Sephia tone days and train loving kids
Mid 80s. Two kids - close friends till date, would brave a hot summer afternoon in Coimbatore to go to their favourite spot. “Summa indha veyilla suthadhey” by parents has never been listened to. Not then, not now either.
The two kids would cycle all the way to a deserted North Coimbatore station at exactly 1:45 in the afternoon. The timing mattered because that was the time for Chennai bound Kovai express to cross the North station.
The train never stopped in that station but that never mattered for those kids. They would wait, talk about important things like the kite competition in Rathinapuri pallam and the way the neighbouring grandma never parted with the cricket ball when it landed in her territory.
And then there would be a siren far away, catching their attention. The train engine would emerge first. The engine would keep getting bigger and its noise level going up and up. And then it would roar into the platform at a leisurely pace.
The kids would dutifuly count the number of bogies one by one and see if it tallies with the previous day’s count. The train would slow down to negotiate a curve just after the station. That was a magnificent sight. Worthy of a wideangle lens.
The kids would take it all till the train is reduced to a faint dot and then trudge back to their cycle. Only to return the next day.
One of those kids is writing this blog and the other is in Pune as a SAP consultant:)
Trains have always been a fascination for me since time immemorial. I would always make sure I remember the train number, the timings and the routes even though I had never travelled anywhere beyond Tamil Nadu. Those were Pre-IT days and the economics was certainly lower-middle class 
In this backdrop it was heartening to come across a site dedicated for train lovers like me. My colleague Gowri Shankar referred me. Folks please visit the Indian Railway Fan Club Association.
Awesome content. By far THE BEST site for anything related to Indian railways.
September 28th, 2005 at 5:20 pm
i think there was an article featuring him(Mr.GowriShankar) in the hindu metro plus sometime back!
September 29th, 2005 at 11:12 am
well written karthik.
September 29th, 2005 at 2:19 pm
Ahhh what interesting kids - errr all need is to see a train and id still do that ;p seeing a plane still excites me - but then i get excited with the smallest of things
September 29th, 2005 at 2:24 pm
@monu
yep he did show that article URL:)
interesting chap…
suman
danks man
visith
danks.
seriously, this is one post i really liked but hardy got any response.
probly readers were biten by the kushboo controversy too seriously 
September 29th, 2005 at 3:16 pm
adhu yanna Sephia tone?lovely post..u must write a scrrenplay abt this situation and others which u spent with ur nanbar.pesama cheran kitta assistanta senderenga!
September 29th, 2005 at 7:01 pm
You are the another kid. I also like to travel in train, now i was affraid to see a train, because we doo no when it will thadampuralumnu thariyela. super post.
October 8th, 2005 at 6:35 am
Thats interesting !! Rayile Rayile oru nimisam..One of my favorites !!