Walayar Ghat Section

Remains from a long night sleepless of the gangmen. Gangmen use such oil vicks to alert Pilots in the ghat section

Shoranaur-Coimbatore EMU pass by. This is one of the few trains that stop at Walayar and the only EMU service in Kerala

A WAP 4 at last. This is CAPE-CSTM Exp behind Erode WAP 4 on Line B. Note the CR Day train coloured coach

Walayar Station looking towards Palghat side from Line B. The platforms are being extented, maybe to acomodate longer trains

On the other side of the border, a Jhansi WAG 5 HB (With BHEL markings) wait at Podanur, the end of twin single line with a BCNA load and it's front panto is up

The tracks after Podanur. On the left is the now defunct Podanur-Coimbatore MG track. Centre is the main BG single line track to CBE and the right is the bye pass track to Erode

The gradient in Line A between Walayar and Palghat is 1 in 65...

...While the gradient in the same section in Line B is 1 in 100. The reason for this is that Line A was built in 1861 while Line B was built more than a century later, in the late 1960's. With more knowledge of the ghat section, Railway engineers chose

This is the best I could capture of the entire rake of Trivandrum-Korba Exp, passing through the station

Dhanbad-Alleppey Express pass through Line A behind regular loco, AJJ WAM 4 21301

The forest eat up the entire 20 coach train. The line on the left is a loop

Walking a few metres through Line A, you come across this sign board. The speed for Goods is just 25 kmph. Does the "C" stand for a caution?

Territory of Senior Section Engineer, Permanent Way, Palghat. Infact, a total number of 8 gangs maintain this ghat section railroad. The kilomtres indicate distance from Chennai Central

Almost a kilometre into the Jungle, I came across this small platform, I really do not know what it was used for. Did not find any remains of a ghost station. It is an excellent place for camping and railway spotting outings

WAM 4 21228 leads Gurudev Express down the 1 in 50 down gradient.

A path used by gangmen to reach line B. The line B is maintained by a totally different set of Gangmen

The Line B curves right from Walayar towards Palghat. Both the lines have derailers like these

Amazing shape of railway track. Why is it bend? To my right is the loop and further right is the way to sidings at malabar Cement factory of Govt. of Kerala

A look inside the Malabar Cements sidings

Line B has les severe gradients thank Lin A. Here, the gradient is only 1 in 100 where as it was 1 in 50 for Line A at the same place

Gangmen announce thier proud moments. I wonder who elase other than these gang men and people like us take notice of these small boards

About a kilomtre into the forst is this oddily placed signal. The forest, turns and gradient means signals have to be placed at such odd points

I heard the sound of a diesel while coming back. Had to run to catch a glimpse. Made it finally. And it is my friend from Ernakulam.....

..... 18319 from Ernakulam leads Coimbatore-Mangalore Fast passenger. Diesels really shake the forsts.

The cabin at Walayar, between the two lines is no longer used for the purpose it was meant for. It is now used as a rest room for Gangmen

Ajni WAG 7 27354 leads a mixed open car empty freight train

The mixed train rushes through Walayar. You know from this picture why I called the freight as "Mixed"