• A memorable family outing down South – Part 2

    A memorable Deepavali family trip to Tirunelveli (and the village Kodaganallur, 45 mins from there) was coming to a close. My mother, sister and I were to take 12632 TEN-MS Nellai express (on 8th November) to return to Chennai, while my father was to stay for one more day; before returning through a flight from Madurai. To…

  • A memorable family outing down South – Part 1

    Cometh Deepavali, cometh a family trip to Tirunelveli; chiefly to visit the village Kodaganallur (a 45-minute drive from Tirunelveli) for our annual family function. This always involved a train trip – this time by 12631 MS-TEN Nellai express; newly turned LHB 🙂 . On the day of the journey (6th November), the 4 of us…

  • The Queen displays her class yet again

    You must wonder by now; how I do not get bored after so many trips between Mumbai and Pune – that too such a short distance of less than 200 km. Well, yesterday’s trip was no ordinary one; it was one by the pride of CR – 12124 Pune Mumbai Deccan Queen. For such a…

  • A Pune trip to cherish! – Part 2

    It was the twilight of a memorable trip to Pune. I had met my friend at his home in Narhe (Vadgaon Budruk) and spent some time with him there; after which he had driven me (by scooter) back to the station  – where we had lunch at the Rail Dhaba, followed by coffee and some…

  • A Pune trip to cherish! – Part 1

    This was a trip to Pune that I would cherish in more ways than one. Firstly, I was visiting a close friend (and an ex-colleague) at his new home in Pune for the first time. Secondly, this was my first trip by 12127 Mumbai Pune Intercity in its LHB avatar. Lastly, it was a welcome…

  • Another long Mumbai-Chennai Trip: Part 2

    Stuck with a critical project for the past week, I couldn’t find time to write Part 2 of yet another long Mumbai-Chennai train trip (by 11027 Mumbai Chennai Mail of course 😀 , starting on 14th August!) . Anyway, now that the weekend has arrived; here goes..before reading on, please refer to Part 1! https://ashwinkumar1989.online/2018/08/26/another-long-mumbai-chennai-trip-part-1/ We…

  • Another long Mumbai-Chennai Trip: Part 1

    Yes. As you might have guessed. Another long and tedious journey (not for me though! 😛 ) by the famous supercrawler – 11027 Mumbai Chennai Mail. Well, it is almost impossible to get reservation (especially in AC) in any other train; unless you book at least 3 months in advance! That too, given the day…

  • I am a Tam Brahm

    Footnote: This poem can’t be called an entirely original work. I owe a lot of the ideas (and certain facts) to the various people in India who have been at the fore of the anti-caste movement – great historical leaders like Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Thanthai Periyar; as well as contemporary anti-caste movements – comprising…

  • An eventful Saturday Monsoon Outing by Godavari express – Part 2

    So, an eventful Saturday monsoon outing had started with my trip by 12117 LTT-MMR Godavari express; starting 7 mins late and getting further delayed by 40 mins along the way – as we came to Kasara, where the suburban services to the lines North-East of Mumbai terminated; and the beautiful Thull ghats began. Before reading…

  • An eventful Saturday Monsoon Outing by Godavari express – Part 1

    I love having a full weekend off ; especially in the monsoons. It provides you the opportunity to undertake train journeys which might otherwise have been difficult; given that there is a Mega Block on Sundays – due to which many daytime intercities usually tend to get cancelled. Moreover, the train in this case was…