Ooty Train

Ooty train is popularly known as 'toy train', moving across the beautiful hills, and plains, making the journey a memorable experience. Ooty's train runs at a maximum speed of 33 km. per hour, crossing 16 long and short tunnels and 250 bridges.



The Queen of hill stations, Ooty is connected by rail through a narrow guage line from Mettupalayam, which is the nearest broad gauge railway station. The nearest broad gauge railway junction is Coimbatore. Towards the journey to Ooty, one can enjoy the scenic beauty of the lush green tea gardens and valleys with pine trees through the large open windows of the compartments.



The Ooty train traverses 46 km in four - and -a half hours from Mettupalayam. During the journey five stations come between Mettupalayam and Coonoor - Kallar, Adderely, Hill Grove, Runnymede and Kateri, and there are five stations between Coonoor and Ooty also. The Fern Hill station, was shut down a few years ago.



The construction of narrow gauge rail line for Ooty train was a big challenge because of the difficult terrain of Ooty. The first plan of the railway connections from Mettupalayam to Nilgiri hills was made in 1854, but was finally implemented in 1899. Swiss Locomotive Works made attractive wooden coaches with blue and cream colors and large windows to give a proper view of the beauty of the Nilgiri hills.

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Pigeons on the roof

Early morning, Paramadayanpatti-Mangulam, 6:44 AM.

Slowly the village get awakened. Mothers first task is doing the dishes as Tamil families have dinner rather late at around 20:30 evening ... too dark then. Her daughter helps to get more water from the lake.

All seems so peaceful here but later on we heard the sad news hanging as a doom over the village: next door son of 30 years old was murdered a few days before ... his brother told me later the reason: a cast conflict which happens still in isolated villages on the countryside by the strict traditions of the farmers.

Not at all a problem for foreigners, welcomed warm hearted by the villagers and the police-squad keeping here an eye on the matters. They all did their very best to make us feel at home cause such sad things can happen but life goes on.

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V.N. Jagannathan has so far distributed over 30 lakh flags

V.N.Jagannathan, fondly called ’Kodi Thatha,’ being honoured by District Collector Neeraj Mittal in the city on Saturday. –

COIMBATORE: Not a single Independence Day or Republic Day is celebrated in Coimbatore without Kodi Thatha’s flags. This year too, he did not break the tradition. On the eve of Republic Day, his paper-flags reached offices promptly.

V.N. Jagannathan, fondly called ‘Kodi Thatha,’ has been continuing this patriotic gesture for over 60 years now. The 89-year-old former school teacher has so far distributed over 30 lakh flags. (25,000 on Independence Days and 25,000 on Republic Days). A week before the days of national importance, he personally visits as many offices as he can. Last year, however, he could not do his usual rounds owing to ill- health. But, that did not deter him from sending the flags to offices.

Gandhian


A follower of Gandhian principles, he keeps the spirit of patriotism alive by distributing the Tricolour. He has accompanied Mahatma Gandhi during the Palani Patha Yathra in 1946, after which, he was drawn to the Gandhian way of thought.

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