Getting a ticket on return journey - most wanted thing and the most difficult thing . Specials at times comes in handy in such situations, even with a one month in hand . Special always comes at a price of delays , but anyway a train reaching destination around lunch isn't going to affect a working day . So B3 coach gets booked for the journey RJY to SMVT on a Monday evening , 26th November 2023 by the VSKP SMVT express

Finishing the Rajamundhry circuit , arrive at RJY station by...
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450PM and with an hour and half to go for the train arrival, we wait on PF-1 in the waiting room . It isn't very tough to pass time in a station on main track, when arrivals departures are plenty . The 22884 Garib rath is one time today, unlike our journey the previous week and it's long left. PF-1 was occupied by the Kakinada Tirupati express slowly making way out , and It was time of Corromandel to depart from PF-3 while we enter , as time clicks close to 5PM

Few minutes later , the 12845 SMVT superfast arrives from Bhubaneshwar onto PF-2 , almost 10 mins before schedule time . Janmabhoomi in meantime was received on PF-3 in opposite direction . Janmabhoomi left soon , while the Bhubaneswar express still waited , as the announcement went for the 12839 Mail to arrive onto PF-1

Expected that 12839 might take lead over 12845 , and just as WAP-7 entered into PF-1 around 520PM with 12839, the 12845 gave a parallel exit from PF-2 . The ceowd in UR and SL gave a lesser unpleasant look compared to the lifted MB in the SL's. Are guys still having afternoon siesta , or people just lying down entire day since train left HWH the previous night . Get up guys , it's dusk time

The halt for 12839 was pretty long enough to miss the freight action that was sent off in the gap on opposite . But my heart was thumping . Having a week's luggage to board and a mid station, the platform , sorry even train is missing from the display board . Boards prominence was more towards 22502 coming from NTSK towards SMVT, so I walked to the enquiry counter

SMVT special platform please I said - sir back to back trains to SMVT, number please he smiled .. 08543 Visakaptnam SMVT - Oh - PF-1 sir majorly announcement will come , he replied. Thanking him, went back , keeping an ear for announcement , lest the platform changes at last

The waiting room which was empty till then, is filled to brim.now . Just one seat was empty now and occupy myself there , keeping watch outisde. A train silently moves into PF-3 sans any announcement and pulls to a halt . 22808 MAS SRC AC express says the board visible in the long distance . Sans announcement, as robotic, an horn was given and rake soon left

The full moon shines brightly just over the platform -1 and for a moment my mind flashes . Time was 1750 hours , and it was the Karthigai month , the time for Karthigai deepam at Tiruvannamalai. Came back to waiting room and noticed my mom watching the live stream in phone with ears plugged in .


Walked through the available space , no seats now with crowd waiting for the 2 prime trains of the region to arrive . Pull out the earplugs from my mom , to her much angry face . Watch the moon outside instead of mobile, I said sternly. Wait for the deepam last moment please she replied . Ok I said , as the final touch was given for the deepam

Announcement went on for the 17488 Tirumala express to Tirupati , in the LHB avatar to make the way in, and the crowd slowly moved out . 25% space free , that's it , we still have to wait , I said as my mom went out to have glimpse of the moon. 17488 soon entered , Ecor rake with SCR numbering , the old S15 changing to S9, better than many others but still not as much as the ICF avatar

17488 slowly arrived , took up the crowd waiting and after few minutes halt, moved out , while I moved to WIMT to check the train status . 17210 and 08543 both were to arrive in 10 mins gap as per schedule ,but the gap between them was almost 30 kms . The names of Annavaram, Pittapuram, Samalkot flashed on WIMT, reminding us of the previous day visit to the 3 places . 17210 was very few minutes late while 08543 was almost 30 mins. Special treatment has already started

WAG7 twins pull into PF-2 in meantime, giving many a sign of relief . 22641 Shalimar express made its way into PF-3. This guy only overtook us at last moment last week remember , I asked , jokingly nudging my mom... Andha Kadangaarana idhu , today nothing to do she replied . We will get someone, we are special, I replied .

Announcement went for the Seshu to arrive on PF-1 shortly and more crowd vacated from retiring room . Still crowd awaited

How many trains to Bangalore today ?? asked Dad hearing Seshu announcement. 12863, 18463 went before we came , 12845 came after we came , 17210 coming now , our train and 22502 coming in late by 90 mins , I said .. and still you got ticket only in this , which reaches by 1230?? Yes , I said , others were in waitlist, 12845 had the least waitlist , and good running time , but didn't want to risk it , I replied . But weekend evening and trains reaching late , but still crowded , he said . Vizag doesn't have a dedicated train to either Bangalore or Madras , only Hyderabad has regular ones , I said, as BZA WAP4 pulled into PF-1 with the rake of 17210. Time ticked close to 630PM

Next should be ours , let's go out , Dad said . Yes 20 kms away as per WIMT, we will go i said , wearing my backpack and dragging the suitcases. Slowly walked into PF-1 as announcement went on for 08543 VSKP BNC express

What??? BNC express.. yipee my mom said. Wait , i guess announcement is wrong I said . KJM, SMVT or BNC what difference you think will make when you book a cab home , asked Dad. Fare I replied !!

Time clicked close to 1850 hours as the light beamed at the corner. The BCNA rake still waited on PF-2 . Now came the suspense ...special getting special treatment , what will be the loco link.. just railfan things come into mind as train comes close to us - BZA WAG5A silver with brown border on face !!!! We are indeed special !!