June 30th, 23.15 hrs. Abhishek-from-Madras and PoochiVenkat queue up at Egmore suburban counter to buy tickets for the final midnight MG service. By Jason Antony.

Tickets for the final service. Though these were “return tickets”, sadly that was not to be! By PoochiVenkat.

The very last public service MG EMU waits at Egmore pf #8. By Jason Antony.

Cement chair at Egmore MG platform. Who’ll sit on it from tomorrow? By Jason Antony.

June 30th, 23.40 hrs. Fresh juice, anyone? Though this chap had closed shop half an hour earlier, he opened the shutters again, spruced up the counter and rearranged everything just for our photo! By PoochiVenkat.

Autographs from dedicated MG friends … By PoochiVenkat.

Best Wishes from more MG friends for the journey beyond … a journey to GOC shed for breaking up. Railway staff, intimately associated with MG units, said, it upset them beyond limit just thinking of such a thing. By PoochiVenkat.

A token of affection, respect and thanksgiving. By PoochiVenkat.

23.50 hrs. Egmore. Guard and Motorman sign on for the final public MG service. Note dates on the calendars in the background. By PoochiVenkat.

00:04hrs. July 1st. Signaling for the last MG unit to move out of Egmore. There were smiles — and tears — all around. By PoochiVenkat.

The decisive hour. 00.05 hrs. July 1st. The guard exchanges signals and we’re off! Interestingly, the train was quite full with even senior officers and their families joining the last ride. By PoochiVenkat.

Deserted MG platform at Guindy. The best part, even at the dead of night, was the sizeable crowd at each station and each LC, just to bid farewell to the MG EMU! Certain groups (railfans, actually!) garlanded the motorman and guard. Others distributed swe

These chaps were part of the group distributing sweets to everyone … at midnight! The banner declares “Send-Off With Love”. By PoochiVenkat.

Direction board at St. Thomas Mount station. The signal alongside is the reverse starter. By PoochiVenkat.

Name board tacked to the roof! For whom, I wonder. By PoochiVenkat.