveli Trip
by Pawan Koppa
TVC-QLN-TEN-TVC-SBC trip: A view of the Quilon Jn station building. The starting point of what was to be the best railfanning trip of my life!!!
A view of the MG section of Quilon Junction. The rake of our Quilon-Tirunelveli Nellai Link Exp. and two GOC YDM4s in the MG loco shed can be seen. The OHEs on the left are yet to see Electric traction as the equipments are still being readied near TVC. I
Our MG Nellai Link Exp was scheduled to depart at 12:15pm. This is a view of the MG platform at Quilon almost an hour before the departure. The rake had not yet been shunted to the platform.
A view of the deserted-looking MG Diesel shed at Quilon Jn.
The maze of catenary at Quilon Jn, Ernakulam side. The two main lines leading to the BG platforms are in the center. The MG line and platform can be seen on the left. A few BG rakes can be seen on the right of the picture.
The North Cabin at Quilon Jn and the maze of switching equipment connecting to the cabin. 2006-10-15
YDM-4 #6217 ready to depart with our Nellai Link Express from Quilon Jn. headed towards Tirunelveli. 2006-10-15
Awaiting the starter to turn green and raring to go!! The YDM-4 #6217 with its masters at Quilon jn. 2006-10-15
The BG lines branch out towards the left to Ernakulam while we curve out to the right announcing the start of one of the best MG sections I have travelled. 2006-10-15
One of the first stops where we have a crossing is Kumdara. Have a look at the greenery which awaits us further down the line!!! 2006-10-15
The semaphore signal at Danger for the incoming passenger from Sengottai towards Quilon at Kundara. 2006-10-15
Kundara- a typical MG station!!! The train on the platform is our Nellai Link Exp. to Tirunelveli. 2006-10-15
Shornur Bridge over the Bharathapuzha river..
This area is the favourite location for most of the malayalam films. Many of the malayalam films use the trains and rails of these area as backgrounds..
In this picture you can see, shooting of...
The semaphore changes to "proceed at full throttle" for our crossing train at Kundara - the passenger headed to Quilon. 2006-10-15
The YDM-4 notches up as we enter a curve towards Kottarakara. 2006-10-15
Approching Kottarakara - Another typical MG station bursting at its seems!! 2006-10-15
The little champion - The YDM-4 takes a look at the mighty ghat sections it has to climb in front of it, and thinks - this is child's play for me!! 2006-10-15
One station crowded - another serene, but each one so special!! This is Edamann and we go full speed through it!! The SM waves the green flag in the distance!! 2006-10-15
The YDM-4 starts climbing the breathtakingly beautiful ghat section towards Sengottai. 2006-10-15
One view of the rear of the rake says it all- how dense and picturesque this section is - enroute to Tirunelveli from Quilon. 2006-10-15
Tenmalai - a small station chucked away in the ghats, right out of the jungle. No words to describe the beauty of this route!!! 2006-10-15
Where am I headed to? Into a dense jungle?? The little YDM-4 wonders as we depart from Tenmalai towards Aryankavu. 2006-10-15
The breathtaking Aryankavu viaduct - with waterfalls on the left, and the road below. I was expecting this viaduct on the other side of the train - hence I had to rush to capture it at the last moment, and this was all I could manage!! Look at the scenery
Even the trucks on the road below would find this route to encounter - but for the YDM-4, this is just a day's work. Aryankavu. 2006-10-15