Vaigai express
Encyclopedia
The Vaigai Express is a super fast day express train running between Chennai
and Madurai
. It is one of the more prestigious trains of the Southern Railway
zone of the Indian railways
.
The name 'Vaigai Express' has been always popular among not only the rail users but also among rail fans of two different generations as the train had won the hearts of thousands of people who had known and experienced it right from the early days. There are some many interesting facts which surround this prestigious train which might be of great interest to many rail fans today. Check out these fascinating material of this great train which had made it unique in every way......
Due to the demand for a day train between Madurai and Madras, which gradually began to increase from the 1970s, the southern railway decided to do its best for the rail travelers to introduce a super fast train for the first time on the MG in Southern railway. The introduction of this new train was a great mystery to many as no one had any idea of what kind of train was going to be operated and all its other details also remained a mystery.
On August, 15, 1977, a cute and a colorful train, woke up the people of Madurai early in the morning......It was on this beautiful day at 6 a.m.! sharp that train no 135 down Vaigai Express began its inaugural journey from Madurai to Madras Egmore, with 16 yellow and green livery coaches and a matching YDM4 diesel loco!!!!!
When it was introduced in 1977, this train had 16 coaches, hauled by twin-YDM4 diesel locos, and by 1984 it was bi-furcated as Pallavan express, comprising of 8 coaches.
With its never before achieved unique speed ever run on the SR MG, Vaigai express clocked the fastest run between Madurai and Madras Egmore, the distance of 495 kilometers on the very first day in 7 hours and 5 minutes when it entered Madras Egmore
at 1.05 p.m. that afternoon, matching the speed of many Broad Gauge super fast trains on the SR!! Due to safety purposes the train was slowed down to a journey time of 7 hours and 30 minutes later on.
It was the only train in SR which had completely tube lighted interiors and sun control sliding glass shutters installed for the first time ever in all its 8 second class coaches!
The driver and the guard also had a unique facility of a corded telephone system to communicate between themselves!
With the turntable facility available at Trichy, Chennai and Madurai, the operations staff always ensured that the YDM4 hauling Vaigai Express always had the short hood facing the front every time its started it journey!
This train also has another fascinating fact as it was one of its kind in SR which had its livery changed quite a few times from its original yellow-green combination to white-gray-red livery and then again to vermillon red - cream livery and again to cream-brown livery on the MG.
The YDM4 for the Vaigai Express had been fitted with a unique double tone horn which made it easy for rail users and railway staff alike to identify the loco as well as the train, which was never on use on the other YDM4s which operated on the same route for other trains
This was one and only MG train on the SR to be fitted with specially enhanced buffers and certified to run at 110 km/h!!!!
For the first time on the MG, the ICF manufactured two 40 seat AC chair car coaches exclusively for the Vaigai and Pallavan express!
The train is interchanged between Pallavan Express which runs between Chennai Egmore and Trichirapalli Jn. at Chennai Egmore. (Pairing trains) That is, T.No.12636 Vaigai Express from Madurai will reach Chennai @ 14:30 and departs from Chennai Egmore as T.No.12605 Pallavan Express with the same Loco and carriages. This train will return back to Chennai Egmore as T.No.12606 Pallavan express at 11:30 the next day, and departs from Chennai Egmore at 12:45 as T.No.12635 Vaigai Express.
Chennai Egmore
Chennai Egmore , formerly known as Madras Egmore, is a railway station in Egmore, Chennai , South India. The station acts as the arrival and departure point for trains connecting Chennai and southern, central Tamil Nadu and Kerala.This is one of the two main railway terminals in the city along with...
and Madurai
Madurai Junction
Madurai Junction is one of the Major Railway junction in South India and the Head Quarters of Madurai railway division. It is well connected with all Major cities in India. Madurai division is the Second largest by revenue in Southern Railway.-Facilities:...
. It is one of the more prestigious trains of the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (India)
The Southern Railway is the earliest of the 16 zones of the Indian Railways created in independent India. It was created on April 14, 1951 by merging three state railways namely Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway, and the Mysore State Railway. The South Indian Railway...
zone of the Indian railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
.
The name 'Vaigai Express' has been always popular among not only the rail users but also among rail fans of two different generations as the train had won the hearts of thousands of people who had known and experienced it right from the early days. There are some many interesting facts which surround this prestigious train which might be of great interest to many rail fans today. Check out these fascinating material of this great train which had made it unique in every way......
Due to the demand for a day train between Madurai and Madras, which gradually began to increase from the 1970s, the southern railway decided to do its best for the rail travelers to introduce a super fast train for the first time on the MG in Southern railway. The introduction of this new train was a great mystery to many as no one had any idea of what kind of train was going to be operated and all its other details also remained a mystery.
On August, 15, 1977, a cute and a colorful train, woke up the people of Madurai early in the morning......It was on this beautiful day at 6 a.m.! sharp that train no 135 down Vaigai Express began its inaugural journey from Madurai to Madras Egmore, with 16 yellow and green livery coaches and a matching YDM4 diesel loco!!!!!
When it was introduced in 1977, this train had 16 coaches, hauled by twin-YDM4 diesel locos, and by 1984 it was bi-furcated as Pallavan express, comprising of 8 coaches.
With its never before achieved unique speed ever run on the SR MG, Vaigai express clocked the fastest run between Madurai and Madras Egmore, the distance of 495 kilometers on the very first day in 7 hours and 5 minutes when it entered Madras Egmore
Chennai Egmore
Chennai Egmore , formerly known as Madras Egmore, is a railway station in Egmore, Chennai , South India. The station acts as the arrival and departure point for trains connecting Chennai and southern, central Tamil Nadu and Kerala.This is one of the two main railway terminals in the city along with...
at 1.05 p.m. that afternoon, matching the speed of many Broad Gauge super fast trains on the SR!! Due to safety purposes the train was slowed down to a journey time of 7 hours and 30 minutes later on.
It was the only train in SR which had completely tube lighted interiors and sun control sliding glass shutters installed for the first time ever in all its 8 second class coaches!
The driver and the guard also had a unique facility of a corded telephone system to communicate between themselves!
With the turntable facility available at Trichy, Chennai and Madurai, the operations staff always ensured that the YDM4 hauling Vaigai Express always had the short hood facing the front every time its started it journey!
This train also has another fascinating fact as it was one of its kind in SR which had its livery changed quite a few times from its original yellow-green combination to white-gray-red livery and then again to vermillon red - cream livery and again to cream-brown livery on the MG.
The YDM4 for the Vaigai Express had been fitted with a unique double tone horn which made it easy for rail users and railway staff alike to identify the loco as well as the train, which was never on use on the other YDM4s which operated on the same route for other trains
This was one and only MG train on the SR to be fitted with specially enhanced buffers and certified to run at 110 km/h!!!!
For the first time on the MG, the ICF manufactured two 40 seat AC chair car coaches exclusively for the Vaigai and Pallavan express!
Train Numbers
Train Number for Vaigai Express is 12635 and 12636.The train is interchanged between Pallavan Express which runs between Chennai Egmore and Trichirapalli Jn. at Chennai Egmore. (Pairing trains) That is, T.No.12636 Vaigai Express from Madurai will reach Chennai @ 14:30 and departs from Chennai Egmore as T.No.12605 Pallavan Express with the same Loco and carriages. This train will return back to Chennai Egmore as T.No.12606 Pallavan express at 11:30 the next day, and departs from Chennai Egmore at 12:45 as T.No.12635 Vaigai Express.