Cholan Express, Thanjavur to Egmore, 1974
by Mani Vijay
2025-07-09
A memorable trip on the Cholan Express from Thanjavur to Egmore
A year later, in summer of 1974, I was back in SR territory to attend another wedding. The destination was Thanjavur. I made a total of four MG trips, including my first journey on an MG railcar from Tiruchi to Thanjavur. However, the two most memorable journeys were from Madras Egmore to Thanjavur and back. The first of these was on an overnight passenger from Egmore, most probably headed for Shengottai. I remember how impeccably clean that sleeper coach was. You could literally sleep on the floor after a casual dusting. I noted that the windows were squared-shape, suggesting that this was not an ICF coach. As the train accelerated out of Madras, I was banished to the middle berth. Being only ten years of ago, I was not given an opportunity to protest this unfair treatment! And so, the night was spent in enjoyable the rocking motion of our MG coach from the confines of my berth.
Next morning, we halted for a crossing not far from Thanjavur. I heard the unmistakable rumble of an approaching train. And then, a magic moment! I saw a locomotive unlike anything I had known before. It turned out to be a diesel locomotive which, I leant much later, was classified as YDM4A. So, there were diesel-hauled trains in MG – what a discovery!! The loco was in charge of a colorful rake consisting of blue coaches, with bands of yellow above and below the windows. All coaches were vestibuled as well. What a pretty sight!! The train was none other than the Cholan express, on its way to Madras. Little did I know that I was going to be on that very same train on our return trip.
After enjoying all the festivities at the wedding and spending time with my relatives, it was time to head back to Madras. I was elated that we had chosen the Cholan express for this trip. I remember the train making a grand entry at Thanjavur with a diesel locomotive in charge. Thankfully, all coaches still had the light blue livery with yellow stripes. We got into a rather crowed chair car coach and I was dismayed at not getting a window seat. Fortunately, by the time Kumbakonam rolled in, a bunch of seats had been vacated and I was only too happy to grab a window seat on the right side of the coach (funny how I remember that).
Within half hour, I saw a line emerge from the distance (from Peralam side) signaling the proximity of Mayavaram junction. This triggered some strong memories; just a year before, I had got to know this station so well. After bidding goodbye to my uncle and cousins – they were going back to Karaikkal – I prepared myself for an eventful trip on a section that I had traveled earlier by the Rockfort. But this was very different, not only was I in perfect health (thankfully), but we were hauled by a diesel locomotive and I was in a spin-n-span chair car coach in a completely vestibuled train with a unique livery. Talk about prestige!
The ride till Villupuram was very invigorating. Perhaps, it was that unique combination of soothing rhythmic metre gauge track sounds and lush countryside! Perhaps, it was the diesel locomotive’s constant chugging and melodious horn! I remember crossing the almost dry Kollidam river to pull into Chidambaram. I was fascinated by all these quaint towns that dotted the section – Sirkazhi, Cuddalore, Thiruppapuliyur.
Another major magic moment was the appearance of catenary wires for the first time on the trip. I could hardly contain my excitement as we pulled into Villupuram. I had to pinch my eyes to believe that we were in electrified metre gauge territory. I remember the YDM4A getting uncoupled and it reversed on a non-platform line at the far right of the station. Within twenty minutes or so, we were off towards Egmore. When I heard that melodious twin-tone horn, I knew were hauled by an electric locomotive; wow! I even managed to see it in a few sections when our train would curve to the right. The pantograph appeared much larger than what I had observed in the electric locomotives at Mughalsarai. And it was oriented inward, something that I had learnt at my earlier sightings.
I remember crossing a few YAM1-hauled freights standing on loop lines. The halt at Chengalpattu was interesting since I saw a station with plenty of electrified metre gauge lines. But Tambaram was simply unbelievable!!! So many electrified tracks; it was a catenary jungle for sure. Moreover, I laid my eyes on metre gauge EMU trains for the first time. Slowly but surely, I was beginning to fall in love with these metre gauge electrics. I was visible tired when we got down from our coach at Madras Egmore. However, it had been a very satisfying journey during which I had experienced so much more of that mystical Southern charm.