Nurungukal...contd..

  I was shifted from the goods yard to the passenger section. In goods yard we dealt mainly with lifeless  materials.  Very rarely some live stock waggons arrived mostly when some circus companies moved  from one station to another. During season a few horse waggons to Ooty were also dealt. But passenger section, other than parcel booking was totally different, where human being of varied temperament are to be handled. It is a delicate job if one had to be success full. There were many situations in my carrier in which I was left at the mercy of the costumer. One naval officer virtually attempted to physically handle me. I escaped from his wrath because of the timely intervention of my senior.He stamped out of the room like a bull in a stampede. In another case it was for tendering the correct change and that too when the train was about to leave. I had to forsake some amount to make the passenger leave the counter. But some of my fellow clerks used to earn a few rupees during rush hours without any problems. There were many who appreciated the dedication of the staff when they were helped in difficult situations. One such incident is still green in my memory. It was when we recovered a lost child of a young mother. The boy had slipped out of her clutches when the express train arrived on the platform and the mother was in a frenzy. We immediately requested the guard to hold the train for a while and went in search of the boy. Fortunately we located him sitting on a box in a corner and was able to rejoin them. The mother was so happy and was even prepared to pay for this service which we politely denied.

  If you watch the activities in a railway platform it is just like the gathering of busy bees when there is a good blossom on a tree. They swarm in batches, stay for a while and vacate. Between the arrival and departure of the train the activity on the platform will be busy and afterwards it is deserted.

   I always had a fascination to watch the Anglo Indian guards and station masters. In those days all important trains and stations were managed by them. Immaculately dressed, they reminded me of some characters of the Hollywood movies on second world war. So was the engine drivers of some express trains especially that of  Madras Mail. The steam engine  maintained in perfect condition with all the braze and copper surfaces glistening and even the signal lamp will strike your eyes.  Also it was delight full to watch the engine boy collecting the pouch with dexterity while passing through a station at great speed and that too in night. When I was working in a way side station it was a regular sight. Every thing connected with the safe running of trains viz. Block machine, extracting of the token,setting of points for change of the lines and signal setting etc. were great events for me. Every activity were carried out with precision, like the working of a well oiled machine. Much progress have been made in railways after the advent of modern technology, still I love the old system, may be I am a little bit conservative in this aspect......contd...