This was the last journey I undertook before the pandemic struck us down. I had been on a trip to Tuticorin, while coming back, I decided to break the journey in Chennai. I boarded the 16106 Express from Tiruchendur to Chennai Egmore, and boarded the Vasco-da-Gama weekly Express from Chennai Central.

This video covers the first part of the journey from MGR Chennai Central to Katpadi Jn.
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That was one fine Monday afternoon in summer at katpadi, after paying the fees and completing the admission procedure in the college, we were heading to katpadi railway station in share auto. By the time we arrived katpadi railway station, it was 12 pm sharp and Bengaluru city – chennai superfast express (now running from mysore) had already departed katpadi. I asked my mom how are we proceeding to Chennai. Usually we used to wait till Bengaluru city – Chennai central AC double decker superfast express and proceed in that to chennai. She replied that this time we will try to reach chennai bit earlier and we will board unreserved coach of next train bound for Chennai. We took tickets in CoTVM machine and simultaneously announcement was made for 22638 mangaluru central – Chennai central west coast superfast express.
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At that time, I was not much aware of rush in trains and told my mom that lets wait till sanghamitra express at 12:40 pm and take unreserved in sanghamitra express. But, as west coast is yet to arrive and by that time, we already have reached the end of the platform to board the unreserved coaches, so, my mom told that we will be boarding west coast superfast. we arrived the jolarpettai side end of platform 2 in such a way to board the unreserved coach. Already, reasonable crowd was waiting for the same train. Within few moments, arakkonam based WAP – 4 locomotive was pulling west coast into platform – 2 of katpadi junction and stopped. We were near the last unreserved coach. As the unreserved coach was already overcrowded, for safety reasons, I made my mom to board the luggage cum guard van coach which has some 20 seats earmarked for ladies and on that day, only ladies were sitting, after my mom boarded that coach, me and my cousin boarded the unreserved coach before this coach.
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Shortly after we boarded our train, it started moving out of katpadi. As the train was crowded, all the seats were full. Our bag was heavy, so we were not able to hold it for a long time. But even luggage rack was full of bags, but managed to get some space at the door side end of the luggage rake. Rested the bag firmly in the gap and we went near the door on the other side of the luggage rack, since that was facing the other track and we both adjusted ourselves to sit near the door. Train was speeding up and skipping stations like sevur, tiruvalam in a very good speed. We crossed the tributary of palar river after skipping tiruvalam. that beautiful scenery and that speed in which it was skipping was really impressive in such a way that even today I could remember it by heart.
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In some 20 minutes of time, we slowed down and walajah road jn came and for the first time I saw the railway line bound for ranipettai bifurcating from the same. Some people were deboarding the train, some were boarding. We were sitting near the door which was not facing the platform, but, still some deboarding passengers asked for way and we gave them way and took our seats again. After a brief halt, train slowly staring to depart from walajah road jn. Our train accelerated in such a way that we attained maximum permissible speed in some moments and our train maintained it beautifully. As a budding rail enthusiast, I was literally enjoying the run and was planning to roam and see places in that evening in chennai.
We maintained at a good speed till sholingur, where our train got slowed down, was skipping that staion slowly because of some temporary speed restriction and after leaving that station, again our train accelerated and skipped mahendravadi in a very good speed.
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Meanwhile, me and my cousin we simultaneously had an eye on the luggage we kept on the luggage rack on the other side. I was wondering of the low level platforms that mahendravadi had and wondered how people will ever manage to board it. Our train maintained in a good sped and skipped anavardhikkanpettai and chitteri. After seeing our train skipping chitteri, I thought that we would reach arakkonam in no time.
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Few moments after our train skipped chitteri, our train negotiated a curve near a cement factory. We were sitting on the trackside door which was facing the concave part of the curve and we rested our bag in the luggage rack near the door which was facing convex part of the curve. As our train negotiated that curve in a very good speed, our bag which we rested near the door literally flew away from the train and passengers near that door and luggage rake notified us and we literally panicked about the situation. Fellow passengers advised to pull the chain and stop the train and told that it won’t be an offence in such a situation. But, we were not having guts to pull the chain. Within that, our train, which kept moving in good speed, slowed down near melpakkam cabin and stopped there for a while. Me and my cousin got down, boarded the SL coach and told the incident to mom. She told you could have pulled the chain and told us not to panic. The train slowly started to leave melpakkam cabin and we arrived in platform – 2 of arakkonam junction.
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We deboarded from the SLR coach and explained the situation to the guard of the train and RPF nearby who was standing at the platform. They asked kilometer stone at which our bag flew from the train. I did note the kilometer mark but was not certain of the same. Told the same to them. Then we went to RPF station in the same platform, explained our situation. We could have ignored that bag if at all it was containing some snacks or dresses etc... But, in that bag only I had my provisional admission letter and fee receipt and all my certificates which are needed for me to join the college. Yes, all were important documents. We panicked so much. We told the police officer that we will walk in the side of the track and will manage to get the bag somehow and will report them if any. they agreed for the same. we made my mom stay there and started proceeding towards the side of the track.
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Since we were not sure about the location and its proximity to the nearby road, we came to such a decision. We started walking out of arakkonam junction in that hot sunny afternoon with the only motive of finding the bag. We did not walk in the tracks in the beginning and we walked in a small man-made walkway which was near the track. We heard a loud honk characteristic for WAP – 7 locomotive and yes, it was royapuram based WAP – 7 locomotive pulling sanghamitra express into arakkonam junction. We continued walking after sanghamitra express crossed us.
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Then, we continued walking for some 10 – 15 minutes and reached melpakkam cabin. By the time we reached melpakkam cabin, we were very thirsty and unable to resist it further. So we went to the cabin building, explained the situation to railway officials and they were discussing the issue with the fellow officials. By seeing us, they themselves offered us some water since we looked very tired and panicked. they told us that similar incident was reported at around 4 am on the same day in mangalore central – Chennai central mail. Also, they told that key man and other track staff madam/sirs have already completed their duty in that particular stretch. We told that some how we will try to search for our bag by walking in the side of the bag to that location.
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They told, okay boys you may go but please be cautious while walking in tracks and kindly walk I the tracks on the right side, i.e. the track in which the trains bound for tiruttani/Chennai used to go. They told us so because if we walk on that particular track, if any train comes, by seeing the train approaching on opposite direction, we can easily get away from the track to side. They were showing very kind gesture. So, we thanked them gracefully and we started walking slowly and steadily on the track. We saw the goods yard and two BCACBM rakes were there. My cousin asked about this rakes and I told this is used to carry the cars. Saw some arakkonam based WAG – 5 and WAG – 7 twin locomotives parked at the goods yard.
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While seeing this goods yard, we were not walking in tracks and we were walking in the space between the tracks and we heard a shrill honk and, it was WAG – 7 locomotive which was hauling the six hours late Guwahati - kochuveli special. It passed us in a good speed and accelerated as it departed arakkonam junction. That WAG – 7 was having shell like WAM – 4. We started walking cautiously as this train crossed us unexpectedly when we were walking in the gap between two tracks. I was very sad of losing my bag which contained all my important certificates, prayed the almighty and continued to walk.
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Did I get the bag or not? Stay tuned………………………………………