Interesting...the extent of the NG network around Hosur & Krishnagiri, I used to think Erode - Trichy was a converted line but looks like original BG. And it appears that Arantangi & Karaikuddi and Manamadurai & Virudunagar were not connected until much later!

Posted by Mohan Bhuyan on 2011 Jul 06 07:52:03 +0000

The Shoranur Cochin MG line was constructed in 1902 by the Maharaja of Cochin with his own personal finances, even selling off his personal jewels. This was converted to BG sometime in 1934 - 35.

The Ernakulam - Quilon MG line was sanctioned in 1952 by the Government of India as a reward to the people of Cochin for being the first princely state to join the Indian Union after independence. It was opened in 1956 upto Kottayam and 1958 upto Quilon, thus joining Trivandrum and Cochin for the first time by rail. It was converted to BG upto Quilon in 1975, and upto Trivandrum in 1976.

Trivandrum - Nagercoil - Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli - Kanniyakumari were built as original BG lines and opened in 1979.

Ernakulam - Allepey BG line was opened in 1989 and extended to Kayankulam in 1992, thus offering a 2nd route (without reversal) for trains coming from Shoranur side towards Trivandrum.

Posted by Dr.Jitendra Mulky on 2011 Jul 05 05:19:10 +0000

Interesting one.....When was Trivandrum linked to Ernakulam and Kanniyakumari? Looks like most of south east side was MG?

Posted by Milind on 2011 Jul 03 16:04:58 +0000

forgiven! back to the past!

Posted by Aseem Johri on 2009 Dec 31 20:04:51 +0000

very interesting pic. looks to be an 8 coach rake made up with 2 units with 2 motor coaches for each unit. These must have been taken off much before 1980 since i do not remember such a combination. and where are the cowcatchers? ;-)

Posted by Vivek Pillay (Oldman) on 2009 Nov 21 03:12:52 +0000

A lovely refreshing album.

Posted by Arzan Kotval on 2009 Nov 19 16:12:56 +0000

Mr. Gupta, Potul is indeed the closest station to the Ellora caves (12 km) past the town of Khuldabad, and may have been called Ellora Road in the past. I do not know when it was renamed.

Posted by Dr.Jitendra Mulky on 2009 Nov 19 13:09:43 +0000

Karan, the "burra sahibs" would not have liked to travel rubbing shoulders with the natives. Therefore they needed two trains.

Posted by Dr.Jitendra Mulky on 2009 Nov 19 12:06:16 +0000

Today also in the season, the evening Indrayani on Sundays is full of people returning from the races.

Posted by Dr.Jitendra Mulky on 2009 Nov 19 12:01:05 +0000

Byculla station in the heart of Mumbai today - not an inch of open space today, and certainly no wooden platforms on stilts, gaslights or tongas.

Posted by Dr.Jitendra Mulky on 2009 Nov 19 11:58:15 +0000